Two Questions

[Anonymous]

1) I have noticed that in air testing coins, pennies are very low tone and silver is high tone. My actual field use is much different in that pennies also are high pitched, almost equal to silver. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?
2) Because the coil radiates so much from the top, I am having difficulty detecting around metal objects such as chain link fences, metal tanks, and gates. Why are the coils not designed to transmit only out the bottom. Typically directional antennas are more efficient than ones that radiate on both sides?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
dd

 

[Anonymous]

you sure your not using zincs in air tests and finding copper cents in the field? the new pennies do give a lower tone than silver..
on your second question I have always wondered about that too, maybe the only way to sheild them from detecting upwards is by metal and it would interfere as well.. either that or it would make them too heavy or too expensive?

 

[Anonymous]

Test the pennies after you dig them, I think you will find they have a normal reading. In some dirt they corrode into the soil to give a more conductive signal.
The best way to make a directional coil is to stack coils, but that gives a much heavier and thicker total coil.

 

[Anonymous]

On your second question, I have found it benificial to turn the sensitivity down and hunt with the toe or front of the DD coil pointed towards the fence.