just started using the MX5 and while doing a test of targets on the ground just laying on top noticed that it is not very accurate on ID unless I swing so slow as if I was going to pinpoint a target .this seems a little unusual . Now I don't mean I am swinging like in a competition hunt but a pretty normal swing speed for a 62 yr old man . when I say not accurate I mean it would read a 75 to 77 on a silver quarter unless I slowed to a snail pace then it would read 85 same thing on a silver dime but the dime would come in at 81 . I am not a novice at this and have been detecting a long time , never used a whites machine much but this seems a little ODD. I really like the feel and the features of it but to get an accurate or close to accurate ID of a target I have to almost stop the coil . I do realize that target IDs will vary with depth and soil conditions .
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MX5 Swing speed
- Thread starter BarryL
- Start date
Hi Barry
...I like a slow swing speed of about 2 seconds on one pass of about 24 to 30 inches, never tried to ID surface coins myself. I know mine has accurate VDI #'s down to the audio limit at depth. The MX5 set up in 2 tone audio found a silver dime at 8" deep with the little 5.3 Eclipse coil, it read between 79 and 80 VDI numbers and it was surrounded by nails. I run mine in Coin mode with 2 tone audio and all-metal accepted. low tones are iron and high tones are non ferrous. I do not rely on VDI numbers all that much and depends on the area hunted.
...Most of the places I hunt are riddled with iron nails and the 8 tone audio is too busy sounding with all-metal accepted. In 2 tone I have unmasked coins under nails several times, not a pretty signal but if I get a hint of a high tone mixed in with the low tones, I'm digging.
Randy
...I like a slow swing speed of about 2 seconds on one pass of about 24 to 30 inches, never tried to ID surface coins myself. I know mine has accurate VDI #'s down to the audio limit at depth. The MX5 set up in 2 tone audio found a silver dime at 8" deep with the little 5.3 Eclipse coil, it read between 79 and 80 VDI numbers and it was surrounded by nails. I run mine in Coin mode with 2 tone audio and all-metal accepted. low tones are iron and high tones are non ferrous. I do not rely on VDI numbers all that much and depends on the area hunted.
...Most of the places I hunt are riddled with iron nails and the 8 tone audio is too busy sounding with all-metal accepted. In 2 tone I have unmasked coins under nails several times, not a pretty signal but if I get a hint of a high tone mixed in with the low tones, I'm digging.
Randy
Swing speed is critical to any detector. Most people swing to fast in my opinion. A slow swing speed will get you more stuff. More small shallow and more deep stuff.
With my White's GMT, running in auto track and with the SAT set to balance Thold recovery quickly, it is critical to slow down the swing.
Don't hunt fast, hunt slow and let the machine do it's thing. It has to have time to think!
With my White's GMT, running in auto track and with the SAT set to balance Thold recovery quickly, it is critical to slow down the swing.
Don't hunt fast, hunt slow and let the machine do it's thing. It has to have time to think!
Thanks guys will give it a whirl and see what it can do . I don't swing the coil fast as I don't move fast anyway Legs and back wont let me . Ground balance is crucial I know so thanks for all the inputs as I was planning on getting rid of it but think I will hang on to it at least for now read so many good reviews on how well it is in iron infested areas like farms
Barry,
This is the way I set up my MX5 for hunting in iron infested places:
(1) I use the 5.3 Eclipse coil, none better in my opinion.
(2) Coin mode, 2 tone audio, nothing notched out in Discrimination, this lets you hear what iron is there. Low tones=iron...High tones=non-ferrous.
(3) Sensitivity set at 8 bars,,,,, Threshold set at just audible, All metal mode (pinpoint) set to VCO. I like the all-metal VCO but it is optional on personal taste.
(4) Auto Track: First find a metal free piece of ground in pinpoint mode, then go back to Coin mode and pump the coil over this clean spot until the Threshold gets raspy sounding, usually 5 or 6 pumps should do it. By doing the ground balance this way, the Auto Track gets a head start and can keep up with changing ground conditions.
This is the way I set up my MX5 for hunting in iron infested places:
(1) I use the 5.3 Eclipse coil, none better in my opinion.
(2) Coin mode, 2 tone audio, nothing notched out in Discrimination, this lets you hear what iron is there. Low tones=iron...High tones=non-ferrous.
(3) Sensitivity set at 8 bars,,,,, Threshold set at just audible, All metal mode (pinpoint) set to VCO. I like the all-metal VCO but it is optional on personal taste.
(4) Auto Track: First find a metal free piece of ground in pinpoint mode, then go back to Coin mode and pump the coil over this clean spot until the Threshold gets raspy sounding, usually 5 or 6 pumps should do it. By doing the ground balance this way, the Auto Track gets a head start and can keep up with changing ground conditions.
Treasurechic
Well-known member
Its possible surface targets read in the same way deep targets do and ID can be off but as long as its reading as a good target you'd probably dig it anyway. Nothing wrong with getting a dime ID and digging a silver quarter!