Just got my new Sov GT and I'm lost as well

[Gonzo]

Hello,
I am trying to take this slow, I have read the manual, and the minute I look at the machine I can't remember what all the knobs are for LOL.
Anyway if I can ask two questions to start with:
1. How should I set the Sov GT to start out using it?

2. How do I calibrate the meter, i have the one from minelab and its all over the place. I guess I don't really understand what it means to calibrate it, I can see the knob on the back of the Digital meter, but have no idea what to do with it?

Thanks in advance for any help and tips for someone just picking it up for the first few times,
Gonzo

 

[Rick(ND)]

First thing is to get it together which you have done. Next set the disc toggle switch control to the center position as you want to disc and have the iron mask on. Being you are using the disc the ground balance switch should be set to pinpoint as the ground balance is for all metal use. Turn the disc and the notch all the way counter clockwise as you will be using no disc so you will hear everything other than the iron. To begin with and until you have some experience with the GT I would also set the sensitivity to auto with too is all the way counter clockwise until it click into auto, this way you will have a smoother threshold. One more thing i would do is set the threshold switch to threshold and not silent search, but that is up to you, but I feel I can tell more if I am going to fast for the condition of the area. Now turn on the detector and switch to all metal and set the threshold to a slight hum and then back to disc and you are ready to gne more thing the freq switch should be set to freq 2 as we find that works better than freq one. This is why you have some electrical interference or 2 Sovereign close by then you may wan to run freq 1 so get rid of crosstalk from the 2 detectors.
Now on the meter for calibration you want to run a new quarter or dime across the coil back and forth trying to keep it a steady tone and set the knob on back of the meter for the coin to read 180 on the meter.With this you will see you only have to move the coin maybe a could of inches back and forth to try to keep a steady tone and the meter should also stay at 180 too when going back and forth with the coin.
Now you are ready to hunt and swing the coil slow and listen as it will null of iron or anything that is rejected and it will give different tones, those that seem like a target you swing the coil back and forth over just that area and hear a steady tone that is repeatable, look at the meter and see what the number say. if it is a 179-180 you have a target to check out, a 176-177 you probably have a new zinc penny, a 144-145 is a nickle number while those in the 150-170 will be your pull tabs and targets that read like them like gold rings and jewelry.Most all signals less then 140 are alum foil and targets that read as alum foil.
It may be a little confusing at this time, but it will all become easy once you spend the time to understand it by using it.

Rick

 

[Dan-Pa.]

As usual Rick gave some good answers...Personally I found the Sov. to be very user friendly to set up and in time all will fall into place..
In reallity the secret of a Sov. is the tones and as I hear tones well it was a big attribute for me..I guess it depends on what you are looking for but to start out with a quarter and nickle and keep switching back and forth to see the diffrence in audio sounds..As I am a silver coin hunter I just kept swinging a silver dime across the coil until in was inbedded in my brain and to this day a silver dime audio or higher will stop me in my tracks without even looking at a meter. Good luck in your learning process as indeed Minelabs are a different animal when comparing to other companies models.

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks Rick and Dan,

That helps alot, my meter was reading like 550 for a quarter, so I will adjust it, after I set the detector.

When you say Null, I think you mean that when the detector reads Iron the tone disappears, Is that correct? And it will provide a tone on all other metals?

As you can tell Rick I choose the GT, I appreciate all your help during my decision making process, you are very kind to help.

Thanks and I'm sure I will be back with more questions, Gonzo

 

[chuck ky]

sounds like you have the meter that should read 550 on a quarter.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

I believe the GT meter is calibrated on 180 but indeed it sounds like you have the meter that calibrates on 550.....Mix and match I would guess relative the unit if you bought used...

 

[chuck ky]

after posting i read some where that the gt meter was the 180.

 

[Gonzo]

I did but it new and it came directly from minelab in NV. so I assumed it was a 180. After I did what Rick suggested and ran a quarter across the coil it came up 180.

Before that I was getting negative numbers, +550 it was all over the place. One thing I know I was doing wrong was stopping over the target, I believe I am supposed to keep the coil moving for it to work correctly.

Gonzo

 

[Rick(ND)]

That is correct you have to keep the target moving and try to get a steady tone by going back and forth over only the target, this is when the meter is used. This is one thing I really like about the Sovereign as the meter is reading what the coil is seeing and what you are hearing at the time it goes over the target.
Iron will read in the minus 500 numbers on the meter as the threshold will also be nulling, but when over the target after the null the threshold will be a low tone, like a growl.
Like I say the Sovereigns are a different detector and once you see how it all works you will find it to be a excellent detector.

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks again, Gonzo