I am totally new to this and just bought a Sovereign Elite

[kntutt]

I just bought my first detector and it arrived yesterday, It is a 2004 model Sovereign Elite. I am in snow here so can't use it yet. I am still having trouble just calibrating it. I have never metal detected b4. I think I got a pretty good deal on it for $300 with a meter.

I have read your section on calibrating this but can't seem to get the meter to stop jumping all around with either the quarter or the dime. I am sure that it is me so I am open to suggestions. I have set all the controls according to manual.

When I say I am new I mean this detector is the first one I have ever held in my hands so I have a lot to learn. Any help will be appreciated.

Update. I think that I found the problem. The disc switch was in the all metal mode. When I flipped it to disc it seemed to calibrate.

Thanks

Ken

 

[dirtdevil21]

Hi,I just bought an Elite last fall. When you start out go slow. Especially in yards and old home sites. If there is a lot of trash, remove some of it. Then go back over the area just cleared of debris. This is where you want to go slow. I have found lots of silver coins this way. If you can determine where walkways were at one time, start there. You will get frustrated at times. This is normal,I still have days like that. Just try a different area where you are hunting, then come back to where you left off. That's how I found my first gold ring that I almost walked away from. Practice with different gold items of different karats. 10k, 14k,18k will sound different.14k sounds like a nickle. small rings can sound like pull tabs. Until you get better dig pull tabs until you can distinguish them. Sometimes you can hear the two holes in the newer ones and the peel back (older ones) you can hear the ring and the tail. Sometimes peel backs (without tails) sound like a ring. I hope this helps give you a start and use your headphones, they add lots of depth and you can make out shapes of things like pull tabs.

 

[Art (NWOH)]

YOU got it right.......learn to listen. You will do well

HH

 

[kntutt]

Thanks to both of you. I went out today in the snow and mud and swung for the first time. I found a broken top of a liquor bottle. It had foil on it and a threaded metal connector. Oh boy! I must be swinging it wrong because my arm got tired quickly. I will use the new hip pack that came with it next time.

I don't recommend detecting in these conditions but it will be nicer soon. I look forward to it. I have a lot to learn about sounds and readings on this detector.

 

[dirtdevil21]

When I go to swing I leave the coil on the ground. This takes a majority of the load off your wrist and you will need every bit of detection you can get. I find that with the coil on the ground is an advantage. If this is your first time with a detector you will be using muscles that aren't used to the motion. Look at it like breaking yourself in. Trust me when you get used to it you will be able to swing it all day long. And invest in a hip mount bag. Takes lots of weight of the wrist.

 

[Jeff (IL)]

The Elite upper allows you to mount control box on top, or underneith. If you haven't already I would suggest moving the control box to the underneith, it really helps balance the machine out and extend your hunting time.

The only drawback is that access to the knobs and A.M/Disc switch is a little more difficult. Good Luck, the Elite is one heck of a machine.

Jeff (IL)

 

[adam in cal]

well you got one hell of a deal on the best detector in the sovereign lineup !!!!!!!! good luck

 

[kntutt]

Thanks guys. The control box is underneath. The good news is that it came with the hip pack. It looks brand new as if the guy bought it and never used it. So I have that. I will also find a pack that I can attach to that if need be to hold the meter. I am not sure that I understand keeping the coil on the ground. Because I will be detecting on very uneven ground, the rocky mountains, I can't see that being possible. I'll be under ski lifts etc here.

I also understand that I am using different muscles but hopefully I will get them in shape soon. Why do you think that this is the best model in the line? I thought that GT would be?

 

[Ron from Michigan]

If there is snow and ice on the ground you will probably be better off to wait and hunt in better conditions.Digging in ground before it thaws destroys the landscape and is a lot more difficult to recover your targets.I'm wanting to hunt but in my area I need the ground to get a little more thawed out.The Sovereign is a great unit and if you stay with this detector your going to be surprised how well it will locate good finds.

 

[kntutt]

Ron:

I agree the weather is prohibitive. I am waiting for things to thaw out. I am actually going skiing today so needless to say we have a lot of snow.

I have to check on something. You would not happen to be a physician would you?

Ken

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I was with the National Ski Patrol Nordic skier and racer.Too many hobbies I still xc ski.Anyway be patient the weather will break now is a good time to plan what places you would like to hunt.Most people new to metal detecting like to ask permission to land owner's to hunt,unless you know these people very well don't ask I'll tell you what they'll say is no.There are plenty of places to hunt the backyard is a good place to practice.By the way the Sovereigns really IDs gold very well as a higher reading than my CZs and Whites that I have used.Again give yourself about 2-3 weeks to learn metal detecting and the Sovereign.

 

[kntutt]

Ron:

I have lived in this ski area for 32 years and now hardly ski at all. I use to ski 40-50 days every year and that went on for many years. I am fortunate in that I got to ski with some of the best skiers in the world when I was in my prime but, after today I know that my prime is long gone.

Nordic skiing is a beautiful sport and much more peaceful than alpine. I never really got in to that. Yesterday I was in the back woods behind my house so I was not doing any damage to the environment. It would have been a great place to find coins etc as there was old farm equipment there from the 30 or 40's. Recently the HS kids went up there to drink and hang out. Now it is full of beer cans, tabs and other trash. It will be awhile before I can really work that site and I will have to go through a lot of trash.

I believe that both you and Art are right, I have to learn to listen in order to get the most out of my machine. Right now I am looking for some headphones.

Ken

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Rick,thinks the Timberwolfs are good for the Sovereign.(he knows a lot about Sovereigns) I bought a pair and thats what I'll use this coming season. The Sovereign will work great on a beach.Most hunters get stalled out hunting in an area that's over their head example too much trash bad ground conditions,which if it doesn't produce move on to a better site.