8/23/19 Report - Atlantic Heating Up. Mint Error. Problems With Air Tests and Tests Gardens.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

An area of low pressure just east of the upper Florida Keys has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next five days, but models disagree on what it means for South Florida this weekend.

The system, which would be named Dorian if it gains tropical storm status, has a 40 percent chance of developing over the next 48 hours.

While heavy rain is expected from the would-be Dorian, National Weather Service meteorologists in Miami said Friday morning that “global weather models are all over the place and not in good agreement with how they handle this disturbance.”

Looks like the Atlantic is becoming more active.  We might actually get improved beach detecting conditions some day.

We're getting a small bump in the surf now. In the next couple of days we might get up to three feet - which still isn't that much.

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If you check your clad finds sometimes you'll find some interesting things.  Here is a 2016 clad quarter.

2016 P Quarter Showing Strike Through.

Here is a closer view of the strike-through.

Strike-Through on 2016 Quarter.

This has been identified as a strike-through, which is when debris is on the planchet when the die hits it to impress the image.

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Conducting an air test or using a test garden is very different from metal detecting in the field.  When you conduct an air test, you start with a known target and do whatever is needed to get the best signal from the metal detector.  That is the opposite of what happens in the field.  In the field, instead of bringing a target to the detector and presenting it in the best way possible, you cover large areas of ground not knowing if there is a target or where in that acreage a target might be hiding.  In that situation, your behavior is very different.  You scan large areas - probably very quickly.  Your sweep pattern, including speed and height and other factors come into play, as well as various sources of noise, ranging from wind, surf, other people, tinnitus, electrical and radio interference, and ground mineralization to junk.  An air test has very little in common with actual metal detecting.  It is, however, a good starting place for learning about your metal detector.

A test garden is in a specific location.  The detector doesn't have to adjust to changing salt mineralization or any kind of changing ground mineralization, not to mention the fact that and you know where the targets are and what they are.  

I can't stress enough the huge effect of having a known target in a specific location, as compared to not knowing if there are any good targets, or where it might be in an expansive area, and not knowing what kind of target it might be if there is one.  To make that even more complex throw in an unknown quantity of randomly scattered junk targets of various types.

One of the early goals of psychologists was to measure the sensitivity of our sensory systems. They found that factors other than the sensitivity of sense receptors influence whether a stimulus is detected or not.  There is no single fixed level below which a person never detects a stimulus and above which a person will always detect it. Other factors are involved.

This approach [signal detection theory] abandons the idea of a threshold. Instead, the theory involves treating detection of the stimulus as a decision-making process, part of which is determined by the nature of the stimulus, by how sensitive a person is to the stimulus, AND by cognitive factors...  when a person is quite uncertain as to whether the stimulus was present, the individual will decide based on what kind of mistake in judgment is worse: to say that no stimulus was present when there actually was one or to say that there was a stimulus when, in reality, there was none.

To sum that up, detection of a signal is not only determined by the sensory system but also affected by decision strategies (cognitive/thought processes).  Sensory thresholds vary depending upon decision strategies and the value of targets and risk of mistakes.  Thresholds are also affected by expectations.  What weight do you put on the possibility of missing a good target versus digging junk?  Are you excited and expecting to find something big or getting worn out and tired of digging junk.  Those kinds of things can affect your focus, attention and perceptions as well as other behaviors.

An example from everyday life illustrates this point. Suppose a person is expecting an important visitor, someone that it would be unfortunate to miss. As time goes on, the person begins to "hear" the visitor and may open the door, only to find that nobody is there. This person is "detecting" a stimulus, or signal, that is not there because it would be worse to miss the person than to check to see if the individual is there, only to find that the visitor has not yet arrived. 

(See https://psychology.jrank.org/pages/585/Signal-Detection-Theory.html for more about that.)

Signal detection theory was developed during World War II when radar was invented.  They wanted to study how operators could detect planes on the radar scope also showing other return (noise).

The effect of knowing where a target is and working backward to see if you can detect it is very different and results in very different results than you would get not knowing if there is any target at all.  In a test bed, that can be somewhat minimized by closing your eyes and truing to detect as if you had no idea where the targets were.

Unfortunately there is no perfect way to compare metal detectors.  They have so many different settings and there are so many variables in how they are used.  A large part of success is determined by how you use the detector rather than its capabilities.    Air tests and test beds definitely have theie place, but the limitations should be recognized too.

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Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/23/18 Report (Part 1) Creating Your Own Test Bed. Treasure Hunting: A Way of Life.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

According to the latest MagicSeaWeed.com predictions, the peak surf for the Treasure Coast has been delayed a day or so, now expected to occur on Saturday rather than Friday, as predicted earlier.

We've had a couple days of north wind, but not much surf.  The tides are pretty big though.

I'll get out to check the beaches before long.

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Sebastian Steve offered the following tips for creating your own metal detecting test bed.

I had to do a Minelab Equinox new design coil (15” elliptical) review vs. the EQX stock 11” coil in my Test Bed.
   

To verify my results, and put credibility on my results,  I explained what a proper Test Bed entails.  Surely a big job done properly...but if you are a serious detectorist, it will pay grand dividends over time...

First off - to trust my data means you need to know something about my test bed. I've made many over the years, but never a proper planned development. If you do "hodge-podge" in your backyard, you end up with wondering "Now how deep was this nickel yet, or was this the dime location"??? I think we've all been there! After the embarrassment of actually -losing- a test bed coin...due to placing it too close to the edge of the concrete and getting re-bar masking, I decided to do it right.  A "proper" Test Bed was laid out on the computer geometrically, in simple neat rows, 4' apart rows, and 4' side to side on each target hole.  

But most important... a -record- of your work on computer, phone app, even a simple piece of paper...just to remember your layout later on. Your biggest time consuming work with be de-masking the entire field. That is removing every last piece of unwanted metal, ferrous and non ferrous...  nails, nail heads, soffet tin scraps, screws, and if you're lucky...even a coin or two from the de-masking. Unfortunately I was not so lucky.  

By demasking...I of course mean removing all scrap iron and junk for a 98% iron free test bed that will be free of the effects of -iron masking-. Just as important is the opposite. You leave a piece of iron in the ground inadvertently, and it ends up right next to one of your holes. Now the real target is -amplified- and not a true reading on its own!  So if you can get through the iron removal process... probably several hours, (I had 84 pieces no bigger than a nail), you are well on your way to a test bed to be proud of.

I should take a minute to point out the great value and utility of a well built test bed (Test garden's are for tomatoes). That checking how deep your machine will read a particular target is the least of it. 

One...you may find out something is not right on your machine when you cannot hit an easy target....loose connector, bad coil, etc. 

Then you have the different modes, which really does work well in your soil? And when we get to -tuning- now we really benefit! So many possibilities! 

Wow...it works better and deeper -with- discrimination on!!?? Really??? Things like that. And then of course comparing one machine to another. 

And of course if your buddy's are good to you and bring the beer... well they too could use your test bed. I have personally enjoyed quite of bit of training others in my test bed. The uses are many and varied...and well worth the effort to construct a quality test bed that if done right, will last decades!

Here is how... and I'm going to keep this brief. Any questions, just please ask. 

1. Keep the test bed a minimum of 15' from any structure to avoid EMI and building materials near the structure. Of course a shady spot is always preferred. Watch out for U/G septic tanks, wiring, heavy plumping, etc.

2. You can decide on your own depths, but for me the minimum necessary was 8". 

3. Use a post hole digger if you have it, or your detecting shovel to keep tight, small holes. The less the side-walls are disturbed the better.

4. This is important...place a round plastic disc (from an old Tupperware, etc.) the exact width of the hole in the bottom of the hole by hand, carefully leveling off and pushing down into firm ground. This will keep the coin from sinking deeper into the ground, or worse yet, tilting off on its side.

5. Keep taking this disc in and out until you get the perfect depth to within a half inch or less. But always on the + depth to keep minimums. To measure accurately...carefully lay a paint stick on the ground across the center of the opening of the hole. Press flat and level with the overall lay of the land. Now measure straight down with a tape ruler, crossing the paint stick at right angles. You -will- get excellent depth control!

6. Place your coins logically. I started on the far left hole, 1st row with an 8" penny, then a 10" penny, then an 8" nickel, 10" nickel, 8" dime, 10." dime, 8" quarter, 10" quarter, 12" quarter, and 14" quarter. So you can stand there and easily count out to where you want to be.

7. And simply make your rows 4' apart, and the holes no closer than 4' from each other.  Deciding on the length of rows is up to you.

8, I intend soon to add another 2 rows for the half dollar, $1 coin, etc. And even a row for the Civil War Minie' Balls buried at different test depths!

All the Best,

Sebastian Steve 

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I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

I took my mother and family out to eat.  Amazing!  America is doing well -  at least a big part of it.

The meal was fit for a king - turkey, steak, ham and sides and deserts galore.

As if the meal and fellowship wasn't treasure enough, I found a ten dollar bill on the floor.  Treasure hunting isn't just for the beach.  It seems to be a full-time thing for me - a way of being.  It is about being alert and enjoying the surprises that pop up in front of you.  You can do it anywhere and anytime.

I looked around to see if I could see anyone who lost the bill but couldn't, so I ended up keeping it.  I checked the serial number to see if it was worth more than ten dollars, and it wasn't.

I've enjoyed treasure hunting since my earliest remembrance of going out to see if I could find if the chicken laid any new eggs.  We had one that nested on the ledge of the garage window.  I remember finding an egg and putting it in my pocket.  I must have been about five or something.  The egg broke in my pocket and made a real mess.  

I also enjoyed going out to find wild strawberries in the field on the hill.

Glad I was a country boy.

With the Thanksgiving celebration yesterday, as with everyday, there was a gift far above and beyond those I've already mentioned.  It is the amazing mystery of life and awareness itself, which provides the field and makes all the other things which appear within it possible. 

Some people try to make it about nothing but molecules and evolving green slime, but they can't explain awareness, let alone tell you what it is.  Some might say that it has to do with brain activity, but there is a huge leap from chemical and electrical activity to awareness. 

Where did it all come from?  The big bang?  You must be kidding!   What created the big bang?  The big bang answers nothing.  It just adds another question.  What about Occams Razor?  

People can give thanks for all kinds of things, but for me the most amazing mystery and gift is life itself and awareness.  Everything else occurs within the field of awareness, like ornaments on a Christmas tree.

Yes, there are problems too.  Pain and suffering.  Broken bulbs and lights that don't work.  But they get swallowed up.  They don't last forever.  And they fade in the light of eternity.

Accept your gift of Life and give thanks.

Happy Hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

7/8/16 Report - Halo Effect, Ground Effects, and Notes On Testing Your Metal Detector. Kirlian Photography.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Kirlian Photograph of US Half Dollar.
Source: See link belwo.

Yesterday I discussed air tests and ground tests and pointed out one common problem with both of those kinds of tests.  That problem was the say the coil or target was moved.  Today I'll discuss a completely different problem.

If you understand these problems, you'll also have a better understanding of how your detector works, and as a result, be able to use your detector more effectively in the field.

People often bury for ground tests. Some create test gardens.   I'll maintain that very similar results can be obtained by simply laying the target on the ground and then raising the coil above the target.  Little is gained by burying the target.  When the ground is neutral, it can end up being nothing more than a glorified air test.  When the ground isn't neutral, it can end up being worse than an air test for reasons I'll discuss below.

One reason, but not the primary reason, is that the soil is unsettled and loose, but also the object can be standing on end or in some other odd position unless care is taken to position it.  As I've shown in the surface angle of the target is an important factor.  A coin standing on end, for example, will typically give a small and uncharacteristic signal.

When a target is buried for a metal detector test, it is not like the typical target you most likely find during a hunt because during an actual hunt the target has typically been in the ground a while.  As a result there is what is called the "halo effect."

The "halo effect" theory holds that buried metal objects have an ionization "halo" that increases their apparent size to a metal detector searchcoil.  This makes the objects detectable at greater depth.  In other words, according to this theory, long-buried metal objects have something you cannot duplicate with a recently-created test garden.

It takes a while for the halo to form, and the halo effect is greater with objects that have been buried for a longer time.  The halo effect is also increased in certain environments, such as saturated soil.

Here is a web site that discusses the halo effect in detail.

http://www.njminerals.org/metaldetecting-haloeffect.html

Remember also what I've said about compacting sand and soil.

The lack of a halo effect is not the only problem with newly buried targets.  When there is any degree of soil mineralization or conductivity, digging a hole creates discontinuous ground conditions that a metal detector will try to adjust to.  Such disrupted sand or soil will cause your computer to adjust and will often cause false signals, and often a reduction in depth.

It is not unusuaal to detect a coin in black sand, then dig a hole only to find that you can no longer find the target.  In some cases that is due to the difficulty your detecdtor is having in adjusting or interpreting the ground conditions created by the disrupted matrix created when you dug the hole.

OF course different detectors will adjust differently and different settings will also affect how your detector adjusts to those circumstances.

Perhaps the easiest demonstration of this is in black sand at the beach.  The next time you encounter black sand give it a try.  Dig a hole in a concentration of black sand.  You very well might find that you get a signal from that hole.  If you toss a coin into the hole, you might have difficulty detecting it, especially at depth.

It is very much like when a wave comes washes over dry or partially dried sand at the beach.  There will be a line between the newly wet salt sand and the dryer sand.  Sweeping across that line can cause a false signal or a reduction in detecting depth as your detector tries do adjust to the difference.

Regarding the halo effect, here is a summary of three main points from the previously referenced web site.

1.  Test gardens aren't much good unless they are old because the Halo Effect hasn't formed on newly buried objects.  New test gardens are not much better, if any, than an air test.

2.  Noble metals ionize in the ground too.

3.  Some environments create the Halo quicker than others, such as moist and acid environments.

My main point is that not only will the halo effect not be present when a target is newly buried, but there are also other problems, including the fact that the soil matrix has been disrupted.  In some circumstances, that can be a very significant problem.  That will make ground test results different from what you would get from a naturally buried and settled object in the field.

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That reminds me of some Kirlian photography that I used to do.  Kirlian photography allows you to capture an image of elecrical fields around an object, very much like the halo effect.

Here is a little about that.

In 1939 Semyon Kirlian discovered that you could photograph the aura of an object by placing the object on a photographic plate in a high-voltage electric field. The photographic image looks like a colored halo or coronal discharge.

Images created by Kirlian photography were mistakenly thought by some to be a physical manifestation of the spiritual aura or "life force."  What is actually recorded is the result of natural phenomena including pressure, electrical grounding, humidity and temperature. Changes in moisture barometric pressure, and voltage will produce different 'auras'.  So what is actually seen on the photographic plate is gas ionization around the object - living or not.  

Here is a link where you can read more about Kirlian photography and auras.

http://www.skepdic.com/kirlian.html

And here is a link where you can find the photo of the coin shown above plus a variety of other Kirlian photography. 

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kirlian+photograph+of+a+coin&id=488C10464835EA7AE5DD735739335BE5CC19D7E3&FORM=IQFRBA#a

And here is the Kirlian photography system that I once assembled in an old brief case.  I did a post about that some time ago.

Kirlian Photography System Assembled in Brief Case

Inside the case (top photo) you see a variable voltage trasnformer and a high frequency induction coil.

On top of the case is a metal electrode plate and a glass dielectric plate.  The glass plate is placed over the electrode plate, then Polaroid film places on top of the glass plate and the object to be photographed placed on top of the Polaroid film.  Then, while in a completely dark room, push the button (white seen through the hole in the case) and the aura is created and picked up by the film.

Unfortunately I can't find any of the old photos I took with this equipment.  I should be able to make some new ones once I warm up this old system.

I intend to get that old system up and running again and take some more photos of coins and other targets.  

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I wanted to express my deep felt sympathies for those who were killed yesterday as well as their families.  It is too bad what has become of our country.

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On he Treasure Coast expect more hot weather and calm surf for days to come.  There is not tropical activity to watch either.   Low tide will be around 5:30 today.   There will be some slightly negative tides.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/14/15 Report - Good Test Garden Ranking Of Several Detectors. Test Garden Benefits and Limitations. Area Sampling.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Treasure Coast Beach This Morning Nearing High Tide.

The surf was a little rougher than I expected this morning.  In the above photo you can see the water hitting at a bit of a northerly angle.

The surf on the beach shown at the top was breaking a little ways out.  That was one of those beaches with a flat front that I was talking about the other day.

You can see the relatively flat beach front where the surge from the breakers is washing in.  That white water area has a pretty good current that runs both way - surge and backwash.

One Beach Showing A Little Scalloping This Morning.

The second photo shows a scalloping beach.  That is one of the more coarse grain beaches with more of a slope.  That beach, unlike the one at the top, was scalloping a little.

We're supposed to get a little change in the weather and the surf on the Treasure Coast will pick up a little but not much.  Expect something like three feet on Wednesday.

Tropical Activity As Of This Morning.
Source: nhc.noo.gov

The tropical disturbance shown in red has an 80% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours.  At this time, I think that one is the one that we should most closely watch.

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I ran across a good YouTube video in which the Ace 350 was tested and ranked with a variety of other detectors.  It was an exceptionally good test in an extensive test garden.

The test not only provided a test of the 350, but I think also gave a good general idea of how detectors in general work with various targets at different depths.

At the end of the video the Ace 350 was ranked with a number other detectors that were tested in the same way, providing a good comparison.

You might benefit by taking a look at the video.  Not only were a variety of targets buried at different depths, both good targets and junk, but very small targets, such as a gram of gold, were also tested. Tests were also conducted with coins buried with nails and other junk.

It was one of the more extensive test garden tests that I've seen, and a good informative video.

Here is the link to the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDAvWgalcrA

Of the various detectors tested in this test garden, the Nokta Fors CoRe did the best, achieving 55 out of 66 points, the Ace 350 came in below the middle of the pack with 33 of 66 points, and the Minelab Go Find 60 and Garrett Grand Master Hunter II came in at the bottom of the rankings.  Although it was second from last, the Go Find had 28 out of 66 points, not really very far below the Ace.  You might find the comparisons interesting.

The Nokta normally sells for up around $800 while the Ace more like $350, so you have to take price into account.

In this particular video, it would have been better if you could see the actual screen readouts to each of the targets, but that is asking a lot of a home video.

I do want to remind you that there are significant limitations with all test garden tests.   One problem with test garden tests is the fact that they are conducted in one specific type of ground, which may or may not be like where you will hunt, but more significant is how the detector is used. Detector settings and modes may not always be ideal and may not always be comparable from one detector to another.

Another problem with both air tests and test garden tests is that you know where the target is and can see when the coil is centered over the target.  If the targets were spread out and the tests conducted blind folded, that would be a better test.   Again, that is too much to expect, but it is important to be aware of the problem.

Another problem with air and test garden tests is the detector is not used as it would be in the field.  That is very significant.

During a test, the targets are directly under the hot spot of the coil.  And the coil is repeatedly moved directly over the target until the best signal is achieved.  In the field the sweep speed is seldom ideal and the coil is seldom directly centered over the target.

That may sound like nit-picking but those things are very significant.  Test it yourself.  Throw a behind your back and shut your eyes and detect normally.  I think you'll be surprised by how often you miss it.  If you don't miss it altogether, you might get the target at the edge of the coil or at the end of a sweep and don't get the best possible signal like you would get from an air test or test garden test.

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I saw two other detectorists out this morning.  I detected very little, but did some detecting.  I sampled a few spots and found the most targets where I would have thought that other detectorists would have cleaned things out.  This is a heavily detected beach, but the most obvious area seemed to have the most targets. Surprise, surprise!  Sometimes you guess wrong, and that is why I like to sample various areas.  I like to do a little sampling to prove or disprove my guesses.  I won't necessarily spend much time sampling, but a little bit often helps a lot.

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Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/18/15 Report - What To Do First When You Have A New Detector. Sunken City Discovered by Divers. A Versatile Camera.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Gold Ring Beach Find.

I seldom look at YouTube detecting videos but was bored the other night and had a few minutes to waste.  The first video that I looked at drove me absolutely crazy.

First, the video was made using a detector that had a very annoying signal.  It sounded something like a mosquito or maybe a cheap child's toy meant to drive a parent crazy.  I think detector companies should put more thought into how signals sound.

But the thing that really drove me crazy about the video is that the guy continued to show his meter as it jumped around as he passed the coil over one undug target after another.  It obviously was a very junky area.  I quickly got tired of watching the meter jump around.  I wanted to shout dig the dang thing if you want to see what it is.  He was detecting in a shallow creek that had little soil covering flat bedrock and could have easily exposed most targets in almost no time.

I felt a little better about the fellow when I found out it was the first time that he had used the detector.  I could then understand why he was spending so much time watching the meter, however he would have been much better off doing his first tests in a controlled environment.

If you don't have a clean area of ground you should find an area that you think might be clean, get some test targets and do your first tests there.  And before that you should do some air tests.

I've mentioned before that I wouldn't use an air test to see how deep a detector will detect a particular object in the field.  Detecting in air is different from detecting an object in the ground, but an air test still can be very useful for becoming familiar with a detector, its different settings and different signals.

If you want to learn more about your detector, start in an environment and situation where you can control most factors.  Don't start with a lot of unknowns.

And when you are ready for a field test, start with the simplest situation first and then gradually work into more complex situations.

For example, on a beach, start in the dry sand.  After you've got a handle on that, move to wet sand, and after that, maybe move into shallow water.  Go from simple to more complex.

As you've probably noticed, I do a lot of experimentation with detectors and objects.  I don't put much stock in what other people say.  I rather test something out and prove it for myself.  I guess that is just the kind of person I am.  I spent a lot of my professional career doing research and conducting experiments.

I've found some commonly accepted knowledge about metal detecting to be wrong.  I recently tested a detector coil that was supposed to provide excellent target separation.  It didn't.  You can't always go by the theory of things or what you hear or read.

I highly recommend doing a lot of air tests and tests in a test garden, as well as field tests with any detector, especially when you get a new detector.

The fellow that made the video I was talking about would have been much farther ahead if he had done  his first tests in a test garden rather than a junky creek.  I understand the temptation to run out and and see what you can find with a brand new detector, but for me I'd rather have some idea of how it works and what to expect before I take a new detector out for a field test.  If you just can't hold your britches, at least pick a fairly simple environment like a dry sand beach for your first tests, preferably one that has been pretty much picked clean.

Another thing I want to say is, Dig it! If you want to know what is causing a signal, put it in your hand, hold it and look at it.  When you really know how to use your detector and what it is saying to you without spending five minutes studying at a meter, then you can strategically pass over targets, but until you reach that point you'll learn a lot more by digging.  You'll also avoid some big mistakes.

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Divers discovered the ancient city of Heracleion while searching for Napoleon's ships.  Use this link to read the article and view the video of divers exploring huge stone monuments and statues.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2336723/Ancient-Egyptian-city-lost-1-200-years-begins-reveal-secrets.html

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I completed testing of one of the newer detectors and expect to have that written up before long.

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As you know I often post various kind of photos in this blog.  I often post pictures of the beach and various finds.  I also once talked about how it is a good idea to take photos of finds for your personal detecting records.  Not only will that help you remember your finds, but photos might also be necessary for insurance purposes.

There is one camera that I've found to be especially reliable and effective in most situations.   It is my Sony Handycam.

You've seen beach pictures that I've taken with that camera.  It also did the best job of taking pictures of flourescent fossil shells under black light.  That wasn't easy, but the Handycam did the job better than any other camera I have.

It has a still photo button, but I more often take a video and then select clips from the video.

Here is a photo that shows the camera's versatility.

Dragon Fly Photo Taken With The Sony Handycam.

Getting this photo could be a challenge with any camera but was easily accomplished with the Handycam.

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On the Treasure Coast we have some very nice weather.  The surf is still around two feet, but we have been having some nice low tides.

No change is expected this week.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

1/20/15 Report - How To Select Good Test Targets And How They Can Be Useful In The Field

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.

Treasure Coast Beach Yesterday Near Low Tide.

Notice all of the new sand on the front beach.   Not looking good.

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I like trying out new detectors.  I like to learn what they can and can not do.  At the same time, I hate using a new detector because I don't know how to use it well.  I guess I have a love/hate relationship with new detectors.

Some detectors take longer to learn than others.  The Ace 350 took very little time to learn.  You can continue to learn to use any detector better for quite a while, but you can become fairly proficient with a detector like that in a relatively short amount of time.  Like I've explained, it is an inexpensive detector and there are detectors that will detect deeper and do a lot of things better, yet it has a place in my arsenal and there are times when I'll use it rather than one of the higher-end detectors that I have.  There are times when it is the best choice for a particular situation even though it is the least expensive.

I've talked a lot about test targets in the past, and I continue to see more and more value in using test targets. It seems I'm always learning.

I am currently learning to use a detector that is new to me, and it hasn't been on the market very long.  Just yesterday I was exploring and comparing the motion and non-motion modes and a variety of other things in a very challenging environment.   I've had it out in the field maybe four or five times now.

I should comment here that when you are learning to use a new detector, you should first do some air testing and some test garden testing in an environment that you are very familiar with.

I have a spot in my yard that I have used for testing for a long time.  I know that spot to be very clean.  The one thing that is not so good about that spot is that there is a good amount of EMI.  That, of course, is not the ideal for a test garden.  It is better to get away from EMI, junk, mineralization, etc. as much as you can for your early learning experiences with a new detector.  Each of those things can complicate the situation.

If you have one place that you have explored many times before with other detectors, you will know something about what to expect and be able to compare the new detector and how it responds with other detectors that you have used there before.

Getting back to test targets.  I was detecting with this new detector in a fairly challenging environment the other day.  I had already spent a few good learning sessions with this detector and was ready to step up the difficulty level.  This beach had a lot of very small pieces of iron, also a lot of very large pieces of buried iron, along with the normal salt mineralization, wet/dry zones and black sand.

Anyhow, at one point I noticed less signal strength than I would have expected from a small piece of foil.  Hmmm.  I took out a small test target that I have used quite a bit.  I know how this detector and other detectors respond to that particular test target under various conditions.  I threw it out on the ground ahead of me and indeed, the signal was not what it should have been or what I would have liked. 

Somewhere along the line the detector was detuned somehow.  I have my suspicions.  I think it had to do with some huge buried iron that I was over or a while, which could have caused the detector to retune.  However it happened, the detector was detuned and my test target quickly confirmed that the detector was performing less than optimally and was out of tune.

That is just one more example of how carrying a test target can help you.  The fact that I had used this test object before and had a good idea of how the detector should respond to it was a big help.

Select a sample of objects that include the types of things that you are interested in finding.  For example, you might include a coin, a small silver object, a small gold object, and perhaps a cob.  Again, select the kinds of things you are most interested in finding.

The most effective test targets will give off a small but distinct signal if the environment is challenging.  Don't use test targets that are too large or too easy to detect. They will give a strong signal even if you are slightly out of tune.  You want targets that produce near borderline signals that will be most affected by changes of the detector settings and changes in the environment.

You can use the same test objects for air tests and in the field.  By using the same test targets over and over, you will learn what type of response to expect from different detectors in different environments.  That will help you compare detectors on the different types of targets in different environments.  It will also help you better evaluate your settings.  Having a well known test target along with me helped me quickly determine that my detector was responding less than optimally, and it also helped me retune the detector to obtain a near optimal response in the environment where I was hunting.



Not much change in Treasure Coast beach conditions to talk about.  Same small surf and sandy beaches.  No change in expected real soon.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net