Last Couple of Hunts with the HF Coil

[CZconnoisseur]

It's trying to get a little warmer here - February was cold enough to freeze the ground but things are slowly but surely warming up. Paid a visit to a local haunt with the 9" HF coil and scored a few keepers - the "Buffalo and Wheat Sandwich" was an interesting find at "only" 8 inches hiding under some shallow foil. The signal wasn't anything great but I remember picking out two Buffalo nickels from the bottom of the hole, and then seeing the Wheat cent....and then the pinpointer saw the final Buffalo! An exciting dig fore sure, and you can see how the penny imprinted on the nickels....the dates are 1918 for the Wheat and all the Buffalo nickels are in the Teens.

Not far away I got a shallower nickel ID, a little jumpy indication in the mid to high 50s. About 6 inches down a 1982 Jeff nickel came to light, but two inches below the nickel were two older Wheats hiding, to my surprise.

These were the settings:

13333Hz
Full Tones
Disc -6.4
Sens 90
Reactivity 1
Silencer 2
Iron Vol 0
Notch 00-10, 96-99
Ground Notch 86-90
Manual GB 88


In this same area Mike and I have dug many pre-1920 Mercs, Barber dimes, a few Seated dimes, many Indian heads (some holes had 2 or 3 Indians total mixed with a bunch of nails) with several different machines over the last couple of years. We've beat it to death but it still keeps giving, often to our astonishment! It seems like a good problem to have, and before long I will be trying out an Equinox there as well. I think the HF coil is just a little too hot on foil and aluminum trash - should the Equinox fail to prove itself I will be going back to the 11" Deus coil. The HF coil at least for me does a better job with deep iron; I'm definitely digging less of it, however the tradeoff is abundant small aluminum foil, beavertail bits; the real nuisance. Possibly a program using only 5kHz with some adjustments will be able to see just a little deeper - if I had the means I would compare the deepest iffy hits with the Deus and Equinox, and show it head-to-head on camera - those remaining fringe targets are what I'm after...

Even so, several hours of digging only trash and then finding just one grotty Wheat or Indian is worth it to me - it's the thrill of the hunt!

 

[parkgt]

Nice finds and interesting settings CZ! Why do you use a Silencer setting of 2 when most would run lower?

The number of posts reporting great finds over the years with vastly different settings and programs is mind boggling. There is no consensus on how to run the Deus even in the same type soils searching for the same type of targets.

 

[CZconnoisseur]

It seems to help with deep iron and some foil bits....I've tried running lower Manual GB settings and it makes the machine very sensitive but you're effectively turning it into an all-metal machine by doing this. It doesn't seem to differentiate between ferrous/non-ferrous too well either with lower GB settings on deeper stuff. It's just a quirk of the site...beyond a certain depth things get fuzzy and not just with the Deus.

The non-motion modes are also VERY deep but again little to no ID on deeper targets. Not complaining one bit since the track record is stellar, however; there's more targets to be dug and more treasure to treasure. LOL

 

[Architex]

Nice finds and interesting settings CZ! Why do you use a Silencer setting of 2 when most would run lower?

The number of posts reporting great finds over the years with vastly different settings and programs is mind boggling. There is no consensus on how to run the Deus even in the same type soils searching for the same type of targets.

Probably because people keep forgetting to state what factory program their settings are built on.

 

[CZconnoisseur]

Nice finds and interesting settings CZ! Why do you use a Silencer setting of 2 when most would run lower?

The number of posts reporting great finds over the years with vastly different settings and programs is mind boggling. There is no consensus on how to run the Deus even in the same type soils searching for the same type of targets.

Probably because people keep forgetting to state what factory program their settings are built on.

In this case it's Basic 1

If I plugged in the same exact above settings but started with Deus Fast would it make any difference? Or GM Power? Honestly I've never given that aspect much thought....

 

[dbmcclus]

I am considering purchasing the XP Deus. I currently have an AT Pro, Minelab GPX 4800, Tessoro Golden uMax, and Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II PI machine. If I do purchase the XP, I may sell my AT Pro . I am looking for a great coin machine on dry land. I have been seeing posts and watching videos on the new HF coils. Should I get the 9 inch HF coil or stay with the standard coil? I do have a machine for the beach and a relic machine for the high mineralized sites such as Culpepper although I could possibly sell my GPX is the HF coil is proven in Culpepper. Your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[CZconnoisseur]

I can't speak for the Culpeper soil but here in central Colorado the HF coil sees more smaller targets than either of the LF coils, especially at depth. I haven't tried to locate nuggets with the HF coil but I'm sure it's fantastic in that regard as well. Deep iron is better identified with the HF coil vs deep non-ferrous in my experience, however in a trashy location the audio gets very busy...

 

[EAvila]

I am considering purchasing the XP Deus. I currently have an AT Pro, Minelab GPX 4800, Tessoro Golden uMax, and Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II PI machine. If I do purchase the XP, I may sell my AT Pro . I am looking for a great coin machine on dry land. I have been seeing posts and watching videos on the new HF coils. Should I get the 9 inch HF coil or stay with the standard coil? I do have a machine for the beach and a relic machine for the high mineralized sites such as Culpepper although I could possibly sell my GPX is the HF coil is proven in Culpepper. Your thoughts? Thanks!

It’s definitely going to be better than the AT Pro, so that’s a no brainer (although more expensive). You can find some great deals on Deus though, one is listed right now in Classifieds.
I would compare it to the GPX when you get it, and see how it does. No experience with the Tesoro or if that could be replaced as well. Obviously the Sea Hunter is a totally different and purpose built water machine, so assume that would stay.

The Deus is a very capable and versatile detector. But more importantly for me was the design and construction of it. Totally wireless, extremely light weight, and software that’s user updatable. This makes it very easy to travel with, carry, use a long time, and ensures it will be relevant for years to come. Upgrading coils adds functionality as you’ve seen with the HF coils.

I see it perfect for everything? No. But it can replace several other machines/roles. If you’re looking to possibly replace a gold machine, start with the HF coil. It will also serve as a coin coil. If it serves both roles, and you sell something else, you can expand your coil options.

I had a pre-order for the Equinox but cancelled it. I think the design and construction of the deus offered more advantages to me than the equinox would have for travel. I also am not a fan of the cord wound around the stem design, and I think minelab took a step back from the ctx with that.

Anyway, Deus should offer you what you need. I think you’ll be happy.

 

[Mark kus]

I am considering purchasing the XP Deus. I currently have an AT Pro, Minelab GPX 4800, Tessoro Golden uMax, and Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II PI machine. If I do purchase the XP, I may sell my AT Pro . I am looking for a great coin machine on dry land. I have been seeing posts and watching videos on the new HF coils. Should I get the 9 inch HF coil or stay with the standard coil? I do have a machine for the beach and a relic machine for the high mineralized sites such as Culpepper although I could possibly sell my GPX is the HF coil is proven in Culpepper. Your thoughts? Thanks!

I hunt with a Deus and the 9" LF coil and my friend uses the at pro man I smoke him every time coin hunting though its not the best saltwater machine it still works for me last couple of weeks I've had some great finds including bucket list coins for me I have only had my Deus since may 2017..
So yes sell the AT pro ..

 

[Architex]

Fast and deep have different filters from each other and from all the rest. The others are all the same.