Quattro & MXT

[Gila Marc]

I have used an MXT for a couple years or so, and it has become like an extension of my arm. Recently I bought a Quattro, mostly for greater depth than the MXT. Admittedly, I haven't had nearly as much experience with the Quattro, but I find that the MXT consistently kicks butt against the Quattro nearly every time (probably user expertise).

My concerns: I'm using identical 5" Excelerator coils with each and the MXT in Relic Mode is stable and sees most everything, down to it's limited depth ability. The Quattro seems to get confused a lot. It seems extremely sensitive to sweep speed, compared to the MXT, and goes off with high tones many times when near the edge of large iron, then nulls. The places I hunt mostly are VERY trashy. I have found a few nice relics with the Quattro and it did pull out a few silver coins that I had missed with the MXT because of depth.

Any suggestions? Maybe I just need a big dose of patience.

Marc

 

[huntn_relics]

Well I really cant help you on your question about the Quattro but you kind of helped me. I currently own a DFX and was looking to purchase a second machine. I was thinking in the line of SE OR Quattro because I already owned the DFX but I had been thinking of the MXT. If you were me what would you go with? I hate trying to decide. It is in a way a lot of money not to be happy ya know?

Jason

 

[Larry (The Palm Bay Pirate)]

How long did it take you to get confident with your MTX? Shouldn't you give your Quattro at least the same time? Being two completely different machines means your dealing with two totally different learning curves

 

[Gila Marc]

Thanks to both for the replies. I agree that they are certainly two entirely different machines. It took me a good two years to be comfortable with the MXT. At first I felt like I had made a mistake, but now I couldn't live without it. I'm sure it will be the same with the Quattro, and I know I'm being impatient. Undoubtedly the Quattro is a fine machine. I did my homework before I bought it, and I have no regrets. I can live with the sweep speed, but my only real concern is the false signals on big iron. I'm starting to think that too is a function of sweep speed. I noticed today that it falses mostly when I'm sweeping obviously too fast. If I slow down it settles out and works fine.

Jason, please don't let my concerns influence you about buying a Quattro. It's deeper-seeking than the MXT and I'm certain that it will be just as useful to me once I get over this "learning curve" thing. I got spoiled with the MXT because it's easier to learn and simpler to use (but so is a $99 WalMart Special). But that does not mean the MXT a better machine by any means. I honestly believe the Quattro has far more potential in experienced hands. Either of them is a fine machine...I'm just lucky enough to have both. If I were equally experienced or ignorant of them both, I'd choose the Quattro because I believe it has more capability.

Thanks again, and please don't think I'm disparaging the Quattro. Some of us Old Dogs just have a tough time with new tricks.

Marc

 

[stan_moto]

Hello Gila Marc.I can only help with the Quattro machine. I changed to the sovereign XS when it was on the market. Minelab seam to make each model machine with their own sound so it had taken a while to crossover from a Garrett detector. they make a fine unit. I was like you ready to trade in the Sov but slowly got the hang of using it and in the end I becamy very happy with the unit. About twelve months I switched to the Quattro.Another small learning curve seeing that I had been using the sovereign XS made easier to use. I changed to the Quattro first it more depth. It has a reasonable id meter. A different tone for different content alloys of coins. With a sensitive adjustment. In this mode if you set it to high you will get to much falsing.a lot of this comes from too faster sweeping and bouncing of rocks and changing from left to right swing. if you have had some hours of use then change from auto into mechanical adjusting and start from about 10 or 11 number adjustment just so you don

 

[Golden]

That's a good point about not wearing steel caps, or other shoes with metal on them. I love my steel caps for the bush, but had to give them up, as sometimes the Quattro would pick up on the metal. Well, I reckon keep on with the Quattro Gila marc. You won't be disappointed. We tend to be more comfortable with the machines we master, so I understand that. Just thought I'd post a photo of one of my regular detecting grounds. A fire had gone through the area recently, but the relics that come out of there was amazing. In this type of ground, the hum noise was loud and constant, enough to drive anyone nuts, but the targets still rang loud and clear, just a little difference in pitch and tone to what I was expecting. Notice I'm detecting in ash and charcoal. I was a mess in the end, it was a hot and sticky day, but well worth the effort. In this spot, I also dug an 1840 threepence. Proof that the Quattro handles well in difficult ground, if given the chance, and learning the machine well.

 

[howlow666]

Hey there,
New to this forum, but not the hobby. I own a Quattro now but used to hunt with a sov xs2 pro. I had no problem with the 17 freq machine, but took a little time to understand the Quattro. If you dont want iron you need to reject from about +7 to -10. It also helps to cross save your hunting mode in both a conductive, and a ferrous audio tone. This way you can easly check the target in both modes, and make a beter coice of weather to dig it or not. A coin in ferrous mode will still make a high sound, while the iron will be low. Hope this helps. Happy hunting !!!! L8TR


HOWLOW

 

[beachguy777]

Gila I think this is a really "thoughtful, caring" message. I can see where you don't want to discourage anyone from the Quatro, and I respect your concern on that. I think you were very honest on this, and it may be a learning curve, "Quatro experience" type of question on this whole thing. I can't talk intuitively on this because I've never owned an MXT, but, I think your right on in what your trying to say here. I'm concerned at what your saying about the false signals on "big iron". Are you saying that the signals that you feel are falling are in the "iron range", i.e. -10 to 0?. I know I get falsing signals too but they're usually on the beach for some reason, maybe because of the salt water, and I'm trying to learn the difference between the "real thing" and a false signal. I think most detectors, have this problem at one time or another, but I know a lot of times, even at the beach, in salt water conditions, if I "ground balance" it usually clears it up but not always. I guess they're not "perfect" yet, but so much better than I used to deal with, I can live with it. One thing that I've always read or at least thought to be true, is if you dig "everything", you'll probably find out for sure if it's false or not. I need to do this too, and I've been too lazy to do it because I trust what the Quatro is saying for the most part, but I think if you were in all metal and dug every stinking signal, you'd see if it was the "real thing" or just a false signal. I know that if you come at it from different angles, it can make a difference in the reading, sometimes, probably due to multiple targets, adjacent to each other. Good luck, and I still have you on my "wish to get with him, after I'm out of debt list" to get together sometime. I honestly hope I see that day in the next 2 to 6 months or so. Marc Trainor, Beachguy.

 

[beachguy777]

I'd have to concur on this one. I've heard, even in Andy's book where the type of coil you have can make pinpointing easier, but if you, or (we), certainnly, me included, learn our machines "inside out" we have a much better chance at ease of use and ultimatly success. My feeling is that until you or I know our machines "inside out" we can't really make a fair comparison with another machine, but once we do, that "information" can enable us to make a truly "informed decision" as to what we like and don't like about a particular machine. I'm not "getting on you Gila" that's just how I see it. Marc Trainor. Hope that helps, and by the way I think you already know all this, but I'm just "speaking my mind" on this thing. I'm just suggesting to "all of us" to consider this thought process, me included. :|

 

[Golden]

I'd be careful with discriminating the low negative numbers as a lot of relics read in at those numbers, like goldfields buttons here in Australia. They can range from -4 to +9. Also, some very old chinese coins dating back to 1660-80's came in on -2 & -4. Your much better to not use any discrimination at all when relic hunting, unless you're after something specific, then by all means, a little discrimination may go a long way to finding what you're looking for. I'm an avid relic hunter, and I don't use any discrimination, and I cringe at the thought of what I would have missed out on in the way of relics, had I have use disc.