Day two. I'm getting there. (I think)

[Jack D]

Yesterday, I found a lot of large items, but nothing small. Last night I read and re-read the manual......It's vague to say the least. If I said the most, you couldn't see the words due to the blue fog.

My detector has three "modes". VLF, TR1 and TR2..
Under VLF, all it says is "to adjust Tune and Ground....I took this to mean that is all this "mode" was for.

TR1=transmit 1.....to detect extreme differences in metals

TR2=transmit 2.....to detect finer distinctions between metals

Yesterday I was using TR1 and even TR2 a bit and finding nothing small.

Today I tried using VLF "mode" and I found several nails, very small pieces of wire, a bottle cap and these items pictured. The key and ring were on the surface in the grass and the aluminum foil and pop tab were 2-3" under ground.

I then tried (after getting a signal in VLF mode) switching to TR1 mode and the signal disappeared. Digging, I found a rusty nail.

I'm feeling much better about my detector now.....Yesterday I wasn't sure. Hang on to that black bird, Pris and get ready to heat it up. It's beginning to look promising.

[anne]

Practise makes perfect and you seem to be doing ok

[JCWhite]

I don't know which detector you have but I do know it is frustrating for all of us when learning a new one. You are doing great.

[Jack D]

Originally Posted by JCWhite

I don't know which detector you have but I do know it is frustrating for all of us when learning a new one. You are doing great.

No one does, it seems. It's a discontinued model by Famous Trails, purchased on Craigslist. I believe it's their CM572. I have no idea how old it is. I found one internet store that had it listed at $260.00, then marked discontinued. It appears like new.... even the bottom of the coil is scratch free. It only partially worked when I bought it, but I found that one battery connector was not making cocntact with the battery. The internal speaker still doesn't work, but I'm using ear phones (headset) so not a problem. I may fix it sometime, but I like the earphones.

[KellycoChick]

I just checked out your "metalprosmith" website - I can't believe you weren't metal detecting lonnng before this!! But good for you for pickin' that thing up and staying determined! Whatever machine you got, it sounds like it's doing the job and teaching you the ropes along the way - and that's what is important.

And I'm sorry your manual isn't helping either. I got my degree in Technical Writing and I am allll too familiar with poorly written instructions. But it seems like you got the hang of this forum, and these folks are better than any manual anyway! Keep it up!

[pris]

Originally Posted by Jack D

Hang on to that black bird, Pris and get ready to heat it up. It's beginning to look promising.

I got it plucked and ready to go Tastes a bit like pheasant or pigeon. A little gamey, but I can deal with it.

I'm very happy you're getting the hang of it. I just know you'll be an ace at this. You never know, you may just find enough with this machine to buy another one. Then again, you could be like Mr. Silver and NEVER get rid of your "old" machine. and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[grasshopper]

sounds like you're doing ok. go outside and take some coins, throw them on the ground, and go over them with different programs and see which works best. that should help figure out whats the right program for you!

[Jack D]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

sounds like you're doing ok. go outside and take some coins, throw them on the ground, and go over them with different programs and see which works best. that should help figure out whats the right program for you!

Thanks, I'll try that. I'm thinking that I should stick with VLF mode for now and later start trying the others as I get more proficient. It seems VLF is a catch all mode and the other two are discrimination modes.

[julieburger]

Keep up the great work.

[MinelabMan]

What Julie said, looks like you're solving your problems very well. I guess we know which setting you'll be using!