New to me, 6000 xl pro

[ToniSteve]

Well I am not toying with the idea of one of those analog detectors any more! I just bought one that had only been used a couple of times! Now I have to grasp its idiosyncrasies! I should have asked more questions and payed more attention to you Monte! Any top of the line hints on this model?

Kind Regards,
Steve

 

[Monte]

In no particular order, here are some things to consider:

1.. While I don't care for the 950 coil on some models, such as an IDX Pro, it is a very good coil on the 6000 Pro XL/XL Pro for general searching where targets are not plentiful.

2.. A thin-profile 8" coil is a good "general purpose" coil as well, if you're looking for something other than the 950. I like the 8" on XLT's, but have changed my thinking a bit after some recent side-by-side field work with the 8" & 950 on a 6000 Pro XL and XL Pro. I'll just use my 950.

3.. A 6+" concentric coil is a "must have" for working trashier sites, but with a modified IDX Pro you have the benefit of a dedicated slow-sweep, quick-response model. When I get back into more open areas, I'll mount my 950 again. For now, my Blue Max 600 is at the working end of my XL Pro because I'm hitting parking strips and vacant lots and other places that are a bit trashy.

4.. Use the best headphones you can and set a 'proper' slight audio Threshold.

5.. Do most searching in the GEB-Disc. mode.

6.. Set the Discriminate level control at the lower end of the factory preset marker to mid-point.

7.. Use the highest Signal Balance setting you can while maintaining stability. You can gauge stability by looking at the display with the coil in the operating/searching position. Do NOT hold the coil in the air to try and set the Signal balance. I always start out at maximum and then reduce it, a little at a time, until stability is achieved.

Once tuned and the Air/Ground GB steps have been taken, place the search coil on the ground (metal-free area0 and pull-and-release the mode change/retune trigger to retune or restore the threshold. Look at the meter. The needle should be resting at the '0' and stable. If there is outside EMI, the needle with twitch or swing upscale or down a little. If so, you will want to reduce the Signal Balance JUST TO THE POINT OF STABILTIY. Each time you make a small reduction in the Sig. Bal. control, while holding the coil motionless, trigger-and-release to retune and restore the threshold and reset the needle. Once you get right to the point where the unit is operating stable, you're ready-to-go!.

8.. Using the highest Signal Balance setting achieves a couple of things: You get a little better depth of detection, and you can sweep the search coil slower than with a reduced Sig. Bal. setting.

9.. I ALWAYS search with the Signal balance set as high as I can tolerate and not hear a lot of 'noise' or have instability. However, a high Sig. Bal . setting might not provide an accurate Coin Depth read-out, and changing search coil can also alter the Coin Depth reading. Learn where to set the Signal Balance control for the coil in use to get a 'proper' or very close Coin Depth reading on a typical coin. Use a penny and nickel to determine the best setting.

Place a coin on the ground and sweep the search coil over the target at a measured 5". make sure the coil is off to the side when you trigger into All Metal Pinpoint and bring the coil's center axis directly over the flat-positioned coin at a measured 5". Adjust the Signal Balance control so that you get a 'proper' 5" reading. Make sure you move the coil off to the side and trigger and release to retune the detector after each Sig. Bal. adjustment, then 'pinpoint" the coin again to check the coin depth reading at that setting.

Once you find the Signal Balance setting that is close enough to reflect a 'nice and proper' Coin Depth, use a small colored stick 'dot' or something to mark that control setting., then, when hunting at a higher Signal Balance setting, if you really want a more accurate Coin Depth read-out, quickly adjust the Sig. Bal. to the 'dot' and pinpoint. Make sure you return the control to the searching position you're able to use after pinpointing.

10.. In time, and with practice, you'll learn how to determine the best searching sweep speed for a variety of sites, as well as how to make a good short, repeatable sweep to isolate a potentially good target near a trash target.

* * * * * * * *

In short, it takes time to master the 6000 Pro XL as it does any detector. As you and many other know, I am quite fond of the XL Pro, as well as a few other White's models that are top performers. You & Toni now have three of my five favorite White's models (other than the 6K Pro XL/XL: Pro the others are not in order of preference):

[X] 6000 Pro XL or XL Pro
[X] M6
[_] XLT
[X] modified IDX Pro
[_] MXT

Happy Hunting! E-mail if you have questions.

Monte

 

[ToniSteve]

Hello Monte,
Thank you for the great tips.

Kind Regards,
Steve