What are your Bestest-Deepest-settings for your DFX? :shrug:

[Tony N (Michigan)]

My DFX is having difficulty hitting a 9" silver dime and 9" deep copper in my coin garden. I was using the 9.5 concentric and the 8x6 SEF coil.

What settings do you think would be optimal for hitting these coins?

 

[Larry (IL)]

Go to the DFX forum and tons of info there. The stickies at the top covers some of the more common questions and the program I used is there too. Of course, what worked for me might not be optimal for you but it will get you started in the right direction and you can fine tune it from there for your hunting style and ground.

http://www.findmall.com/list.php?28

 

[Tony (Michigan)]

Go to the DFX forum and tons of info there. The stickies at the top covers some of the more common questions and the program I used is there too. Of course, what worked for me might not be optimal for you but it will get you started in the right direction and you can fine tune it from there for your hunting style and ground.

http://www.findmall.com/list.php?28

Thanks Larry.

 

[ramairnut]

Get the book titled "Digging Deeper with the DFX" written by Jeff Foster. I had a DFX at one time and this book really helped. I found a small pistol ball and a civil war era civilian button with my DFX. If you really learn what that machine has to offer, you will do very good with it. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

n/t

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Digging Deeper with the DFX

 

[ramairnut]

Digging Deeper with the DFX

Very well written and easy to understand. Enjoy and Good Luck with the DFX.

 

[IDXMonster]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

 

[Tony (Michigan)]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

[size=large]Thanks IDXMonster. I sold my Explorer SE and SE Pro because they were absolutely poor machines. When I went from the Explorer XS to the SE and SE Pro my finds took a major dump for YEARS. It was so bad I thought several times of giving up detecting altogether. I even made a major rant on a board here about quitting.
I've recently purchased a Whites V3i with three coils plus I just got a 13" SEF Ultimate for it. It will come in on Tuesday. It is also a TRUE multi-frequency detector along with two separate frequencies that can be chosen. And it's in COLOR. I believe it also has stereo with low ferrous tones in one ear and conductive in the other if that's what one wants. And you can actually see the screen.
Anyway, I know nothing about the CTX. It's probably a nice detector. I hope you do well with it. Is your IDX modded via Mr. Bill's mods? I'm curious what state you live in?
I have an E-trac and the screen sucks donkey turds. 90% of the time I can't see what is on the screen. How Minelab let that piece of trash out, I have no idea. But my finds went back up to my XS days so I will put up with the sucky screen. It will be interesting seeing if the V3i will give my E-trac a run for its money.[/size]

 

[IDXMonster]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

[size=large]Thanks IDXMonster. I sold my Explorer SE and SE Pro because they were absolutely poor machines. When I went from the Explorer XS to the SE and SE Pro my finds took a major dump for YEARS. It was so bad I thought several times of giving up detecting altogether. I even made a major rant on a board here about quitting.
I've recently purchased a Whites V3i with three coils plus I just got a 13" SEF Ultimate for it. It will come in on Tuesday. It is also a TRUE multi-frequency detector along with two separate frequencies that can be chosen. And it's in COLOR. I believe it also has stereo with low ferrous tones in one ear and conductive in the other if that's what one wants. And you can actually see the screen.
Anyway, I know nothing about the CTX. It's probably a nice detector. I hope you do well with it. Is your IDX modded via Mr. Bill's mods? I'm curious what state you live in?
I have an E-trac and the screen sucks donkey turds. 90% of the time I can't see what is on the screen. How Minelab let that piece of trash out, I have no idea. But my finds went back up to my XS days so I will put up with the sucky screen. It will be interesting seeing if the V3i will give my E-trac a run for its money.[/size]

Yeah I forgot you have the etrac now,and a lot of folks have said the screen isn't what it should be. A friend of mine has the V3i and does really well with it,but he's always hunting sites with good potential as well. Between those two machines you ought to do as well as anyone!
My IDXPro is modded with all of the specified caps,resistors,etc and Threshold/Ground balance controls. I've had really good finds with the Black Max 950 pancake coil,fantastic coil!
I live in southern Wisconsin....just south of Madison. Whereabout are you in Michigan?

 

[Tony (Michigan)]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

[size=large]Thanks IDXMonster. I sold my Explorer SE and SE Pro because they were absolutely poor machines. When I went from the Explorer XS to the SE and SE Pro my finds took a major dump for YEARS. It was so bad I thought several times of giving up detecting altogether. I even made a major rant on a board here about quitting.
I've recently purchased a Whites V3i with three coils plus I just got a 13" SEF Ultimate for it. It will come in on Tuesday. It is also a TRUE multi-frequency detector along with two separate frequencies that can be chosen. And it's in COLOR. I believe it also has stereo with low ferrous tones in one ear and conductive in the other if that's what one wants. And you can actually see the screen.
Anyway, I know nothing about the CTX. It's probably a nice detector. I hope you do well with it. Is your IDX modded via Mr. Bill's mods? I'm curious what state you live in?
I have an E-trac and the screen sucks donkey turds. 90% of the time I can't see what is on the screen. How Minelab let that piece of trash out, I have no idea. But my finds went back up to my XS days so I will put up with the sucky screen. It will be interesting seeing if the V3i will give my E-trac a run for its money.[/size]

Yeah I forgot you have the etrac now,and a lot of folks have said the screen isn't what it should be. A friend of mine has the V3i and does really well with it,but he's always hunting sites with good potential as well. Between those two machines you ought to do as well as anyone!
My IDXPro is modded with all of the specified caps,resistors,etc and Threshold/Ground balance controls. I've had really good finds with the Black Max 950 pancake coil,fantastic coil!
I live in southern Wisconsin....just south of Madison. Whereabout are you in Michigan?

I've heard a lot of good about the modded IDXPro. Did you do the mods yourself?
I see you don't live too far from me. We should do some beeping! You are only about 500 miles away. I live about 50 miles due north of Detroit, Michigan, out in the country.

 

[IDXMonster]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

[size=large]Thanks IDXMonster. I sold my Explorer SE and SE Pro because they were absolutely poor machines. When I went from the Explorer XS to the SE and SE Pro my finds took a major dump for YEARS. It was so bad I thought several times of giving up detecting altogether. I even made a major rant on a board here about quitting.
I've recently purchased a Whites V3i with three coils plus I just got a 13" SEF Ultimate for it. It will come in on Tuesday. It is also a TRUE multi-frequency detector along with two separate frequencies that can be chosen. And it's in COLOR. I believe it also has stereo with low ferrous tones in one ear and conductive in the other if that's what one wants. And you can actually see the screen.
Anyway, I know nothing about the CTX. It's probably a nice detector. I hope you do well with it. Is your IDX modded via Mr. Bill's mods? I'm curious what state you live in?
I have an E-trac and the screen sucks donkey turds. 90% of the time I can't see what is on the screen. How Minelab let that piece of trash out, I have no idea. But my finds went back up to my XS days so I will put up with the sucky screen. It will be interesting seeing if the V3i will give my E-trac a run for its money.[/size]

Yeah I forgot you have the etrac now,and a lot of folks have said the screen isn't what it should be. A friend of mine has the V3i and does really well with it,but he's always hunting sites with good potential as well. Between those two machines you ought to do as well as anyone!
My IDXPro is modded with all of the specified caps,resistors,etc and Threshold/Ground balance controls. I've had really good finds with the Black Max 950 pancake coil,fantastic coil!
I live in southern Wisconsin....just south of Madison. Whereabout are you in Michigan?

I've heard a lot of good about the modded IDXPro. Did you do the mods yourself?
I see you don't live too far from me. We should do some beeping! You are only about 500 miles away. I live about 50 miles due north of Detroit, Michigan, out in the country.

Well,kinda. I took the boards out of the box and display pod and rounded up all the parts,but a friend of mine that I work with has ALOT of experience with doing fine soldering,so I paid him to actually remove and install the parts. He has a good gun,solder sucker,etc. so I wanted to play it safe,it's my baby. I drilled the box for the pots and all that. I can say that it is quite hot. Before the mods,I could turn the Sens up all the way in most places,but now...not hardly. It's easily another 1.5"-2" deeper with more accurate readings and more solid audio. Setting the ground balance with this machine is critical for the best ID at depth. I know it well.
500 miles? Shoot....that's just a blip! If you ever travel in this direction let me know,there's plenty of places to pillage,so little time....

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

The best "setting" is "setting" it down and picking up that Explorer! Just yankin' yer chain Tony,my modded IDXPro will hit a 9" silver dime pretty effectively with the 950 coil...BUT!.......the soil must be perfect! If it's mineralized,BYE BYE depth. This is where FBS steps in to take over,it's MUCH better at finding that type of target at the depth you want in that soil,usually. I'm normally very "diplomatic" when talking about my IDX and the FBS in the same thread,the IDX is very good at what it's good at. Getting an initial hit on a really deep old coin in bad ground is not one of its fortes,IMO. Again with the diplomacy! But it's true. Targets to 6-7"? The IDX will hammer them all day,junk or not. But ALL of my old coins are DEEP,so I use the CTX the most.
In one of my best parks that has historically given me some of the coins that people hunt for 30 years for and never find, the EMI in one section just swamped my Explorer2. This was before I had the CTX. I took the IDXPro down there and with the Frequency Shift was able to tune out the noise. That day I found a Rosie,Merc,huge deep token and a 3 cent copper nickel,1865. It was next to a piece of junk,but I knew there was a good target. This again is using the 950 coil. I believe I decided to dig the coin because I know the IDX that well and KNEW it was onto a coin through the quality of the tone. Experience counts for ALOT,you know this as well as anyone. But if the machine isn't capable of giving the initial response so that you can start to "interrogate" the signal,it's done before it starts. This seems to be about where you're at with your testing....

[size=large]Thanks IDXMonster. I sold my Explorer SE and SE Pro because they were absolutely poor machines. When I went from the Explorer XS to the SE and SE Pro my finds took a major dump for YEARS. It was so bad I thought several times of giving up detecting altogether. I even made a major rant on a board here about quitting.
I've recently purchased a Whites V3i with three coils plus I just got a 13" SEF Ultimate for it. It will come in on Tuesday. It is also a TRUE multi-frequency detector along with two separate frequencies that can be chosen. And it's in COLOR. I believe it also has stereo with low ferrous tones in one ear and conductive in the other if that's what one wants. And you can actually see the screen.
Anyway, I know nothing about the CTX. It's probably a nice detector. I hope you do well with it. Is your IDX modded via Mr. Bill's mods? I'm curious what state you live in?
I have an E-trac and the screen sucks donkey turds. 90% of the time I can't see what is on the screen. How Minelab let that piece of trash out, I have no idea. But my finds went back up to my XS days so I will put up with the sucky screen. It will be interesting seeing if the V3i will give my E-trac a run for its money.[/size]

Yeah I forgot you have the etrac now,and a lot of folks have said the screen isn't what it should be. A friend of mine has the V3i and does really well with it,but he's always hunting sites with good potential as well. Between those two machines you ought to do as well as anyone!
My IDXPro is modded with all of the specified caps,resistors,etc and Threshold/Ground balance controls. I've had really good finds with the Black Max 950 pancake coil,fantastic coil!
I live in southern Wisconsin....just south of Madison. Whereabout are you in Michigan?

I've heard a lot of good about the modded IDXPro. Did you do the mods yourself?
I see you don't live too far from me. We should do some beeping! You are only about 500 miles away. I live about 50 miles due north of Detroit, Michigan, out in the country.

Well,kinda. I took the boards out of the box and display pod and rounded up all the parts,but a friend of mine that I work with has ALOT of experience with doing fine soldering,so I paid him to actually remove and install the parts. He has a good gun,solder sucker,etc. so I wanted to play it safe,it's my baby. I drilled the box for the pots and all that. I can say that it is quite hot. Before the mods,I could turn the Sens up all the way in most places,but now...not hardly. It's easily another 1.5"-2" deeper with more accurate readings and more solid audio. Setting the ground balance with this machine is critical for the best ID at depth. I know it well.
500 miles? Shoot....that's just a blip! If you ever travel in this direction let me know,there's plenty of places to pillage,so little time....

Maybe some day some genius will be able to mod a detector so it gets 2 to 3 feet deep with accurate readings and solid audio.
Maybe in the Spring we can get together and do some pillaging. I'd probably have to stay at a motel that allows two little 6 to 7 pound Chihuahuas.
It would be really great to get together with you.
Years ago I went to the St. Louis area when I had the XS to detect with some of the pros on the Explorer board here. Within minutes of getting out of the car one of the guys dug a 2 cent coin. Me? Not much. I was so stupid. I should have plied them with questions. I just didn't know better back then. I didn't know you could set the detector to go deeper or the finer things of detecting in trash. I know a whole lot more since then.
I got my V3i last night and already began setting it up to hunt. It's a cool detector . . . so far. I'll just have to see how it does in the field. I'll have to learn the nuances of the sounds etc.
Tony

 

[IDXMonster]

Absolutely Tony! If there are areas around Ludington I can ride over at night on the SS Slowboat and meet up with you over there too...those areas would be new to both of us I would guess...there is ALWAYS something to find,so long as the site has promise.There's a friend of mine up in Kiel WI who might want to do the trip as well,he is VERY good with the eTrac!
Let's do some researching around Ludington and see what we can scare up over the winter...

 

[Tony (Michigan)]

Absolutely Tony! If there are areas around Ludington I can ride over at night on the SS Slowboat and meet up with you over there too...those areas would be new to both of us I would guess...there is ALWAYS something to find,so long as the site has promise.There's a friend of mine up in Kiel WI who might want to do the trip as well,he is VERY good with the eTrac!
Let's do some researching around Ludington and see what we can scare up over the winter...

I hardly ever get over to Ludington but it sounds interesting. I'll have to try to research it out.

 

[IDXMonster]

Absolutely Tony! If there are areas around Ludington I can ride over at night on the SS Slowboat and meet up with you over there too...those areas would be new to both of us I would guess...there is ALWAYS something to find,so long as the site has promise.There's a friend of mine up in Kiel WI who might want to do the trip as well,he is VERY good with the eTrac!
Let's do some researching around Ludington and see what we can scare up over the winter...

I hardly ever get over to Ludington but it sounds interesting. I'll have to try to research it out.

I'm just thinking somewhere in the middle but if you want to come further this way,like the Milwaukee area,I can put you on all kinds of promising places. And there are some stupendously good hunters that are always willing to share information. To me that's the most important thing.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Absolutely Tony! If there are areas around Ludington I can ride over at night on the SS Slowboat and meet up with you over there too...those areas would be new to both of us I would guess...there is ALWAYS something to find,so long as the site has promise.There's a friend of mine up in Kiel WI who might want to do the trip as well,he is VERY good with the eTrac!
Let's do some researching around Ludington and see what we can scare up over the winter...

I hardly ever get over to Ludington but it sounds interesting. I'll have to try to research it out.

I'm just thinking somewhere in the middle but if you want to come further this way,like the Milwaukee area,I can put you on all kinds of promising places. And there are some stupendously good hunters that are always willing to share information. To me that's the most important thing.

I rarely get over Ludington way or to the west side of the state. Maybe we should plan on the Milwaukee area. The places around me have been hit hard. Only gold coins are left. (Yea, right )