Should I consider this a disappointment? What is your take?

[Howard Snell]

I used to swing a Excalibur. To pinpoint on a excal seemed relatively straight forward as I could narrow down the target to an area the size of a half dollar. I have just figured out on the CTX that on pin point the target can lie anywheres along the y axis of the coil and doesn't narrow it down on the x axis. As a sea hunter working under wave action this seems like a huge negative to me. Now the CTX has allot of features I like. Chargeable base station, telescopic shaft, interchangble coil, screen. But I think this summer I'm not going to enjoy killing myself trying to find these targets with my scoop. What do you think?

PS. I think under the manual it might hint on the fact that you should hit a target on both the x and y axis however I thought this was for target identification purposes not to just pin point.

 

[Digger]

I used to swing a Excalibur. To pinpoint on a excal seemed relatively straight forward as I could narrow down the target to an area the size of a half dollar. I have just figured out on the CTX that on pin point the target can lie anywheres along the y axis of the coil and doesn't narrow it down on the x axis. As a sea hunter working under wave action this seems like a huge negative to me. Now the CTX has allot of features I like. Chargeable base station, telescopic shaft, interchangble coil, screen. But I think this summer I'm not going to enjoy killing myself trying to find these targets with my scoop. What do you think?

PS. I think under the manual it might hint on the fact that you should hit a target on both the x and y axis however I thought this was for target identification purposes not to just pin point.

The CTX 3030 offers both "normal" Pinpoint, and Sizing Pinpoint. In Normal, the first sweep over the target generates a wide audio response. The more times you sweep over the target, the more narrow that response becomes. Within a few passes, the response is very narrow, along the center of the search coil. So lets call that the Y axis. If you then tip the coil up, so is vertical in the water, you can find the X axis (and the target) by moving the coil down the Y axis. In other words, use the tip of the coil as you would an electronic pinpointer. You'll be surprised at how deep it will go, using it in this manner.
If it doesn't work out for you, after you've determined the Y axis, move around the suspected target area 90 degrees and pass over the target area. When you get it centered, that is the X axis. Where X meets Y is the target.

With all that said, I've found it most effective to simply "work the coil" around the suspected target location, when using Normal Pinpoint. (kind of like the Sovereign wiggle, except don't restrict your movement to just left and right) Each time you pass the center of the coil over the target, the audio will become more narrow. Within a few flicks of the wrist, you have it down to a "pinpoint", from all directions. JMHO HH Randy

 

[Howard Snell]

I'll have to look to see if there is a video of someone using this method. But would my pin point experience change with a different coil?

 

[Nes (south Coast-CA)]

I have pin pointed for years by moving the coil side to side while backing the coil up towards me (or if you want, away from you). When the sound disappears off the tip, that is the center of where I dig. The CTX coils are excellent for that type of pinpointing because of the notch off of the tip of each end of the coil. On my Explorer I used to alternate between X'ing and the way described above. I realize this may not be the preferred way to pinpoint for some people, but it works for me. I even use this method with the 17" coil. I don't use the pinpoint trigger at all. Since I'm new to the CTX, I may change sometime down the line.... Nes

 

[Digger]

But would my pin point experience change with a different coil?

Nope. All DD coils perform in the same manner.

The manner that Nes (south Coast-CA) explained also works well. Just a bit tougher to figure out where the tip of the coil is, under water. HH Randy

 

[Nes (south Coast-CA)]

Good point.... with a 17" coil that would be tough, however you can get a feel for it with the 11" coil. The easiest way for me in water is working the coil forward. Now if I only had a 720i scoop, life would be so fine.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

Howard, I with you buddy. I am an avid beach hunter coming over from the Excalibur. While the PP for the first scoop is always right on target just as fast as the Excal. Its when you dump/kick 12lbs of sand that the PP'ing becomes an issue. I have push targets about the beach for 10 or more scoops in an attempt to retrieve the target! This is a complete waste of hunting time. 300 coins day are not out of the norm and with this loss of time you can cut that by one third. I will say that the more you use the detector the better it will get for you. I find if I go and use the GT/Excal.I am back to sq. one with the 3030 on PP'ing. Like you said the target is within a 22in circle once out of the hole and pulling the PP trigger all day isn't the answer. Now when your in the dirt and the hunt is at a slow pace the 3030 is a killer for PP'ing and of coarse you have the use of a hand help PP'er. None of this can be transferred to beach hunting. Stick with it as the 3030 is an great beach machine as far as finding targets, You may dig less at first but they tend to be better targets. You'll see.
BCNJ