Tracker IV pinpointing issue

[ashhhhh]

Hey all

Ive had some success with my new detector but have problems with pinpointing.

I know it doesn't have a pinpoint function, which is fine, but it seems very inaccurate to me.
The manual says it will beep when target is under the center of the coil, I end up with about a 5" circle AROUND the center and that's as much as I can seem to narrow it down.
Very annoying, I have tried different sens levels, different heights etc - nothing seems to improve it.
Any ideas?

Thanks
Ash

 

[slingshot]

Here is my favorite way of doing it-and I even use it on models with pinpoint. I won a speed hunt in competition using it and basically finished in the third and last hunt field (there were 3 hunt fields within the hunt) before the rest of the club got out of the first hunt field! I call it "x" axis pinpointing or "spot" pinpointing. Most people use the "X" method-using both the "x" (right to left and back) or "y" (up and down) axes and where they meet in the center is the target. I simply use the "x" (right to left) axis and begin to pinpoint on the strongest parallel path (signal comes in the strongest). I slow the coil down and when the signal comes I "freeze" my eyes on that spot on the ground. I double-check it on the return sweep and see if the spot "sounds" again where my eyes are frozen. All I have to do is watch the center of the coil and wait for the sound. Sometimes I can drop the screwdriver in the center of the coin. I think with practice anyone can do it and would wonder why anyone would worry about a pinpoint button. Lifting the coil higher above the target can refine this technique even more.

 

[ashhhhh]

I do use a similar method actually and agree it works pretty well.

The problem though is the size of the area that I can narrow down to, its about 4-5" diameter...

What is most annoying is that the detector often beeps as the outside ring of the coil passes the point previously identified as the target, this means that the center of the coil is then nowhere near the target!?

Is accuracy dependent on the coil or the detector itself?
Can this be improved by using a smaller coil or...?

Ash

 

[GoGoGopher]

I have made a study of folks I have let use my detector without really knowing what they were doing...The biggest thing I notice is most folks just do not know "how to swing the thing"...they move or poke it around thinking like anyone might, that it just finds stuff under the coil all on it's lonesome...I tell them the coil must be in constant motion to find targets (unless in No-Motion All Metals mode)...Once I show them the half moon arc swing, they are usually off and running, and out hunting me (gosh darn it!!!)...I have only had one 8" coil I had to return...It had a short in the windings, that made it exhibit much the same thing as you describe...It gave me 4 beeps per target...1 beep as each section of the coil passed it, or 2 beeps if I swung fast...I am wondering if your experiencing the same thing???



HH,

GoGoGopher

 

[Wil-Phil]

Hi Ash
I do pretty much the same as slingshot does and find pinpointing accurate down to an inch on coins or objects of a similar size. Large objects are harder to pinpoint as you say "detector often beeps as the outside ring of the coil passes the point previously identified as the target". Sometimes it doesn't even beep when you are over the target. It seems like the target "moves around". In this situation I do more swings from different angles.More than the normal X patten to find the edges, then decide if I want to dig it.

 

[possum]

Ash, I had the same problem you have when I used my Disc.3300. I passed up several coins because I couldn't narrow the target down to less than about an 16" dia.circle. I found that by lifting the coil a couple of inches the signals from the outside ring of the coil would disappear and I'd only get the signals from the inner coil rings. Try this, it might work on your coil too.

 

[GoGoGopher]

if you have to lift the coil to stop the outer ring from beeping, then your SENS is set WAY TO HIGH....


HH,

 

[possum]

Hi, I tried lowering the sens. the first time I got the signals on the outer ring of the coil and it didn't help. Using a coil from another of my detectors did eliminate the problem though, as did raising the coil with the original one.

 

[Gene]

Got some good advice here for sure. Give some of these methods a try with a coil on the ground for starters
until you get confortable with it. With your determination you will get it figured out.

 

[GoGoGopher]

If changing coils solved the prob, then your coil is shorted, or out of tune with the detector...

HH,

GoGoGopher