Two questions on CTX

[Hopster]

Just got my new CTX and read Andy's book (twice)
Two things need more explanation.
The first is regarding Combined tones.
The FE "Bin" covers all items below a certain FE level (below the bin line, actually above a certain FE level, but shown as below on screen),
The FE bin can include areas open and areas discriminated, if you happen to set the bin line up into the open area.
So, if I pass over an object that is discriminated out, that is also within the FE bin, will it give a tone or a null ?
My desire would be to hear an iron tone if it was next to gold, rather than a null, which might hide the gold along with the iron.
Or is this a target separation subject instead.
A feature that I'm looking for (and that may not exist ) is a conditional response, where iron is nulled if it's by itself, but uses combined tone if it's next to an accepted target.
The same question applies to the other 4 CO tones - if the tone bin contains some squares that are discriminated out, will an item that falls into the discriminated square produce a tone or a null ?

Second question :
How does one archive their custom modes for later editing, including copying the modes for backup ?
My XChange2 program gave me the option to create a folder, which I did.
I created a second folder as well, to hold an extra copy of each mode.
When I attempted to copy all of the modes from the machine, it would only allow one copy to exist at a time (for custom modes), even though I had two folders for storage within the program.
Is it possible to export the modes into a folder outside of the Xchange 2 program for archiving ?
This would come in handy if I needed to uninstall the program, share mode settings , etc.
I the Xchange 2 screen I have two folders, one labeled as initial backup, one labeled as my Lab.
In the "File" menu, I can see all of the installed modes including custom.
But I cannot edit. (this is without the detector paired/plugged in).
In the Initial backup, I have the ability to edit, shows ALL of the modes that I copied off of the detector, including custom modes that were given to me.
This is where I will edit the modes for later uploading to the detector.
In the MyLab folder is shows ONLY factory modes, with the ability to edit, and is missing the custom modes.
What I get from this is that the software will only allow ONE editable copy of a custom mode to exist at a time within the software.
My wish is to have a folder with modes that I will experiment with, edit often etc.
Another folder to save the modes as they were given to me or as factory defaults, depending on whether it is a custom or default mode.
Another way of saying it is - if I edit a mode I might want to save that edit with a new name, then edit again, save again with a new name, etc, without a limit on how many edits/names can be saved.

I DID read the manual for the software, but the interface and the manual leave much to be desired, seems rudimentary at best.

 

[Jason in Enid]

If there combined FE bin is above the disc line, you will hear a low tone (or any tone you set it to). If the bin is inside the disc area you only get a null. Many of us recommend using a very low disc line specifically so that we have a better chance of hearing a good target next to iron, but still not hearing every single piece of iron in the ground.

I'm not sure how to answer your xchange question. I haven't had any problems moving programs from the CTX to a folder, and I don't remember any problems with the same thing being in multiple folder. Are you trying to move the detector to folder, or from one folder to another folder?

 

[trojdor]

So, if I pass over an object that is discriminated out, that is also within the FE bin, will it give a tone or a null ?
My desire would be to hear an iron tone if it was next to gold, rather than a null, which might hide the gold along with the iron.
Or is this a target separation subject instead.
A feature that I'm looking for (and that may not exist ) is a conditional response, where iron is nulled if it's by itself, but uses combined tone if it's next to an accepted target.
The same question applies to the other 4 CO tones - if the tone bin contains some squares that are discriminated out, will an item that falls into the discriminated square produce a tone or a null ?

I DID read the manual for the software, but the interface and the manual leave much to be desired, seems rudimentary at best.

Hopster,
Discrimination means no sound, and takes priority over any assigned tones.

Your 'conditional' response is best setup by discing out the 'absolutely/positivey' iron on the lower few of rows, and letting any mixed coin/iron signal pull the FE numbers up into the non-disc range.

The manual IS rudimentary, but also holds a lot of info. It seems to have been slapped together in a hurry, and targeted towards previous Minelab owners at the time it was written.
It's best to print out a hard-copy (yes, something that should already come with the detector), so that you can make your own notes...'filling in the blanks' and clarifying as you go.

Good luck with your new detector. There's a lot to absorb with the CTX, but it's a great machine.
I've had one of my best years in a long time...primarily using the CTX as my 'go-to' unit.

HH,

mike

 

[Hopster]

Thanks for the answers so far.
So, using a real low tone for the FE bin (low used as an example) I would be better off hearing the low tone on trashy items, and having the null only on absolute iron.
Got it.
It sounds like if I'm worried about iron next to a good target, I should be hunting in open or nearly open pattern, and just put up with all the iron tones elsewhere (?).

On the Xchange2 issue - just wanting to have multiple copies of modes in multiple folders.
Active mode on the detector memory, original unedited copy in a folder, and another copy in another folder to edit and experiment with.
So, ten modes on the detector, ten copies in folder "A" and ten copies in folder "B".

Thanks,
DC (Hopster)

 

[IDXMonster]

It seems to me that it's easier to tell where the targets are if they're close to one another if the audio gate is always open(not nulling,reporting,nulling,reporting). After awhile if you're hunting in heavy iron or a lot of nails or other ferrous stuff you'll get used to the low tones almost as if it were its own threshold,your brain will be okay with it. It's also very easy to hear that mid-high conductor in a sea of low tones,they really stand out. That's what I do,someone else will use disc to not have to listen to everything. It also helps a lot to swing more slowly in a higher concentration of iron so as to be sure you're not missing stuff left and right. Practice practice practice....

 

[sube]

It seems to me that it's easier to tell where the targets are if they're close to one another if the audio gate is always open(not nulling,reporting,nulling,reporting). After awhile if you're hunting in heavy iron or a lot of nails or other ferrous stuff you'll get used to the low tones almost as if it were its own threshold,your brain will be okay with it. It's also very easy to hear that mid-high conductor in a sea of low tones,they really stand out. That's what I do,someone else will use disc to not have to listen to everything. It also helps a lot to swing more slowly in a higher concentration of iron so as to be sure you're not missing stuff left and right. Practice practice practice....

I used to hunt wide open yes it will find most of the signals but you will miss signals that are with nails . There seems to be a break point where anything that comes in at 32 ferrous line to 35 will go low no matter how open your screen is .

Now adding disc from 32 down you won't hear the nails da da noise but in that da da noise is where you will miss a high tone because you can't hear it because of the da da noise . As you know target trace also looses it punch once below 32 line .

Now I ask why would you listen to all that crap when you don't have to the only difference between using disc from 31 to 35 is you won't get that da da noise which will cover up signals that are above 32 line High tones once below 32 line all signals go low . sube

 

[IDXMonster]

Sube-it's just a matter of how the sounds hit different ears I think. It always seems there's a load of that half broken iron falsing coming through where the machine thinks for a second that it might be good and then decides it's not. It seems to happen no matter what the settings are or what coil you're using. Adjustments CAN minimize the falsing but it will always be there,in real world situations. if I let the iron through at least I know where it is and I feel I go slow enough so as to not miss much. Something will always get missed but for me,I'm not nearly experienced enough on the CTX to make sense of all the Target Trace and extras it can offer. I'm lucky to know where the power button is. For right now I'm running it like an Explorer until I get a handle on one thing at a time. That means trusting the machine a lot,it's just how it has to be done at my house...for now.
Keep cranking out the videos when you can so others like us can catch up,this thing has much to offer but the operator has to have a clue.