To Dig or Not To Dig

[nolanation]

I have been getting more comfortable with the CTX lately, and beginning to understand the FE/CO and target trace. Once in a while I will dig a not so good signal, that SOUNDS good, but usually only from one side, and can not be heard well if at all if I move 90 degrees. Now I know I have read on here before that sometimes digging those "one way" signals can pay off. Typically these signals I have trouble with have a good sound, but minor building of red tracing, and with some blue build and the reject icon at the bottom. I am usually able to pinpoint the target as well, and at this time during pinpointing, it will build a solid block trace of red. BUT when I go to dig these targets they are always iron. I am hunting in mild ground, 6* coil, with not a whole lot of trash, using ferrous coin, discrimination, and noise cancelled.

To sum it up, I will get a somewhat choppy signal at lets say 12:38, that may jump slightly on both the FE and CO number, with not much build of red on the trace, but is showing an accept icon. Also showing on the trace is some blue build with the reject icon. Again, I can usually pinpoint the target, and while pinpointing, it will build up more solid red tracing around 12:38 then it did when I was getting the signal in the first place. I can usually only pick up the signal in one direction. The few I have dug in these circumstances have all been iron. Should I continue to dig these targets if they are deep, just in case? Or just avoid them altogether?

Thanks for any tips

 

[Larry (IL)]

On the ETrac and Explorers, I dug some one way targets that paid off, they were very deep 7-8 inches and I was hunting in a location were the odds were better for an old, deep coin............ BUT, I'm waiting yet for a one way target pay off with the CTX. I'm sure there have been and will be exceptions, but I think the CTX has a better target ID system where I pretty much have to have a two way target "go ahead" to dig those deep targets. Sure, I still get that gut feeling to dig, especially when targets are few in between and I just want a change in pace, but I pretty much knew it was trash when I started digging.

You will make your own choice on what to dig or not from experience, but for me, I have slacked off a lot on the maybes.

 

[nolanation]

Thanks Larry, good advice.

 

["Dr.Tones"]

I dig them some days depending on how much time I have and if I've hunted the location to death or not. What I've found is that "one way targets" meaning they make a consistent tone when passing the coil over it both from the left and the right but disappears when hitting it from a 90 degree angle have been coins on edge 50% of the time. Now... If the target only makes a constant tone from say, the left and not the right i have found it to be trash every time. Pinpointing the target accuratly and easily has proven to show more positive results with the consistent left to right signals.

 

[gordonquixote]

In the modes menu, at the very bottom...set your pinpoint to sizing instead of auto.

If the sound is 'big' I skip it...if it's 'coin sized', I start digging. I don't dig below 11/40 unless I'm in the water then almost anything that 'sounds' small is fair game.

 

[goodmore]

One way tones are a gamble. I dig a few every now and then just to make sure. I have had one silver quarter that was pushed against the side of a sidewalk give me that type of signal. It was a very good tone the one way though. I don't know if there was rebar in the sidewalk or iron near by. But this is the only one way target I remember with the CTX.

I bought the CTX for it's target ID ability. I have not been disappointed.

 

[Digger]

I dig what sounds good. I don't rely solely on the TID. However, one of the theories that I have been working on is...... if the ferrous number stays the same, and the conductive number stays the same or even fluctuates a few digits, I dig the target. But if the ferrous number jumps around by more than one or two digits, regardless of the CO number, I've found that it is not likely a coin. With that said, it could be an odd shaped piece of jewelry, of mixed alloy. But again, those targets with fluctuating FE numbers have not been US coins. JMHO HH Randy

 

[Downdeep]

What you guys are describing happens quite frequently on some of the good targets in my test garden. Just depends on the day and ground moisture conditions. And I know these are good targets.