I had the same problem and I sent mine back to the factory and had it recalibrated. It came back and had more depth but still not what the others claim. So I sent it back to my dealer and he tested it and said it worked fine. Was getting 12-121/2 inches on a nickel. So I got it back once again, took it out in my yard and found a place that was truly free of metal and got 12 1/2 inches on a nickel. The places I detect are full of junk and I think I was GBing over small pieces of metal that were throwing my detector off. I am sending you a tip I got off a forum that might help you. Remember to find clean ground.
TERRYS TEJON TIPS
First off...don't let someone tell ya its hard.Just remain calm.If ya lived close,I would meet ya and show you...where do you live? BEFORE turning on the machine, test batts,they shoud not be below 1.40 volts.The old thing about changing each hunt is B/S.Set the threshold up around 10,then the VCO-tone to 3 oclockand always leave there.This will find those tiny gold pieces.set bottom right disc to foil and upper righ alt disc to same.Turn on and leave the sens at 1.Pull back on toggle,this is fast tune all metal(works better than using the disc setting as that is slowtune.With the trigger back and over a "clean spot" (No metal underneath) of lawn hold coil parallel to the ground and from 3 ft up lower to about a foot.Do you hear a slight humm?If not,turn the threshold clockwise until a slight hum is heard.I try to stay near 10 to 11 oclock,but someguys prefer,AFTER GB,to raise to 1pm.Now start pumping the coil from 1" up to a foot and turn the big GB knob at least 4 full turns CCW or negative.Then,while still pumping,start turning the Gb clockwise and pretty soon,it will be humming both on the up and down stroke....keep turning and pumpin and when it makes no noise,its Gb'd BUT, you need to keep pumpin and going a bit more CW or jes until it moans ONLY on the down stroke.This is optimum and goes super deep.Now turn up the gain(sens) to about 3 oclock or at the 10 mark.If ya go near big power lines,you may get a chatter and must drop to 5 or 6.Normally if you turn the gain up till it chatters,into the red area,jes comeback a bit until quiet.Next,get a piece of aluminum foil and swing it under the coil and go up past "foil" until its quiet.THIS should be right on foil or a wisker above.Some guys tell ya to use,but as units can vary,once I find this,I use an 1.5MM allen wrench and carefully loosen the set screw in the knob,remove and put a 1/4" o-ring on shaft,then reinstall with the pointer now just above foil.The o-rings keep out dirt + they make greater "drag" so that the knob is hard for brush etc to move.Now go to the upper right knob(alt disc) and with a squarenail swinging under coil and the trigger pushed FORWARD,move this knob CW just till the nail makes it crackle.This should find most gold rings and all coins.If you are in "pulltab heaven",you can eliminat by going past the tab mark.HOWEVER you will not find any gold rings and even elimination of trash past the TAB will leave most nickles undiscovered.This is where,the hunter must make his choices.I often,when near a playground or concession stand,crank the alt up clear past SCAP which eliminates popbottle caps,BUT, most everything but pennies,dimes,quarters and bigger targets.Now,practice until you can tell what a coin/ring sounds like compared to junk.I setup a coin garden ontop of a cardboard box(away from floor nails)and re-listen amost weekly.A real good headphone set is a must if yer over 25 years old.I use only KillerB;s as my finds more than doubled after obtaining. I know it was alot,BUT,AN OLD SAYING IS,"I CAN'T EAT A WHOLE ELEPHANT AT A SETTING,BUT,I CAN EAT HIM ONE BITE AT A TIME! Keep in mind and go thru this several times until yer feelin good and go find some goodies!
