Nice day with the MXT, and a question.

[robert roy]

New Years Eve turned out to be a nice day here in Indiana. It was in the 40's so I
took the opportunity to hit a sports field/baseball diamond and took out $4.20 in clad,
a washer and what looks like some kind of moderen buckel. TODAY, Jan 2nd it's
colder that a whitchs $@#%$# at 60 thousand feet! Its only 4 degrees this morning.

From all the older timers, I wonder if you might re-explain the concept of "masking."
I'm not sure my understanding is on firm ground.

I used my 9.50 coil at the field and got some iffy signals. I dug and found nothing.
When your listening to the signal, what is the dead give away that someting is being
masked?

Regards
Robert R

 

[Horsesoldier]

It has been my experience that masking occurs when an iron target (or bad soil) is too close to a good target and it "covers-up" or "masks" it. As a result you will read it as a ferrous target. Depending on your mode and disc setting it could cause you to not dig a target thinking it is iron.

You can see this in an air test by placing an iron object close to a good target.

Also, remember that tracking can cause you to loose a signal as well. Rest the coil on the ground next to the target and allow it to track. Then check the target again. Sometimes this will help improve the signal.
Hope this helps. HH.

 

[robert roy]

HH:

When I was out at the park I had the MXT in Relic mode. I did get an
Iron tone but VID indicated it was probably a quarter. It wasn't. I found that
puzzeling. -)

Robert R

 

[Canewrap]

Was it about the size of a quarter?

 

[Horsesoldier]

I'm assuming you meant that it was in the same range as a quarter which if you were in relic mode I believe would be in the Buckle range with a number of around 80 ish. Remember the VDI is an indication of what the target "might" be based on size (buckle) and conductivity (number). Use it as a series of checks and balances. Audio + Visual = Dig/No Dig.
As always, when in doubt check it out.

 

[Hoosier]

Must be nice in your part of Indiana Robert. In my part of Indiana we have 12" of snow and more coming tonight! I don't think my MXT will go that deep.

 

[robert roy]

Hi Hoosier:

It WAS nice but today its colder that a witches %#$@#@ at 60 thousand feet!
Your in Fort Wayne arn't you? I see you guys got nailed hard.
The cold weather here is supposed to let up. We're expected to have 40 and
50 degree weather by the weekend with a chance of rain. Looking forward to it!

Say....do you ever do any bottle collecting? Any tips where to locate the
trash heap outside the old houses?

Later.
Robert R

 

[Hoosier]

Your in Fort Wayne arn't you?

Close. Actually just about 12 miles south of South Bend in a small farming town called Bremen.

do you ever do any bottle collecting? Any tips where to locate the
trash heap outside the old houses?

Funny you ask. I did some bottle hunting years ago but it was at a known dump site near Valpo (next to a nudist colony) that we knew contained many old bottles. We found tons of them, all colors and shapes, but I didn't collect them so my uncle took all we found. As far as where they would have been on old farms, that's a good question. I know most farms around here they are usually found behind or near the barn. Almost never near the house because of the stench and all the smoke from burning the trash. I was told that if you can locate where the outhouse was that is another good place to find bottles.

 

[robert roy]

Thanks. I'll keep that info in mind.

We're expecting a warm up this week end and maybe some rain.
Hope to get out.


Robert R.

 

[robert roy]

BTW I see your not far from the beaches up your way. How is MDing on them?
Also see you have loads of Public Parks in South Bend. There any restrictions on you for MDing?
If your interested, check out www.maps.live.com and view some of the area.

Regards
Robert R

 

[Hoosier]

I have never heard of any restrictions in any of the South bend or Mishawaka parks. I know my co-worker has used his MXT in several of them and has never had a problem. I'm just too new to have searched many areas yet and hopefully this year will be different. As for the beaches I have yet to get there with the detector. Once when I was up at Mackinaw City, I saw a gent instructed to quit detecting on the beach in front of the hotel where he was staying. I was told that most hotels in that town frown upon the use of detectors by guests. Must be saving everything for themselves! I can say that I have never seen a "no metal detectors" sign anywhere on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on any of the public beaches.

 

[robert roy]

HUmmmm. Just wondering because when I went to www.maps.live.com and viewed the area along the beach
I noticed the shoreline is saturated with private homes. I am guessing the home owners own the property/beach as well? I have no idea.
If not I can still imagine they might put up a real stick.

Robert R