Here's one for ya...What depth is the DTI II Meter accurate

[Dan(NM)]

On ID'ing targets using a GT?

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

The deeper the target, the more you will have to "work" the signal to make it good. This is done by doing the "Minelab wiggle" and raising that signal up to it's highest average. So instead of a 180 for a dime or quarter that's 10" deep, you might get a 178-179-180-177-178. Of course the larger the object, the easier to get it up to full value. A nickel that reads 144 at 5 inches may only give you a best of 142 at 8 inches. Or you may be able to get it to hit 144 from a certain angle with a certain sweep. It has nothing to do with the DTI meter, by the way. The DTI, the new Minelab meter, or an older modified Minelab meter...all the 180 meters...all work the same. The are measuring a voltage signal produced by the Sovereign electronics that goes as high as 1.8 volts or 180 on the meter.

 

[Rick(ND)]

A lot has to do with the ground conditons and trash in the ground. It also has a lot to do with how well you know your Sovereign plus the sweep speed of the coil. If you are going to fast the depth and ID will suffer and in those areas you know are deeper target you will want to go slower and listen closer. If you are going to fast you wont hear that first tone change that is a good target, once you hear this tone and doing the Sovereign wiggle to get the meter reading as high as you can. Sometimes it will not read the correct numbers as it is so deep, but the numbers and the tone will be trying to climb. If there is trash beside the good target it will be harder to get the correct ID, so here is where that tone is so important.
Now if the numbers lock on to a number that will be the ID of that target, but if the tone is sweet and weak with the numbers trying to climb along with the tone it is one you want to dig even though the numbers may not hit the right numbers but may be close. I got a merc dime one time that best ID was 139 which is accualy lower than a nickle, but I knew it was deep and the tone along with the number were trying to climb letting me know I wanted to dig it. This dime as a good 12 inches deep is why the numbers never got close plus I beleive there was a nail there too.
Now for most cases 8 inch deep coin you should get a good 179-180 reading if going slow enough then if you are doing the wiggle and trying to get the highest reading and tone. Some times it may show 165-170 and just for a split second hit 179 or 180 while doing the wiggle along with the tones. If you are going faster maybe 6 inches you will be the deepest you will get a good lock on a coin. Most of the depth of the detector and the correct ID you will learn from experince with the GT in the feild using it. Another thing I will tell you with the GT is it is more sensitive and it will false on iron more than the other Sovereigns, but by going around the target with the tip of the coil getting the same signal all the way around it will help or going to pinpoint and see the target will move if it is iron.
Have a little patience as it is a great detector and if you got a SunRay DTI meter you have the best meter I have ever used on a Sovereign.

Rick

 

[Dan(NM)]

Does that drop off as radically like the meter readings

 

[Rick(ND)]

Tone ID will still be trying to climb as you do the Sovereign wiggle, the meter will too, but it may not hit the correct ID in both the tone or the meter, you will learn this with experience with the Sovereign and see how we can get a good target at 10+ inches and know it is a good one. Remember on those deep ones you have to be swinging the coil slow to hear the tone change, then do the wiggle and try to get that tone to be climbing.
Out of all the detectors I have used in my 32 years of detecting I find the Sovereign the deepest IDing detector, but you have to spend the time to learn it.

 

[adam in cal]

the info already put out is right on ...remember no meter is full proof...but if used properly in conjunction with the tone id you will find its right on even at the deeper levels..depending on soil types....the thing i notice most is the inability for the meter to acctually lock up on the deep coins...it may only get to the correct ## for a quick sec with some wiggling.. when you have an iffy deeper target that your having trouble iding >>>I find it useful to pop in the A/M mode for a sec..this can help you pinpoint the target but will also help alert you to possible deep iron or pipe that kinda stuff.......I was always frustrated by the deep coins because I knew that where the good stuff was,but it just seemed outta my reach or too hard to tell......its amazing how much you learn,,,the key to the sov. is going SLOW,slow slow,,,if you want the deep goods you must go slow....some targets are no more than a rise in the threshold,,,,and they wont id correctly,,,but when you slow way up and go over the spot where you heard the threshold break and rise then youll start to hear a barley audible waver in your tone...this is indicitive of a deep coin....go for it....

 

[Art (NWOH)]

You seem to have the idea that the meter reading drops off fast with depth.

Niether the meter reading or the tone does this. It's only the really weak deep hits that will read and sound low (as long as no trash is involved).

You can get hits on a clean flat coin nearly a foot deep at times with a perfect tone and meter reading with the first or second pass.

I would characterise (sp?) the lower readings as being in the last inch or two of the deepest possible detection depth.

Get one of those hits, you know it ain't clad.

HH

 

[Dan(NM)]

The GT is the first Sov I've ever owned and just wanted to know what to expect..Thanks again!!!