Testing the Detech 8 inch concentric coil.

[crazyman]

Having used this coil on a few hunts now I thought I would share my findings. This coil is hot and might be better suited for low to moderate high minerlization. It is less affected by electrical interference but more affected by mineralization than the DD coils. It also seems to false less in iron. Testing it side by side with my S-8 coil in some really bad ground showed that even though the sensitivity had to be set at a minimum 3 hrs. lower than the S-8 and closer to what I use on my 10 inch Tornado coil the depth was the same or very close to the S-8. This was tested in auto sensitivity also and depth was on par with both the S-8 and 10 inch Tornado. Pinpointing like other concentric's is dead center when using the pinpoint mode. The tones were good and I had no problem separating them.Target separation in the trash was very good on deeper targets and lifting the coil on shallow mixed targets worked well also. I didn't try it on the beach but I've heard others say it works excellent there. I thought about keeping this coil but I would have to change the way I set up and use my GT. I hip-mount my GT and the coil cord is a bit to short. I never use the pinpoint mode and have always pinpointed my targets in discrimination mode with DD coils. I also don't use coil covers and the epoxy filled bottoms of the Minelab and Sunray coils can be used for years without problems this way. If anyone lives in areas with better ground than mine which is most of the country or uses their Sovereign rod mounted and wants to try the concentric let me know, I have it up for trade.

 

[jamesinwesttexas]

Crazyman, I've been following your posts on this coil. I'm a new owner of a GT with the 10 inch Tornado. I'm thinking seriously of getting a smaller coil, probably the 8 inch Tornado. I also noticed you were interested in that coil as well as the 180 meter. I just bought the bargraph meter partly on your advice. I probably need the Sunray probe or maybe the Garret pro pointer. I should probably just enjoy [try to learn] the GT and the 10 inch coil for awhile. I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts on this forum and continually research the archives. Appreciate any advice.
James

 

[Mel Parker]

Sent you a PM

 

[Critterhunter]

You'll find a pinpointer for Minelabs or pretty much any machine is of great help. Less time and frustration finding targets. I've owned one or two Sunray Probes on my Explorers and they are nice, but I find the ProPointer much less hassle and weight to use for me. The added bonus is you can use it with other machines or to help a friend without lugging your entire machine over. It's a great pinpointer with a very long battery life. My friend who hunts a lot has got a full year out of the 9V battery, and changes it every new year even though it's still not dead. I haven't had mine a year yet but I'm still on the original battery it came with. Plan to swap mine at the start of the new year as well just to be safe. I really should start carrying an extra 9V with me in my truck so if it does die on me I can swap it out. I can't imagine hunting without it now and would probably go home for the day if I can't use my ProPointer. I remember the days of grabbing a hand full of dirt and swinging it over the top of my coil to find the target. Much more work than a good pin pointer.

What I really like to do is super tune it for more depth. Often if I think the target is within reach of my screwdriver without digging a plug I'll try the ProPointer to locate it. If it doesn't pick it up I slide a metal washer down the shaft until the pin pointer just starts to sound off, then back it off a bit. Now you'll probably just about double it's depth. Also use this trick in the bottom of a hole when it's still too deep for the normal pin pointer depth. The washer is tied to a string which is secured to the back end of the pin pointer via a zip tie. It just hangs out of the way when unneeded, yet is real easy to grab with my thumb and move down the shaft when I do need it super tuned. You can do the reverse when you have multiple targets in the hole. Slide the washer down the shaft and then turn on the probe. It will de-tune it and give less sensitivity so you can trace out and seperate targets.

At some really mineralized sites or ones with heavy hot rock or iron content I've found the probe to false on the ground randomly. To fix this touch the tip of the probe to the ground as you turn it on. When it auto adjusts on power up it will compensate for the ground matrix and provide stable (although less depth) performance.

 

[jamesinwesttexas]

Sorry to hijack your post, Crazyman. But thanks for the report on that coil. Critter, I'm convinced now that I need that Garret propointer. I've been using a screwdriver and plastic cup to get targets with my MXT using a 5 inch Excelerator coil, and that works pretty good, but my GT is due to arrive tomorrow. I'm sure the pinpointing will be harder, especially with the larger coil. I have learned so much from you guys and I am determined to learn the GT, just need to get the best setup.
James

 

[crazyman]

It's going to seem alien to you at first especially after using to the MXT. Give it time, learn the tones and find the best settings that work best for you in your ground. No one can tell you what's best for you. If you have a beach nearby that is a good place to learn the GT. The learning curve will be faster and easier as the targets are easy digging and you can learn very fast how the GT responds to different types of targets at all depths. Also don't be afraid to experiment in the field with the other features like auto sensitivity, iron mask or silent search to see if they might help during the learning process. I still use them for different hunting conditions. I'm still tickled to death with the GT and I seem to learn something new every time I hunt with it.

 

[jamesinwesttexas]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Crazyman. I won't be giving up soon, I have a lot of patience. I've come to the GT after years of research and reading these posts and I've benefited from reading about yours and others experience. I realize it's going to take time but I'm convinced the GT is the ultimate for discrimination and depth. I don't have a beach here, but have a lot of desert sand and a variety of soils. Actually this was an inland ocean more than once [I'm near Big Bend National Park]. I'm not far from Presidio, Tx and Ojinaga, Mexico one of the oldest settlements in N. America and where Pancho Villa's army chased the Mexican federal army across the Rio Grande about 1916 [I've met Mexicans whose relatives fought with Villa]. I live near a trail used by the Comanches on their raids into Mexico during the 1700's and 1800's. There's an old abandoned railroad station I've done some detecting at [and gave most of the coins to the kids who showed up]. And I do plan to make it to a real beach soon so the possibilities are endless [time is not]. UPS is bringing the GT today. Buena suerte y luego.
James

 

[Critterhunter]

That's why I settled on a GT- Deep as it gets for old coins, great VDI and audio for rings, and it's unmasking ability. The VDI's ability to split hairs on rings and such is also a big plus. With most machines you are trading off one thing for another. Some are great ring detectors, some better for old coins, some with good separation but no depth, and so on. Sovereign has got it all IMHO.