A friend and I just returned from a three day trip to the desert to detect several stage stop type sites we spent numerous hours researching to uncover their previously lost locations. We found a total of five sites.
The first site had sever overgrowth issues, we detected it for a few hours and decided that it had likely been previously detected as finds were minimal. I noticed that my machine, with the small coil attached, seemed to be running somewhat erratically - tones were "scratchy" sounding and I was only finding large iron (horse shoes, large pieces of cast iron, etc) and surface finds that were only a few inches deep, unless they were large. This was using the Di3 setting and DEEP settings, 14Khz or 20Khz made no difference.
The next day we detected a semi-virgin site, and while my friend was killing it (he made some amazing finds) I was again struggling with my Impact, and as above finding mainly large iron or close to the surface finds, unless large. Again the audio was erratic as were the TID's. I tried various search modes and settings, to no avail. Finally towards the end of the hunt I switched to the 11" DD coil and when I went to unscrew the coil connector, found that the connector practically fell out by itself. I mounted the 11" DD coil, screwed it together from both sides so it was snug, and I immediately noticed that the erratic audio and TID was gone and started making finds. Unfortunately by this time, it was too late as my buddy had already hoovered most all of the good finds (some incredible finds too boot)!
Yes I will accept the fact that this was user error. After the fact, I did somewhat wonder why the coil connectors weren't made in such a way that when screwed together, they would "lock" into position to prevent such an issue. I suspect that because of the tension of the connector, that if not firmly screwed together, it will have a propensity to jiggle loose and exhibit the behavior I experienced.
At any rate, just passing this along so nobody else has to suffer the agony of defeat that I experienced while watching by buddy make great find after great find.
hh,
Cal
The first site had sever overgrowth issues, we detected it for a few hours and decided that it had likely been previously detected as finds were minimal. I noticed that my machine, with the small coil attached, seemed to be running somewhat erratically - tones were "scratchy" sounding and I was only finding large iron (horse shoes, large pieces of cast iron, etc) and surface finds that were only a few inches deep, unless they were large. This was using the Di3 setting and DEEP settings, 14Khz or 20Khz made no difference.
The next day we detected a semi-virgin site, and while my friend was killing it (he made some amazing finds) I was again struggling with my Impact, and as above finding mainly large iron or close to the surface finds, unless large. Again the audio was erratic as were the TID's. I tried various search modes and settings, to no avail. Finally towards the end of the hunt I switched to the 11" DD coil and when I went to unscrew the coil connector, found that the connector practically fell out by itself. I mounted the 11" DD coil, screwed it together from both sides so it was snug, and I immediately noticed that the erratic audio and TID was gone and started making finds. Unfortunately by this time, it was too late as my buddy had already hoovered most all of the good finds (some incredible finds too boot)!
Yes I will accept the fact that this was user error. After the fact, I did somewhat wonder why the coil connectors weren't made in such a way that when screwed together, they would "lock" into position to prevent such an issue. I suspect that because of the tension of the connector, that if not firmly screwed together, it will have a propensity to jiggle loose and exhibit the behavior I experienced.
At any rate, just passing this along so nobody else has to suffer the agony of defeat that I experienced while watching by buddy make great find after great find.
hh,
Cal
-------------Del
It's a very remote site, so the odds that anyone else would ever find it are low, but I don't think their thunderstorm proof and we're not planning to go back until the weather cools down 
------Kind of reminds me what happened to me once when the wife & I were up in the mts. of AZ gold hunting.------Hey Tom---you're bein pretty quiet---we're gonna stop beatin on ya now (I think)!