ok I am getting very frustrated pinpointing :rage:

[Goes4ever]

ok I had trouble yesterday and once again I went out in my yard, and I just cannot figure it out. I get a GOOD SIGNAL I push the pinpoint button and slowly move across the area until I get all the bars on the screen, then I take the coil across it from another direction again until I get all the bars on the screen. I look at where the INNER coil is and dig at where 12 oclock is. I am not even close.

So I layed a penny in the grass and tried to pinpoint it. Sometimes it is under the rear, sometimes the side, sometimes at 12 oclock but it is never at the same spot when holding down the pinpoint. I gave up a couples times today because the holes where getting bigger and bigger.

what am I doing wrong????

 

[BigCatDaddy]

What works best for me is NOT to look at the display, watch your coil and go by the sound. Use the "X" method, holding down the pinpoint button, twitch your coil over the target, making note of the loudest signal, turn 90

 

[Goes4ever]

quick strokes? I thought I was supposed to drag it slowly over the target? maybe that is what I am doing wrong?

 

[awhitster]

Reading your post I figured you might be going to slow. Like BCD says, move it fast and go by the sound, forget the bars. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I had the same thing happen when I was new. It's all about practice.

 

[BarnacleBill]

I've never used an ACE250, but it sounds like the coil may be too close to the target. In my humble opinion, I would raise the coil to weaken the signal significantly, thereby localizing the signal.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Goes4ever]

well I was going by the video on their website, it appears like they are going slow, so I thought I was supposed to..........maybe that is my whole problem.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

I too had trouble at first!

I never even thought of looking at the display! I go by the sound while looking at the coil. Short, quick sweeps work best when pinpointing.

Another good trick is to quickly press the pinpoint button twice while over the target. This de-tunes the target and allows you to find its center. then sweep from back to front. you will then find your target right at the inner tip in the front of the inner loop.

 

[Goes4ever]

ok I just went out in my yard again until I hit a signal it registered as a penny, I swung over it quickly over and over in all directions, sounded like a phone was ringing. When I tried holding the pinpoint button and swinging quickly it didn't help. I still had to dig a hole 6 inch across to recover it, it was not where I thought it should be once again. I am not sure how to pratice without destroying the lawn.

 

[Rosco Bookbinder]

It takes practice for sure. When I first started using my 250 I never knew where the pinpoint was. I now can get it less than an inch. As mentioned, first push the pinpoint button, do a quick sweep to get a center spot then release and push it again while in that area. It will center more onto the target that way. Keep trying and let us know. It does work for sure.........

 

[khouse]

Re read.
Detuning shrinks the target response in the pinpoint mode. Pinpoint as usual. Then move the coil about 2 inches to the side of the target. Now release and repush the PP button real quick. Then slide the coil back over your target. You have now detuned the target. You'll see that the pp tone response is smaller in size and lower in tone. Don't let that pp button up yet. Now find the center of the target left to right. Don't let that button up. Then slowly pull the coil strait towards you just until the tone goes dead. Now the target will be right under the inner coil at the 12 o'clock position.
Note: Sometimes you have to re push the button a few times real quick when you first detune. Sometimes it's the first time - sometimes it's the 3rd time. But what you are looking for is a smaller target response in the pp mode. It's hard enough to show someone how to detune let alone say it in words. Once you get it YOU GET IT!!!!

Tip- You will learn the size of good targets by pinpointing. Coins and rings have a smaller tight pinpoint response. Large aluminum and iron will pinpoint a lot larger area.

I stand in one spot when pinpointing. Bury a coin 3 inches deep. Mark it with something. Do not use anything but your ears for pinpointing. Try closing your eyes when your practicing. No kidding!

 

[NM5K]

In the pinpoint mode, it doesn't matter what speed you use.
The detector is in an all metal/no ID mode. So speed has
no real effect on how it works when in pinpoint mode.
Only the ID mode is effected by swing speed. And in that
case, a faster swing goes deeper than a slow pass.
I prefer the method Khouse mentioned. You don't really
need to look at the screen, except to note the maximum
strength. If you are getting maximum strength on the meter,
that means the object is directly under the coil.
But.. Thats not really where you want to pinpoint, unless you
like digging big holes.
You would be better off using the "pull back until the tone quits"
method. Or at least until you are used to the machine.
The secret to accuracy is the side to side centering when in
the process of pulling the coil back to the point the tone drops
out.
Trying to pinpoint the object in the middle of the coil is pretty
vague. With practice it can be done, but I don't think it's as
accurate as the "pull back" method.
Don't worry, you'll get it down. It's possible to be very
accurate once you get used to it.
The sniper coil is the only one I pinpoint in the center of the coil.
It has an "X" in the center to use as a guide. I'll look at the
strength a little more on that coil, vs the larger ones.
The larger ones, I go by sound more than strength on the meter.
Maybe this image will help a little.
MK

 

[NM5K]

BTW, one way to practice is put a coin on top of a non metal box,
so you can see the coin in relation to the coil.
Or place it on top of non trashy ground, so you can see it.
Try using the pullback method.
You will be more able to see what is happening when the coin
is in the different locations vs the coil.
Note how the tone drops off right when the coin appears on the outside
front corner of the inner coil when the tone drops off.
Lather and repeat a bunch of times , and then practice it with
your eyes closed.. After a while you will be pinpointing real
close I bet.
MK

 

[GetRdone]

Sometimes the depth and if the target is on a slant will effect pinpointing it correctly.

 

[Goes4ever]

thank you all for putting up with me, I KNOW I will get it sooner or later, I just want it SOONER!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Goes4ever]

[quote NM5K]BTW, one way to practice is put a coin on top of a non metal box,
so you can see the coin in relation to the coil.
Or place it on top of non trashy ground, so you can see it.
Try using the pullback method.
You will be more able to see what is happening when the coin
is in the different locations vs the coil.
Note how the tone drops off right when the coin appears on the outside
front corner of the inner coil when the tone drops off.
Lather and repeat a bunch of times , and then practice it with
your eyes closed.. After a while you will be pinpointing real
close I bet.
MK[/quote]

ok I think I am actually getting better now after trying this, but I did it this way, I took a cardboard box and had my wife tape coins inside, so I couldn't see em
then I pinpointed using THESE methods. I wasn't digging where the signal STOPPED, I was digging where signal was loudest. I think this was my problem
and I did NOT understand what the heck you all meant UNTIL I used the taped coins inside the box trick!!!!

She did it like 10 times, and I was within 1 inch each time I poked the knife thru, so not yet perfect, I UNDERSTAND the process now!!!!

so I am REALLY excited to get out there and try it now. Unfortunately we have a MAJOR cold front coming in tonite and it is supposed to be a high of 13 degrees tommorow.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH

 

[khouse]

Practice detuning your target. Being 1 inch off will keep you from scratching that $1,000,000.00 20 dollar Gold double eagle!

PS. Have your wife tape a coin on her. Then you try to find it in the dark. Good luck with any method you choose!

 

[Goes4ever]

[quote khouse]Practice detuning your target. Being 1 inch off will keep you from scratching that $1,000,000.00 20 dollar Gold double eagle!

PS. Have your wife tape a coin on her. Then you try to find it in the dark. Good luck with any method you choose! [/quote]

hahahaha, I like that idea!!!!

 

[khouse]

Maybe you should read up on the Vibraprobe.

 

[Uncle Willy]

It's very simple. Scan side to side until you get the strongest signal then stop. Now drag the coil straight back towards you until the instant the signal quits. You can wiggle to coil back and forth a bit until the signal strength indicator shows you are centered. Shallow targets will be under the front center tip of the inside oval on the coil. Deeper targets will be a little further back from that point. You need to practice on something before you start digging holes. All you will do is get frustrated.

Practice in some bark chips where it's easy and you won't do any damage You're getting in to big of a hurry. Detecting is not as easy as some lead you to believe. It takes practice. When you locate a target move the coil all the way off the target then press pinpoint and move the coil back over the target and center it. Then do as I stated above. You're doing something wrong to miss the target that far all the time.

BIll.

 

[Uncle Willy]

I think he should skip detuning until he learns how to center the target and pinpoint correctly, then he can get into detuning and practice that. We're throwing to much info at him all at one time. Pinpointing is the toughest thing for newbies to learn and even moreso with the 250 and its oddball pinpointing procedure. When I first tested the prototype for the 250 I figured out the oddball pinpointing right away but it took a few times for me to get it down - but then I've been at this gig for 44 years. I don't expect most newbies who have never used a detector ( or one like this ) to lock onto it right away.

When I ran the Garrett Classroom years back I had a slew of folks who were ready to wrap their 1500's and 2500's around a tree until I got them lined out. It can be a daunting task to some folks and absolute frustration - especially when they see all the great finds everyone is making and they haven't yet conquered pinpointing..

Bill