What do you consider in iffy signal?

[kybowhunter]

What do you consider in iffy signal?

Just looking for different ideas?

Is it one that beeps one way and not the other way? Is it one that will only sometimes repeat? Is it one .... ???

When do you decide to dig iffy signals?

 

[erikk]

If it gets my attention for any reason I will dig it

 

[Jackpine Savage]

with lots of possible answers depending on what you are hunting for and where. Here's my take on it from mostly a dig it all perspective

When I am hunting older sites I generally dig everything that is not obviously iron and so dig a fair amount of it in the process. In that context, other than obvious iron falses, I suppose there really is no such thing as an iffy signal.

Non-ferrous items next to iron are tough, so digging those partially repeatable signals (the ones that repeat only with a "just right" coil sweep) is called for. Call those iffy if you want but they are the prime suspects I look for when hunting in a dig it all mode. There really is no definitive answer as to how iron co-located targets will respond, every one is different. For the dig it all guys, learning how iron responds at low disc settings and going after the rest is the ticket.

A lot depends on the machine and its sweep requirements. Depending on the detector, signals can be best with a broad sweep -- even in iron trashy conditions, some may work best with a tight wiggle over the target and there are some that can do both. At times I may simply go by the quality of the initial hit that drew my attention to the target in the first place. Other times I will work the target a bit before digging if something does not seem quite right but, if it remains questionable it gets dug.

As for the beeps one-way and not the other signals.. please leave them, I'll dig up those goodies later on.

Tom

 

[Jackpine Savage]

is a lot better ( and shorter) answer than mine!

Tom

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

I hit a spot that gave iffy signals, iffy is a scratchy sound not a clean beep. Iffy is a target that may not repeat kind of fades because it is mixed in with a lot of junk or iron. Masking is the big problem and what may happen to a target that has some iron mixed with it or on it. The ground is a great place for any target to change. I get that with copper when it gets old and crusty. I think having the experience to question certain targets has paid off for me a lot of the time. So live and learn and dig.