new to metal detecting. just looken for a bit of advice

[mike80]

I got a 3300 and not quite sure what the ground balance is totally for

 

[mwaynebennett]

As you swing the coil over the surface of the earth, the electronics are constantly measuring the impedance and electromagnetic properties etc of the soil. It sets a neutral type threshold and then when the coil passes over an anomaly, that is a "target," that target alters the threshold and shows up on the read-out. The problem is that soils can have water in them, salt in them and other various naturally occurring minerals and the ground balance determines what the "average" for the soil is and then when something out of the ordinary is under the coil, the electronics notify the user.

Mark

 

[mike80]

What about detecting next to sidewalks.. seems like it picks up metal in the cement.. shows like a quarter and and when on pinpoint it hums threw the whole area next to cement. Seen a lot of youtube videos of people finding all kinds of things next to sidewalks

 

[mwaynebennett]

Some sidewalks have reinforcing steel in them. Discriminating out the iron may help however rusted iron can show up as silver. A smaller coil will make it easier to get close to sidewalks etc and not pick up the re-bar.

Mark

 

[jdstawker]

Right now I stay away from concrete. Too much noise. I haven't learned to tune out the iron yet.