MXT trouble

[Lloyd]

Hi my name is Lloyd and I am new to this hole game. I was at a school today using my mxt with the 12" loop on the play ground, I was finding nickels on top of the ground but they would say they were at 4". I was getting reading for Pennies at 1" but I was digging 6" and getting nothing and the mxt would say it was still there. This play ground has a 6" later of mulch with some kind of screen down fist, now I can dig down to the screen and touch it with my Bullseye 2 from whites and some times it will beep but not all the time.Is there something Wrong with my MXT or is it the mulch or screen?.

Does any one have the bullseye 2, if so are you having a lot of trouble with it?.

Can the MXT be set to find at 4" in instead of 6"?.

 

[thunderseven]

As far as the screen goes I would bet it's plastic. If it's not then your machine would be going nuts. Secondly, I've learned over time that there are a few targets trapped below the screen that will just drive you crazy. Depth meters are just a rough guide and meant to be used along with the other tools. They can be fooled,just wait until you find your first manhole cover or buried car! One of the best ways I've found is to raise the coil to the point that the target just fades out and evaluate the space between the coil and the ground versus the meter depth reading. It can paint a good picture, as far as drifting signals go it is usually some sort of junk or iron. When I first started detecting just few short years ago I dug more junk than a recycling center!!! Just stay with it and dig it all. Mostly think of the process that get's you to dig in the first place. If you practice and think you will be rewarded. Welcome to the club!!

 

[steelheadfever]

Most schools are high in trash targets and the first thing I would do is lose the 12" coil as it is worthless in trashy areas and you are not going to be able to seperate targets, as it will be reading everything making you detector go crazy. Get yourself a small coil like a 6"DD or 4.5x7 DD Excelerator or a 6x10 DD. You will be able to work trashy areas and be able to seperate targets. If you are new with the MXT start off working with just your presets and learn your detector before you begin making alot of adjustments especially with your gain setting. I dont think there is anything wrong with you detector you are just using the wrong coil. JMHO. HH Dennis in Idaho

 

[Rob (IL)]

I agree with Dennis about the 12" coil, it was intended for trash free wide open spaces. I have enough trouble with the 9.5 coil in trash.

Now understand that the only coil the MXT was calibrated to was the 9.5 coil. I don't own another coil that reads correct as far as depth. They all read deeper than the target really is.

Also the depth meter (signal strength meter) is calibrated to coin sized objects. A can sized object will read 3" and it might be a foot deep. A tiny bit of foil may read 4" an be on the surface. Rob

 

[xwyokid]

I hardly ever pay any attention to the depth meter. I will pinpoint, probe with my ice pick. If I don't feel the coin with the ice pick I will then cut a plug the depth of my digging tool.

 

[Lloyd]

Thank you all for the info, and sorry about the slow reply.I have only had my MXT 300 for about 2 months, got it new from Whites with the 12" loop on it. I go to a ball park also, I run into a lot of pull tabs, nickels,quarters and pennies but after I start finding pull tabs I'm not able to find any more nickels. I have tried to set the mxt to rural out pull tabs and find the nickels like the book said but it don't work .

Thats it for now, I am just getting in from cat fishing, and I am very tired so I will call it a night or what ever. I have more Q's if you'll don't mind.

By for now.

 

[Lloyd]

Cold someone tell me what difference dose it make what loop you are using if there is a piece of gold or nickel, or a penny in the middle (close together) of some pull tabs ?.

I was at a school with my MX and every 2 to 3 feet I was getting a different GND reading from 20 to 80, is this my mx messing up, if not what can I do about the mx beeping so much, the mx settings are all at preset?.

 

[steelheadfever]

You are using the 12 inch coil which when in trash can not seperate targets. It trys to read all the targets under it making your detector go crazy. You need a small coil to work in trashy areas like the school. simple as that. If you will check back on the forum you will find that the 12 inch coil is not a popular coil for working in parks, schools, playgrounds etc. If you continue using the 12 inch coil you are going to be one unhappy camper when you count your finds at the end of the day, compared to someone who uses a small coil. JMHO HH Dennis in Idaho

 

[Sysgrade]

Drop your gain down to the second audio click sound somewhere around 5. Set disc. on preset. Bring threshold up to just being able to hear. This will help BUT: you need a smaller coil!!!!

 

[Lloyd]

Thank you Dennis for the reply and advice . I will order a 6x10 and see what difference it will make. I have things happen when I am using the Mx , but can't Find the cause, like at the school with the mulch around the swings at about 6" deep(no pull tabs), I started out finding nickels , lots but then I start getting penny readings every were but cant find anything. You would thing I would have found at least a penny or dime, maybe a Quarter but no just nickels. Now at one of the baseball Fields I go to , there is lots of pull tabs, but I only find pennies and quarter. Settings , gain at 9 Disc at 4. Pull tabs read a lot of times at 2" VDI 45 and at 4" they will be 26 to 30 or better, with battery full charged.


I really haven't hat a lot of time to read over the hole set yet , I have been doing a lot of fishing ,I am trying to fill my freezer full for the winter before it gets to hot.
OK , have to stop here for now , off to fishing I go.

 

[robert roy]

I have to agree with all that was said here.
Certainly, you saved a few bucks in the long run, on the 12 inch coil, but its value is limited to
clean areas or to covering open fields. Whites offering the 12 in coil with the MXT and calling it the MXT 300 was just another gemick
to sell more detectors. If you can dig up the money ( no pun intended ) I'd buy the 6x10DD or at least the 5.3 coil.
RR

 

[Lloyd]

Thanks for your reply. I believe, I all ready said I will order a 6x10. What I was looking for , was some one that knows the MXT that could help with the questions I had.

 

[bubblehead]

Hi Lloyd....I'll agree with the fact that the 12" coil is meant for the wide open spaces that might not have a lot of trash. The largest coil I use is the 5.3 but my 4 X 7 shooter is the one that pretty much lives on the MXT. Takes a little longer to cover an area but when I run into trash, no need to change to a small coil for separation. Read enough and you'll see that the 8" and 6 X 10 are quite popular, too but for now, $$$$$$$$ or lack there of, keeps me with the two I mentioned. Bottom line....get your self a smaller coil and save the 12" for the north forty...or sell the coil and you could pretty much break even.

 

[Lloyd]

Hi , thank you for the reply but it wasn't any help, I guest my words are to close together making it hard to understand, so I will try to brake it down, then maybe you can give it a anorther go.

I will order a 6x10 and see what difference it will make. ( I did this today June 16 2008.)

I have things happen when I am using the Mx , but can't Find the cause, like at the school with the mulch around the swings at about 6" deep(no pull tabs), I started out finding nickels , lots but then I start getting penny readings every were but cant find anything. You would thing, I would have found at least a penny or dime, maybe a Quarter but no just nickels. (Now this does not sound like loop trouble to me but I could be wrong)


Now at one of the baseball Fields I go to , there is lots of pull tabs, but I only find pennies and quarter. Settings , gain at 9 Disc at 4. Pull tabs read a lot of times at 2" VDI 45 and at 4" they will be 26 to 30 or better, with battery full charged. (Could this be loop trouble.)

Now before anyone else tries to give this a whack, please think and don't anyone try to sale me a pin pointer.

 

[Nancy-IL]

"Can the MXT be set to find at 4" in instead of 6"?.? NO. You can turn your gain up or down to satisfy your likings. With wood chips, I like to use 6-7.

The only reason I would think of as to why you're getting readings like that would be the coil. It's not the "stock" coil. It's a larger coil and many times in wood chips there are deep pop cans and it will read as a penny-dime. (I call it the old Studebaker down there) And yes, there can be cans under the screen......many times. And my guess to the nickel findings and no other coins would be someone has already hunted it and had their discrimination up NOT to find the nickels. Maybe they don't have pop at the school and then no pull tabs,

Baseball fields: Put your gain to 6. Discrimination at 3. This will produce nickels and pull tabs. Plus the pennies, dimes & quarters, etc. It doesn't sound like you're coil is defective. Just give it time.

Another thing to keep in mind. Is there a lot of wires overhead? Sometimes that can cause havoc with machines.

Hope this helps?????????????? HH to all, Nancy

 

[Lloyd]

Yes thank you very much Nancy,That was the answer I was looking for. I didn't want someone telling me I needed a new loop if they couldn't tell me why.
I did order a new loop but it won't be in until Friday, I will let you know how it works.
Thank you again.