New GT - I want to Hip Mount Control Box

[EasySwing]

I just got new Sovereign GT and bought the hip mount plastic case. I have a seahunter that is hip mounted and also rope tethered
to protect the coil wire from taking the strain. Does anyone use a rope to tether the shaft to the waist belt?
I do not like to use the coil wire as a tether.

Second
Is the volume control only function to boost the signalto the headphones not the signalto the coil?
Other words the sens control is the power to the coil, is that correct?
Thanks. Marty

 

[imalookin2]

http://www.minelab.com/__files/f/75105/Tips%20and%20Tricks%20-%20Sovereign%20GT.pdf Here is the link to the PDF file I read about the GT. The quote below is directly from that pdf. Pretty tricky answer right from ML.

It is very important to understand
that as well as being the control that dictates
the signal volume back from buried
targets, the Volume control can also be
regarded as a depth control. If you want
serious depth it has to be turned fully
clockwise until it stops and can go no
further. Fit a large coil, for example a 12
inch, and it will be almost unbeatable on
wet sand.

 

[deepdiger60]

I am not sure what you mean by teather the shaft ? to your belt how would you swing the detector ? what you need is a hip mount bag here is one that can be ordered online it can be attached to your belt and slung over your shoulder . HH Jim

 

[Ism]

The power to the coil is a constant.

 

[Critterhunter]

The sensitivity control just increases the gain on the received signal coming from the coil, as it is on most other detectors as well. The coil's power to transmit into the ground stays constant like he said. A Minelab tech once said that the volume of the Sovereign should be full blast and then adjusted on the headphone's volume control in order to insure you hear the deepest of targets. I keep mine all the way down on my GT because I don't have volume control on my headphones, but I haven't noticed any issues with being able to hear even the deepest of targets. If the GT responds to it I can easily hear it, so I'm still waiting to hear from somebody why the Volume would need to be full blast?

 

[deepdiger60]

The sensitivity control just increases the gain on the received signal coming from the coil, as it is on most other detectors as well. The coil's power to transmit into the ground stays constant like he said. A Minelab tech once said that the volume of the Sovereign should be full blast and then adjusted on the headphone's volume control in order to insure you hear the deepest of targets. I keep mine all the way down on my GT because I don't have volume control on my headphones, but I haven't noticed any issues with being able to hear even the deepest of targets. If the GT responds to it I can easily hear it, so I'm still waiting to hear from somebody why the Volume would need to be full blast?

Critter even Minelab says you do not need to turn the volume up full blast . Jim

Volume control
In the 3/4 volume control setting the volume is set sufficiently loud enough for you to hear the normal GT operations in the auto sensitivity mode. The 3/4 volume control setting is best used by new Sovereign GT users.

http://www.minelab.com/treasure-talk/understanding-setting-the-sovereign-gt-controls-part-2

On the other hand like i have the Black Widows i can run my volume at full ., but ...... if i do not turn down the left right volume at least 4 clicks after a while wearing them and i take off it sounds like a bee,s nest in my head for 20 minutes
Run your Sovereign with the volume fully up and then adjust your OADS headphones to a comfortable audio level.

 

[Critterhunter]

Somebody posted a blurb from I think two (might have been one...can't remember) Minelab techs on here about a year or so ago and they plainly stated that the Sovereign's volume control should be at full blast to insure deep targets are heard. They made it sound like it was some sort of signal boost thing or something, but I doubt that myself. As said, I can easily hear any reaction to even fringe depth targets with the volume all the way down. Still, I do wonder why they said that. Maybe there is (VERY doubtful) something going on with the internal electronics that puts it in some kind of boost mode. I highly doubt that. I bet they were just refering to the fact that the faintest of audio signals is amplified best when the control is at full. Anybody have any opinions on this? I've ran it full blast in spots where there are no shallow targets to blow my ears off, but I honestly don't see any difference in depth in terms of what I can (or couldn't) hear.

 

[Jack Flynn]

Volume wide open on the GT and the headphones with a good sound limiter built into the phones is the way to go. No loud ear bleeding blasts and you can hear a lot of deep targets.

 

[Critterhunter]

I know, I need a pair of the those Sunray Pro Golds with the built in limiter that people say work great on the Sovereign, and even on other Minelabs.

 

[EasySwing]

Sounds like there are varing opinions on exactly what happens when the volume control is turned up. I use grey ghosts headphones with volume at max. No problem with loud headphone sounds; must be the limiter built in. One of my questions is is volume control boosting the signal to the ground or boosting the received target signal to the headphones? I think the latter.
****************************************
The sens. Control boosts the output to the coil.
I call this gain. Is this accurate ?
****************************************
The rope tether allowsthe detector to swing but allows the detector to hang loose when retreiving a target from the hole. Hands free in other words. The tether is shorter than the length of the coil wire, therefore, the wire has no strain on it. Makes it easier using two hands getting the find out of the scoop. Better than putting the detector down all the time.
does anyone use this setup ie. (Hipmount and tethered) ?
I have the minelab hipmount case.
****************************************
Thanks, Marty

 

[EasySwing]

The power to the coil is a constant.

I am not sure this is correct. There would be no necessity for adjusting sens. I do not know for sure.

 

[OBX Franz]

The rope tether allowsthe detector to swing but allows the detector to hang loose when retreiving a target from the hole. Hands free in other words. The tether is shorter than the length of the coil wire, therefore, the wire has no strain on it. Makes it easier using two hands getting the find out of the scoop. Better than putting the detector down all the time.
does anyone use this setup ie. (Hipmount and tethered) ?
I have the minelab hipmount case.
****************************************
Thanks, Marty

I usually just let go of the pistol grip and let the rear end weight of the detector hand from the velcro cuff strap when I pull stuff from my scoop. Guess that is one of the easier aspects of beach hunting.

 

[dewcon4414]

The power is constant on ML detectors to the coil. The sensitivity adjusts the amount of NOISE you hear thru the headphones. Crank it up and you hear more minerals, targets, and EMI. As far as volume..... i remember reading one of Jeff Fosters books on the DFX..... his comment to volume control is why would anyone want to not hear the weaker targets... if it gets to much reduce the sensitivity.

Dew

 

[EasySwing]

Thanks guys. I think I get it now . This gt machine is awesome to use.
Trying to learn the separate tones. Most sound the same, but later will get a meter.

Anyone know where to get rubber toggle switch covers?
How about covering the speaker grill?

Thanks, Marty

 

[imalookin2]

Dixie Detectors. http://www.dixie-metal-detectors.com/dmd-cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=84_113

Half boots cost about $25 shipped for the 4 needed. You will need to unscrew the toggle nuts and replace them with these half boots with the new nuts attached. Half boots last longer and don't split like full boots. I just ordered 4 more for my new GT.

 

[Critterhunter]

The sensitivity control only changes the amount of gain (or amplification) on the received signal from the coil. The higher you amplify a signal the more noise and distortions found in it are amplified, so there comes a point (due to EMI or ground minerals) where the detector can no longer process the actual target signal due to the other white noise in the signal being amplified too big and thus as strong as a normal target signal would be. Sensitivity control is used to increase this amplification, and it's best point is where the target signal is indeed stronger but the white noise due to EMI or ground glare isn't also increased so high that it is strong enough to be noticed and caught up in the attempt to process the target signal. The white noise is always there. It's just a question of if you are increasing it's strength with the sensitivity control high enough to a point where it's too strong for the machine to still ignore and not react to.

Think of it as trying to zone in on one conversation in a room using a hearing aid. If you increase the sensitivity too high instead of just hearing the one person you are talking to you are now also hearing the conversations of everybody else in the room. Turning it down to the right point makes you better able to hear that person and, while the others are still talking around you, the volume from their conversations hasn't been increased enough for it to become a distraction to you.

I highly doubt the volume control does any kind of signal boost. However, I can see where it may in fact boost the weakest of audio signals for you to hear. With it turned down too low perhaps there is a cut off point where a weak audio signal won't be amplified and sent to the speakers. By keeping it full blast you insure even the lowest of audio signals are let by and amplified in volume.

 

[imalookin2]

The sensitivity control only changes the amount of gain (or amplification) on the received signal from the coil. The higher you amplify a signal the more noise and distortions found in it are amplified, so there comes a point (due to EMI or ground minerals) where the detector can no longer process the actual target signal due to the other white noise in the signal being amplified too big and thus as strong as a normal target signal would be. Sensitivity control is used to increase this amplification, and it's best point is where the target signal is indeed stronger but the white noise due to EMI or ground glare isn't also increased so high that it is strong enough to be noticed and caught up in the attempt to process the target signal. The white noise is always there. It's just a question of if you are increasing it's strength with the sensitivity control high enough to a point where it's too strong for the machine to still ignore and not react to.

Think of it as trying to zone in on one conversation in a room using a hearing aid. If you increase the sensitivity too high instead of just hearing the one person you are talking to you are now also hearing the conversations of everybody else in the room. Turning it down to the right point makes you better able to hear that person and, while the others are still talking around you, the volume from their conversations hasn't been increased enough for it to become a distraction to you.

I highly doubt the volume control does any kind of signal boost. However, I can see where it may in fact boost the weakest of audio signals for you to hear. With it turned down too low perhaps there is a cut off point where a weak audio signal won't be amplified and sent to the speakers. By keeping it full blast you insure even the lowest of audio signals are let by and amplified in volume.

WOW, I have to say this is the best description on this issue I have read. Pretty good write up, even a cave man (like me) can understand this. Thanks Critterhunter!