Target response on two Silver Half Dollars ??

[Ron (CA)]

Finally--I got my CTX this evening and have been listen to different targets and trying to tune the machine to sound as close as possible to the Explorer. I love all the options and flexibility. I have a lot to learn.

I have been testing mainly silver coins: dimes, qtrs, halves and silver dollars. I remember when the E-Trac came out, the default coin program would often times would disc out 2 silver dollars that were stacked. I am glad to see that the CTX hits on 2 silver dollars stacked.

My concern is that two silver 1/2 dollars perfectly stacked is very choppy when swinging the machine slow. They hit pretty good when swinging fast but I think that the target is hitting above the top line and causing it to blank out. If you have 50% overlap of the silver 1/2 dollars they will hit fine but when on top off each other the signal degrades and gets choppy. You can actually hear the machine nulling on the coins.

Hopefully this is something that can be adjusted with an update?

I know--What are the odds of two silver half dolalrs being perfectly stacked in the ground? Pretty slim but I just found it odd that this is occurring.

I will take the machine out for its maiden voyage tomorrow.

OK Back to toying around!

Ron Swenson
Ron (CA)

 

[jimmybigshot]

Wow. The odds of you hitting 2 silver half-dollars has got to be right up there with winning the lottery. This thing must be pretty nice to get a nit picked observation like that. I would venture to say that you need not be concerned with your scenario, it will never happen. And if it does, your machine will just null out and you thought it was iron. No lose situation.

 

[Ron (CA)]

jimmybigshot-- An honest observation is not allowed? I never bashed the CTX.

I dished out the same money everyone else did for this fantastic machine. I never said it was a piece of junk --- I simply stated a TRUE fact. Call it nit picky if you like, but I don't care what machine it is, what name is on it or how much it costs, it should not null out on two half dollars regardless of what the odds are of ever passing your coil over it in the real world!

This is a new model and all new model may have a bug or two and if no one points out a potential issue then how the heck is Minelab to address it and see if there is a fix with a simple update. Heck the XS when it came out had all kinds of issues with cracked housing, odd size headphone jack--remember that? It was user's input and honest observation that lead Minelab to make changes and then release the E2 with the proper changes. The SE came out with a crappy coil. Input from users pushed Minelab to come out with the SE Pro with a much better and superior coil.

It's called consumer input and most manufacturers want it and appreciate it so they can improve. They improve so people like us with contour to buy their products just as I have since 1995.

And I would bet that someone wins the lottery and that someone has put there coil over two silver half dollars in the same hole.

Ron Swenson
Ron (CA)

 

[Digger]

Yep, the conductive line was changed from the E-TRAC, to include the US silver dollar.

As to your stacked halves, I've tried to duplicate your results, without success. I did get it to touch off 12/50 on one very slow pass. But typical readings were 12/44-46. And the Smartscreen2 image was pretty stable.

A couple questions/comments......

Since this is an airtest, try setting the GB to ON and repeat the test. Better yet, lay them on the ground and try it. When I did that, the conductive numbers were consistently lower. As you may know, with the GB turned off, the FBS2 has nothing to base it's "ground compensation" on. I don't hold much stock in airtesting the Multi-freq land Minelabs. Just too much going on "in the box" to not have a ground matrix. Take the coins outside, bury them and give it a shot. Granted, freshly buried coins aren't "the same" as those hiding in the ground for a while. But at least you have the ground matrix surrounding the coins. And I also think you'll have a hard time sweeping as slow as you can when simply passing coins under the coil. Which leads me to the second comment......sweep speed. As I said, on one very slow pass of the coins, it barked a bit, and bumped up to 12/50. But this was literally c r a w l i n g the coin past the coil. When the detector is in-hand, I don't think I could sweep that slow. If it doesn't change with the coins on/in the ground, let me know and we'll see what else we can come up with.

And finally, don't let anyone ever tell you that you'll never find silver halves stacked on top of one another. Here is a picture of part of the cache I found for a family, a few years back. (and yes, I gave them ALL the coins) And as you can see, those Walkers can come stacked up! HH Randy

[attachment 234241 silverwalkers2009-Copy.jpg]

 

[Ron (CA)]

yes, I am brand new to the machine but pretty experienced with Minelabs. I know what you are talking about regarding air test but in a couple modes the halves are a bit iffy and in the silver mode they hit pretty good. Just found it odd that even in the artiest it was nulling a bit on the halves. Forgot about the GB so went out and checked that. That was the difference I think. Tough to GB to air as you mentioned. Still in Explorer mode!!

Thanks for the insight and the level headed reply!! Experience is key!

I will experiment more with the machine in the coming days and weeks. And I am sure more questions and comments will follow as I wrap my mind around this thing.

Fantastic find--some people do win the detecting "lottery" !!

I was going to post my "lottery" find earlier but there was only one half in the stack. Found with my Explorer XS with the cracked housing and small headphone jack!!

Ron Swenson
Ron (CA)

 

[Ron (CA)]

n/t

 

[mascard1]

Dang mine don't come till tomorrow night!

 

[doc1964]

 

[D&P-OR]

Ron-----Thanks for your post & observation-appreciate it.---I think we ALL benefit when things are brought up & discussed about the CTX. ---------Del

 

[mascard1]

Finally--I got my CTX this evening and have been listen to different targets and trying to tune the machine to sound as close as possible to the Explorer. I love all the options and flexibility. I have a lot to learn.

I have been testing mainly silver coins: dimes, qtrs, halves and silver dollars. I remember when the E-Trac came out, the default coin program would often times would disc out 2 silver dollars that were stacked. I am glad to see that the CTX hits on 2 silver dollars stacked.

My concern is that two silver 1/2 dollars perfectly stacked is very choppy when swinging the machine slow. They hit pretty good when swinging fast but I think that the target is hitting above the top line and causing it to blank out. If you have 50% overlap of the silver 1/2 dollars they will hit fine but when on top off each other the signal degrades and gets choppy. You can actually hear the machine nulling on the coins.

Hopefully this is something that can be adjusted with an update?

I know--What are the odds of two silver half dolalrs being perfectly stacked in the ground? Pretty slim but I just found it odd that this is occurring.

I will take the machine out for its maiden voyage tomorrow.

OK Back to toying around!

Ron Swenson
Ron (CA)

Where....Where...........don"t make me drive all around Sacramento!

 

[Goldfinds]

Hi mascard1, how's it going, haven't heard from you in a while. Taking my CTX 3030 out today also.

 

[mascard1]

mine don't come till tomorrow ....ahhhhh......hey scott I got a 4800......what for I don't know?