both, depending upon a person's interpretation of 'notch' Discrimination.
D&P-OR said:
Notch disc on the Racer--or just "progressive" disc?
"
Progressive Discrimination" would be what we have generally been used to since it was first introduced, where you would start at the lowest Discrimination setting, then rotate a knobbed potentiometer to slowly progress on up the range of rejection. This type of 'Progressive' Disc. adjustment was used on most of the earlier TR-Disc. and VLF-Disc. [size=small](motion-based Discriminators)[/size] using a variable analog Disc. circuitry design.
I still have the 'old style' Progressive/Variable Discrimination on my Teknetics Omega, Tesoro Bandido II µMAX and Outlaw, and White's MXT All-Pro. I like a good 'Progressive' Discrimination adjustment range because I
never use more rejection than
just enough to barely reject common iron nails laying on the ground.
"Notch Discrimination," as it was originally designed, would be a separate variable Notch Disc. knob adjustment that would move a 'window' of rejection [size=small](or acceptance depending upon the detector)[/size] separate from the Primary Disc. setting. But since that early Notch Disc. concept we have had a few newer types of 'Notch' Disc. designs offered to us.:
1.. Factory designed Notch Disc. 'groups' or 'set windows' based upon conductivity 'ranges', such as 'Iron' then 'Foil' then 'Nickel' for the USA 5¢ coin, then 'Pull Tab' for the early ring-pull type tabs. Then some models added even higher 'Notch' ranges such as 'Screw Caps, then 'Aluminum', Zinc Cents [size=small](USA Zinc Pennies)[/size], and some 'Notches' for higher-conductive USA coins like 'Dimes' and 'Quarters'. Many made today have segments that don't adjust higher because Halves and the older large Silver Dollars are not in abundant circulation or frequently found.
Some makes and models, such as my Teknetics Omega, let you accept or reject one or more of these larger Notch groups. That 'Notch' Disc. option is there, but
I never use 'Notch' based on this concept.
2.. Models such as the White's XLT, DFX. VX3 and V3i have, perhaps, the widest range of independent 'numeric Notches', which range from -95 to 0 to +95. This brought us the often referred to VDI for Visual Discrimination Indicator that could be more closely assigned to some specific targets. The 191 number adjustment spans the range from mineralized ground through small, lower conductive targets and on up to the higher conductivity setting possible. With those models, the operator can accept or reject any specific single VDI numbers they want. The trick is knowing what such varied adjustments can ...
and can't ... work in the real world.
I have my own three Custom Programs loaded in my White's XLT, and every one of them Rejects all VDI numbers from -95 through -41, and Accepts all VDI numbers from -40 through +95.
For me and my style of detecting and the performance this model gives me, that's all the Discrimination I want or need. No 'Notching.' Some people will Accept and Reject some strange groups of VDI numbers that they feel suits their taste and that's fine, we each make our own decisions on what works [size=small](or seems to work)[/size] for us.
"Segmented Discrimination" is a design where the Discrimination adjustment range, from the particular models acceptance range on up through the designed highest Disc setting, is broken down into specific 'Segments' which can also be referred to as 'Notches.' We saw that with models like the Garrett GTA series with little squares or blocks. Most of the time the little square 'Segments' let us Reject or Accept predetermined 'Notch Segments,' and models can have maybe 8 'Notch Segments' like the White's Coinmaster Pro, 9 'Notch Segments' as found on their Coinmaster GT, or 20 'Notch Segments' like on my MX5.
Garrett's GTI 2500 has 24 'Segments', and Minelab's X-Terra 705 has 28 'Segments.' Then there is the Garrett AT Pro which has a more variable Iron range adjustment, followed by 12 'Segments', or the before mentioned White's models with 191 numeric 'Segments.'
NOTE: With these types of detector models, using the little 'Segments' or 'Notches,' these different blocks can serve two purposes. One is to indicate a visual VDI numeric or Target ID range, and they are also used for Discrimination adjustment.
Some makes and models allow the operator to Reject [size=small](Discriminate)[/size] only several of the first [size=small](lowest reading)[/size] sets of 'Segments' or 'Notches', while other makes and models allow you to Reject or Accept any number of individual 'Notch Segments.' Thus models like my White's MX5 allow me to Progressively increase my Rejection to just knock out most iron nails with the first 3 'Notch Segments', and Accept the upper 16 'Notch Segments.' Others might want to 'Notch Discriminate' a few 'Segments' that would eliminate pull tabs and screw caps.
As I stated, I have no use for Notch Discrimination, or really using very much rejection at all. I like to adjust just enough to maybe help deal with some ground mineral issues or to just barely reject iron nails. Nothing higher than that, with the only exception being to reject wet salt beach responses, if I don't have a detector so designed to handle those conditions [size=small](with a wet salt beach GB compensation)[/size].
So, to answer Del's question [size=small](for newcomers or those a bit confused by Discrimination and terms used)[/size], unless we hear a final Operator's Manual description otherwise, I believe the Makro Racer will have a Discrimination design similar to the Nokta Fors Coin and Relic. The Co/Re and Racer have a Target ID display that provide a Numeric Read-Out [size=small](often referred to as a VDI number)[/size] that can run from 0 to 99. The operator can relate the Target ID reading to a colored graphic scale along the top that suggests a general range of conductivity associated with the Target ID.
The Nokta Fors CoRe has an adjustment called ID Masking. The Makro Racer photos show the term ID Filter. These controls are the Discrimination adjustments that will allow an operator to 'Progressively' Discriminate unwanted targets by increasing, from a lower setting, up through the Target ID conductivity numbers [size=small](in essence 'segments')[/size] similar to using the "old fashioned" variable-adjust knobbed potentiometer.
Therefore, NO, it doesn't seem to allow any 'windows' of Secondary Discrimination Notches or Segments contrary to the Primary Discrimination adjustment, just a Progressive Primary Discrimination setting as most of us are used to. Honestly, I am glad to see a progressive numeric reference called Target ID, and to also have a full-scale adjustment that allows us to reduce it to '0' for a true Zero Discriminate setting. I search that way quite often in addition to a Threshold-based All Metal mode.
Sorry to ramble and I hope I haven't confused anyone with my descriptions. I know that many newcomers don't know what 'Notch' is and my response here was to maybe help the novice hobbyist. People like Del [size=small](
D&P-OR)[/size] and others with time in this great hobby already have a handle on standard Progressive Discrimination Vs Notch Discrimination. If I confused anyone, please shoot me an e-mail to: [email subject=Monte]monte@stinkwaterwells.com[/email] rather than clutter this good Forum with a lot of chatter [size=small](or arguments
)[/size].
Monte
