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New XL Pro owner saying hi to everyone.
- Thread starter d1g1man
- Start date
david bull
Well-known member
I was an XL PRO owner who purchased a DFX.After 6 months of trying to figure out what it was telling me I sold it and stuck with my PRO.For turn on and go simplicity ,it can't be beat.I use the 5.3 blackmax coil 100% of the time and would be lost without this detector and I am always looking for another for a back up unit!Welcome to the forum.DBULL
david bull
Well-known member
Monte is the king of the PRO! I wish he would make us an instructional video.DBULL
WOW!! Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome!
I thought I would be lucky to get one response. I'm going to do in-line responses. -
----------------------------------------------------------
Daniel A.
"Good to have you here what coils do you use. Dan"
Just the stock, I just got it literally today. I am shopping for accessory coils. Please everyone tell me what coils will work on it. I am for sure going to order the 5.3, 4x6 . Also a Bigfoot when they come back available next month (spoke to Jimmy Sierra). I have almost every coil for my DFX, and a one of a kind coil that no-one else has. I primarily hunt trashy parks and occasionally farmer's fields for whatever I can find.
----------------------------------------------------------
Monte
"With one good accessory coil, or perhaps two, you have a "do-it-all" detector that takes a backseat to NOTHING!
Welcome to the forum.
Monte"
Thank you for those comforting words!. This is exactly what I need. My ears are open to any advice and recommendations that you might have, so far I have learned that the biggest treasure to be found are the kind people that have experience, know how and are willing to share it, priceless!
----------------------------------------------------------
Bowie/John
I really like mine I have the 9.5,8 and 5.3 inch coils. Hope you enjoy yours.
Good luck,
John
Good to hear, and thanks. I could use the luck! there is not much in these parts, mostly poor-folk. So a quarter at the park is an above average find.
----------------------------------------------------------
DBULL;
I was an XL PRO owner who purchased a DFX.After 6 months of trying to figure out what it was telling me I sold it and stuck with my PRO.For turn on and go simplicity ,it can't be beat.I use the 5.3 blackmax coil 100% of the time and would be lost without this detector and I am always looking for another for a back up unit!Welcome to the forum.DBULL
This is probably what is going to happen to me and my DFX. Please tell me about this "blackmax" coil. I have researched this and cannot find a photo or any information about it. All I can find are blue max coils. I am in need of education on this!
----------------------------------------------------------
DBULL
Monte is the king of the PRO! I wish he would make us an instructional video.DBULL
Cool! I'm a really technical guy, I'm ecstatic that there is a kind and willing person that is an expert. Monte- I will be picking your brain!
----------------------------------------------------------
JT
i agree!..hell i think he helped White's design it!
(h.h!)
j.t.
----------------------------------------------------------
Cool, I must admit that when I read the DFX manual it was not that big of a deal, and Jeff Fosters book was helpful, But the XL Pro manual is a different animal. I am going to have to sit down for a day and go over the manual with the detector in hand. Books, I need books!
Thank you again everyone. I will be monitoring this forum/thread daily. I may not get to play with it too much in the next few days as my father is having two surgeries back to back, one for minor skin cancer and the other is having his thyroid removed. I have to be there for that, then on top of it, the next day they are inducing my wife into labor for our first son! So yeah, I have a busy week coming up, but I WILL make it out that door with my new toy!
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and finds something awesome!
I thought I would be lucky to get one response. I'm going to do in-line responses. -
----------------------------------------------------------
Daniel A.
"Good to have you here what coils do you use. Dan"
Just the stock, I just got it literally today. I am shopping for accessory coils. Please everyone tell me what coils will work on it. I am for sure going to order the 5.3, 4x6 . Also a Bigfoot when they come back available next month (spoke to Jimmy Sierra). I have almost every coil for my DFX, and a one of a kind coil that no-one else has. I primarily hunt trashy parks and occasionally farmer's fields for whatever I can find.
----------------------------------------------------------
Monte
"With one good accessory coil, or perhaps two, you have a "do-it-all" detector that takes a backseat to NOTHING!
Welcome to the forum.
Monte"
Thank you for those comforting words!. This is exactly what I need. My ears are open to any advice and recommendations that you might have, so far I have learned that the biggest treasure to be found are the kind people that have experience, know how and are willing to share it, priceless!
----------------------------------------------------------
Bowie/John
I really like mine I have the 9.5,8 and 5.3 inch coils. Hope you enjoy yours.
Good luck,
John
Good to hear, and thanks. I could use the luck! there is not much in these parts, mostly poor-folk. So a quarter at the park is an above average find.
----------------------------------------------------------
DBULL;
I was an XL PRO owner who purchased a DFX.After 6 months of trying to figure out what it was telling me I sold it and stuck with my PRO.For turn on and go simplicity ,it can't be beat.I use the 5.3 blackmax coil 100% of the time and would be lost without this detector and I am always looking for another for a back up unit!Welcome to the forum.DBULL
This is probably what is going to happen to me and my DFX. Please tell me about this "blackmax" coil. I have researched this and cannot find a photo or any information about it. All I can find are blue max coils. I am in need of education on this!
----------------------------------------------------------
DBULL
Monte is the king of the PRO! I wish he would make us an instructional video.DBULL
Cool! I'm a really technical guy, I'm ecstatic that there is a kind and willing person that is an expert. Monte- I will be picking your brain!
----------------------------------------------------------
JT
i agree!..hell i think he helped White's design it!
(h.h!)
j.t.
----------------------------------------------------------
Cool, I must admit that when I read the DFX manual it was not that big of a deal, and Jeff Fosters book was helpful, But the XL Pro manual is a different animal. I am going to have to sit down for a day and go over the manual with the detector in hand. Books, I need books!
Thank you again everyone. I will be monitoring this forum/thread daily. I may not get to play with it too much in the next few days as my father is having two surgeries back to back, one for minor skin cancer and the other is having his thyroid removed. I have to be there for that, then on top of it, the next day they are inducing my wife into labor for our first son! So yeah, I have a busy week coming up, but I WILL make it out that door with my new toy!
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and finds something awesome!
david bull
Well-known member
Ken;blackmax 5.3 &bluemax 5.3 are the same basic coil other than the color & decals.DBULL
Thanks guys, I think I have a handle on the coils.
I found an 8" Pro scan on eBay and it's on it's way. Calling my dealer tomorrow morning and ordering the 5.3 and little snooper coil, lost the auction on the BIGFOOT.
---------------
I did manage to get out into my backyard today.
The common coins that I buried are at at 6" were picked up quite well by the XL, where the DFX just could not do it no matter what
.
That's a good sign! (especially since they are freshly buried and the ground matrix is scrambled) I am starting to like this detector!
The lack of tone ID is no big deal, the actual sound produced by the detector is quite pleasing to the ear.
I was really surprised to see that it would "lock on" to a coin target, and that it actually had the de-tune feature that the DFX'rs call "ratchet pinpointing".
I finally understand what "dead nutts" means!
-----------------
Using GEB/DISC is no problem, simple and fast. I verified the GB as the manual dictates and it was spot on.
I know my soil here is right on the border between low and medium mineral content, which leads me to want to experiment with TR/DISC.
My only problem is that I do not understand the TR/DISC mode. I really want to try to utilize it. I read the manual, go outside to the back garden and phhht.
Things just fall apart from there. The manual has me confused!
So far I understand it as this, maybe Monte or some of you can help:
1. You can treat it just as you do the GEB/DISC and crank up the SIG BAL, detuning the SIG BAL CC until you can get a solid ground balance with the DISC where ever you want it.. (accept nickel and above). While utilizing the AUTO GB feature.
OR
2. You CAN NOT treat it as GEB/DISC (all of #1) Setting the AUTO GB to Lock and then detuning the SIG BAL from max to bad ground using the DISC knob to manually ground balance, giving you an all metal motion mode. Don't we already have two of those with GEB/SAT and GEB/NORM?
It makes me think that TR/DISC is a NON-MOTION mode for LOW MIN, then it seems like it says is a NON-MOTION mode for all metal in HEAVY mineralization (Manual pages pages 27-28 )
Or perhaps, it's just GEB/DISC on TURBO, freed up from the performance detracting ground minerals?
Would someone please slap some sense into me and tell me what TR/DISC IS and IS Not and what it CAN and CAN NOT do? It just drives me batty that I cannot figure this out! I am not going to venture out to hunt unless I at least understand this mode and can ground balance the thing!
Thanks! Ken
I found an 8" Pro scan on eBay and it's on it's way. Calling my dealer tomorrow morning and ordering the 5.3 and little snooper coil, lost the auction on the BIGFOOT.
---------------
I did manage to get out into my backyard today.
The common coins that I buried are at at 6" were picked up quite well by the XL, where the DFX just could not do it no matter what
. That's a good sign! (especially since they are freshly buried and the ground matrix is scrambled) I am starting to like this detector!
The lack of tone ID is no big deal, the actual sound produced by the detector is quite pleasing to the ear.
I was really surprised to see that it would "lock on" to a coin target, and that it actually had the de-tune feature that the DFX'rs call "ratchet pinpointing".
I finally understand what "dead nutts" means!
-----------------
Using GEB/DISC is no problem, simple and fast. I verified the GB as the manual dictates and it was spot on.
I know my soil here is right on the border between low and medium mineral content, which leads me to want to experiment with TR/DISC.
My only problem is that I do not understand the TR/DISC mode. I really want to try to utilize it. I read the manual, go outside to the back garden and phhht.
Things just fall apart from there. The manual has me confused!So far I understand it as this, maybe Monte or some of you can help:
1. You can treat it just as you do the GEB/DISC and crank up the SIG BAL, detuning the SIG BAL CC until you can get a solid ground balance with the DISC where ever you want it.. (accept nickel and above). While utilizing the AUTO GB feature.
OR
2. You CAN NOT treat it as GEB/DISC (all of #1) Setting the AUTO GB to Lock and then detuning the SIG BAL from max to bad ground using the DISC knob to manually ground balance, giving you an all metal motion mode. Don't we already have two of those with GEB/SAT and GEB/NORM?
It makes me think that TR/DISC is a NON-MOTION mode for LOW MIN, then it seems like it says is a NON-MOTION mode for all metal in HEAVY mineralization (Manual pages pages 27-28 )
Or perhaps, it's just GEB/DISC on TURBO, freed up from the performance detracting ground minerals?
Would someone please slap some sense into me and tell me what TR/DISC IS and IS Not and what it CAN and CAN NOT do? It just drives me batty that I cannot figure this out! I am not going to venture out to hunt unless I at least understand this mode and can ground balance the thing!
Thanks! Ken
david bull
Well-known member
Ken;my second whites was a 6db which I used exclusively in the tr mode.From what I understood the tr mode would ignore iron and still pick up higher conducting metals.My method ,similar to geb/disc,was as follows;use discriminator as usual-signal at preset-hold detector 2"-3' above ground and click trigger-this basicly ground balances detector-lower unit to ground and slowly sweep,this is a nonmotion mode.Please note this detector will lock and target id in all modes!!However,if you lift the coil above your gb height the detector will become unstable.Iron masking will still occur(nail over coin)but a coin next to iron will be id'd.I'm sure the king can explain this better but this is agood basic method for using the tr/disc mode.DBULL
the manual from Whites website. It is in PDF form so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Something else I did. I did searches on various forums on the XL Pro. I copied all of the good technical and user comments and put them into a folder on my desktop. I go back from time to time and read them.
One thing Ive never done, used the TR Disc mode. Ive found a lot of silver in the SAT , just never really read much on the TR Disc. Maybe Ill buy one of the small 4 inch coils and give it a try.
I have a 6/db sitting in a closet. It was one of my Fathers machines. I have never used it.
HH
John
Something else I did. I did searches on various forums on the XL Pro. I copied all of the good technical and user comments and put them into a folder on my desktop. I go back from time to time and read them.
One thing Ive never done, used the TR Disc mode. Ive found a lot of silver in the SAT , just never really read much on the TR Disc. Maybe Ill buy one of the small 4 inch coils and give it a try.
I have a 6/db sitting in a closet. It was one of my Fathers machines. I have never used it.
HH
John
d1g1man said:So far I understand it as this, maybe Monte or some of you can help:
1. You can treat it just as you do the GEB/DISC and crank up the SIG BAL, detuning the SIG BAL CC until you can get a solid ground balance with the DISC where ever you want it.. (accept nickel and above). While utilizing the AUTO GB feature.[size=medium]... You can increase the Signal Balance in the TR-Disc. mode, which functions like many models that use the term "Gain" or "Sensitivity" or "Pre-Amp Gain." I tend to set the Signal Balance as high as possible and still be able to maintain stable operation, regardless of the operating mode.
You DO NOT use the Signal Balance control to set the Ground Balance in any mode. In the TR-Discriminate mode, regardless of where you have the Sig. Bal. control set, you can MANUALLY GROUND BALANCE the XL Pro by using the lower-range for Ground Reject of the Disc. control as a coarse GB adjustment.[/size]
OR
2. You CAN NOT treat it as GEB/DISC (all of #1) Setting the AUTO GB to Lock and then detuning the SIG BAL from max to bad ground using the DISC knob to manually ground balance, giving you an all metal motion mode. Don't we already have two of those with GEB/SAT and GEB/NORM?[size=medium]... Maybe you're even getting me confused with your post!
The Auto-Trac function is only applicable when hunting in the GEB-Norm or GEB-Disc. or GEB-SAT modes. The Auto-Trac is simply an auto-tracking circuitry that will establish a functional GB for the mode chose at a given site.
It has no bearing on the function of the TR-Disc. mode.
As I stated earlier, you CAN make a manual GB adjustment in TR-Disc. by using the lower-end of the expanded Discriminate range. This will provide you with a non-motion All Metal search mode.
The Signal Balance control doesn't have anything to do with the actual GB function in any mode, except to help control the pre-amp gain of the received signal. The "Bad Ground" region of the Sig. Bal. control is there to acknowledge that some highly mineralized ground can, at times, cause you to have problems and you can't use a higher Signal Balance setting.
Yes, GEB-SAT and GEB-Norm are your All Metal, ground balanced search modes. But the ability to manually set such an operating mode is there if the operator chooses to use it.[/size]
It makes me think that TR/DISC is a NON-MOTION mode for LOW MIN, then it seems like it says is a NON-MOTION mode for all metal in HEAVY mineralization (Manual pages pages 27-28 )[size=medium]... It's there because sometimes a savvy operator would like to have manual control, and it can be handy for a serious nugget hunter ass well.[/size]
Or perhaps, it's just GEB/DISC on TURBO, freed up from the performance detracting ground minerals?[size=medium]... Nope.[/size]
Would someone please slap some sense into me and tell me what TR/DISC IS and IS Not and what it CAN and CAN NOT do? It just drives me batty that I cannot figure this out! I am not going to venture out to hunt unless I at least understand this mode and can ground balance the thing![size=medium]... TR-Disc. IS a conventional discriminate mode of operation that will correctly reject problem trash, especially iron, in the order of it's conductivity qualities and isn't 'fooled' by some trash (such as bottle caps) like a motion-based GEB-Disc. mode.
TR-Disc. IS handy at times when you're sampling ore specimens, or even hunting in a very iron-littered site .
TR-Disc. IS NOT as easy to use due to the falsing caused by changes in the coil/ground relationship. It IS NOT as easy to use due to the fact that in "bad ground" it will not have the depth of detection (ground handling abilities) of a motion-based Discriminate mode (GEB-Disc.).[/size]
Thanks! Ken
[size=medium]Monte[/size]
Thank you for your response Monte. And your right. I am so totally confused on this I can not even explain it.
I have spent a day with the detector and gone over the manual again.
I am going to take my time and try to do a better job explaining myself. I really do want to understand my detector and it's modes.
However, toying with it in the yard, manual in hand is not working.
So I am depending on you!
--
I'm going to approach this as if I am standing in the yard with the detector in hand, reporting my findings and failures.
My confusion has to do with manual ground balance and tr disc, there are a couple things I want to touch on before I proceed.
--
"You DO NOT use the Signal Balance control to set the Ground Balance in any mode."
I agree, and I think I understand you that you do not use it to set the ground balance, the DISC is used for that (or auto GB). However it is a factor is it not in acquiring a good/proper ground balance to achieve good depth?
The signal balance is an independent control (not having a second function if mode switch is changed).
It's singular function is to increase/decrease the amount of signal received by the detector from the coil.
Assuming that the SIG BAL is set at max, fully clockwise one must gradually decrease this control until ground balance can be obtained (auto or manual).
This makes sense to me as if the mineral content of the ground is low, it allows the circuit to reach deep into the ground without having much signal reflection.
If we have a lot of minerals in the ground, the signal just gets thrown right back at the coil, therefore we need to decrease the SIG BAL (GAIN) to match it to the amount of reflected signal from the ground that the detector can handle.
Does this seem correct to you Monte?
--
I think what is most perplexing to me in the TR DISC mode is this.
When I set all controls to P with the exception of the MODE to TR DISC and AUTO GB to LOCK.
I can adjust the DISC to an EXTREMELY fine setting and get it to ground balance. The DISC setting is in the "Ground Reject" area of the control.
Now here is where the confusion comes in. No how do I increase my DISCRIMINATION to nickels, or can I?
I have it in the lock position, but by ground balancing with the DISC control where it must be in the Ground Reject area, is this not basically all metals accepted and minerals rejected?
I guess what this boils down to, is how do I properly ground balance the machine in TR DISC mode and THEN increase my DISCRIMINATION to P (nickels) without compromising my ground balance. I do not see how to get both at the same time or even if I can get both at the same time.
I am just trying to figure out what TR DISC will do and won't do, and to properly set up whatever it is that it will do.
The manual is not helping me with this.
I have spent a day with the detector and gone over the manual again.
I am going to take my time and try to do a better job explaining myself. I really do want to understand my detector and it's modes.
However, toying with it in the yard, manual in hand is not working.
So I am depending on you!
--
I'm going to approach this as if I am standing in the yard with the detector in hand, reporting my findings and failures.
My confusion has to do with manual ground balance and tr disc, there are a couple things I want to touch on before I proceed.
--
"You DO NOT use the Signal Balance control to set the Ground Balance in any mode."
I agree, and I think I understand you that you do not use it to set the ground balance, the DISC is used for that (or auto GB). However it is a factor is it not in acquiring a good/proper ground balance to achieve good depth?
The signal balance is an independent control (not having a second function if mode switch is changed).
It's singular function is to increase/decrease the amount of signal received by the detector from the coil.
Assuming that the SIG BAL is set at max, fully clockwise one must gradually decrease this control until ground balance can be obtained (auto or manual).
This makes sense to me as if the mineral content of the ground is low, it allows the circuit to reach deep into the ground without having much signal reflection.
If we have a lot of minerals in the ground, the signal just gets thrown right back at the coil, therefore we need to decrease the SIG BAL (GAIN) to match it to the amount of reflected signal from the ground that the detector can handle.
Does this seem correct to you Monte?
--
I think what is most perplexing to me in the TR DISC mode is this.
When I set all controls to P with the exception of the MODE to TR DISC and AUTO GB to LOCK.
I can adjust the DISC to an EXTREMELY fine setting and get it to ground balance. The DISC setting is in the "Ground Reject" area of the control.
Now here is where the confusion comes in. No how do I increase my DISCRIMINATION to nickels, or can I?
I have it in the lock position, but by ground balancing with the DISC control where it must be in the Ground Reject area, is this not basically all metals accepted and minerals rejected?
I guess what this boils down to, is how do I properly ground balance the machine in TR DISC mode and THEN increase my DISCRIMINATION to P (nickels) without compromising my ground balance. I do not see how to get both at the same time or even if I can get both at the same time.
I am just trying to figure out what TR DISC will do and won't do, and to properly set up whatever it is that it will do.
The manual is not helping me with this.
Okay, here we go.d1g1man said:
Signal Balance is used to adjust maximum sensitivity while remaining stability.d1g1man said:
The terminology used for controls by manufacturers can often become a bit confusing. For example, let's look at the term "Signal Balance." It has been very easy for newcomers to consider this term to refer to the act of balancing the audio signal similar to "Ground Balance" where-by we balance the circuitry so that the audio Threshold sound (signal) remains the same from a low height to the ground.d1g1man said:
Over the many years this control function and terminology has been used on the 5900 and 6000 Di Pro SL's and 6000 Pro XL and XL Pro, I have continued to encounter some hobbyists who think of it as a direct function of Ground Balance, but it isn't.
On the XLT and DFX, this same function is named Pre Amp Gain, not Signal Balance, and that's a better term to use in my opinion.
.
Rather than look at it as reducing the control until Ground Balance can be achieved, simply think of it as a stability control, that you reduce until you achieve stability .. regardless of the operating mode you are using. For best depth of detection and target responsiveness, you want to operate with the Signal Balance set as high as possible WITHOUT being unstable.d1g1man said:
A higher Sig. Bal. setting will also allow a slower sweep speed. The best way to achieve a good Signal Balance setting with one of these analog display models is to first adjust a 'proper' slight audio Threshold and, if possible, do a quick GB using the Auto-Trac. circuitry to get close to the existing conditions.
Next, place the search coil on the ground or very close to it (
Thank you Monte, for bearing with me through this and all of your help!
I picked up an Eliminator coil and hit a tot lot this morning to try it out.
The tot lot is elevated about a foot off the ground, wood chips with a soil base. All of the playground equipment is made of metal pipe, and I could only get so close with the 5.3 and the snooper. The targets were few and far between. After flagging some targets down I experimented with the TR DISC. I think I finally got it figured out. I think I was just trying too hard.
Due to the small physical area of the tot lot, I ran around it in geb disc with minimum disc. I dug one of those little snap buttons like those on western shirts at about 5.5-6"" and another one later at 2". After finding those, I got a reassuring feeling that I must have it set right to get a good signal on such a small target at that depth.
There is a knee high fence made of what looks like 3" iron pipe that runs the circumfrence of the parking area. I could not detect under that pipe before. It was basicially virgin area, I filled my pocket with clad. I think it was around $4.50. Couple of nice wheaties in there, nothing special though.
I am considering one thing that I read somewhere, might even have been you that said it but I don't remember. I think I might sell my XL Pro.
I think I would be much better off with a manual ground balance. I need to find the posting of which model that was nearest to the XL Pro but with the manual GB, 5900 I think? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thank you again for all of your help. Happy new year, and I owe you one!
I picked up an Eliminator coil and hit a tot lot this morning to try it out.
The tot lot is elevated about a foot off the ground, wood chips with a soil base. All of the playground equipment is made of metal pipe, and I could only get so close with the 5.3 and the snooper. The targets were few and far between. After flagging some targets down I experimented with the TR DISC. I think I finally got it figured out. I think I was just trying too hard.
Due to the small physical area of the tot lot, I ran around it in geb disc with minimum disc. I dug one of those little snap buttons like those on western shirts at about 5.5-6"" and another one later at 2". After finding those, I got a reassuring feeling that I must have it set right to get a good signal on such a small target at that depth.
There is a knee high fence made of what looks like 3" iron pipe that runs the circumfrence of the parking area. I could not detect under that pipe before. It was basicially virgin area, I filled my pocket with clad. I think it was around $4.50. Couple of nice wheaties in there, nothing special though.
I am considering one thing that I read somewhere, might even have been you that said it but I don't remember. I think I might sell my XL Pro.
I think I would be much better off with a manual ground balance. I need to find the posting of which model that was nearest to the XL Pro but with the manual GB, 5900 I think? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thank you again for all of your help. Happy new year, and I owe you one!