Perplexed by the Etrac..

[Gannon]

I've had the Etrac for about a month. And it seems to me I've been given the keys to a submarine.

I hunt parks and some permissions mostly and a few churches in Tennessee.

Moderate trashy and some areas have a lot of nails.

Today using Andy S pattern I was hitting a semi solid 12/46-17-45 on 3 saparate times in thinking silver!!!

Nope all 3 were nails!!

Any help or advice helps. I've read the twice.

Thanks
G

 

[Elmy]

read the post ctx back to the etrac.....it may clear some things up for you.It has a good way to set up discrimination for you so you may dig more coins....

 

[sunraysux]

G...omg
now i know what my posts looked like about 4-6 weeks ago!!
i would say LOL or something silly like that but it is frustrating as hell when you are going through it
the good folks on this forum walked me back off the ledge numerous times during my Etrac onboarding process....
and while the light still has not fully gone on...and i still experience times when i want to just smash the machine and be done with it, i am now certain that the little flicker of light i see is not an oncoming train
just keep going out and using it....racking up hours and experiences
keep the Andy S pattern on there and learn to toggle back and forth with flat screen TTF as you hit any signal that you want to check and cross check
you will start to get the hang of her...and yes i referred to this temperamental gixmo as a SHE....think of her as the most beguiling, frustrating, perplexing(your word)...but beautiful woman you have ever met and fallen for!
you need to spend tons of time with her and get to know all her curves and nuances....her emotional biorhythms and quirks
she is powerful like a lioness but as fickle as a 2 year old child.....i kid you not

as far as the signals the proved to be rusty nails....that happens
just like you need to dig some pull tabs and pieces to get nickels
some deeper rusty stuff can ping in as a quarter/dime; i have found that all of these "falsies" are off to the side of the hole
meaning....i PP'ed//centered the target well and cut the plug....but the darn target was ultimately well off in the side wall and you need to chase it....that is the falsing aspect of rusty iron and you will learn to deal with that as well
solid REAL high conductive targets are rarely if ever not where you expected if you pinpoint thoroughly...the signal they feed the machine is reliable versus the BS the rusty nail is spinning

good luck and just keep swinging and learning; you will get there//be patient
funny ME saying that!!...but its true
you should get ahold of JD down in Tennessee and go hunt some spots
he is JDs variety channel on youtube....or Rusty//cutaplug on youtube
those guys are Etrac whizzes and they can help you for sure in the VOL state

 

[nalc472]

If U are new to the etrac U would be better to start with the coin program and go from there. I have found that the coin program does really well. When I was first starting out I tired using my own program and then switched back to the coin program and started finding good stuff.

 

[Goes4ever]

ok when you get a signal like this, all you have to do is turn 90 degrees and re sweep the target 99% of the time if it is iron you will not get a signal after turning 90 degrees. Sure there is those 1 way signals, but 99% of the time that is best way to rule out iron

 

[Silver Bullet]

Goes4ever explained it in two lines. I can get a real good signal in one direction, but as soon as I turn 90 degrees the machine will null out and no signal. I pass those signals.

The only exception I have found is after a good soaking rain, I will get good signals in all directions around a target, and it might be the dreaded bent historic nail.

 

[BryanM362]

I would suggest that once you get a good signal like that, move to an open screen (no disrim pattern), and see what numbers you get. Usually, if the target is iron, the numbers change when you open up the screen.

 

[Goes4ever]

I would suggest that once you get a good signal like that, move to an open screen (no disrim pattern), and see what numbers you get. Usually, if the target is iron, the numbers change when you open up the screen.

BUT one thing to remember, if there is a coin and iron, whichever is higher in the ground (closer to the coil) the etrac will lock onto with quickmask open screen...........

 

[Explorer.se]

I would suggest that once you get a good signal like that, move to an open screen (no disrim pattern), and see what numbers you get. Usually, if the target is iron, the numbers change when you open up the screen.

BUT one thing to remember, if there is a coin and iron, whichever is higher in the ground (closer to the coil) the etrac will lock onto with quickmask open screen...........[/quote

Very true. its been my experience as well.

 

[IDXMonster]

To go along with the numbers, if the initial signal is " scratchy" or slightly broken but somewhat repeatable and you go to open screen and the audio becomes very nice and clear...usually not a good thing.

 

[Gannon]

Thank you for all the replies! Found some clad today and some civil war bullets!

 

[cz70pro]

Thank you for all the replies! Found some clad today and some civil war bullets!

Congrats on the finds. A nice 3 ringer always makes my day. You might want to search that area some more. May be a button or two to be found there.

 

[Explorer.se]

I like the 3 ringer, congrats!

 

[amberjack]

nothing wrong with diggin a few nails all part of the fun and would say those that dig a few nails find a few more coins, just a thought

AJ

 

[cz70pro]

nothing wrong with diggin a few nails all part of the fun and would say those that dig a few nails find a few more coins, just a thought

AJ

That's a fact.

 

[Gannon]

The machine i found also runs much quieter in auto sens. Since switching over it seems to be working much better. I found a nice 54 Rosie yesterday too! On a diffrent PC Ill post a video later of my pull.

 

[cashmole]

Use the quick mask button to take all discrimination off and see if the numbers stay the same. If it becomes a 25-46 instead of the original 12-46 for example; or if the numbers change.. especially if the first number goes up drastically then it's probably iron. If the numbers stay the same its a coin.

 

[metalpopper]

Use the quick mask button to take all discrimination off and see if the numbers stay the same. If it becomes a 25-46 instead of the original 12-46 for example; or if the numbers change.. especially if the first number goes up drastically then it's probably iron. If the numbers stay the same its a coin.

If the target first shows 12- 46, then you don't fart around...you dig it

WHY TAKE OFF any Iron-Mask?...... The cursor will be evidently in the right place...NOT adjacent ti Iron-mask boundary.

If your original numbers were 27- 46 AND DEPTH was showing 10 inches...then go for it.

If you NOW check it with a clear Iron-Mask....And it flutters between 27-46 and say 35-40+or- something then......

you probably have a coin AND a 'nail' in the same sweep......Change sweep direction, and decide.

Is that what you really meant Mole?......matt

 

[Gannon]

If I even see lower semi consistent ferrous in the 23 or less range I'm digging. Only time 12/46 stayed and didn't waver at all it was a merc virgin permission 3 inches down. Clay and cheer soil. Normally for me if it's iffy and I go to open mask and it gets super loud and squeeky it's junk.

 

[IDXMonster]

nothing wrong with diggin a few nails all part of the fun and would say those that dig a few nails find a few more coins, just a thought

AJ

That's a fact.

That emoticon is hilarious! Dude falls over and drinks when he's on the ground...

Those running Manual Sens do have to take a few more "at bats" when it comes to those really deep targets...in Auto when the soil is very kind it'll get pretty close to the ability of Manual Sens but in other places...Manual Sens will hit deep coins a lot cleaner while Auto may only be a very small "PEEP". Most times I'd rather trade stability for depth. As time goes on and places dry up I'm leaning more toward manual on the CTX and Explorer to tickle the really deepies. But...whatever works FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!