Not getting a consistent threshold tone can wet ground cause this?

[Ernie in NH]

Hi Folks Great Site! I purchased a Explorer XS in 2001 became frustrated after trying to figure it out and put it in the closet. Now 9 yrs later I'm determined to learn how to use this thing and inspired to do so after reading a lot of post by others who found it a bit of a challenge. I have read the manual several times as well as Andy Sabisch's book and watched a few of the videos on mlotv. I have also called the big mail order company I purchased it from (Yes I realize I made a Big mistake not looking for and purchasing from a local dealer at the time) they are no help and I called Minelab a half a dozen times they referred me back to the dealer and told me to watch mlotv. I called two more times and was twice promised someone would get back to me in 48 hrs. still waiting on that.

Anyway my question is that I can not get a consistent threshold tone when I use the machine. I kept it at the factory quick start smart screen coin program and as soon as I start to sweep the coil over the ground its like it picks up a few targets and the threshold tone disappears and takes quite a while to come back I actually stop and have to wait for it. I watched the posted video have tried adjusting the sensitivity like they show and it does no good. We do have a lot of iron in the soil here in NH and the ground has been fairly wet due to frost coming out of the ground could this be causing it? I did try the noise cancel button as well as the other smaller coil that came with the machine thinking it may be a coil issue. I assume I am doing something wrong as it seems the machines are pretty reliable according to your site. Any help would be greatly appreciated and if there is anyone from the NH area I would gladly by breakfast or lunch if we could meet sometime for some instruction and pointers.

Thanks and happy hunting!
Ernie

 

[Steve(MS)]

First of all, hang in there and with patience, you should be able to learn your detector.
Now this threshold question comes up quite often and I think beginners place too much
importance of having threshold at all times which is very unlikely to happen in the real
world.
The reasons are several of which you mentioned in your post about iron in the ground.
It only takes a very small amount of iron either natural occurring or a very small piece
of a nail and the detector will see it and respond to it.
Electrical interference can cause the lose of threshold.
Not only that but natural minerals in the ground can cause the threshold to disappear.
Then detector settings can play a part in whether threshold is there or not.
So the short of the story is don't worry if you do not hear the threshold, your detector
will still respond to targets when you put the coil over them.
HH

 

[george decker]

Iam in the very same situation. Waiting on Minelab to send my XS repaired back to me.Good luck

 

[Ernie in NH]

Quick update: I placed another call to Minelab this afternoon after expressing my frustration with the customer service and the detector they had Kevin call me back about an hour later. He walked me and my detector through some basic adjustments on the phone and assured me the detector was working properly. He said its totally normal on the XS for the threshold tone to disappear even with slight movement of the coil and even though I lose the tone the detector is still detecting. I mentioned the threshhold video on mlotv with the Explorer II and he said they corrected and improved the Explorer II so that doesn't happen it was only a issue with the XS and no factory modifications can be made to update the unit. I was a little disappointed to hear that I would have gladly paid to have it upgraded or modified and the problem corrected. I did ask about turning the threshold off or down all the way it seemed to me that's essentially whats happening anyway. He said absolutely not that I would miss all sorts of deeper targets that I should still use the minimum threshold tone. In closing Kevin said the XS is a great machine its working fine to go find some treasures and upgrade to a newer unit down the road. I also asked about beach hunting with the stock coil and he said that's fine the stock coil is waterproof and can be submerged while detecting.

 

[Steve(MS)]

If you want silent search, one number below audible threshold setting is all you
will ever need to go and it still gets deep like that.
Loss of threshold is a non-issue so enjoy your detector.
HH

 

[mickfin]

Im waiting 4R minelab also to send mine back ???? everybody els is quick whats up with ML ???? Mickfin