Must Be Doing Something Wrong

[Glenn51]

Went out into the play lot just behind the house today hoping for a good afternoon of detecting. That hope was soon proven to be forelorn. Granted I got a ton of hits the vast majority were indicated nickles or quarters between 4 and 6 inches down. Good solid hits, I even checked with the all metal setting to be sure something was there. But every hole I dug came up dry. I'd pass the coil over the hole and nothing. Pass it over the pile of dirt and again nothing. So after an hour, I just gave up and came back home with out so much as a piece of tinfoil or even a pop-top to show for my excursion.

I MUST be doing something wrong. Incorrect settings maybe? Can someone help this newbie out? BTW, if it makes a difference, I'm using a BH Landstar.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[mwaynebennett]

I think you should turn down the sensitivity.

Mark
Elite 2200
WA St

 

[capt.]

Hey Glenn,

Is there possibly some under ground electrical power lines in the area, or over head? How high was the sensitivity settings? Usually false signals can be caused by to much sensitivity and turning it down can help significantly. If the ground is highly mineralized in that area, turning up your discrimination a bit will help. While I don't have a Landstar, this info pretty much applies across the board. How are the batteries? Erratic behavior can be caused by low batteries also. What is the history of the detector? Do you know it to be in good working order? It may need to be recalibrated at the factory. Wish I could narrow it down for you more but it could be any of these things or none of them. Landstars are good detectors. It is possible that this one is defective. Is it new? Did you thoroughly review the manual, do air tests, and check it out on known targets before taking it out to the park? Just throwing stuff out there. Good luck. Hope you find out what is wrong because this is a great hobby. If all else fails call tech support and tell them what is going on, maybe they can help you.

capt.

 

[Glenn51]

Thanks for the suggestions fellas. I had the sensitivity set to about the three o'clock position, the disc/notch was in about the ten o'clock position, and the ground balance was also about at the three o'clock position. Not too sure about the ground conditions really. I'm in the northern part of Whidbey Island, Washington state, and the soil is so filled with rocks of various sizes that you can't sink a shovel with out hitting one. The detector is new as are the batteries. I did read through the manual again last night, but didn't see anything much about suggested settings in it. I also did air testing last night and the readings given were correct t then. Thanks again for all the suggestions fellas. I'm sure that the problem lies with something I've done like having the sensitivity set too high.

Glenn

 

[bossman]

A lot of playgrounds have a black liner under the wood chips the stakes they use to hold it down give a coin sigal

 

[dave5710]

When I used a BH detector the controls would turn from an 8 o'clock position to a 4 o'clock position.
Glenn says that he has the ground balance turned to the three o'clock position. Sounds to me like that would be too high.

 

[sven925]

No NO You have to read the maual again and again. Then go take a handfull of coins you know and try them in different conditions and LISTEN to what the
machine is trying to tell you. Your own impatience as well as my own (I own a Landstar too!) will drive you bonkers first. First try a regular grass field with
sensitivity down about 10 oclock. The ground balance will begin to buzz slightly as you change it you want it to just be on the edge of making noise. The discrimination is for AFTER you learn how to use it otherwise you dont hear what it has to say. Then try it in a gravel parking lot the signals will change a bit but use the same coins and listen again. After 30-40 HOURS of working with your machine you might have trained your mind to differ the signals. On top of all that if it keeps bouncing around you know its trash but the stronger and steadier the signal the more likely you have something. Train yourself first then go out looking or you will just drive yourself nuts. The higher the sensitivity the more falsing and these units will freak out easy if you push them slow down easy swings and patience.

 

[drummerman]

Make sure that if you wrap your cable around the shaft that its not to close to the pickup coil. I did that when i first started metal detecting. If was giving false hits. I now wrap my cable about 3/4 up the shaft. This seemed to help me.