Am considering a Cibola. I've only had one Tesoro w/push button a/m mode. Has anyone ever tried comparing signals in a/m mode to determine target's probable value to aid in dig-no dig decisions? Monte and others had good articles on this and was wondering if anyone tried it with the Cibola. The Cibola just seems like a fabulous deal for someone with fairly mild ground. Thanks.
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Rechecking in a/m mode...
- Thread starter slingshot
- Start date
BarberBill
New member
I've used several with that feature. Helpful in pinpointing a bit closer and in sizing the potential target which doesn't help differentiate between a quarter and a penny, but definitely shows if the target is too big to be a coin.
BB
BB
REVIER
Well-known member
These are some tips put together and posted on another forum by a mod that uses an MXT several years ago.
Most of these are from Monte, and he gives him full credit.
Most of these seem to work when I use them when swinging my Vaq, also, so I assume they can transfer over and relate to most detectors.
Understanding the sounds from your detector
Here are some general rules of thumb for the sounds your detector makes in discriminate and all-metal (VCO pinpointing mode).
Although I write this article from an MXT perspective, this post should more or less also apply to many other detectors with modulated audio.
If my memory serves me, I believe many of these guidelines where originally posted by that Master Jedi Detectorist, Monte .
Who has kindly shared his detecting experience with many through the years.
1. When you get a loud signal in discriminate mode and the pinpoint signal is loud--?
It is usually a large target near the surface.
2. If you get a loud signal in discriminate mode and a much weaker signal when pinpointing--?
It is usually a large target deeper.
3. If you get a good signal in discriminate mode and an extremely weak signal when pinpointing --?
It is usually a tiny target or a very deep coin size target.
Also some hot rocks and coal burnt items mimic this same sound (a little practice in this area helps).
4. If you get a good signal in discriminate mode and a clear pinpoint signal (average sound)--?
Then dig. This is usually a coin size item at average depth.
This is what many of us train their ears to.
5. If you get a weak signal in discriminate mode and also a weak pinpoint--?
This is the "cream of the crop signal" for deep target hunters.
Unfortunately some small shallow objects also mimic this sound.
Take out 3" to 4" of dirt and if the signal is still weak it is probably a deep target.
Pay close attention to those soft signals (also called "whispers" by many).
6. One way signals--these sound good on the first sweep in discriminate mode (in one direction but not in the other --backsweep, etc.).--?
When pinpointing you may get an extremely loud pinpoint and write it off as trash--DON'T!---Many times it is a good target next to a piece of trash.
Dig out the trash and look for the good target.
Experiment with some of these targets to see how your detector reacts.
7. Semi broken signals-- On the first sweep in discriminate mode you get a signal that tries to punch through the discrimination setting (usually a half to 3/4 signal).--?
This occurs in places of EXTREME trash. Swinging the coil at different angles and sweep speeds can help isolate the signal and gives you a better idea whether to dig or not.
In these cases pinpoint doesn't give you much information because of the multiple targets in the ground (trash around the good target).
Beginners have a tough time with these signals and the only real way to learn them is to PRACTICE with your detector.This is where a veteran with an inexpensive detector can clean up vs. a rookie with a new high dollar detector.
There are a lot of other things that the audio beeps can tell you. However, the specific detector being used has a lot of bearing on just how "rich" in information that beep contains. I think the old analog type detectors provided more information of this kind than the newer digital everything ones and the detectors without modulated audio take away some information as well.
On the MXT, I can usually tell by the sound level ramp up/down and width if the target is small (coin size), or a larger piece of trash. A crackly beep is usually an indication of wadded aluminum foil (it could also, under the right conditions, be a target being partiatlly discriminated). Sometimes a pulltab will produce a double beep, and so on. The non-motion all metal mode can also help you "size" the target and the VCO volume, combined with the indicated depth, can help you figure out if you really found a silver dollar or half, or if it is a crushed soda can.
Also, when you put the loop to the side of the target to go into pin poin mode, if rather than quiet you get a low level of the VCO sound before you are even close to the target, it is usually an indication of a ferrous target. It could also mean that the ground balance is way off.
You have to learn your detector's language to get the best out of it so give it time!
Most of these are from Monte, and he gives him full credit.
Most of these seem to work when I use them when swinging my Vaq, also, so I assume they can transfer over and relate to most detectors.
Understanding the sounds from your detector
Here are some general rules of thumb for the sounds your detector makes in discriminate and all-metal (VCO pinpointing mode).
Although I write this article from an MXT perspective, this post should more or less also apply to many other detectors with modulated audio.
If my memory serves me, I believe many of these guidelines where originally posted by that Master Jedi Detectorist, Monte .
Who has kindly shared his detecting experience with many through the years.
1. When you get a loud signal in discriminate mode and the pinpoint signal is loud--?
It is usually a large target near the surface.
2. If you get a loud signal in discriminate mode and a much weaker signal when pinpointing--?
It is usually a large target deeper.
3. If you get a good signal in discriminate mode and an extremely weak signal when pinpointing --?
It is usually a tiny target or a very deep coin size target.
Also some hot rocks and coal burnt items mimic this same sound (a little practice in this area helps).
4. If you get a good signal in discriminate mode and a clear pinpoint signal (average sound)--?
Then dig. This is usually a coin size item at average depth.
This is what many of us train their ears to.
5. If you get a weak signal in discriminate mode and also a weak pinpoint--?
This is the "cream of the crop signal" for deep target hunters.
Unfortunately some small shallow objects also mimic this sound.
Take out 3" to 4" of dirt and if the signal is still weak it is probably a deep target.
Pay close attention to those soft signals (also called "whispers" by many).
6. One way signals--these sound good on the first sweep in discriminate mode (in one direction but not in the other --backsweep, etc.).--?
When pinpointing you may get an extremely loud pinpoint and write it off as trash--DON'T!---Many times it is a good target next to a piece of trash.
Dig out the trash and look for the good target.
Experiment with some of these targets to see how your detector reacts.
7. Semi broken signals-- On the first sweep in discriminate mode you get a signal that tries to punch through the discrimination setting (usually a half to 3/4 signal).--?
This occurs in places of EXTREME trash. Swinging the coil at different angles and sweep speeds can help isolate the signal and gives you a better idea whether to dig or not.
In these cases pinpoint doesn't give you much information because of the multiple targets in the ground (trash around the good target).
Beginners have a tough time with these signals and the only real way to learn them is to PRACTICE with your detector.This is where a veteran with an inexpensive detector can clean up vs. a rookie with a new high dollar detector.
There are a lot of other things that the audio beeps can tell you. However, the specific detector being used has a lot of bearing on just how "rich" in information that beep contains. I think the old analog type detectors provided more information of this kind than the newer digital everything ones and the detectors without modulated audio take away some information as well.
On the MXT, I can usually tell by the sound level ramp up/down and width if the target is small (coin size), or a larger piece of trash. A crackly beep is usually an indication of wadded aluminum foil (it could also, under the right conditions, be a target being partiatlly discriminated). Sometimes a pulltab will produce a double beep, and so on. The non-motion all metal mode can also help you "size" the target and the VCO volume, combined with the indicated depth, can help you figure out if you really found a silver dollar or half, or if it is a crushed soda can.
Also, when you put the loop to the side of the target to go into pin poin mode, if rather than quiet you get a low level of the VCO sound before you are even close to the target, it is usually an indication of a ferrous target. It could also mean that the ground balance is way off.
You have to learn your detector's language to get the best out of it so give it time!
I use it all the time with my Tejon, it is useful to "weed out" the large iron that overpowers the discriminator settings. If the target is larger in AM it's probably iron but listen to the tone, if its smooth in discriminate dig it, it's often a coin masked by iron. It's one of Tesoro's strong points finding this type of target.
To give credit to another guy, (and to show how old I am!), a guy named Ken Whitener from Oklahoma started using a Tesoro Mayan (I believe). This was back when the discrimination mode was set with a little more sensitivity mode. He was the first, as far as is known, to be able to use the then present detectors to fairly accurately give info using dual mode checking and could identify tabs, nickels, and clads very accurately. He would set the discriminate mode very low and then recheck the signal in a/m.The newer technology have the modes about identical in depth detection and this was lost=although a lot of info can still be gained.
"A crackly beep is usually an indication of wadded aluminum foil" (it could also, under the right conditions, be a target being partially discriminated).
While searching in low discrimination levels I found this to be very true on my Totec II.
Unfortunately it doesn't work on can slaw.
While searching in low discrimination levels I found this to be very true on my Totec II.
Unfortunately it doesn't work on can slaw.