So I took it out today... We have problems..

[MatthewS]

Ok guys.. took the new DeLeon out with the old Prism 5 today to a friends house. It's on VERY old private land so I figured something would turn up. The prism was for my friend who wanted to learn. So I notched out everything but coins for her, showed her how to sweep and pinpoint, gave her her tools and went my seperate way. She was having a blast within ten minutes pulling clad out of the dirt. I was not so lucky.

With my sensativity on 3 this thing was chirping it's head off. It seemed like there was a target every few feet. I figured it was trashy and I wanted to learn the machine so I dug them all. Here's problem #1... 75% (no exageration) of my targets once under the center of the coil hit hard with a 95 on the VDI, solid and repeatable at depths of 6-8 inches. Not a single target was physically larger than a penny, nothing clad greater than a dime, and junk I couldn't even discriminate out no matter where I set it at. With the sensativity down to 1 and the discrimination the entire way up I managed to lock a repeatable 95 VDI and yanked a penny at 3 inches. This is just not right, I know it's not right. I am hoping someone will whisper in my ear (your right matt, it's not right) so I don't think I'm losing it.

Problem #2.. This is supposed to be a no-motion machine. I can sweep in all metal all day long and pinpoint targets, but only based on my experience. Why? because this damn thing needs motion to make any noises! Now am I reading this wrong, or does 'no-motion' mean no motion? I sat my penny in the center of the loop and in all metal mode it didn't make a peep until I moved the coil. When I stopped the coil it settled right back into silence. This can't be right... tell me it's not right..

I had to borrow the Prism to double check half my stuff. That thing was clicking along like a charm. I am seriously leaning towards defective factory setup on this thing. I need some reassurance that these detectors are not like this. I have not done any mods to the PCB yet, so I know I didn't mess anything up. Does this sound like a GB issue? Can I tweak my way out of this? It was a horrible first experience.. Someone console me or something..

- Matt

 

[VaRelics]

I use a Tejon and have never used the Deleon but from experience I think you should give it some time. I have got many new detectors over the years and was frustrated the first time I used them only to find I love the machine once I figured it out. Hang in there and I'm sure there are some Deleon users who can give you practical advise.

Regards,

VaRelics

 

[Furious T]

I have had my DeLeon for over 5 years and haven't had a problem with it (except the loudspeaker doesn't work, but that's not a problem, I only use headphones). Prob #2. The Deleon is a motion detector, i.e. In Discrimination mode, the coil must be moving for a target to register. The All Metal mode is different...the DeLeon has a VCO style All Metal mode and you will find that the closer that targets get to the coil, the louder will be the response. You manual will give you a full description on what to expect in AM mode. Prob # 1. It doesn't sound to me as if you detector is behaving properly. With discrimination set between 1 and 3 you should not have any trouble discriminating any targets except copper and silver. Give the guys and gals at Tesoro a call. I'm sure you'll find them helpful. Good luck, Sapper.

 

[marcomo]

Matt - It sounds like you have the same issue as I had when I got my DeLeon. I felt exactly like you when I first got my DeLeon.

The first time I sent it in they checked it out and said it was working fine, they retuned the coil.

When I got it back it still was a total chatterbox and too unstable to use effectively.

I sent it back in with a bag of dirt in my area which they calibrated the GB to.

That did the trick. I got a call from James Gifford and he said the preset GB was significantly off.

It's worked like a champ ever since.

Knowing how good you are with mods, I'm sure you could tweak the GB pot yourself.

Remembering your earlier post about a different Tesoro, I'd still check with Tesoro to make sure you're not affecting the lifetime warranty.

 

[Monte]

#1.. From the first DeLe

 

[Neil]

I use a Tejon and have never used the Deleon but from experience I think you should give it some time. I have got many new detectors over the years and was frustrated the first time I used them only to find I love the machine once I figured it out. Hang in there and I'm sure there are some Deleon users who can give you practical advise.

Regards,

VaRelics

You gotta give em some time and also you have to treat them all like your first detector and try not to make them work like another detector youve had or have.

HH
Neil

 

[slingshot]

Were you using it close to the other detector? Could be crosstalk.

 

[MatthewS]

Thanks for the replys everyone, Monte especially. I am well aware of the learning curve on a new detector FWIW. This sucker just ain't right. I called a spoke with Vince G. again today about what I was experiencing. I also mentioned to him something I forgot to add here. When I attempt to set my threshold, it's impossible to get a steady tone. I get warble in the tone any any level. It doesn't matter where I have the coil or what area code it's in, cell phone or not. It just has warble in the tone. He seems to think this could be a contributor to the bulk of the issues, or another symptom of one large one. He did explain to me as per Monte's statement about the auto tune on the AM mode. I have to say it's a bit annoying. The auto tune is VERY fast on this thing. Much faster than me when I'm crossing my target. I actually had better luck pinpointing in discriminate mode with the discrimination cranked through the roof! I thought about radio interference, crosstalk, all of that stuff.. I am a techie here guys

It just won't behave properly. He thinks I should send it in and now i'm a little heartbroken. I was very excited to step up from the Prizm to what I considered to be a much more serious machine. Now that the Prizm is back with the version 5 board and keypad installed it's swinging like a sweetheart. So needless to say I'm a little upset. I did make what could be one good find though. I had to double check the target with the Prizm before I dug it because it was the last hole I dug for the day. By that time I was so frustrated with tiny aluminum nails and even drywall screw-heads (not even the whole damn screw!) hitting a 95 on the VDI @ 6+ inches that I wasn't about to dig another thing without double checking it with the other detector! Heck I would have just taken it off of her if she wasn't having so much fun with it.

At any rate, can anyone identify this? pulled 7" deep in clay, on 400 year old private farmland complete with indian burial ground.. So I'm hoping it's something sweet! This is the best scan I could get using all the tricks in my arsenol and a serious scan rate. It's not going to get better than this so I hope it's enough for someone to recognize. It is copper and physically the size of a red cent. There is no rim and no reverse stamp (that I can see). The rear appears flat with no signs that it had an attachment for use as a button. Thanks again guys!

I'm posting 3 sizes because sometimes the details come together better at different viewing sizes.


[attachment 126077 scan0004-small.jpg]
[attachment 126078 scan0004-smaller.jpg]
[attachment 126079 scan0004-smallest.jpg]

- Matt

 

[BarberBill]

Can't help you identify the coin or whatever, but I have a DeLeon that works very well with good depth and pretty accurate ID.. Where I use it most, the soil is mild and ideal for preset machines so I haven't had the ground balance issues that Monte mentions and/or the machine is set well. I replaced a Prizm IV with it and while the Prizm was a decent machine, it had just enough lag tiime in the retune to make it less than ideal when pinpointing. If the DeLeon is properly set, i believe you will come to like it.
HH
BB

 

[tvr]

Matt,
Whatzit forum may help. Looks very nice but not something I can help ID.
tvr

 

[MatthewS]

Yeah, I posted it there.. no luck yet.

Checked my delivery confirmation slip today only to find out the package had the following status;

'Status: Missent

Your item was misrouted. The error has been corrected and every effort is being made to deliver it as soon as possible. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.'

I have to say that this is starting to feel like an Omen guys.. I waited two weeks to get it, took it out to find out it's not right, sent it back in for service and they misrouted it.. Thank god I have a spare.

- Matt