Mode 3 VS. Mode 1+ Observation

[earthmansurfer]

Hello all,

I hunted a field today in mode 1+ with some success. Then I moved along side a river and tried out mode 3. I know mode 1+ (along with 1 and Db) are supposedly the deep modes but I was getting a MUCH better signal and ID in mode 3. I was running my machine at full sensitivity (for the first time with no probs (nice soil)), 25 discrim, GB of 65 and no iron mineralization (Fe3O4) was present in the soil.

The difference was not really close. These are targets at 5" to 9" and mode 3 DEFINITELY hit harder on audio and ID'd better. Any reasons why? I know 1+ is VCO driven on audio and the targets were a bit deeper but they were much softer and the ID was also "softer"...

EMS

 

[earthmansurfer]

n/t

 

[earthmansurfer]

Sorry for the double post, was just trying to edit the last one. But I'm sure some of the 40 people who read this must have something to say. This, to me, is a big issue as the I'm getting better signals in 3B when I shouldn't be compared to Db(I thought).

EMS

 

[Mike Hillis]

I prefer and enjoy tone id and of course mode 1+ is a single tone mode. I just can't handle a single tone so I usually never used the single tones like 1 and 1+ as part of normal usage. But I did use it some just to get a feel for it. I think the VCO function affects the...whats the word I'm looking for...substance?...of the tone on the deeper side. Not only does it have VCO but it's also modulated so deeper targets sound fainter. At what point does the VCO pitch begin and its relationship to the modulation drop off I can't say. Probably both of these attributes of the 1+ mode working together make for a soft audio at a certain point. This may just be a case where more volume would give deeper signals in this mode more robustness.

I assume you are using headphones ???

HH

 

[earthmansurfer]

Thanks Mike,

It did cross my mind (after posting of course) if it had anything to do with VCO. The sound was so faint though compared to mode 3 that I thought a person would miss it (I'm talking 20%). I mean, if I wasn't swinging from just the right angle it probably would have been missed. In my opinion the VCO overly is affecting the signal, but perhaps I need more practice, not to mention to keep switching between modes to get a better idea. The soil balanced at 65, think there is a bit of clay in it, not too much, but enough to effect the signal.

Giving it more volume wouldn't work well, as a shallow object would hurt my ears and so would switching to mode 3 to check the target.

I am using headphones made for my Nautilus IIB by Grey Ghost with the separate volume controls. They are extremely sensitive and very well insulated (works great when hunting around children... eheheh).

Thanks for the reply,
EMS

 

[Cody]

Good explanation and explained nicely. Been kicking around VCO modulation on the Explorer forum but said it way too technical. You need to post this over there but why get another fuss going.

Now for the real purpose of the post. I have read your posts for a couple years now and know I can put a lot of stock in what you say. I was just about to buy a T2 when up pops the new Fisher to be unveiled in October and I am sure a DFX in December. So I backed off and only bought an SE but keep thinking of a T2. What really keeps me in neutral is the new Fisher as I have a pretty good idea what the next DFX will be.

I guess I want to be convinced to buy a T2 but know I should not ask anyone to do that. I am slightly concerned about the coil size, I like a smaller one, and there seems to be some external noise difficulties.

 

[earthmansurfer]

Thanks to Cody for always writing such informative posts. I think this (thread) is worth reading to understand a very important feature on the T2 regarding mode 1+ and it's VCO function(not to mention VCO pinpointing). A bit technical but informative and entertaining and applies here even though it's posted on the Minelab forum. It's something that I didn't quite understand until the other day as my post suggests.

Cody's description on VCO