Spectrum XLT Help

[Lakota]

Okay guys I have a friend that is starting out in the hobby with a borrowed xlt. He hasn't gotten frustrated yet which is a good sign, but has no experience with detecting little lone with an xlt.

From what I have read so far. The spectrum is a capable but complicated unit. So what I was wanting help with is some basic setting/ programs to better help him along in understanding this machine.

His property has been lived on since the late 1800s to present. I think he is more interested in coins then relics. But I think he would be happy with either

Any help here would be much appreciated guys.

Thanks, Lakota

 

[C E Stricklin]

Start with the factory preset programs without making any changes until familiar with the detector, then only change one thing at a time until he understands what the change does. I have been using a XLT since they first came out and it is still one of my main use detectors of which I have several. He needs to check out all the posts by "Monte" on the XLT as he is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable people around on this detector.

 

[LiterBikeHunter]

I would second the preset programs with minor changes. I'm relatively new to the XLT as well and I can say from first hand experience that learning this machine can be overwhelming.

I have spent countless hours researching all of the settings but the best info I've gotten (that didn't take a MD genius level IQ to comprehend) came from a series of you tube videos put out by Whites when they re released the XLT.

If I had it to do all over again, I would start with the preset Relic mode program. Once he has selected the Relic program and performs the air/ground balance, I would recommend he do the following:

**when he comes to a setting he wants to change, the "enter" button will allow him to make the change. Once the change has been made, the "menu" button confirms the change and allows him to continue to browse the settings. If the setting is an on/off setting, the enter button toggles between the two.

I can't recall the order on the settings but here are the settings I adjust. Before he makes any changes, I would recommend turning the machine on and balance it. It doesn't matter what program he chooses to begin with. Once this is done, with the machine on, pull the battery. This will do a reset and clear any changes made to the settings.

Threshold - lower the threshold to a point that it can heard but as low as possible.
VDI sensitivity - I put mine at 80
AC Sensitivity - I increase mine by 10. If the machine seems to be erratic, I will lower this setting until it stabilizes. If its stable, I will go back and increase it until it becomes unstable and then lower it until it is stabil. (I hope that makes sense)
DC sensitivity - I don't touch this
Tone ID on
Icons Off
VCO on
Modulation off
Preamp Gain - I run mine between 3 and 4. Some say they run theirs at 10 or more. I don't know how because my machine goes crazy past 4.
Bottle cap reject - 2

Once he has finished making these changes, he needs to pull the trigger. This will take him back to search mode but he will want to re balance the machine. While in the search mode, press the "enter button and follow the on screen instructions to air/ground balance.

If the machine seems to be making random noises, he will want to lower the AC sensitivity and /or the preamp gain. I can't think of a situation where he would want to run the preamp gain less than 2. If he's at 2 and it's still unstable, only lower the sensitivity until it stabilizes. Don't let him forget to re balance it after he makes any changes to the settings.