Thomas Dankowski's article on target masking. Excellent read.

[Tony N (Michigan)]

In March of the year 2000, Thomas Dankowski wrote this rather revealing article on masking of targets:

Thomas Dankowski's masking of targets

In it, he explains how something as simple as a staple above a coin in the ground can completely mask the coin from being detected. He's not talking about a staple
resting on the coin but several inches directly above the coin.
He goes on to explain what he did in his tests.
I'm curious if any detector to date has been made to unmask coins from metals directly above the coin.

 

[Dreamweaver4849]

In March of the year 2000, Thomas Dankowski wrote this rather revealing article on masking of targets:

Thomas Dankowski's masking of targets

In it, he explains how something as simple as a staple above a coin in the ground can completely mask the coin from being detected. He's not talking about a staple
resting on the coin but several inches directly above the coin.
He goes on to explain what he did in his tests.
I'm curious if any detector to date has been made to unmask coins from metals directly above the coin.

Wrong place for this topic again. This is the "Nokta Detectors" specific Forum

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

In March of the year 2000, Thomas Dankowski wrote this rather revealing article on masking of targets:

Thomas Dankowski's masking of targets

In it, he explains how something as simple as a staple above a coin in the ground can completely mask the coin from being detected. He's not talking about a staple
resting on the coin but several inches directly above the coin.
He goes on to explain what he did in his tests.
I'm curious if any detector to date has been made to unmask coins from metals directly above the coin.

Wrong place for this topic again. This is the "Nokta Detectors" specific Forum

Right place for this topic. The topic is for people who use Nokta detectors that need to be made aware of target masking.

 

[Dreamweaver4849]

Okaaay, whatever. I just remembered why I usually read but don't post on the forums.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Okaaay, whatever. I just remembered why I usually read but don't post on the forums.

Sorry, I don't get what you are trying to say.

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

His info is good for any detector and any type of hunting..It should stay here!!!

 

[dbado1]

Good read , thanks!
Especially since the Nokta's are excellent at un-masking!

Dean

 

[Elton]

In March of the year 2000, Thomas Dankowski wrote this rather revealing article on masking of targets:

Thomas Dankowski's masking of targets

In it, he explains how something as simple as a staple above a coin in the ground can completely mask the coin from being detected. He's not talking about a staple
resting on the coin but several inches directly above the coin.
He goes on to explain what he did in his tests.
I'm curious if any detector to date has been made to unmask coins from metals directly above the coin.

Wrong place for this topic again. This is the "Nokta Detectors" specific Forum

[size=large]I believe this topic is not brand specific. It address masking. It also in a round about way in my interpretation is asking if Notka or any other manufacturer is/has addressed this known concern.
I am leaving it up as long as it stays on topic[/size].

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

I agree lets just mellow out a bit and learn from more info

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

What I've been hearing about the Nokta brand detectors and others is that it is possible to unmask a target under trash.
I think the numbers might be skewed some but with good ears, one can hear the good target under the trash.

 

[Greg (E.Tn)]

" if any detector to date has been made to unmask coins from metals directly above the coin. "


The answer is "no"--not completely.

What's more, if another metallic target is in close proximity to a good target, the proximity will affect both the audio and target ID.

We can all argue about detector brands, depth, target ID, etc. all day long, but the basic truth is recovery speed, detection depth, and discrimination ability are great to have, but it comes down to how well you know your detector, and your decision to dig or not. Variables regarding depth, target separation, and mineralization can combine to give you target ID numbers that jump all over the place, along with an audio signal that sounds good one way, but like trash the other, or a clipped signal, or a high/low, depending on the detector. You might get a good signal approaching the target from one direction, and a completely different signal from another direction.

Large, or oddly shaped iron objects can easily give such signals. So, when in doubt, dig.

Look at it this way: it's good exercise, and digging all of those iffy signals builds confidence in your detector, and..........character.

As to whether or not this is the right place to pose your question, absolutely it is, and keep on posting them.

As detectorists, we should all help one another, not criticize.

 

[Mudwhale]

Tony
Here is what I found with the Impact. The Left photo is of what I found. I got a SOLID penny signal and when I dug, there was a nail dead center on the penny with a bent nail 1/2" to the right. The Right photo is a nail 1" above the brass thing. The Impact ignored the nails completely on both finds.

 

[TallTom]

Very interesting info. What mode were you using and what settings?

 

[Mudwhale]

I was using 14 MHz in DI99 with discrimination at 25. I toggled to DI3 and DI4 and got the same readings. Currently I have been using DI99 with zero discrimination and love it. For me it lets me hear everything and learn the numbers of everything I dig. I have been making bets with myself by guessing what it is before I dig it. Yesterday at the park I was wrong only once. What I thought for sure was a penny turned out to be a loaded magazine from a .32 M1903 Colt Hammer less pistol! It banged a solid 70.