New user of the MXT

[Larry John]

I have just bought the MXT and need to learn how to use it right.
I tried using it in my back yard knowing there is lots of assorted metal in the ground from my wood working and mechanics to home remodeling.
After trying it, just confused me for all the changes the display was going through.

Makes plenty noise too as it finds something.
I really do want to learn how to use it as it is designed to use and have read how effective it is from those of you who own one.
Really appreciate this site

 

[Larry John]

This by: Aarong81 is what I am looking for and know it is going to take some time and experimentation to learn this he shared...and I appreciate
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Larry John
Thanks for the welcome.
So far I am more confused about reading everything it is doing and saying than anything.
Seems it bounces from iron to 25 cents and back again over all most every time it makes a sound.
I know I need time to find out how to use it correctly, sure do not know yet


Aarong8
Larry, that sounds pretty typical AS LONG AS it is bouncing and not locking. If the bars that indicate how sure the machine is of the target ID are not present it is normal for the VDI's to bounce. If you mean it is chattering while sweeping, that is also typical for the MXT, Some ppl complain it is noisier than other models but we learn to accept that. The ONLY time you should take any stock in what the VDI's are showing on screen is when you get a consistant tone from a target and the screen shows mostly solid bars indicating it is pretty sure of the ID. Even then it is just a guestimate as there are way to many similar items that read the same(melted aluminum reads as silver quarter, ect). I suggest you start a new thread asking a few specific questions on this very topic so you will get some really good advice from the MXT folks here. We all like to explain the MXT's personalities.

 

[Aarong81]

One thing to watch closely is the battery status. The only way to see the voltage is when you first turn the detector on, it shows the voltage on the screen. Once it is on, the only time it displays any status is BAT LOW. I experience more noise and chattering when the battery voltage is below 10 volts but it is still usable as long as I put up with the chattering.

What does your MXT act like when you find a consistant target? When you make very small sweeps(about 3 inch wide) directly over that target, what does your screen show for VDI's? And when your MXT is making a lot of noise while the VDI's jump around a lot, is the vertical bar(target ID indicator) full or very small?

Your MXT may very well say '25 Cent' pretty often from very small signals that are caused by mineralization and trash. I only care about what the screen says when the bar directly below the indicated target type is pretty full as seen in this image, otherwise it is not sure what its seeing and just bouncing around....
http://www.blossomhillbooks.com/bimages/MXT1.jpg
When you recognize the difference between random chattering and a consistant target signal, only then can you start finding those really deep faint signals. When I first used the MXT I was digging a lot of empty holes because I heard beeps but the detector would not pinpoint much of anything where it made a beep. I figured it was a really deep target beyond the pinpoint range but instead it was just the MXT chattering and I was taking too much stock in those random '25 cent' indications on screen but the screen did NOT show any bar below it. If you pay attention to that bar on screen you will most likely notice it is mostly full (confident) when it bounces to IRON but non-existant (unsure) when it bounces to quarter.

 

[Larry John]

After reading what you have to teach, went out back and feel like I am getting a feel for it.
I know I am better at it today than I was yesterday

 

[Nancy-IL]

Congrats on your new MXT. You'll love it after you use it a few times and the more you use it, the more you'll know it. I love mine...........all these years!!! HH, Nancy

 

[Weekend Warrior]

Congrats on your new MXT. I love mine. If you haven't seen it yet Jeff Fosters book "The Edge" is a great resource

 

[Larry John]

I do appreciate the welcome and good wishes.
I am thinking finding a good place to use it is going to be my greatest challenge... for coins anyway.
Being in Colorado and loving the mountains, I intend to use it for gold next spring...God willing

 

[Aarong81]

get a very small coil for nugget hunting, The 4x6 shooter coil is well suited for that. The 5.3 coil is probably in the same class as well.

 

[Larry John]

Thanks again, I have been watching lots of videos showing how the MXT is best used with the different coils but getting a personal direction for my intention makes me glad to have found this site.

 

[BarberBill]

Use the devil out of it and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll learn its quirks and language. Keep the threshold just audible and back off the sensitivity if you get too much chatter. IMHO those that complain bout EXCESSIVE noise and/or chatter aren't setting the machine properly.
BB

 

[Larry John]

I have been surprised how quickly I am learning to let it tell me what to dig and not to dig.
Went to a local park to get some teaching and let it tell me when to dig and when not to.
I dug up about 12 items, 10 were coins.
Nothing of any real value other than a new confidence in the machine itself

 

[Aarong81]

Thats really good, I just went to my local park yesterday and got some more confidence myself. I try not to dig all the junk signals in a park since there are SO many of them so I limit my digs on pulltab/nickel signals. I dug several pulltabs but also dug nearly as many nickels which seems like a good average for me. I'm getting pretty good at guessing pulltabs and nickels before digging now. There will be some pulltabs that always convince me but nickels can be a really fun target to try for. MANY detectorist before us left all the nickels in the ground so theres lots of buffalo's, V's and Shield's out there if you dare to dig the +16 to +22 range.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

+ 16 to + 22 is a range that I've found ladies gold rings

 

[mxt-user]

Throw some different coins out in your yard and sweep over them to learn the different VDI numbers. Do alot of air testing. Practice ground balancing. I spent all last winter learning mine. You will learn even more as you take it out as use it more often.

 

[dufferhead]

Don't let the fact that it's been hunted allot. And dig all good targets. patience is a virtue

 

[bula]

I have had my mxt for 4 years now & still learning, I do not pay much attention to anything other than the vdi. I have used it enough to know what the coil is over, with parctice you will learn to. In the soil that I hunt if the vdi shows 62 to 72 it will be a zincoln if it is 78 to 82 a wheat or penny before 1983 due to the amount of copper in the coin. I have the 10" d2 6x10 dd & the 4x6 dd & I would suggest that you get a smaller coil it is much easyer to learn with than using the larger ones.

 

[Aarong81]

I have the D2 and it is picking out some good targets for me in trashy areas with iron, ect. I find Indian Head cents with a VDI of +50 to +60 and sometimes a silver dime that shows a bouncy +30 with mainly -80 Iron grunts. Most people won't take the time to dig junk signals which makes me really happy. The past 3 or 4 days have averaged at least one silver per hunt including a beautiful barber dime, two Indian Head cents, Several V nickels and a buffalo, all during the same 4 days. When you're the one trying to find good targets missed by serious veteran metal detectorists before you, you have to dig junk signals.....Or not, more for me.
If all good targets gave a good signal there wouldn't be any left to find. Here are examples of JUNK signals mixed with iron from the same hunt a couple days ago......
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/6762_10152896314105001_1331860352_n.jpg