newbie questions

[barfly]

I have stalked your group here for the past few months. Not sure I have learned much, but its been entertaining. Now I find myself asking for help that I didn't see answered in your postings. Enough rambling n' to the point. I use the Garrett GTI 2500, still learning to use it. So far I am becoming a master at finding surface clad and beer tabs. Almost always my imaging says anything 12-inches down is bigger than a beer can, so i have never dug any craters deeper than 6 inches so far. Does anyone else dig these craters and find the good stuff there? Another newbie question please....as a general rule i leave my metal detector in the trunk. Can it handle this mild but still cold Atlanta winters? I suspect most will recommend I not do this, but in reality can it handle the cold? One more question, is there any live, real time chat that anyone uses to meet and chit chat?
Whether anyone replies to my many questions, I will continue to read enjoy your postings and experiences. Thanks for being here

Barfly

 

[Wirechief]

Hi Barfly and very nice to meet you! Welcome to this forum and you have legitimate questions. I have personally not used the 2500, I hope to eventually. As far as digging really deep, it all depends on where I'm at. I have access to farmland and there are no restrictions on depth of course. In public locations you need to be good at probing and plugging. As far as doing the trunk thing I personally do not do that. I always keep my detectors in the house and when going to a location I have them on the passengers side in the vehicle. Extreme cold can be hard on LCD displays but as an example, I have a 2 meter mobile ham radio in the pickup that has an LCD readout and I know that extreme heat will affect it so much that you can't tell what it says until it cools down. But it has never failed me. But extreme cold is hard on LCD displays also. I have a friend that has a Coinstrike and I know he has had it in extreme heat and cold environments and his display when turned off or on has a dark blotch on it where the liquid has bled out.
As far as chat rooms I think that there is one on the Treasure Quest website Barfly. Ok I hope I have not thoroughly confused you and in general how are you liking your 2500? I will CU later Barfly and God Bless ya and much success in your detecting adventures.

John T., CET
John's Detectors

 

[Dang]

I left a detector in my car once. It was stolen not more then 75 feet from where I slept.

 

[barfly]

thanks WIrechief, You sold me. Just the thought of losing my LCD to cold weather, i will not be leaving it in the car again. As a matter of fact, if i get much more addicted to this hobbie, I will be sleeping with my detector. I like my detector and know it is capable of doing many things. I just have to go through the slow process of learning how to use it. Right now its only good for those 1" deep coins. I pretty much know according to size and bell tone what i am gonna dig up at that depth. Any thing else is a shot in the dark. I do wonder if there's any other GTI2500 users out there that i could ask specific questions about this machine? Any help might cut down on my learning process.

 

[grumpy]

Barfly
Hope your wife dont mind you sleeping with that thing cause its rather bulky. I cant say what your weather is but I keep my 2500 in the back of my jeep or tahoe all the time because I want it when I get ready to use it and dont want to have to remember to load and unload it all the time. I know you have heard some good points that cold can hurt the liquid screens I can only speak for mine I live in Colorado at over 6000 ft. and it gets about 14 below but my vehicles are in a garage and the coldest I have checked it in there has been about 20 above and so far knock on wood all works fine.
The learning curve on the 2500 is actually pretty easy, again my opinion and we know what thats worth. If you hunt in zero (not all metals) and in jewelery if you are getting to much trash in zero you will get plenty of action and at least here we dig about 6 inches max unless it is open ground but in parks 8 or 9 inches is real deep and require a careful plug and good probe. Most of what we get in coins comes from 0 to 4 inches in our area. A good pinpointer or probe is really a good investment. If you dig only beltones and if using imagining only B size you are going to miss some things including coins. Some coins come in at places that blow my mind like a quater at 1.5 and a 11.5 I have had both and a dime at a A and nickel at a C. So the way I dig is if it is a good sound and the target curser is stable or sort of stable I usually dig it I do dig pull tabs but once you get used to the sounds and where your machine USUALLY puts targets you will get far less of them. Good sounds dont just mean belltones but good even both direction sounds. Most coins belltone but all belltones are not coins by any means. Nickels and pulltabs are almost identical but if you are lucky and listen real close a nickel will be a little more flat or bass sound. If you pinpoint a target and it will not get stable wanders to wide and such just not a good solid point , if it wonders everywhere its usually wire , if it goes in a straight line its usually a pipe. We hunt a lot of schools and find that C size that belltone are usually batterys from walkmans. My machine will also frequently read 12 at 1 inch and if you pinpoint it with a probe or pinpointer and it is not at 1 inch its a pop can at 8 to 12 inches every time. Hope some of this BS will help you out and if you have any other questions ask away I have found there are lots of guys on here that have forgotten more than I will ever know as the old saying goes.
Good Luck.
Grumpy

 

[barfly]

Nice points there Grumpy, much appreciated. I recently invested in a pin-pointer, the Automax V2 and took it with me this weekend. I didn't find more, but it sure did make it easier to find what i found. I like the imaging feature using the 9.5 coil. I also have a 5x10 non-imaging scorcher but only used it once and never dug anything up other than trash. Maybe one day i will get good nuff without the imaging feature and try again. Is it normal for this machine to display D and E at 12"? Time and time again i get pretty strong signals at 12". Due to the size it displays I have always avoided digging it up. I wonder if i shouldn't dig a few up just to get a preview of whats there. I guess I got it in my mind i would find a beer can down there. I usually switch back an forth between all metal and coin( is coin what you call zero?) I will try jewelry and less all metal next time out. I fear i will wear out the treasure imaging(pinpoint) button. I constantly use it trying to get a fix on where to dig. I hope this machine will hold up to my abusing that button. I have rambled on long nuff. Again, thanks for your comments, its nice to meet an experienced user of the 2500. I look forward to the day i can give advice rather than ask for it.

 

[saika/ace250]

Howdy Wirechief, I just want to ask a question about your monicker. Are you a "telephone man"? The reason I ask, is that Wirechief is a no longer used telephone company term.

 

[NM5K]

I'm using a 250, so don't have imaging, etc, but I have
stumbled across the deep targets too. I was digging one
yesterday in fact. But I quit digging, after not finding
anything down to about 8 inches. But....My pinpointer still
shows a target where I was digging, so I may dig more later.
I had one or two others like that... The target I was digging
yesterday showed 8+ inches, and rang rarely much like a coin,
but of course, so do rusty nails... But I think there is
probably something down there, and I'd like to see what it is.
As far as cars, I prefer not to let them see freezing wx, or
real hot. Some hot trunks can melt plastic. In average wx, it's
probably no problem. Here, I've noticed most coins at appx 2-4
inches. I haven't dug any super deep coins yet. I've found some
pennys that I'm fairly sure were lost about the time this house
was built in 59. They don't seem to be much deeper than a penny
lost in the late 70's or 80's. It's kinda like they drop to a
certain point, and then kinda stop. But, nothings fer sure... :/
MK

 

[grumpy]

Barfly;
Im far far from an experienced or an expert on this machine, I just have learned a few things in the couple of years I have had it and feel maybe it will save you some time. Pinpointer I use a white bullseye II and the wife operates it. I also have a sunray probe straped to the stem and use it if the target is real hard to find, dimes usually are the ones that are the evasive ones. I have a 12.5, 9.5 imag. and a 5 by 10 and a 4.5 scorcher. I would reccomend you use the 9.5 and stay out of real trashy areas if you can for a few hours and play with it. When you get comfortable and get into schools and parks with trash and coins together I never use anything but the two small ones. The 9.5 is a wonderful coil but if you get a constant target signal not the phone ringing sound of an overload but target by target real fast its because there are so many so close together you have a hard time seperating them (this is where the two small ones susceed) then you have to really listen this is why it is better to start in my opinion (if I had it to do over) in like a open cleaner area of a park or ball field where you and machine can get to know each other. Pinpointing with the 2500 first if you are searching and find a target sound go past it not on top of it and push the button to pinpoint and come back over where it should be slow and center it with the sound. Your target should be in the hole and if you have the image turned on it will tell you the size and depth. For the first six months I thought everytime the gal said five B or five C and found out my hearing it is SIZE not Five ( mary got a laugh) (mary is the gal at garrett you need to get to know WONDERFUL and SMART and most HELPFUL). The size in most cases are pretty close as is the depth (unless its the 1 inch thing at 12" can) but remember its not 6 inches into the ground it 6 inches from the bottom of that coil. If your 3 inches up and it says 4 inches the coin is about 1 inch under so if your 3 inches up with the coil over 3 inch grass and it says 6 inches it usually is just on top or barely covered up. It is the conductivity rating that I find the most evasive thing to use to determine if I dig or not. As mentioned it can be widely varing. I think a lot of this is due to the position of the object especially coins laying in the ground.
First thing I would get is a rain cover for the 2500 it helps keep the pinpoint button clean. Your hands get dirt on them and when you push the button it gets dirty and will start to stick when it is pushed in causing you to hunt for a while with out being turned on. I check mine on my shoe eyes (metal) once in awhile if things are to quite to make sure Im working. Even with a cover I have found this little guy will stick at times. Also mine has at times I push the pinpoint button and go over the target area and cant get any sound at all I let go and re push and it works. This condition Im told is a computer sticking or something and to fix it you reboot (hold the on button five seconds till it tells you its reset) and it fixes it for a while. But I dont think you can technically ware out the button or operation per say. At least not without lots of use.
Digging 12 inch deep targets if they say D or E you can but all I ever found in modern areas were beer cans now if you are relic hunting I d look. If you get a 12 inch A B or C I would check it out but you can find the size and such changing as you dig. I dont understand it but you start a hole and it says B at 12 inches and you re check it it says D or E at 10 inches this I think is some odd thing that happens to metal when it is encrusted for a long time in the soil and puts off a miss leading Ora or something like that that cause false readings especially on size. This may be because of the mineralized area I am in I dont Know for sure. Also if you are in an area where there were civil war activity and such I would probally dig anything that sounded interesting if I were where I could and not
harm the landscape where I couldnt put it back.
No coin and zero are different. Push the button to turn the machine on when it comes on you push menu button once and it will say on the leftside coin, jewelry, relic, zero or custom not sure the order and you will be hunting in one of these you push plus or minus button to change to one or the other. Push operate and return to operate. Get in each and notice what is notched out at the top row of little squares. Coins has the most notched out just hunts coins and zero has nothing notched out. Jewl. has a few notched out mostly iron. You can also push the desc button and bounce from one to another back and forth between th last two you used. Also All metals button will pick up even more than zero but all metals will not tone diff. it has no beltone in all metals that I have found all targets sound the same.
Well better get sorry to be so mouthy hope it helps there wonderful machines and worlds of fun.
Grumpy

PS Above all remember the magic word "MARY"

 

[Wirechief]

Hello Saika, well I'm an FCC licensed 2nd Class Radiotelegraph op., and a Ham Radio op..I use morse code mostly so I decided I would use Wirechief as my handle here on the forum since I use a key on radio. I love CW and QRP. By the way it is very nice to meet you Saika. I'm curious what your weaponry is for detecting? Thanks for the inquiry. Ok I will chat with you later and keep the coil to the soil mi amigo! God Bless you also.

John Tomlinson, CET
John's Detectors C-Scope USA

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ !

 

[Uncle Willy]

Apparently you aren't passing your coil over any deep coins. The 2500 is a deep seeker. The imaging is only accurate to a certain depth. You didn't say whether you are getting the overload signal on certain targets. Have you hunted in all metal or just coin mode. I've pulled coins from 12-14 inches with the 2500.

This machine has a bit of a learning curve and one has to spend some time with it. What kind of areas do you hunt?

Bill

 

[NM5K]

I used to work loads of CW. But have been kinda
slacking the past few years. My code speed is slowly
dwindling down. I can still do 30 wpm or so tho...
I used to do 55-60 wpm back in the 80's...:/
What bands you like? Maybe yak at you one of these days.
MK

 

[barfly]

Hi Uncle Willy, as a general rule I have been flipping between all metal and coin modes but use coin mode more often that all metal.

As for the overload signal, I seem to only recieve that at surface or very near surface trash. I have avoided 12" diggings so far, they seem to always read D or E size. If i ever get a good hit at 12" where it doesnt get a constant signal over a large area ( reminds me of a pipe in the ground), I may dig that crater.

So far I have been hitting rental houses that are empty (i usually do the service work for a local realitor). As a general rule renters seem to like tossing pennies and i have pretty good luck finding those surface to 1" zincs.

Another location, a lake my uncle built back in the late 50's, recently bought and turned into a park by the city is another location I have been frequenting. It had always been a favorite drinking and fishing hangout over the years, but so far I have only found those recent surface coins. I have given up digging the A size there, so far everywhere i did dig was either a fishing hook or sinker, though i have found a few recent dimes that seemed to have a different signal. The park covers several acres and i have only covered a small area, hoping i may yet find something good there. Unfortunately the city closes the gates for the weekend, i can only assume its to detour the rumored drug trades there(the park is pretty isolated.)

I have tryed a few older homestead locations but have had little to no luck. The areas seem to be heavily trashed and even in coin mode i get constant mixed signals. I have learned to avoid the double beep( seems to always be nails). The accept/reject option seems to be worthless to me cause when i reject a signal, it comes right back when i try pinpointing what mighta been a coin next to that nail signal. Is this normal? I didnt see anything in the users manual to tell me.

Per Grumpy's suggestion to use Zero mode, I havent been able to tell the difference between it and all-metal but have every intention to use more zero rather than all-metal, hopefully the differences will click in for me. BTW, thanks Grumpy, your input has been appreciated. Several suggestions you made i will be trying this afternoon.

Reading back, i see i have rambled on too longand am probly boring most. Thus, i am outta here for now

 

[saika/ace250]

Wirechief is a telephony term for a super supervisor. The wirechief oversaw daily operations with regard to installation and repair for phone lines. The term "OK Wirechief" would allow a technician to break a dedicated pair to provide service amongst other things. Just curious.

I hunt with an ace250 and use my wifes PIV on occasion. I have been hunting for nigh on 20 years now and was a hard core Fisher fan 1260x , 1235, cz5 in the past.
I am planning to boost the arsenal with one more box, I am not sure yet, a 600 pro, an xlt, an exploder II. Something with lots of settings.

God Bless.....

 

[grumpy]

Barfly
Grumpy again ; Lakes I get fish hooks and sinkers some of the sinkers are little stinkers too. As zero to all metals they first confused me also. There is some subtle difference that zero has some things descriminated out even tho it says zero where all metals gets it all. If it is not really clean area I use jewelry it rids you of some (note i said some) of the nails and iron.
On double ding being a nail are you refering to passing a object over and getting a bell tone behind another bell tone? If you are a lot of times I get this signal on coins that are in the ground in multiples and not laying flat.
One method that may or may not be of interest to you af far as mode of hunting I find useful. If I am in no hurry and just enjoying the hunt I hunt more zero or such and dig more However if I stop at a school and want to find coins and maybe a ring and have very little time to play I hit jewelery or coins and go. Both are fun just depending on time avaliable.
Oh Question for you : how did you come by barfly???
Good Luck
Grumpy

 

[barfly]

I got it, i got it, i got it.......my 1st silver, and on valentines day at that!!. After work I stopped by a house for sale, seller is a friend of mine so i had permission. Wasnt there 20 minutes, was using the zero mode (i think i like that setting, it makes all kinds of interesting sounds to learn) and i got a weak but interesting sound at 6 inches (only 4inch deep in reality) No one around at the time to see the glee in my eyes, but it was a wonderful feeling and this 1962 Rosie is still a pretty site, pic enclosed for everyone to see. Gotta go, will post more later

 

[barfly]

hi grumpy, I haven't tryed jewelry mode much yet and still not comfortable trying to use 5x10 coil again, not just yet, even though areas i have been in are pretty heavily trashed. Maybe one day I will try the scorcher coil again. I did like the different tones in zero. I am sure i didn't get near as many tone variations in coin mode to learn. Many thanks for that tip. ( i found my silver today in zero mode).

I don't think i have heard a double bell-tone yet, just a double thud or bleep i have seen to be a nail when i have dug it up in shallow depths. The only problem I have with the bell-tone is I hear the bell tone in the 1st sweep, but no matter how many times i go back over same area, i rarely can duplicate the bell-tone. Is this normal? For the record, i always thought it said FIVE B, not SIZE B also, but don't tell Mary i said that, i might deny it. LOL

Anything deeper than 6 inches has always showed size D or E for me. And I have that happen a lot, more often than i think it should sometimes. I guess i will just have to break down one day and dig that crater to see the those pipes for myself?

As for my nick here, I started using this nick in gaming rooms and chat rooms as computer addiction started in '92 to replace my drinking addiction. At the time the nick Barfly just seemed appropriate. Maybe it should have been ex-barfly? In any case it stuck with me, mostly to remind me where i was and hopefully I wont ever want to go back there again, drinking that is. My life seems to travel in 15-year cycles.......15-yrs a drunk, nearly 15-yrs a computer junkie.........now next 15-yrs a detector hound. Boring it may be but thats my story and i am sticking to it.

 

[grumpy]

Ok Mr. Barfly or is that Miss Barfly
Ill try and give you what I know about the bell tone disappearing , (yes it is size if you can hear good which I cant), when you go over and get a bell tone and cant come up with a repeat this is my observation and if the ones who really know like Bill and Uncle Willy maybe they will go ya or na. Your first pass to pick up a belltone you are dead on and it is a small target, next swing back you go over it ever so slightly above or below and miss the target dead center and no bell tone. Could be to the position of the larger coin in the ground. I usually go over it when I get a belltone and either direction watch the meter and if it looks good dig it. Sometimes if I am trying to make it bell tone I go very slow even strokes after the first bell tone and advance slightly or retreat to see if it will get the second bell if not I still dig by the meter.
The round coil is much worse at confusing the sounds that you get because of covering multiple targets and that could be the reason for sometimes not geting but one way a second target may be overpowering the coil there, but that theory is above my thinking Im more a gopher type, if not sure dig it.
If you get into a lot of trash you will soon learn to like the 5 by 7 or even 4.5 scorcher they are wonderful there. They can seperate the multiple targets better but you loose imaging so til your comfortable Id stay with what you like and is working.
Great find silver is a thrill, Congratulations!!!! Sorry Im computer challenged and cant make the cute faces like the other guys.
What better val. surprise than silver.
Good Luck
Grumpy

 

[Wirechief]

NM5K de KA5QYR, sorry to be so long in getting back to you and I kinda like the 30 meter band and 20 meter QRP. I'm a Ten Tec nut and I have all kinds of keys. Yeah I slacked off too and at my peak around 40 wpm. Are you in Texas? What instrument are you using. I'm a detector dealer and I have several of course haha! Well CU later and God Bless ya mi amigo.

John Tomlinson the Wirechief, CET
John's Detectors

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS WORLD WIDE!

 

[Spanky]

n/t