The TDI . Who has it ? How long and tell me all !

[acemanau]

Just got 1 a couple of weeks ago and have not gotten a lot of time to use it yet. Little disappointed with the threshold control/stability and that I cannot get it to see 4 grain nuggets.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[boilerdude]

I got mine Sept. 2008 Only got to use it a little before freeze up.All this is air testing done today in my house(18 degree high today, frozen outside) with a 3 grain nugget. I tested my 6x10 Jimmy coil and the 12" stock coil. 12" coil would hit on the nugget at roughly 1". Gain-8, Pulse delay-10, Ground balance- off, Frequency- middle, Threshold- just silent, Conductivity- all. Jimmy coil, same settings, about double at roughly 2". Both coils picked up a 5 grainer at roughly 4". Neither coil picked up a 1 grainer. If I was out side I would set Ground balance-on, set at 8-9, Gain-8, Conductivity-low, Threshold just above chatter, use headphone volume control to get the volume you want. However, I really like that just silent setting. Frequency- adjust to quietest position. Read the field guide and manual, it helps. A lot of TDI info at tdi.invisionplus.net. Dave

 

[acemanau]

Thanks for the response. yeah I have read the manual and just not liking the whole threshold thing with the headphones controling it. I have been trying the test nuggets on the ground where I am going to hunt and in the GB mode in all bout the same settings you have posted. Week after next I am going to go and get real serious in the field with it. And will have an arsenal of nuggies to try.

 

[steve herschbach]

Hi,

PI units are not that hot on tiny gold and you usually need a nugget weighing several grains to get a signal at all and you need to be right on top of it. The minimum size depends on the purity and shape also so it is not just weight. I have both a TDI and a GMT. If the areas I want to hunt is known to have nuggets measured in pennyweights or grams I'm using the TDI. If I'm in an area where all the gold is likely to be under half a gram I'm using the GMT instead. I can easily hit stuff as tiny as 1/10th grain with the GMT.

Steve Herschbach

 

[acemanau]

Thanks Steve, I too own a GMT , but I have been told by more then 1 person that it supposedly capable of getting 3 gr pieces. My big issue with it I guess is that it is hard to get stable and the threshold /Headphone volume circus.I been at this yellow metal chase for some quite a few years now and have used everything from a GTI2000 to the Original GB and just about every GM with the exception of the GMII.Found little fly specks with the GBII and never liked the sound of the Minelab at all.
Like I used to tell my customers when I was selling gear at Gold Mine in Sac Ca , the best detector is the 1 you use, I guess I ought to just get busy huh?
Thanks man , maybe I'll get a chance to come swing the Damn thing up yonder where you are at sometime.

 

[steve herschbach]

Hi,

Well, maybe you can get the TDI to make a noise on a 3 grain nugget by rolling it around on the coil. The point I'm trying to make is that chasing tiny gold is better off done with other units. No use in hunting rabbits with an elephant gun.

I have five TDIs and have no stability issues with any of them. The threshold is certainly ratty if you crank the machine up. If I could have one wish for the unit it would be for a smoother threshold at high gain. I run the threshold control lower than most people probably would to quiet the machine down.

Steve Herschbach

 

[prospector 55]

My TDI is really stable with the threshold and gain cranked, the only time I have any problems with noise is if I am around a bounty hunter detector or a satellite dish, or it is turned on in the house...

 

[tvanwho]

Steve,

I should be in central Arizona in a few weeks around Rich Hill area. How should i set up my TDi for larger, deeper gold an ignore some iron junk? I have Killer Bee and the single cup Nugget headphones from Detector Pro, which do you recommend?
Thanks. Should whispers be dug or all noises?

Tom