VDI, tone, beep--information and accuracy

[homebre]

Just curious, aside from understanding the variations in a single tone machine, if you had to choose would you use a multiple tone machine, one with a visual ID, or a combination. In other words, which gives the most information and is the most accurate?
Andy from Hillsborough

 

[ken ward]

Hi ,,, I have tried different detectors. The very old ones with that little needle. I did find a lot with it.
Had digital ones. They would fool me a lot. The batteries did not last very long.
Had the ones that played all kinds of music. They drove me nuts.
Went back to the beep and dig if you want. Beep and dig was what made me happy. To me, I learned them beeps and totaly enjoyed what I was doing. I hunt with different people. We all have fun. There are Fishers, Whites, Garrets. Some times we each check the same signal. We all do good. I have been fooled and some of them have been fooled.
Detectors are made to find metals in the ground and thats what we do.... KEN

 

[Rainyday101]

The guy using the detector is the most accurate. Doesn't really matter if it is multi-tone, single tone, or display. When you look at all the brands forums there are people doing good and making great finds with all the different models. What works well for one doesn't always work well for another. To me it's a matter of learning the detector you have really well and then if doesn't work for you, try something else. Price doesn't necessarily make it better. Look at all the great finds being made with the Compadre, F2, and Garrett Ace detectors. It's the guy using it that matters.

For what it's worth, Tesoro's simplicity and effectiveness work well for me. Not to say some other brand might, but why mess with success.

 

[Rob in (Ca)]

Sounds good & Repeatable.......... DIG IT..........Regardless of what The jumpy VDI number is telling you............ VDI Numbers should only be used for a General ideal of what Range your target is
in..............I'M only looking for Jewelry so I gotta dig all Good repeatable Targets above iron, A 7 pound VDI screen detector just slows my hunts down with it's jumpy VDI numbers....just my 2 cents

 

[oneguy]

multi tone (or at least the only one I've ever used in my signature) gives you about 90% of the most important info needed on the deepies. On the other hand...when in heavy iron I use what's called two tone ferrous and then you rely on checking only the higher of two tones and you then rely completely on screen info. Both are very powerful. So in my case, I need both display and multi tones depending on the site and/or the way i decide to hunt it......

If I had to choose...I feel multi tone would benefit me more in the long run?

Hate to say it and I swore I'd never part with my GSII as I've dug thousands upon thousands with the thing, never any problems, and dug some fine coins with it, but it no longer is of any use to me. Nowdays the silver is deeper and/or masked and this old man doesn't like to dig 7-9"+ holes without the odds in my favor so I prefer the extra info. jmo

 

[BarberBill]

I use beep and dig plus several TID machines. I can do pretty well thumbing the disc on the beep and diggers, but prefer the tid when hunting nice lawns or well kept parks etc. One of my TID machines also has a tone ID option with too many tones in my opinion. They drive me nuts so I don't turn that function on. For me, tones might be fine if limited to 3 or 4 max. In the end though, my philosphy is - if YOU like it, use it. Doesn't matter whether it's my choice or not.
BB

 

[Walknstik]

I prefer audio over visual only because I learned to metal detect with a single tone unit with no visual ID. I think it all has to do with what type of detector you felt confidence in and learned on. I have heard more people say that when they question to dig they go by audio first then check visual. Now I'm certainly not saying that visual doesn't have it's place... especially in cleaner areas and people do very well with them cause they learned them and have confidence in them!

 

[Mega]

Audio is far more accurate,a screen is far from reliable the deeper you go,on some of my roman sites many coins/artifacts are deeper than normal,nothing will show on the screen yo indicate a find but you can still hear a very feint audio signal.This is why in my mind its important to have a decent set of headphones so that you can hear these feint diggable signals.

I use Deus as well,but that machine was mainly designed as a audion machine,so apart from using the screen to set the detector up initial i run it just through full cup headphones,if it gives a good signal it has too come out the ground,.

Screens watching in theory is nice but it can also have downfalls,not as ultra reliable as audio for sure.

 

[slingshot]

VDI and tones I only use in high trash areas. I think it's pointless for anything else. When I find some targets by beep/dig, I'm amazed to sometimes find several good targets toether-often with trash.

 

[Pap]

Very well said!
Pap

 

[CladDog]

The only time a VID screen helps is when it locks in on one number or bar and doesn't waiver. Those targets you dig regardless.

The problem with TID is even when they jump around, they could still be a good target.

 

[oneguy]

The only time a VID screen helps is when it locks in on one number or bar and doesn't waiver.

So far from the truth it's not even funny. To the inexperienced...possibly. There's a wealth of info that comes off the screen alone. You just have to UNDERSTAND and interpret all that info and combine that with your audio to decide whether to chase the target or leave it....

 

[Monte]

To the inexperienced...possibly. There's a wealth of info that comes off the screen alone. You just have to UNDERSTAND and interpret all that info and combine that with your audio to decide whether to chase the target or leave it....

I enjoy my VDI choices and you have to UNDERSTAND how to get the most out of the visual numeric read-out, just like interpreting some of the audio responses a Tesoro and some other detector models can provide.

Monte

 

[CladDog]

The only time a VID screen helps is when it locks in on one number or bar and doesn't waiver.

So far from the truth it's not even funny. To the inexperienced...possibly. There's a wealth of info that comes off the screen alone. You just have to UNDERSTAND and interpret all that info and combine that with your audio to decide whether to chase the target or leave it....

Well then, I had no idea I was so inexperienced with a metal detector having dealt with jumpy and inaccurate VDI's for years!

But hey, no problem.

I will leave this forum to the brilliant experts.

Thanks guys, its been fun!

 

[mikeraydj]

I run a Fisher F5. It has all kinds of info on its screen. In a lot of cases for me it helps. Another thing I like is the audio. I can switch from single tone up to 4 tones. I have learned to listen first and look second. I have had good tones but jumpy VDI. Quite a few times when I ran into those types of targets I have found jewelry. Usually necklaces or pendants that don't fit a coin category. They tell you in your manual that your machines target id is calibrated for coin sized targets. If it is not in that range the machine has a hard time, but thankfully audio can tell more sometimes than visual display.I am a believer in really getting time on the tool to learn what is trash and what is treasure. There are no shortcuts. I guess that is why they call it treasure hunting rather than treasure collection.

 

[ToneTime]

To each his own but my experience is: I just have way more fun using the non display machines and to me that's why I am into this hobby!

 

[Monte]

The only time a VID screen helps is when it locks in on one number or bar and doesn't waiver. Those targets you dig regardless.

I think you're correct with a majority of 'average' hobbyists, who I like to refer to as "Traditional Coin Hunters" because they are mainly after US coins and bound-and-determined to ignore as much trash as possible. They also don't all learn the factors that can cause a Target ID to flicker and/or produce an errant read-out. Thus, they get more than lazy and recover only the 'Lock-On' readings.

The problem with TID is even when they jump around, they could still be a good target.

Quite true, and that's why I seldom use a Target ID, but I do prefer and put-to-use a VDI numeric read-out as it can be more informative.

[size=small](And in your reply to oneguy you said)[/size] ... Well then, I had no idea I was so inexperienced with a metal detector having dealt with jumpy and inaccurate VDI's for years!

I think you missed his point, but I felt he was clear in saying a more skilled or experienced Detectorist [size=small](not to be confused with a Hobbyist or Traditional Coin Hunter)[/size] can learn more from the VDI read-out and understand more information from it, just as an experienced Detectorist can learn and use a good audio response more, if it is a descriptive audio such as from a White's MXT All-Pro or Classic ID or most Tesoro models.

It's kind of like the VDI readings have more visual information abilities like a good analog audio response, whereas a more controlled Target ID has less information and might be compared with a more controlled and digitally influenced audio response. I didn't take his comment as a slap-in-the-face to your reply, just a clarification of his opinions of the benefits on a VDI numeric read-out.

Monte

 

[dan b]

I think using both, if you have them, is the best way to go. Use audio first, then visual second. If you still aren't sure, dig. Better to dig some trash and know for sure, then to walk away and leave a good target in the ground.

Dan

 

[Wishful-thinker]

I use a TID machine,but dont use it to ID targets, just audio...,BUT!! I do think the screen in my opinion IS important because I get a wealth of knowlege quickly,and easily from it, such as the Iron meter, Ground balance numbers, Depth, Battery life and is the reason I bought that particular machine + being able to set how many tones I like. I will not lie and say i dont look at the target on the screen, just because i do glance at it to see what it thinks it is . Its interesting sometimes what it says it is ,and what truly comes out the ground..And i will also say it IS accurate most of the time, but deeper coins do come in lower on my TID sometimes, but the sound tells me its higher. So IMO both can be very helpful, but with my machine i would never rely on just the TID. If it sounds good I dig it.