Silver Sabre Umax Falsing

[SSUMAX]

Hi all - I've recently "upgraded" from a Compadre to a SS Umax and I'm having trouble with false signals probably high mineral UK soil. For every sweep I get 2 beeps. I lowered the sensitivity and increased discrimination which does help but the detector still feels ways to sensitive and chatty. I noticed in all metal mode my threshold was louder towards the ground when bobbing so I'm assuming my detector is running a positive ground balance (which can be adjusted behind the control plate). I have a few questions:

1. ...Am I right in thinking in bad soil with high mineral content and loads of hot rocks/coal etc. a more positive GB would reduce the false signals?
2. ...Would negative GB on the SS UMax be counter-clockwise like on machines with an external GB control? I tried to adjust the GB but I seemed to get opposite results from what I was expecting.
3. ...I can't afford a Vaquero yet but are there any other Tesoro/Laser machines with adjustable ground balance and threshold buttons?

Thanks for reading and happy hunting. Lou

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Valuers and outlaw are the next up ones with adjustable GB. The outlaw pack can come with 3 coils and rods, which makes it sound nice. Plus the retune can come in handy (my bandido II is its predecessor and it's cool).
But alas, unless you get a Cibola and mod it (not recommended, voids the warranty if it's new) valuers and outlaw are next up price wise. Odd that your compare didn't though...
Good luck!!

 

[Monte]

Hi all - I've recently "upgraded" from a Compadre to a SS Umax and I'm having trouble with false signals probably high mineral UK soil.

The Silver Sabre µMAX [size=small](microMAX)[/size] is one of my two favorite turn-on-and-go [size=small](meaning factory preset GB) Tesoro models)[/size], and I always keep my at-the-ready with a 6" Concentric search coil mounted. It's an exceptional performer in most average ground conditions. By 'average' I am referring to quite a range of ground, from good to bad, as long as it isn't too extreme or plagued by very challenging hot rocks.

For every sweep I get 2 beeps.

For every sweep you shouldn't get any beeps, one, two or many, unless you are sweeping over a conductive metal target ... OR ... unless the GB setting is way off for the ground you are searching.

I lowered the sensitivity and increased discrimination which does help but the detector still feels ways to sensitive and chatty.

The Sensitivity only affects the Disc. mode, and doing what you did would often reduce EMI, and sometimes help with other problems, but I would guess it is an improper GB.

I noticed in all metal mode my threshold was louder towards the ground when bobbing so I'm assuming my detector is running a positive ground balance (which can be adjusted behind the control plate).

Correct, and I wonder HOW positive the GB response is in the All Metal Pinpoint function?

First, keep the coil away from any metal, press the PP button and adjust for a slight audio hum or proper Threshold setting.

Next,.find a clean spot of metal-free ground, especially bare dirt that is common or 'average' to your area, then hold the search coil about 6" to 8" off the ground. Press and hold the PP button, then lower the coil towards the ground from that 6"-8" height down to about ±1"

Does the Threshold audio decrease and go silent when it nears the ground? Does the Threshold re4main somewhat neutral and stay the same? Does the Threshold hum increase just slightly as the coil is lowered towards the ground? Does the Threshold audio increase abruptly and get loud as it is lowered even before getting very close to the ground?

I have a few questions:

Am I right in thinking in bad soil with high mineral content and loads of hot rocks/coal etc. a more positive GB would reduce the false signals?

Possibly. It depends on what constitutes a 'Hot Rock' in your area, or if there are clinkers, burned coal discards, in the area. Also of importance is how off the GB setting is. If it is too positive or too negative, there can be some issues.

Would negative GB on the SS UMax be counter-clockwise like on machines with an external GB control? I tried to adjust the GB but I seemed to get opposite results from what I was expecting.

The Silver sabre µMAX can be GB'ed in either the Threshold-based All Metal mode or in the silent search Discriminate mode. To accomplish the latter you need to use my Power Balance techniques and do it in some of the more mineralized or above average ground in the areas you hunt.

I can't afford a Vaquero yet but are there any other Tesoro/Laser machines with adjustable ground balance and threshold buttons?

You don't need a Vaquero just to get external GB capability. You can do it with a good model like the Bandido II or Bandido II µMAX. This will keep things at the more versatile, in my opinion, lower-to-mid range frequency and share the same coils as the Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX.

Valuers and outlaw are the next up ones with adjustable GB. The outlaw pack can come with 3 coils and rods, which makes it sound nice. Plus the retune can come in handy (my bandido II is its predecessor and it's cool).
But alas, unless you get a Cibola and mod it (not recommended, voids the warranty if it's new) valuers and outlaw are next up price wise. Odd that your compare didn't though...
Good luck!![

Stefan, do you mean Vaquero?

If Lou would like more manual versatility, I'd suggest a model like the Bandido II, Bandido II µMAX before the Outlaw. The Outlaw is okay, but I prefer the audio of the others and they don't have the two-position push-button.

Monte

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Would negative GB on the SS UMax be counter-clockwise like on machines with an external GB control? I tried to adjust the GB but I seemed to get opposite

Valuers and outlaw are the next up ones with adjustable GB. The outlaw pack can come with 3 coils and rods, which makes it sound nice. Plus the retune can come in handy (my bandido II is its predecessor and it's cool).
But alas, unless you get a Cibola and mod it (not recommended, voids the warranty if it's new) valuers and outlaw are next up price wise. Odd that your compare didn't though...
Good luck!![

Stefan, do you mean Vaquero?

If Lou would like more manual versatility, I'd suggest a model like the Bandido II, Bandido II µMAX before the Outlaw. The Outlaw is okay, but I prefer the audio of the others and they don't have the two-position push-button.

Monte

Yes sorry, recently changed phone's and it still has to "learn" some words. I meant Vaquero.
I agree on the Bandido II micromax. Not sure if it's normal, but mine has a much higher audio frequency than any of tlmy other models listed below.
But it's a great detector. Took a bit of getting used to with the numbers on the disc knob instead of the words on the more modern models.
I only suggested the outlaw because of the 3 coil pack.

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Also, SSUMAX, Monte is a very wise man I found in my short time here. He used to be (and still is) Mr. Tesoro. I would trust what he says without question. He knows more about tesoros, older and modern, than probably anyone.

 

[SSUMAX]

Thank you Stefan and Monte, the area I was trying was littered with coal/coke on top and beneath what I think is quite bad soil, either way not a good combination for any detector.

I adjusted the internal ground balance counter-clockwise just a hair and now it goes from a hum to a loud hum. The machine is now probably TOO positive but I managed to do the same bad soil spot without any falsing/interference and I actually got a small half-penny about 3 inches down. I was still getting signals from the bigger hot rocks/coke but nowhere near as bad as before, so I'm happy. Although I can't figure out why the ground balance seems to be positive in all metal/pinpoint mode but stable/good in discrimination mode?

The Bandido II Ųmax looks amazing! Now to check Ebay

Thanks again,
Lou

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Oh I forget who posted it, and I'm sure monte will correct if I'm wrong, but if you GB neutral in all metal, then disc mode will be slightly positive (or negative can't remember). Might have been from that vaquero /Tejon book I'm reading, but that's where the "power balancing" monte invented I think comes from and why it works that way. I'm not positive and I'm sure he will chime in on this.