Neil in West Jersey
New member
Lately I have been focusing on the different types of targets and how they look using the Polar Plot screen of the V3i. I noticed while detecting that it enables me to distinguish between buttons and coins. I have configured my V3i to make this the default analysis screen (trigger forward). I did not find the sizing screen to be much help since the audio in pinpoint mode is how I determine target size.
I had made a dozen photos using both the Search screen and the Polar Plot, but since I can only post 6 photos, I will use the Polar Plot photos only. You all know what the search screen looks like anyway. This bench testing was performed indoors with the Eclipse 5.3 search coil. All sensitivities were lowered to control EMI. Frequency used was 7.5KHz. Search results in live outdoor metal detecting situations may vary.
The first target shown is a Victorian era Sterling silver thimble. As you can see, the lines are straight pointing toward the northeast quadrant of the screen, very similar to a coin. One thing I did notice is that alignment of the target in the ground also has an impact on how straight the line is.
[attachment 183124 008.JPG]
The second target used was a Liberty Head nickel. Again the lines are straight with strong readings into the Northeast quadrant. Alignment of the coin has an impact on the display as well, but it is not as pronounced as the thimble.
[attachment 183125 010.JPG]
Target number three was a brass, one piece convex military button with a shank. As you can see the line is no longer a single strong line, however it still reads in the "good target" area in the northeast quadrant.
[attachment 183126 014.JPG]
The next target, a Zouave or ball button, had similar results as the one piece, only this time it was even more pronounced than in the previous scenario.
[attachment 183127 016.JPG]
Lastly, a typical CW era two piece button. Once again, the results show that the nice, straight lines have given way to doubling.
[attachment 183128 019.JPG]
And, one last target, a common metal screw, to show how a bad target reads into the northwest quadrant and has the double lines.
[attachment 183129 021.JPG]
As you can see, the polar plot is another effective feature of the V3i that can help distinguish between target types. I have even second guessed the polar plot and been wrong on numerous occasions. The polar plot indicated "nickel" in one case, but the sound was telling me it was junk. I dug down a few inches, and recovered a nickel from the soil!
I hope you found this information useful!
I had made a dozen photos using both the Search screen and the Polar Plot, but since I can only post 6 photos, I will use the Polar Plot photos only. You all know what the search screen looks like anyway. This bench testing was performed indoors with the Eclipse 5.3 search coil. All sensitivities were lowered to control EMI. Frequency used was 7.5KHz. Search results in live outdoor metal detecting situations may vary.
The first target shown is a Victorian era Sterling silver thimble. As you can see, the lines are straight pointing toward the northeast quadrant of the screen, very similar to a coin. One thing I did notice is that alignment of the target in the ground also has an impact on how straight the line is.
[attachment 183124 008.JPG]
The second target used was a Liberty Head nickel. Again the lines are straight with strong readings into the Northeast quadrant. Alignment of the coin has an impact on the display as well, but it is not as pronounced as the thimble.
[attachment 183125 010.JPG]
Target number three was a brass, one piece convex military button with a shank. As you can see the line is no longer a single strong line, however it still reads in the "good target" area in the northeast quadrant.
[attachment 183126 014.JPG]
The next target, a Zouave or ball button, had similar results as the one piece, only this time it was even more pronounced than in the previous scenario.
[attachment 183127 016.JPG]
Lastly, a typical CW era two piece button. Once again, the results show that the nice, straight lines have given way to doubling.
[attachment 183128 019.JPG]
And, one last target, a common metal screw, to show how a bad target reads into the northwest quadrant and has the double lines.
[attachment 183129 021.JPG]
As you can see, the polar plot is another effective feature of the V3i that can help distinguish between target types. I have even second guessed the polar plot and been wrong on numerous occasions. The polar plot indicated "nickel" in one case, but the sound was telling me it was junk. I dug down a few inches, and recovered a nickel from the soil!
I hope you found this information useful!
