Ultra-meter

[Ism]

Not to be out-done, I've built an 1800 meter....OK, its a 180.0 meter without the decimal point. Its been half built for weeks but I just got the parts to finish it.
I'm not so happy with the design, I have to remove the cover to replace the battery. I need a rechargeable but not sure if I have the room for a charge plug.
I will see if I cant get rid of the extra digit. I just got it working and assembled to try out.

In the pictures you can see my shortened tornado coil cable and the jumper cable I made out of part of the tornado cable. I have a few ideas for the upgrade.
The tape is because I ripped the foam grip. Once it started it split fast...need a new one.

I also have a blue-tooth setup. I have mixed feelings about that. I love the wireless but even though this is one of the fastest units for a reasonable price, it still
has a delay that makes pinpointing somewhat difficult at first. I have had better finds since I started using the blue-tooth
so I don't think the delay has been a deterrent. Just my thoughts.

 

[deepdiger60]

All in all looks good to me good location also it looks well built i dont think a 4 digit matters ? good job on the jumper cable ,you put the cable connection at the end of the coil cable at the cut ? sort of a quick coil change connection it,s a good start small refinments is all that is needed like you said rechargable Jim

 

[Critterhunter]

Good job. The extra digit could come in handy. I'd leave it on there.

 

[Lutzy48]

Looks good. I like the location on the handle. Can you open the meter housing and change the decimal point setting? Or, is everything done on the board traces such that you can not change it?

 

[Ism]

I can put a jumper for the decimal point. After testing I already have a couple changes planned but it works well.
The 4 digits is kind of confusing but I might get used to it after using it a bit. I'll see how it goes.

 

[Lutzy48]

It's all relative. My meter also has 4 digits, but there is a decimal point after the third.

 

[Ism]

The decimal will help quickly orient my eyes. I checked to see if there was added resolution having the 4th digit. I couldn't ID the difference between a clad quarter and a standing liberty quarter.
There is no need for the 4th digit. I have completely re-engineered my meter (in my head). I will be making another shortly (using the same meter).
It will be mounted the same but the inside will be rearranged. I plan to have a momentary on button similar to a PP button. The meter only needs to be on when checking a target from what I have seen. (veteran users chime in here)

The funny thing is the meter might be good for cherry-picking but I dig anything that breaks disc right now so the meter (so far) has only slowed me down. I also have a test garden and the deeper coins there will not climb to 179-180.
The numbers bounce all over. I would dig it if I found the target at a park, but I wouldn't think it was a quarter based on the meter.
The quarter is 8" buried a year and I get a good consistent reading with sense at about 10 o-clock position. I can detect it at lower sense but its not repeatable.
Anyhow, at no time did I get 180 or near that. Usually in the 160's-170's
Any help or advice for a meter noob?
Ran

 

[Critterhunter]

You have to do short fast wiggles directly over really deep coins to get them to climb to 180. You have to keep doing this constantly until the ID climbs and reaches it. Also, you may have your sensitivity too high. If it's set too high the ID will become unstable and hard to lock onto one target number.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I have said this many times that many of the real deep coins will not read at 180 or close to it, but with the tones and the meter readings you will see they are trying to but just can make it as the signals will be so small you are trying to ID. I had a deep merc read only as high as 139, but could tell it wanted to climb more but just couldn't do it when doing the Sovereign wiggle, couldn't lock on to any one number but could see the more I worked it the signals the more i could see the tones and meter numbers were trying to climb. If it lock on to a number then that is the target ID, but if don't and it is small and trying to raise the tones or meter ID are the ones i want to dig.
To tell the difference in a clad and silver quarter with just the meter readings can not be done with the Sovereign, but those that get to know the Sovereign well from experience of using it Will learn that between the meter readings and the way the signal sounds and react can tell the difference about 20-30% of the time.
To me the meter is very important to me and use it all the time as i am a coin hunter and don't want to spend all day digging trash that my ears cant tell the difference in tones plus the coins close to trash that between the tones and meter readings can and has got me some nice coins that had a different tone to them and by watching the meter I could tell there was something beside the good target.

Rick

 

[Ism]

Yes Rick, I could tell it wanted to climb. I worked the sensitivity up until I got a solid signal. While I was flashing some high numbers, they were all over the map...like you said Rick...unstable.
I tried the wiggle also but it just wouldn't work like I thought it would. I'm sure more experience will make me a believer...I'm just new at the meter thingie.
Anyhow I can see how well it can work for certain hunting styles. Lately I have been digging everything above disc because the fields are relatively clean of foil, tabs, caps...etc so I haven't had a need for it.
This weekend at the old school should help.

 

[JASONSPAZ1]

Beautiful setup!

HH
Jason

 

[Ism]

Oh BTW, the heat shrink on the connector is to keep the screws from backing out (I've had that happen). I left it long for added strain relief even though there is the same underneath directly on the cable.
The side connector definitely has to go. I will use that for charging and move the sig-in cable in a safer place. I am also going to add a couple bells and whistles. If they work I will share them.
Thanks for the kind words Jason.
Ran

 

[Critterhunter]

Doing the Sovereign wiggle on deep targets is a little tricky. You have to play with short sweeps or wiggles and try going from doing them slow to doing them fast back and fourth. Some days it seems like it wants one or the other. Maybe it's the ground conditions or where sensitivity is set. You have to keep the motion going constantly to get the ID to climb to and lock on to 180. I'm really making it sound harder than it is. It's all instinct after a short while of practice. Too high of a sensitivity setting can make it harder to get the ID to lock onto and stay with one number, but usually when it is too high like that you'll know because the threshold keeps dropping out while hunting.

 

[JimmyCT]

Very nice work Ism! We sure have some talented folk on here with tech abilities. Thanks for sharing - Jim

 

[jamesg]

Nice job Ism, I like the size of the numbers. That would keep me from having to put on my glasses to see the numbers. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ism]

I can't leave something alone until I've modded it as far as I can go without putting a lot of $$ into the project.
Everything I've got in it cost under $25. It was a tight fit but I got the cover on without force.
The changes in V2.0.......

Added 3pcs -3.7v rechargeable LiIon phone batteries that I bought last year for $1 each for a total of just under 12v (the meter accepts 8-12v range)
I utilized the side (signal) connector as a charge port.
I placed the new signal connector under the bottom utilizing a 2mm mono audio jack.
I also added the decimal place to the meter...much easier for the brain to process...don't ask me why
I made a mount for the meter using an aluminum bracket and mounted it to the end of my hand grip.
The meter is mounted to the aluminum bracket with Velcro so that I can add/remove the meter at will.
I bent the bracket back a little for better eye angle. It wasn't a problem before but I cant stop tweaking....

Somebody get me some help!! lol

I'm not seeking accolades, just wanted to share my meter module v2.0. (one would think I would have a new hand grip by now...its not for a lack of looking.
Seems the big box stores don't want to carry much in accessories. Stopped by a Dunhams and their bike supplies were in a shopping cart that I could sift through.
Yeah, they had some crummy foam grips for $7/pair...I'll keep looking...suggestions are welcome.