Usual questions from a beginner.

[Mirco]

All the respected hunters, hi !

My first ever experience with metal detecting is over. Total disaster, exactly like I expected and like it should be.

Before buying a MD I read alot, and chose the one that has the best response and is said to be the easiest to use and master for a beginner - MXT 300. With 12`` coil that the dealer said is a good and expensive upgrade for me personally.

So, I absolutely understand that the problem is not with the machine but with me - bad user. Anyway, I hope there are some general and typical recommendations for a person like myself.

I searched in my back yard that is 150 years old and never was searched with a MD.. I took a former lawn approx. 15`x15`. Spent about 45 minutes searching. Followed all the guidance from the manual. Used preset mode for jewelry/coins. Did not find a single coin (possibly there is no coins in the lawn). The sound all the time was practically non-changing monotonous noise without much variations. Practically all the time the screen said IRON. Sometimes FOIL. Less often - COIN or RING. It looked like all my lawn sits on one big junk yard.

I tried to dig several times on COIN message. Did not find any coins. I tried to dig on IRON. Did not find any iron neither!!

Sometimes I saw a big nail or screw right on the surface, but the machine did not react at all.

The funniest thing happened when I planted a nickel ( 5 cents) in a small hole 5`` deep and screened this place with machine. The MD did not see the coin!!! I removed it and put back several times. No changes. The MXT just did not see the coin. This shocked me. So it will not see real targets neither?

For me it means that I did everything wrong.

But what could I do wrong on the preset mode? Is it anything that I can do to make my brand new MXT to see this five-cent coin?

Will appreciate any experienced advice for the newbie greatly!!

I also bought Surf PI Pro.

From reading forums and talking to MD users I realise that in this country MD hobbyists are extremely unwelcome (almost illegal) and practically all places are forbidden and closed for MD hunting. (at least here in NY Lower Westchester area). So in a month a wanted to go to a different country without restrictions on MD activity and to use my machines there. I thought that a month will be enough to learn how to use them. Now I doubt it. Any help?

Honest, I feel frustrated with my purchase.

 

[steelheadfever]

Welcome to the forum. Patience would be the key word here. Just start out with your factory presets and just get used to the detector. It can not be learned over night. Read and re-read your manual. If you are hunting in trashy areas the 12" coil will not work because you can not get good target separation and that might be your biggest problem in your back yard. You need a small coil and I recommend the 6x10 coil to start with. Try starting in the coin and jewelery mode and when you master it move to another mode. You can get alot of good advice on this forum so just ask your questions and someone will be happy to help you. Also use the forums search because their is alot of info on it. Whats happening to you now happens to everyone when they first start out, so don't get discouraged. Also the reason you detector is not picking up nickles might be because you have your discrimination set to high, just a thought. HH Dennis in Idaho

 

[tinpanprospector]

I agree, I couldn't get use to the 9.5 coil so I switch to the 6x10 DD it works alot better for a beginner. I think the round coils and the large coils are the hardest to master just my opinion.

 

[BarberBill]

By your description when you planted the nickel, it sounds like you may have had the discrimination knob turned too high. Try a run over the nickel with no discrimination set at all. Also, you want the threshold set to just comfortable, but faintly, audible. At that setting, you should hear the threshold hum fade when you pass the coil over anything that is being discriminated out. I agree on the large coil, it may be trying to read too many targets at a time, confusing the machine (and operator). As suggested the 6X10 coil will handle trashy areas better, but if you get a chance try one of the smaller coils too. I happen to really like the 4X6 shooter coil, but the 6X10 has become my main coil for most hunting. The 9.5 and the 12 are great for ground coverage in relatively clean areas and when you are trying for maximum depth, but don't handle trashy areas well. Also, read and reread the instructions on ground balancing the machine when you first start out. The MXT is a great machine and I feel you'll be pleased with it once you learn it's quirks.
HH
BB

 

[manganos]

Yeah a DD coil will give you better seperation. I have one and am looking for a 12" coil. If you want to trade give me an email at vamangano@yahoo.com ... Chris

 

[RedRockNv]

It sounds like either the dicrimination is to high or a coil problem. Maybe the connection needs to be reset. Did you try an air test to see if it is seeing the target nickle. One other thing. Old houses have yards that were used as trash dumps so indeed your yard may be one big junk yard. If it was, you would hear your MXT going crazy not just (non-changing monotonous noise without much variations.) The way you describe the sound you were getting I would suspect a bad coil. I would have the dealer or another experienced user check your machine. Your decision to go with the MXT shows a lot of promise on your part but your description of the sound is what I get when I forget to change from my inline probe back to the coil unless I have change in my pocket in which case it sounds like it is going nuts. On the flip side of the one big junk yard idea those yards are often full of valuable bottles.

 

[bigfrank]

Like said before, you will need to learn your machine and it takes time. A couple of things I would mention is that you should get the book from Jeff Foster called "MXT Edge." It explains in so much better detail than the manual on how to ground balance. Until I read this in the MXT Edge book, I had many problems with lots of iron hits and such because I wasn't getting the machine ground balanced correctly.

Stay with it, you will find that the MXT will treat you right, and you will soon be finding tons of good stuff. If you can find someone in your area that has and MXT and that can show you the ropes, that would be good too. Try and see if you have a local metal detecting or prospecting club in the area. They are there to help.

frank

 

[poorman]

First thing you need to do is take your machine back to the dealer and ask for some help, one on one. If he is worth his Salt he will help you get started. There is nothing like having some hands on help. You could be doing something as simple as not sweeping correctly. In heavy trash, Slow Down your sweep speed and be sure to keep your coil moving all the time. The video that comes with a new MXT is excellent for training. Randy's part with the C&J Mode is very helpfull. Take your machine to a place where the ground is clean of trash. Throw some targets on the ground. Coins, Nails Pieces of Iron, Brass Cartrages, Foil, etc. Sweep over these targets with your coil and pay close attention to the sound the machine gives off. Train your ears first before relying on the meter and the visual Icons......Practice..Practice..Practice

 

[shwebb]

Hello everyone
I am new to detecting also. I have used my Mxt about 3 or 4 times mostly in my yard. I have found about 20 clad and a 14k gold ring in my front yard. I also planted some coins in my front yard at 4" and my MXT could not see them. after playing with my detector for awhile I boosted the gain to full around 2+ to 3+ and it picked them up real strong. I called Whites and they said this was because the coins hadn't been in the ground long enough to oxidize, that after they had been in the ground for awhile I could probably see them at the preset levels.
Thanks Shwebb

 

[madaboutmike]

Ground balance in a trashless area and set Trac to middle position, 'Lock', this'll lock ground balance. You can reset anytime you want. Set gain to preset - if you're not getting overload, stay there - you can adjust up and down. Your device includes 'free will'. If you're not getting results in Coin, go to Relic - may be a better setting, excellent option and lots of VDI info. Press trigger forward to help discriminate out iron. Keep eye on VDI. Don't trust VDI at 18-20 for a nickel - Indian heads blip around 14-20, (and small gold rings) depending how long they've been in the ground. In Relic, a clad quarter might register as a 'Large Object'. Dig out higher VDI nos. and 'Overloads'. A tin can or beer can might do the same thing but this will clean up your area so you can go deeper. Adjust SAT to 3 instead of higher. Plan to dig up a lot of trash and bottle caps-there might be something under there. Eliminate the surface junk. You said you made a search grid - keep at it, remove the surface debris - who said it's junk if you don't dig it up! Get headphones with filters, stock phones work but better is better. Wear a few - see what feels good on your head! You might think about a DD 6' coil, helps for pinpointing in trashy areas. Keep at it -all that stuff didn't get in the ground in a day so it'll take some time to dig it out. What's so bad about digging up an old lock or an old tool? Use your coil to determine the size of an object. You might have barbed wire snarled under there - get it out. Get yourself a probe. Vibra probes are waterproof - 9V battery lasts a long time and the probe will beep 1 inch from target or spend money and get Sunray. I've done well with Vibra Probe but it's not for everybody. Best thing - turns itself off when your not using it. Regarding high trash areas. I detected a park yesterday for a few minutes in a high trash area with the 9.5' stock coil. Not a good idea but I didn't feel like installing smaller DD coil. Found a 1909 Indianhead nickle and a nice cast iron toy. Same park a few days ago, found a nice sterling necklace and a very old brass key from a 150 year old house house had been demolished on that spot. I'm the only one who detects there because of trash but things are coming up. Remember - wherever people have been, there's something in the ground. Search in layers like an archaeologist. Start shallow and work deeper, clearing rubbish all the time. Don't worry about MD restrictions. If you're living in an old place, make an offer a neighbor in a similarly aged home can't resist . You may run into an old bottle dump - most people take the biggest bottle and leave the more valuable bottle to you. Don't be daunted - plenty of places to search! And get a book. Be wise - use a yellow highlighter to outline important instructions for quick reference. mike

 

[Dang]

Sounds like my first time out with a detector. And I had a small coil !
I bet you also have tons of trash in that yard, it being so old. nails from re-roofing I bet are all over it.
Take that big coil of yours to a park's soccer field and you' should have less trash to contend with.
Have fun learning the mxt and yes. You need a smaller coil.
Oh yeah...welcome!

 

[Mirco]

I want to say thank you to all who helped me with wise and generous advice. With your insight, re-reading the manual and especially with the help of a very kind and intelligent person with 30 years of MD hunting experience - Phil from the Bronx, who spent half day detecting with me - I began to understand the machine a little bit. Already found a very nice pull tab in the park and five very cute roofing nails in my back yard. So I am on the right track!

Thank you all one more time!

I decided to keep my standard 12`` coil and a smaller 6x10 DD (that I ordered from my beloved Kellyco) and not to trade 12 for 6x10 like I intended originally, but I truly appreciate all kind offers that I received .

My first but strong impression is that the MD community consists of highly educated, knowledgeable and generous people. Especially this applies to MXT owners ( I have no any scientific explanation to this phenomena though)!

Anyway, if ever I find a first coin of mine it will be dedicated to this MXT forum. Maybe I even post a picture.
Now I started (to her horror!) two feet deep excavation in my back yard, so I am sure that I will find something. With this beautiful machine and these great remote companions no doubt!!
Cheeers!

 

[steelheadfever]

[quote Mirco]I want to say thank you to all who helped me with wise and generous advice. With your insight, re-reading the manual and especially with the help of a very kind and intelligent person with 30 years of MD hunting experience - Phil from the Bronx, who spent half day detecting with me - I began to understand the machine a little bit. Already found a very nice pull tab in the park and five very cute roofing nails in my back yard. So I am on the right track!

Thank you all one more time!

I decided to keep my standard 12`` coil and a smaller 6x10 DD (that I ordered from my beloved Kellyco) and not to trade 12 for 6x10 like I intended originally, but I truly appreciate all kind offers that I received .

My first but strong impression is that the MD community consists of highly educated, knowledgeable and generous people. Especially this applies to MXT owners ( I have no any scientific explanation to this phenomena though)!

Anyway, if ever I find a first coin of mine it will be dedicated to this MXT forum. Maybe I even post a picture.
Now I started (to her horror!) two feet deep excavation in my back yard, so I am sure that I will find something. With this beautiful machine and these great remote companions no doubt!!
Cheeers![/quote]

 

[robert roy]

Hi Bill:

I would think too that the MXT MUST have sensed the coin. I have had it happen a few time where my
threshold was turned down low, sweap over a target...no tone but the LCD screen indicated a target.
RR

 

[xwyokid]

Howdy Micro,

Unless I missed it I don't think you mentioned at what level you had your Disc'. set at. Ironically, kind of the same thing happened to me the very first time I went out with my MXT. I thought the way to go was to set the Disc' up way high that way I wouldn't find any junk!! I soon learned the error of my ways. Good Luck and stick with it

 

[Mirco]

Great!
Will try it right now!
AMOF I used a factory preset mode according to the Manual for all controls.

Just ordered Sunray pin pointer and 6x10 coil! The life is getting better and brighter with every hour! Hard to believe!

 

[gordygroover]

He found a "nice" pull-tab and five "cute" roofing nails.... I like this guy!!!