Took the GTI out with a different mindset today.

[Mick in Dubbo]

I've been pondering the virtues of using a non metered detector lately. Although I have been able to swing a detector much in the last few months, it was good to get out with the GTI for just under an hour.
I armed it withe the 5x10 DD coil as I prefer it's faster recovery speed and audio info. I also turned off the bell tone, as I don't find it at all useful. I basically decided that if a target didn't give a full tone (apart from around notch 6, then it's a good chance of being a coin. Everything below 5 was notched out. If a target only gave a half hearted audio response, then I was digging it. (I've decided to throw out the mantra that a target has to give a good repeatable signal, and I'm only using the visual info as a ball park of what might be there. No more of expecting solid notch locks!) This paid some fairly quick dividends. One of the first targets that I got, was a weak scratchy tone that did lock into notch 7. It was a corroded $2 coin on edge only 2 or 3 inches deep. The next target was giving only a semi repeating tone with a bouncy ID that the detector said was 3.5 inches deep. Up popped a 20 cent piece that was just under the surface. It was bent. It's also close to an inch in diameter! It must have been the bend that caused the bad reading. Not five minutes later, got a scratchy tone locking in around 9. (Sure am glad I turned the bell tone off.) It was a very nice little pure silver girls ring with a small stone in it. It had a heart shape as it's centre piece. It was sitting in the grass. The depth meter said 3 inches. As I hunt mostly modern coins, they are nearly always below the bell tone, although with the DD coil on, $1 coins can bell tone. By not worrying about the bell tone, I'm now more tuned in to hear any pre decimal coins that might show up, especially the silver ones.
I only picked up $3.20 plus the ring, but the hunt was certainly, educational!
Mick Evans.

 

[oldranger]

Sounds like your really learning the GTI Mike ...
Heck Im still figuring mine out and its been about
1 1/2 yrs ..but then again im OLD!!!!!

HH

Ron

RLTW

 

[whadda]

hi Mick hows it going down your way? I got a gti1500 a couple of months ago but am still on the first set of batteries,, sad isn't it,, but work has been keeping us hopping at the moment,, I got the 5 x 10 DD with mine as well as the sniper coil ,, have already found 6 pre decimals SO far including 2 silvers, only 3 pence but still silver,, have also found a couple of small bits of silver jewelry,, only used the DD once but found it nice to use,, hope to find the time to get back out to some old pub sites in the next few weeks so will keep everyone posted on the finds from out there,,

cheers Roger

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I must be pretty dense Ron. I've had mine for over 2 years now.
I know what you mean Roger. I've hardly used the GTI this year and haven't detected much at all this year. You're doing all right on the pre decimals. If you take it to the pub site, I'd strongly recommend using the 5x10 coil. It has excellent target seperation. Take the small one as well. I don't have that one and don't know how well it performs.
Mick Evans.

 

[metalhead]

Nice hunt!Congrats on the silver!Yeah, that 5"x10" double"D" is my favorite search coil on any machine. Great target seperation and more ground coverage(from toe to heel)at depth than a concentric search coil.Happy Hunting!

 

[widebody]

your post has inspired me to keep my 1500 a little while longer.will try out your program and if true i should find a few more coins.

had the machine up for sale as i use my whites xlt more and more and the gti less and less. i've only had both for about four months now.

what a great hobby. i do find the gti hard to swing for very long as opposed to the real well balanced white's xlt. another reason i was selling the gti.

but i will try your idea out and keep it a while longer. i have the ace 250 for guest and won't mind letting some use the gti from time to time.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I don't know how you set the GTI up, but unlike the XLT where the control box balances out with the coil out a ways, you'll need to bring the GTI coil close to your feet. I change hands every few minutes, regardless of weight with all my detectors and that saves a lot of fatigue. It takes a couple of hunts to get used to using your non dominate hand, but becomes second nature soon enough. It took me over 60 hours before I came to grips with the GTI. Like you, I was very close to selling it. I prefer the DD coil to the standard coil, because of it's faster recovery speed and better audio feed back. The imaging is actually the best visual discrimination that I've seen on a detector. I found that on our Aussie coins, I'm able to tell coins from other targets really well. It seems to work best when you have 5 inches showing on the depth meter. It took me a while to figure that out.
Good luck with it.It does grow on you over time.
Mick Evans.