Using a Vibra-Probe with the X-Terras

[BarnacleBill]

The Vibra-Probe pinpointers present several disadvantages and some not so apparent advantages when used with the X-Terras. For those involved in wading, winter, rain, or saltwater hunting, the ruggedness and waterproof nature of the Vibra-Probe is ideal. It also detects only straight off the tip, which I like but some may not. And it uses Pulse Induction to detect all metals in all types of soil and saltwater.

As the Vibra-Probe is turned on by holding it vertically through an internally actuated switch, it can present some challenges to transport, and in field use. I discovered that the Vibra-Probe needs to be stored vertically in your vehicle rather than laying flat, as it will actuate from the cars movement and you will constantly hear buzz-buzz, plus wear out the battery while driving. In field use the Vibra-Probe will also turn itself off after a period of time if it has not been exposed to metal for awhile. Therefore if I have been digging for a while and not using it, I always hold it near my coil rod before probing in a hole. Also the Vibra-Probe is not the most sensitive probe around as it will respond poorly to very small targets like gold chains etc.

Some users have discovered that because of it's Pulse Induction signal, it will interfere with your detector, this is also the case with the X-Terras. They find it annoying because it will take about one minute to turn itself off after last contact with metal. Therefore when they finish recovering a target and want to move on, the Vibra-Probe is causing noise/chatter in their detector. But this behavior also has a hidden benefit that can be used to your advantage. As noted previously the Vibra-Probe is not terribly sensitive, meaning it's own internal receiver is not that sensitive. But the X-Terra can detect it's transmitted signal quite far away as shown by the interference it can cause.

The advantage to be gained is, that even though the Vibra-Probe can only detect a normal sized coin about a half inch away, the current induced in the target can be heard on the X-Terra at over an inch away. On the face of it this may not seem like much, but if you are getting close to a coin you suspect is valuable and trying not to damage during recovery, it has some value. By positioning the detector coil within about three feet of the hole, I can enjoy the advantage on an in-line probe about 80% of the time through a "wireless" connection. As the tip of the Vibra-Probe nears the target I can hear the buzzing in my headphones even though the Vibra-Probe has not started to vibrate. I like it!

Not to open any technical can of worms, but this resonance of the in ground target by the Pulse Induction Vibra-Probe, and separate detection by the VLF detector, is let's just say interesting.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Digger]

you are right on target. Personally, I like the fact that the VibraProbe shuts itself off after a couple minutes. That feature allows me to replace the battery about once a year. (as long as I remember to prop it up when I put it back in the truck) The only "problem" I have encountered with the VibraProbe is losing it! I know that sounds silly. But I wear it on my belt, strapped to my right hip. I keep the digging pouch on my left hip, with my Lesche Digger directly in front of the digging pouch. Everything is handy and easily accessed. On two separate occassions I have reached for my VibraProbe, only to find it not in the holster. Apparently I either missed the holster when I put it back after pinpointing the last coin I dug, OR, it got bumped out by some brush (or by my heel when I bent down to dig a target). Regardless, it is very frustrating to lose a $100 pinpointer out in the middle of a corn field or timber. You try to remember where you used it last, and then retrace your tracks back to that area. The last time (and I mean the LAST time) I lost mine was in a corn field. I spent over an hour retracing my steps, looking for it. I am too darn stupborn to give up the search! Well, I found it and made sure it was secure the rest of the hunt. On the way home, I tried to think of someway to keep from that ever happening again. I came up with a self retracting tether that clips directly to the belt, and allows the pinpointer to be used freely. When I put it back in the holster, IF I happen to miss the mark, or it gets bumped out during the hunt, no worry! The tether attached to it will keep it at my side! The "contraption" is simply a retractable key holder, with a belt mount clip and a 48" kevlar cord. I tied the pinpointer to the key ring with a short cord. Just long enough to allow me to manuver the pinpointer out of the holster. Yet short enough to stay out of my way and keep a slight amount of tension on the tether when I use the probe. The other end is tied around the top of the probe, under the lip of the battery door. Works great!
Here are a couple pics.

Here you can see the holster loop around the belt, with the retractor clipped along side of it.
[attachment 73244 VibraProbeholstered.jpg]


In this pic, you can see the probe removed from the holster, showing how the tether keeps it in tow!
[attachment 73245 VibraProbetethered.jpg]

 

[BarnacleBill]

I'll have to look for one of those, Kevlar hmmmmm.

The one other thing I have thought about is that the top of the holster is kind of floppy and tends to collapse when you try to put the probe back in. This can be a real pain in the arse 'cause after about the fourth try I have to set down the detector and use two hands to get it back in.

This winter I think I'll put my shawl on, set the rocking chair in front of the fireplace, and sew some sort of spring loaded support into the holster rim to keep it open. Maybe a piece of hard plastic or piano wire could be formed to do the job.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Digger]

I got it from a Store on eBay for $10.99 plus a few bucks shipping. It is called the KEY-BAK Super 48

The listing said.....This American made Key Caddy offers security for your keys. It's case is fabricated of industrial strength corrosion resistant polycarbonate material. It has a tough Kevlar Cord that extends 48", has a oversize split ring that can handle 25 keys and sports an exclusive ball-and-socket connection that engages when the cable is fully retracted. All the weight attached to the cord is carried on the housing, rather than on the internal spring loaded reel allowing the attached load to be 5 times greater than usual. The back attachment is both belt clip and/or loop, which no other retractor offers in one unit.

Here is a pic I "borrowed" from that listing.
[attachment 73261 KEY-BAKSuper48.jpg]

 

[BarnacleBill]

n/t

 

[Ancient Dave]

Another good bit of advice.....thanks. With my X-70 and Vibra-Probe already ordered all this kind of stuff is very timely. Lucky me

Dave

 

[Beale]

This is a great post. I ordered my Vibraprobe yesterday so this is all right on time, thanks. I really am looking foward to using it, beale.

 

[RonNH]

That's a good tip, Randy. I left my first probe (Merlin) in the woods for a week after digging the last target, finally realized it wasn't in the pouch or truck. Went back, emptied the water out of it and it was fine. After that, I thought of an idea..you know the kind of idea you think of when detecting and daydreaming. I thought of making a probe that you could find with a separate remote, it would beep and if it was under leaves, you might have a chance of finding it. Of course that wouldn't work with a VibraProbe. And who needs another remote anyway. So that idea didn't get sent to the Trademark Office. I just filed in in my head along with the rest of the time and money-saving ideas I come up with while detecting.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I always enjoy reading posts like that. I'll give it a whirl next time I take the Explorer out, as I don't think that I'll need a pin pointer anymore with the X-Terra.
Mick Evans.