Need help with tones

[virginia digger]

Took my new ETRAC out over the weekend and I enjoyed some aspects of the hunt while others were very annoying. I know there is a learning curve for any new machine but the first thing that bothered me was all the different tones. Will somebody please explain how to interpret what they are saying. I dug everthing in the standard coin mode.....all trash. How can I know trash from real good targets ? My other complaint was that I couldn't see the screen which was limiting my information. I know this machine is head and tails above the rest, but my AT Pro can do what this machine does at 1/3 the price. Please advise me if you can since I am thinking of trading it back in on something else.

Thanks,
Virginia Digger

 

[sprchng]

Wow!!- I live for the tones , so much info there.
I thought the thing was possessed at first myself after 2 toning with my Whites but it comes quickly (within a week).
Try finding a not too trashy site and use the high trash pattern if necessary but a public park with some trash to dig is the best medicine.
Also , raise the coil on shallow targets for a while as it will cut down on the double hits you get(DD coil).
I taped an assortment of good and trash targets on a 1x2 and used that for a learning tool before hunting which also helped.
The more you dig the more sense the tones make.
Practice makes perfect.
I'm running out of cliches.

 

[andre1002]

My advise would be to at first just listen for crisp, solid, repeatable tones and dig um. If you get what you think might be a good tone then pin point it ,then run the center of the coil over it very slowly and if it crackles or gives a less than solid sound skip it.. or dig it? In my experience if I'm getting a shallow (4" or less) target and the tone is scratchy 95% of the time for me its trash. Dig all deep solid signals just incase. Later on once you know your machine better I would suggest starting to dig more of the iffy's based on how comfortable you feel.. I came from a whites MXT and only used TTF on it. but now that Im used to the multi tone on the e-trac there is no way I would go back to it. It was def frustrating at first but one day it just clicked. Good luck HH

also there is a adjustment in the settings menu to adjust the contrast. Might help seeing your screen.

 

[JamesBondaka]

Took my new ETRAC out over the weekend and I enjoyed some aspects of the hunt while others were very annoying. I know there is a learning curve for any new machine but the first thing that bothered me was all the different tones. Will somebody please explain how to interpret what they are saying. I dug everthing in the standard coin mode.....all trash. How can I know trash from real good targets ? My other complaint was that I couldn't see the screen which was limiting my information. I know this machine is head and tails above the rest, but my AT Pro can do what this machine does at 1/3 the price. Please advise me if you can since I am thinking of trading it back in on something else.

Thanks,
Virginia Digger

You will understand all....just not today! You are asking for too much...too soon. Ive been exactly where you are now.....just be a bit patient and go to a "clean" park or your backyard. Just toss some coins etc out and then go find them....you will learn what is a good target quickly . It is as simple as that....really! Give it a few days to a couple of weeks.....you will feel differently I'm sure!

 

[virginia digger]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have owned all the top of the line models from just about every manufacturer. It was always easy to hear a single tone and then dig. I was totally disgusted by the complexity of what I was hearing. However, I have much faith in Minelab as a leading company in reasearch and development. I doubt not too many companies have engineers with PHD's who come up with the operating software. The company is incredible !!!

Thanks again,
Virginia Digger