New to Minelab Explorer II, question about jumpy and erratic screen

[Just Me]

I just bought a used Minelab Explorer, and have a question.

I am still getting used to using it, and on my first try, I found a silver ring (high pitch noise) and about 35

 

[dewcon4414]

Ive hunted right under and over power lines. Noise cancel most of the time should clear that up in factory settings, especially if you have your coil off the ground. Try it again in your own front yard, make sure you clean between your coil and cover, try another coil if you have one. What kind of pin pointer do you have and were you using it? Did it have this same reaction suspended in the air with no motion? Could be simple EMI, but the Explorers handle it pretty well compared to other machines. Disconnect the coil and see if you still get the same reaction. Also... try disconnecting the coil cable at the box and reconnect it again. Ive had that give me the reaction you are describing to. These things out of the box really work pretty well.

Dew

 

[Just Me]

Thanks for the tips Dew, I will give it a try.

My detector came with an attached Sun Ray probe that has a little toggle box. When I flip it to probe, it hums until I get close to the coin whereupon it becomes silent. I would have expected an opposite functionality, where it' silent and then makes noise when I get close to the metal object. I dont think it works as well as my Garrett Propointer though.

I will detach and clean all the cables, and post back here tomorrow after I get some practice in my yard. I should have trained on some coins that I buried just to get used to this.

 

[Bell]

Try turning your cell phone off, especially if you have a blackberry. As for the probe if you are using it in pinpoint mode make sure you hold it down against a clean piece of ground with no metal in it when you turn it on to desensitize it.

 

[stasys]

usually explorers can work very nice near power lines , just sometimes I have lower sensitivity to 24-22 manual, but its very rare because I hunt not in city, near power transformators 16manual, in case if ti not help try auto sensitivity. I suspect on your explorer it can be sunray probe cable from detector to switch box, take coil of the sunray box and connect coil directly to explorer and it should work ok.

 

[dewcon4414]

The sunray becomes silent close to the coin?? It should hummm that is the threshold. But close to a coin it should show up on the screen and give a tone just like on the big coil. Everything should react the same as when switched in the big coil. Im assuming you dont have it blackend out/disc?? Did you turn on the detector with it switched to probe? Ive often turned mine to probe and walked several feet before realizing ...ooops left it in probe. Remove the upper rod and hook the coil direct to the box bypassing the probe. Do this OUTSIDE not in the house. If you switch to probe you can do about any air tests inside. Id recommend down loading the emulator. Its a great training tool since you can use all the various whistles and bells and know how it should react. The winter is a good time to do it.

Dew

 

[Just Me]

Thank you for all of the advice, I removed and tightened up the cables today and it worked fine. I was very worried yesterday after I just dropped a bunch of cash, and was worried that I was sold a defective MD.

Next thing for me to figure out is the Sun Ray probe.

This was my first post, so thank you all for being so helpful.

Just Me

 

[dewcon4414]

You can play with the probe in the house. It works the same as the main coil. Put it in pin point it pinpoints. While its in pinpoint dont flip the switch to the main coil or you will get a pretty high pitch blast. It has enough depth you can pick up many shallow targets and wont have to dig large holes.

Dew

 

[Just Me]

OK, I finally figured out the Sun Ray probe, I was using it while the Minelab was in "pinpoint" mode instead or regular detect mode.

Thanks again,

 

[dewcon4414]

Ya that would sure do it. Glad you got er going. Now hope you are in a location to get out and have a little fun with it.

Dew