Probe??

[Anonymous]

I kind of understand the the 8" has some advantages and disadvantages, but could someone explaine to me just what this probe is, i.e. X1 or other brands, I assume it is a narrow cylinder that goes either into the ground or into the area that has been excavated, but what exactly does it do, does it ppinpoint better, or tell you exactly what is where ie, silver vs rusty nail, what if there is a couple of coins in the area and a nail, Just unsure of the capabilities of the probe, everyone seems to thinks it is quite necessary to finish the find. As I am having trouble digging too big of a hole or getting it a foot wide before I can pinoint or go for some depth, then I still have problems because something is in the sidewall, and really having trouble PP, maybe I just need more experience PP or is that going to be difficult with the XS, do you really recommend the 8" and will that be all the accessories really necessary, except mayby just some extra stuff that may be nice, I understand the 8" and the X1 or something in that area is a MUST, Ken

 

[Anonymous]

Ken,
The X1 Probe for the Explorer and the S1 for the Sovereign are probes that are made by Sunray for the Minelabs and there is no others like it. What I look at it as is a 1 inch loop that works off of the detector itself like the one on the detector. with this being the case it will do everything the loop on he detector will such as disc. With the probe being only 1 inch in diam you will not have the depth the 10 inch on the detector will, but still will get around 3 inches so we use the main loop to find the area the target is and pinpoint it the best we can and if it is one we figure is less than 3 inches in depth we can turn on the probe and locate the target. where it works good is on the deeper targets as once you have pinpointed the area the best we can and we dig out a plug we can use the probe to go into the hole and locate the target by scanning the hole on the bottom or sides as it is only 1 inch diam and will fit in the tight areas. With the Explorer and the X 1 probe we will be doing this in disc and when we can hear the area where the target is we can go to pinpoint and narrow it right down. In some cases the target we went after is iron, but sounded iffy is why we went after it and when we open up the hole and went in with the probe we get no signal, so after I have dug a little and no signal I will go to pinpoint on the detector, now the probe will be in all metal and able to hear the iron target. One thing is that when we get a coin on edge, we can find it with the probe instead of digging a deep hole and then start takeing off the side of the hole untill we find it. Being it is a disc probe it helps alot on telling if it is a good target too when we get close to it and also tell if there is more than one target in the hole such as nails with the good target.
A tip too with the probe is if you get a weak signal with the probe and after digging 3 or 4 inches it dont get better it is a bigger item that is deeper like a alum beer can.
The 8 inch coil too is nice as in areas where there is a lot of targets weither bad or good it can seperate them beter and you can pick ou the good from the bad so a good targets isnt masked by the piece of iron. The disaveantage is you will lose some depth, but not a lot.
Good luck Ken.
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

The probe is used when you have your signal pinpointed,you cut a plug,and then stick the probe in the hole to find the target.You don't thrust it through the ground you just scan it around the hole to find the location of the target.It will go 3 inches deep,so sometimes on a deep target you will not get a signal.Then you dig a little more dirt out and rescan the hole with the probe.Other cheesy probes only go 1 inch deep.The X-1 probe uses your discrimination settings on your detector,so if you get an iffy signal and cut your plug and pop it out and stick the probe in and get a null,that means it is junk and you can put the plug back and get back to detecting.The little wanna be probes are all metal and can't tell the difference between a nail and a coin so you have to keep digging till you find it to see what it is.The X-1 probe audio is heard in your headphones so you don't have to take them off like you do to hear the signal from the generic probes.I know this sounds harsh to all the other probes out there,but there just is no comparison between them.
It is great,and it definitely is not just for beginners.It is useful for finding the exact location of a target before you gouge it with your trowel when your not sure where it is.And quickens your recovery time quite substantially.
If you are still having trouble pin pointing,in my opinion,you are either not spending enough time pin pointing and double checking the pin point to see if it is still in the first location you got,or you are going for way to iffy of targets for a beginner.If it is the later,just ignore all signals that is not giving you a strong good solid hit in all directions.I know you do not want to miss a nice deep old coin,but you can always go back when you have a better grasp on your Explorer,and go back over the same areas.
Just stick to solid repeatable hits till you have it down.Keep in mind that most common spots to hunt have been hunted hard for many years.You might be hunting spots that has been hunted to death,and the lack of good shallow targets is making you dig the deep iffies that you can not find.Go to your local historical society and find you a location that has not been hunted to death.Look in old newspapers and find a location that had ice cream socials,or any kind of gathering that is not located in the obvious locations.Research is the key.You get to a good spot that still holds many coins you will learn the Explorer alot better.You might also try sledding hills even new ones that only have clad.
You have got to realize that you or anybody else can not take a new detector and just start digging bust and seated coins with out putting many hours in first.The ones that do is just pure luck and I am sure would tell you that.
To become a successful detectorist with any detector you have to put hard hours in with it before it all starts to click.Just like playing a Guitar,you are not going to start composing masterpieces off of the bat.
Just keep a good postive attitude,that is very important,if you dig a few iffy signals that you cannot find,that just makes you frustrated and you will NOT find anything after you are frustrated,unless you control your feelings and keep a good attitude.This is a hobby meant to be enjoyed,try to keep that in mind,if you are not finding coins,remember you are in the great outdoors and not at work or stuck in the house.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks that is super good info, I will learn more about the probe, where I can get one, are there used ones on the market, or do you always go for the new one, how is it installed, do I have to send the Sx back to the dealer, I am paying my dues, I have about 50 hours on the XS and have found some nice old silver, It is just that there are so many combinations, a person is hard put just to go out in the field and try them out and sort them out. Some of you people have been around the detecting for many years and it is second nature to you, just like a PC is to a high sschool kid, I used to repair tv and computers for a living many moon ago, and yet windows 98 and the internet still took many hours to learn, and if I hadn't had some help I never would have gotten through it. Same with the XS some of my questions are redundant but they are important to me and I have never used a DEtector so I could have spent 200 hours and still be asking the same questins, I am learning the differennt sounds and I am starting to recognize some of changes, But I am older, my memory is gone, and It is hard to grasp, ferrus to conduct, and smart and advanced, then IM, some are independent and some interact, some of you old timers it is second nature to you but to me it is quite difficult. ESPECIALLY THE DEEP STUFF and that is what I am really trying to grasp, they are in usually trashy areas with caps and rusty nails and the like, a couple of hundred hours and I may recognize one and I assure ;you your imput is really helpful and needed, and I really thank you very much for taking the time to help.

 

[Anonymous]

super good info too, Thanks, guess I am just going to have to get one. Ken

 

[Anonymous]

Ken, I went out hunting today and had some good targets that was deep and could not find them. when i got home the x-1 probe was here. Boy i was like a little kid ripping a xmas present up at chrismas time cant wait to tomorrow to get back to that site. i know this will fix that problem.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks, how much was the probe, and where did you get it, and how is it installed, KW

 

[Anonymous]

Ken, you can buy the probe from Ralph at Sunray. Just click on his Banner and his site will come up with all the information you need to make the purchase. Personal opinion "If you don't have the X-1 mounted on your explorer, You only have half of the Detector" don't leave home without it!!!
HH BiLL IL

 

[Anonymous]

Ken hang loose and give your self some time with the machine (listening),,, after a while you will not be diggin 31'S( hate I said thet I never run digital) Then think about probes,,There is no telling what is coming out.And your running xs will naturally improve your pin pointing,just swing it to the side,slightly elevated,then hit pinpoint before you come in on the target,,realizing if not it may act exactly negative of the desired result..Ie null on target,,i still have this happen...cs

 

[Anonymous]

Just like bill said ken you can get it right from sun ray but i went through dixie detectors and david is a real good person to deal with.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, do you recommend getting the probe, or just getting proficient with the XS, Ken

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Looks like I am going to have to get a Probe, KW

 

[Anonymous]

sound good, I guess I will have to check the sources and the prices, and If i get the mount and upper part do I have to send it in or how does all that work, KW

 

[Anonymous]

Go diggin!practice is the key.

 

[Anonymous]

You have to send the upper rod in to have the switch for the probe mounted on the shaft.Or you can buy a new upper rod so you have no down time.If you buy a new upper rod,you will be able to sell your original rod for probably the price you pay for the new rod.But if you send your rod in to have the switch mounted,I believe it only takes a week.
Ralph at Sunray has to mount the switch box for warranty reasons.

 

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