MXT doesn't go very deep

[Digging Fool]

I recently bought an MXT, and like the machine, but it seems to be lacking on depth. It almost rejected two CW bullets the other day(with disc. in pre-set position). Should have been a good high-pitched tone, but was a mixed, broken tone. If the bullets had been deep, I wouldn't complain. But they were only about 4"deep. Any suggestions to get more stability and depth from the MXT? I have a little Silver UMax, and I think it will "whup" the MXT. I do like the features of MXT, though. But the darn thing ought to go deeper.

[Classic II SL]

Originally Posted by Digging Fool

I recently bought an MXT, and like the machine, but it seems to be lacking on depth. It almost rejected two CW bullets the other day(with disc. in pre-set position). Should have been a good high-pitched tone, but was a mixed, broken tone. If the bullets had been deep, I wouldn't complain. But they were only about 4"deep. Any suggestions to get more stability and depth from the MXT? I have a little Silver UMax, and I think it will "whup" the MXT. I do like the features of MXT, though. But the darn thing ought to go deeper.

The MXT has a little learning curve to it, I've had mine for 1 month and I'm still learning. I set the dual at 2 1/2, the gain at 10, crank up the threshold a little higher than silent, then bump it up till it's just shy of running unstable (run it hot) If you can stand the noise. Listen for the change in threshold, you might not necessarily get a solid lock, on a deep target. I dug a lead 22 bullet, at a solid 8" deep, it just made the threshold act weird (in coin+jewelry) flipped it into prospecting, it showed my target as 10 percent chance of iron, so I dug. I was using the small 4x6 shooter coil at the time. the 9.5 coil gets me 4 - 5" on any coins, even dimes. I've dug muzzleloader bullets at 6" with the stock coil, they read a solid lock 50 vdi, hope this helps, continue to experiment with the different settings, another thing, if you're using relic mode, try setting your dual at 0.... yeah I know it will beep on iron.... but if you get a signal, flip into prospecting to check percent of iron, if a low percent then dig !! you'll get more depth in relic than in coin mode, hope this helps, Rich.

[Digging Fool]

Originally Posted by Classic II SL

The MXT has a little learning curve to it, I've had mine for 1 month and I'm still learning. I set the dual at 2 1/2, the gain at 10, crank up the threshold a little higher than silent, then bump it up till it's just shy of running unstable (run it hot) If you can stand the noise. Listen for the change in threshold, you might not necessarily get a solid lock, on a deep target. I dug a lead 22 bullet, at a solid 8" deep, it just made the threshold act weird (in coin+jewelry) flipped it into prospecting, it showed my target as 10 percent chance of iron, so I dug. I was using the small 4x6 shooter coil at the time. the 9.5 coil gets me 4 - 5" on any coins, even dimes. I've dug muzzleloader bullets at 6" with the stock coil, they read a solid lock 50 vdi, hope this helps, continue to experiment with the different settings, another thing, if you're using relic mode, try setting your dual at 0.... yeah I know it will beep on iron.... but if you get a signal, flip into prospecting to check percent of iron, if a low percent then dig !! you'll get more depth in relic than in coin mode, hope this helps, Rich.

Thanks, Rich. I really liked the old Spectrum that I used for 10 years. I believe it was more powerful than this new MXT. I'll say one thing about deep detectors....the Minelab Explorer will get on down there. Used to have one, but it had too many bells and whistles for me. The MXT may not have quite enough. Thanks for that valuable information. I'm sure there is a small learning curve to get used to. I'll try your suggestions. May experiment with a few air tests, too. I noticed that the MXT goes fairly deep for big iron, but I guess most of them do. Brass items seem to read good. But lead, which usually reads good on the old White's seems to confuse the MXT(and me, too). May be the type of soil there?? Thanks.........Rick

[Hawk]

Hey DF,

Everything Classic said.....and also make sure you got good batteries. I would recommend using a good brand of AA 1.5 volt alkalines.....will last a long time.

On a side note, I did an experiment using rechargeable 1.2 volt AA batteries to see if there was a difference. For me....I DEFINITELY noticed I wasn't getting the depth that I was getting with the 1.5 volt alkalines.

Problem is, I was already starting off on a lower total voltage.....AA alkalines are 1.5 volts, AA rechargeables are 1.2 volts.....multiply that by 8....well...you get the meaning.

Hawk

[Digging Fool]

Originally Posted by Hawk

Hey DF,

Everything Classic said.....and also make sure you got good batteries. I would recommend using a good brand of AA 1.5 volt alkalines.....will last a long time.

On a side note, I did an experiment using rechargeable 1.2 volt AA batteries to see if there was a difference. For me....I DEFINITELY noticed I wasn't getting the depth that I was getting with the 1.5 volt alkalines.

Problem is, I was already starting off on a lower total voltage.....AA alkalines are 1.5 volts, AA rechargeables are 1.2 volts.....multiply that by 8....well...you get the meaning.

Hawk

Thanks, Hawk. Now that you mentioned it, when I started hunting the other day, it said "11" on the battery scale. These batteries came new in the detector(shows how little i've used it). I figured a "low battery" warning would come up, like on most other high-tech machines. I didn't think it performed as well as the previous trip out. I had some new Duracells with me, but didn't use them. Maybe you're right about those batteries......Thanks

[Classic II SL]

Hawk is right about the batteries, I use rechargeable Ni MH 2600 mah, the higher the mah, the better. mine start out at about 11 volts fully charged, I think the low batt signal comes on when the voltage drops to 8, but I never let them go below 10 volts.

[Digging Fool]

Originally Posted by Classic II SL

Hawk is right about the batteries, I use rechargeable Ni MH 2600 mah, the higher the mah, the better. mine start out at about 11 volts fully charged, I think the low batt signal comes on when the voltage drops to 8, but I never let them go below 10 volts.

Thanks. If 8 volts is the low warning, then I should have been OK with 11. I need to do as you suggested and experiment with those controls. Thanks!

[Hawk]

By the way......Is there any particular reason why all the battery companies can't or won't make standard 1.5 AA rechargeables? It certainly can't be because it can't be engineered.(?) We have 1.2 Volt Ni-Cads, NiMH's, and I'll bet lithium's are right around the corner...if they haven't been made already.

Hawk

[Classic II SL]

Originally Posted by Hawk

By the way......Is there any particular reason why all the battery companies can't or won't make standard 1.5 AA rechargeables? It certainly can't be because it can't be engineered.(?) We have 1.2 Volt Ni-Cads, NiMH's, and I'll bet lithium's are right around the corner...if they haven't been made already.

Hawk

I have seen some AA lithiums, don't remember if they were rechargeable or just regular. I'm sure someone will manufacture a 1.5 v rechargeable, sooner or later. With all the different items that use AA power, it's bound to happen !!

[Digging Fool]

I discovered today that I had the dual control on the preset in the SAT ring, and not the disc. ring(where it's supposed to be).. I was almost discing out pull-tabs, and didn't realize it. No wonder! On top of that, I had the gain around 9-10, and the soil is pretty hot, with some hot rocks and high mineralization. I'm confident that this hurt the performance of the machine.My fault.. Bet I left some good stuff there. Wonder I found anything.............Got to go back and use it the right way