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Re Calibrate Coil

H

Historical Prospector

Member
I have always fought with low sensitivity number s here in Washington State, and decided to check the sensitivity, in the air, after a full reset of my CTX 3030. I was surprised to only be able to get a16/14 with air only sensitivity in auto mode. If this is true for every coil, then I must assume that any sensitivity levels higher than 16 must be completed manually. Is every coil out of the factory having this setting, or do I have a failing coil? Any way to recalibrate the coil?
 
Bizarre. Must have to do with where you are when testing it or the detector has marginal coil/box connections.
Pull the housing back to get access to the two connectors inside. Remove them, wipe some WD40 on the threads to remove corrosion. Check the insulation on the box connector as mine was compromised but I caught it in time and no wires were cut. Screw everyhing back and see how it does.
Can you run manual 27 in beach areas ok? I can in So. CA.
I haven't yet understood how Auto sensitivity calibrates - how often or if it does right away after an Auto NC. One reason I don't use Auto unless there is a lot of junk targets around or just am looking for rings on the surface at a fast walk etc.
 
Hello bklein,
Thanks for responding - I will try your suggestions after work today. Just out of curiosity, what are your sensitivity settings when you switch to auto? If you don't want to do a reset on your machine, what are the highest sensitivity numbers you can reach in "auto" in your area. Seems odd that the CTX could achieve higher sensitivity numbers on the ground in auto, then in the air. Just my thoughts.
 
Things I read says it dials back based on ground conditions but from what I remember FBS and BBS were affected by EMI too and usually dials back sensitivity to stabilize machine.

So if yours dials way down in air this would make sense. That being said I always did better just cranking it up till it false sense, then dial back to stable and match your comfort level with noise

Hope this helps?
 
Try your air tests far away from EMI.

I have a warehouse that gives me the same numbers as you if I air test there, but once outside...it goes back up.
(Invisible EMI/EFI gets worse every year. Some manufactures simply say don't air test indoors if you want meaningful results.)

Washington state is known for mineralization, so you're probably being limited by the ground when out hunting.

I suspect coils are calibrated automatically on power-on within the coil's own built-in electronics.

Still, if you want to be sure, find a local detecting club with another CTX owner, and compare.

:)
mike
 
Sorry, to be honest I don't remember what Auto would give. I read so many things about this controversy that suggested use Auto+3 that that is what I do if not running Manual.
My CTX detects little snippets of corroded pennies and says they are gold (or close to it). I get all caught up digging these and then finally do hit gold or a decent coin within 5" deep and the sound blows my ears off.
I then realize I could run Auto and it would catch the coins and not so much the itsy bitsy small stuff that falls through my shovel holes. If you have lots of small or bogus targets you don't want to dig deep for them.
The best thing for you to do would be to map out a small area running Manual as high as you can stand and then try Auto and Auto+3 to see if you get less or more targets.
I would think something is wrong at my beaches if it was running under 20. If I then could run 27 in Manual with no issue I'd not trust Auto for that location.
Some guys are saying that in Manual there are 3 frequency bands all set to the same level while if in Auto they could differ. So it could mean that for your location the 3 bands are greatly different in Auto and the overall number being low is misleading and you should just go with it. It all depends on your results when you map out a test site like I suggested.
Another thing I thought of it to try swapping coils with someone just to see if both CTX's get the same Auto settings.
Also check the rubber grommet coil connection at the base of the coil - be sure the rubber is not cracked - letting water inside and corroding the cable shield. The wires themselves could even be intermittent if so.

Barry
 
Took my CTX out to the country tonight with two coils. The 6 inch and the stock coil. Took the coil covers off thinking it could be dirt built up under the cover thus lowering the sensitivity. Ran noise cancel on both coils and still get the same16/14 sensitivity readings. I have been using the CTX for over 4 years. If a dealer of CTX 3030 reads this message, I would really appreciate it if you could take a new machine and conduct an air test in auto and tell me what your sensitivity readings are. I would think sensitivity readings at the factory would be identical for every machine. Unless, there is a difference in quality control which could make some coils hotter than the next coil off the assembly line. I love the machine, but there are so many variations and unknowns about it that keep me guessing.
 
more and more jibber jabber in the air now than in all of human history if we could see it we would run screaming for the bush :ban:

mine seems to settle at 19 in most air, do a NC with the coil held up above your head and no I'm not joking :biggrin:

AJ
 
I went to the local park and ran some tests on my CTX.
It always starts at 16/14. Wait a few minutes or so and the numbers begin to change. (I stayed in place for these tests, two targets I waved the coil over a few times then held it in a neutral place)
5 minutes 22/18
every minute thereafter: 17/15, 19/15, 20/15, 21/16, 22/16,24/19, 25/19, 24/19, 25/19, 24/19, 23/17, 22/16, 22/17, 23/18.
I then set Sensitivity to Manual 25. Repowered and ID's were jumping all over like it needed a Noise Cancel. NC was at 2. AutoNC went to 9.
Set to Auto Sens and repower and ID's stable.
I noticed that I may be setting NC wrong. If you highlight AutoNC or manual it doesn't select it - you have to press the menu button to select it. If you don't and shut down or bail out of that mode then go back it is still highlighted but not actually selected.
This is true for mode selects too - if you don't actually select it remains in highlight and you don't know it is not really selected. With NC if you lightly hit the NC button manual will give you the option to set the number 1-11. Auto will just jump to the autoNC routine.
I'm thinking powering up in Auto may be doing a ground balance or something at power on for a minute or two. Something different than if you power in Manual Sens.
So your detector is operating normally, just give it time to start optimizing when in Auto mode.

Barry
 
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