airscapes said:
Monte, I have the 4x6 and when I first got it had issues with DOA coil and intermittent failure. So I think the one I have is the 3rd or 4th and starting to act up .. I think. Can not seem to get a solid signal on anything much deeper than 4" on the display which is actually 2". When new I was able to get solid VDI on 6" signals (actually 4") Of course the ground has a lot to do with it but just wondering what kind of performance you get with the 4x6 before I call whites, spend $15 to ship it and find out there can not find anything wrong.
Doug, You kind of lost me when you say <
4" on the display which is actually 2">, and when you were able to <
get a solid VDI on 6" signals (actually 4")> ... are you referring to the actual coil-to-target depth/distance, or the visual Coin Depth read-out? Just curious.
Personally, I do not rely on 'Coin Depth' with most detectors because the ground mineral can have an effect on the reading, plus the types of coil (metal alloy) and the coin's size, and position (flat or canted), and other variables. Things like the Sensitivity level of some detectors can influence the Coin Depth read-out, etc.
Another factory is we are refereeing to an elliptical-shaped search coil, and one that is a Double-D designed search coil, and the coil size and dimensions can also have an influence on the detection of a target as well as how it reads the TID/VDI/Depth, etc. I know, this is coming from a guy who generally isn't too thrilled with Double-D coils, but they do lack some of the better qualities of consistent performance of most round, Concentric coil behavior.
Also, a general coin depth 'suggestion' on a visual display during the search, where it kind of groups the coin/target into a depth 'group', can often be different by an inch or two compared with the main Coin Depth reading we get when we used the Pinpoint function.
On that note, another problem some people have is using the Pinpoint to try an isolate a target and reads the depth, but they don't get an accurate Coin Depth read-out because they activate the Pinpoint mode function with the search coil over, or partially over, the target. Or, they have done some de-tuning to help pinpoint and the Sensitivity is now reduced, and that causes an errant Coin Depth Read-Out.
So, to check your search coil and detector's performance for Pinpointing and giving an accurate (or close to accurate) Coin Depth,:
• check it out using a variety of coins, from a small dime to a Zinc penny, to a nickel and then a quarter and a half-dollar.
• lay each of the coins flat-on-the-ground
• hold the search coil about 2" to 3" above the target
AND OFF TO THE SIDE.
• THEN pull a trigger or press a button or touchpad to select the All Metal Pinpoint , and
• sweep the search coil over the target and listen for the highest pitched audio to Pinpoint, at which time you should have the more accurate Coin Depth that detector model is able to produce and it won't be 'detuned' from activating Pinpoint when the search coil is too close to or over a target. Nothing is 'perfect' so we know some makes and models will show their weaknesses, but check out the Pinpoint function on your detector without the coil being over or too close when you switch into the Pinpoint function.
When you check out your detector and coil(s), just remember that some makes and models might just be off a little and even reducing the Sensitivity can help bring about a more accurate Coin Depth reading.
Monte