Ok guys, I have another AT question.

[darrenb]

I have been using the AT for about a month now, and am starting to understand it much better. Lately, I have been getting a lot of chatter from the unit, even when it is sitting on the ground while I'm digging a target. I'm using it in pro zero mode, iron disc set at 40, sensitivity at 3 bars, iron audio off. I had been told to drop the sensitivity a bit, so I tried running it at one bar of sensitivity. I'm still getting the chatter. My target ID is off a little, as an example, pennies show up as dimes. Now I must say that the ground around here is VERY mineralized, ground balancing at 93 in most cases. 2 weeks ago, I was hunting the same area with the same settings, except using 4 bars of sensitivity, with no problems at all. The only difference I can see is the dryness of the soil. Now, soil from 8" down is dusty. Could the dry conditions be causing this problem? I haven't used it in or near water, and I'm not using a coil cover. I have put new batteries in the unit, and have done a master reset. I also re-ground balance about every 30 minutes or so. The area I'm hunting is very large, and there are no power lines or underground utilities in the vicinity.
Thanks in advance!
Darren

 

[John-Edmonton]

The humidity will in fact have an effect on the operation of the metal detector. Nice, damp soil should give you some ectra depth too. I have often noticed in small times of drought, that the machine just doesn't work as well, so I try harder to get signals.

 

[darrenb]

John, I have certainly noticed greater depth in damp soil, so I guess ultra dry soil would equal less depth. Humidity around here has been in the 90% range lately... feels like I'm in an easy-bake oven when I'm beeping! Would dry soil in any way cause excessive chatter?
Thanks!
Darren

 

[kwdstalker]

i have read cell phones can cause that to some extent,i have found out i have to shut my spinal cord stimulator's off or i get some chatter from them.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Darren,
If you are picking up chatter with the detector lying still, you are picking up EMI from somewhere.

HH
Mike

 

[jimmyjiver]

Hi,, Try another spot & check and see if it chatters with the coil held in the air....The only time I have had a slight chatter is when there is underground wires with almost full sensitivity .... If it still chatters then you might have a bum coil or machine...Pennies and dimes will read very close to each other....Dry soil should not cause this problem...Sometimes dry soil can work in your favor because if the site has a lot of iron nails etc. the iron will become less conductive and allow the other conductors to sound off better......JJ

 

[vanner]

I had the same thing happen the other day while digging up a target. It was some EMI from some source as it stopped when I moved away and returned when I checked the area shortly later. In general the machine is pretty stable in areas I would expect interferance, but dont get any,

 

[metalhead]

Did ya try adjusting the frequency? That might help.
If your cell phone is on it will cause EMI. Especially out in the middle of nowhere while the phone is reachin' out searchin' for that cell tower signal.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

If the machine chatters in multiple locations and you have turned off your cell phone or any other personal electronics then you likely have a faulty coil and/or a problem in the control box. I had the same problem and had to send my machine in and Garrett replaced the entire machine.

 

[Jerry-Wi]

A machine chattering way too much regardless of location if it cannot be controlled is a problem. In most areas my At Pro runs quiet with maximum sensitivity. Sometimes it will chatter slightly in the background when I set the detector down to dig. If this gets too loud or constant, I just turn down the gain one or two bars and it goes away. At other times it will chatter while I am swinging the coil but these are pretty area specific and moving away is the cure.

Having it chatter a little when on the ground and not when parallel to the ground swinging make me think that the EMI signals are vertically polarized and by tipping the coil up to near vertical when it is on the ground it simply picks up the noise better. This is certainly true in amateur radio where vertical antennas are notorious for their noise characteristics. It is just a thought for what it is worth.

A final observation. Copper pennies are going to show up as dimes their signals are almost identical. Zinc pennies are different and show up as pennies. So next time that happens, look at the date on the penny. I beet is 1982 or older. I call them Memorial Dimes

Take the time to learn your machine and have fun.

Jerry

Jerry

 

[darrenb]

I was thinking it was interference too, but I put the AT away, powered up my Ace 350, and put it in the same location, with no noise at all. Did the same thing with my 250 and my teknetics delta. No chatter out of any of the other units. I honestly didn't even think about my cell phone. I always have it on, and from what I understand, a blackberry isn't actually off unless the battery is pulled. I'll give that a shot in the morning and report back.
Thanks guys!
Darren

 

[INCH]

Maybe go back to the exact place where U found the Merc Dime and pendant a few days ago using the same settings. I dont remember u mentioning anything about chatter on that post. Good luck...............

 

[darrenb]

Actually it was doing it then as well. At the time, I just figured I was in an area with underground utilities or something in the area causing the chatter. Even with the chatter, this thing finds great stuff! I am hoping that the cell phone may be the issue. I'm hitting the fields early in the morning without the phone, and I'll see how it goes.

 

[darrenb]

Well, I took it out and worked with it without the phone today, got the same chatter. I replaced the batteries again, did a master reset, and it still did the same thing. Then I unplugged the coil and plugged it back in. It works perfectly now! I guess I was just over-thinking the problem. Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'm a happy hunter again!!
HH
Darren