i really need your opinion..

[Gerry]

Maureen, I use PP for the deep targets, I have had numerous faint signals that came in on PP went to Disc and could not hear them. Dig those as they have a good chance of being deep gold, Beechnut is right watch his videos. I contribute my luck with the Exc directly to Clive's books and the videos I have watch on this site, beechnuts, brains and some of the others.
I just got back from Mexico, not that great this year lots of fresh sand moved in. I did manage to find 10 rings 5 gold, 2 silver and three junk + 3 medallions one of which was gold + a gold charm.

 

[kered]

Maureen, a Gerry points out, think back over the months you have detected and try to remember how many times a target has been picked up in pinpoint but on changing to disc disapears or takes 2 or 3 passes to get even a slight chirp, then appears once you take of acouple of inches of sand, the guy you mentioned is missing these and you are not.
I used to hunt in Disc mode untill i tried the PP mode, after i got a couple of targets that didn't respond in disc i was sold, non of the beaches i hunt give better results in disc mode although i'm sure in some places it might, PP mode is deeper on all.

I also have a GT and with it things are slightly more even, even so many times i get an unrepeatable chirp in disc(similar to a false) and once i change to pinpoint find it faint but clear, my XS2aPro is also slightly deeper in PP mode
Having said that i mostly use Disc mode on both these as out of the water when i hunt the damp sand, more iron is present than at the waters edge or in it and i can disc out the iron faster.

 

[thirdbornau]

Thanks guys,

i certainly have had lots of interest on this subject and it's good to read all the different angles each one of you have. Not been out for ages due to a big summer flu but soon that will change i can't wait..I will make photos once i get some more finds or if..

Cheers Maureen..

 

[Jim in MA]

Has anyone tried this?
I interpret the threshold of my excal as a memory, it remembers the last target it saw
as it stays at the tone of what it last went over
I use a piece of iron on my boot to keep my tone at its lowest
now when I swing the coil all I listen for is a change of tone and the only change there can be is up
and being in sand Dig.
This method works best on flat wet sand.
If you have a ground strike with the coil that will raise the tone but I have found that the ground always jumps to a mid range tone then a quick swing over same area for a repeat signal.
many times I would get a tone increase but no repeat signal I swing coil over my foot to lower the tone
swing back over the suspected target and the tone goes up again now I switch to pinpoint mode
to try to locate the target, most time all I get is a very short break in the threshold buzz
now dig dig to get better signal most of the time it is a deep coin or a small piece of can slaw.
If I was hunting in pinpoint mode I would have gone right over that little break but I knew something was
there from the tone increase so I spent extra time to locate and dig that little tone break
I prefer listening to the low tone over the high tones for hours on end
Jim

 

[Suncoast Kid]

Very good information from all who posted. I see this is a popular question. Where I hunt the Beach/Water has targets few and far between, and very little mineralization, so with the Excal I hunt mainly in PP mode and check targets with Disc. This works best for me. If a lot of trash then hunt in Disc. mode. My Disc. setting never goes any higher the the lowest setting of (1), just enough to block iron, but not too high to where I would miss gold. HH

 

[Florida Keys Pirate]

I've been experimenting in both disc and PP modes on different beaches here in central FL. On my first six trips out , I always used Disc mode. For the most part , I haven't been digging nulls. And , when I do , I only find trash. I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing good targets when I don't dig. I decided to attempt to use PP mode all day on my next trip to the beach to see how I'd fare . I went to Clear water beach. I entered the water in PP mode and heard a constant noise that I couldn't seem to dial out no matter what I tried. I could still hear a discernible good tone when I hit a target. But the constant tone was too much for me. So, I had to switch back to Disc. Is everyone else having the same results with the Excal II at Clear water Beach ? I just want to find gold ! That's all ! I know it's out there. Gonna order one of Clive's books this weekend. I really need help with the whole "null" thing. Never know when to dig. Also need to hip mount that bad-boy ! And get a cuff strap. Hard to swing for any amount of time in the water. And , my arm slips out of the cuff way too often. Want to make it as comfortable as possible. Finding clad is cool. But , I just want that first gold find !

GL and HH !

 

[Suncoast Kid]

Pirate,

Try entering the water in the disc. setting first. Swing the coil for a while so you can get it adjusted to the conditions. Try disc at (1) lowest setting, Volume around (3/4), Sens. (6-7) or less until stable, Threshold barely audible low hum. When you get it running good, then switch it to PP mode. That works for me with my Excal ll with no problems. The stock shaft will wear you out, most switch to a straight shaft which makes a world of difference as you will be able to hunt all day. When you get a Target or targets, switch back to disc. mode to ID. You will find that with the Disc. set at (1), it will only null on iron 99% of the time, and the other targets you can ID by the sound and the tone. Adjust your Threshold if it gets too loud or too low, Adjust Sens. if it gets unstable. The Volume and Disc. settings you will probably not have to adjust them when you get the Volume where you want it. If you get into a trash area, you will have to hunt in disc. mode Try it out, I hope it works as good for you as it does for me. Just be patient, you will find Gold, and when you do, you will never forget the sound it makes. HH

 

[Florida Keys Pirate]

Thanks Suncoast. I'll give your suggestions a try my next time out.

 

[otlew]

I would like to buy the book from Clive James clyick where will i get that from?

CJC

He normally autographs when you buy direct. I have several of his books and have found his work to be very informative.