UK METAL DETECTING

kered · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 97 Location: NW Spain

Is there any way i can solve the problem of false finds due to the wet sand mineralization on the beach with my tesoro golden umax.
Just passing the line of the damp sand causes false signals, even on the high water mark at low tide. i know its not a PI machine but is there anything i can do to improve things a bit till i get another machine, the c-scope 1220r has the same problem, even though it has manual ground i can't seem to stablise it either(probably cos i'm a novice).

Which leads me to my next question
Till i get sorted out paperwise(Spanish federation papers etc)i will be working mostly the beach, there are a lot of popular beaches nearby that are almost completely covered at high water so i need something that will cover damp/wet sand.

What do i go for a Sovereign GT, XP gmax or what?I dont intend do wade in the water, just wait for low tide if needbe.

I have a disability, a fixed, broken tendon in my right arm, i can manage the golden for a four hour stint no problem although i know ive being doing something at the end of the day, this could just be beginers pains caused by the digging.

I have read that the sov gt is slow to recuperate, heavy(although can be hipmounted)will this slow be a problem on the beach.
If i can get the depth i get with the tesoro i will be delighted, the c-scope is not so deep
I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket with a dedicated PI machine at the moment unless its necesary or are they ok inland too
Budget wise i will have to get 2nd hand, probably sell the 1220R to help funding.
All comments appreciated(i'm a thick skinned Geordie Laughing

)

EdUK · Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 79 Location: Kent

The general concensus is that the sovereign is the king of the beach - they are a little heavy but I believe fitting a straight shaft can help to make it beter balanced. Hip mounting is also an option. They are a little slow recovery wise so do require a slowish sweep.
Regarding other machines - Falsing on wet sand is often cured by lowering sensitivity but most machines do not do well on wet sand so don't expect too much Smile

rayredditch · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 222

You could try an XP 100, they´re ok on wet salty sand, (BUT NOT IN SALT WATER), and very light too.

kered · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 97 Location: NW Spain

Would a Tesoro with manual ground balance be any better? something like the Vaquero?

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

I have to say that Im impressed with my SovGT on the beaches and I hunt mainly heavily mineralised beaches. I prefer to hunt on the beach with my Sovereign over my Excal , I hang the strap around my neck so the box is chest mounted, because Im a big strapping Grimsby lad who was raised on chip butties and bitter swinging the WOT coil for hours on end isnt a problem and wearing a rain jacket to cover the control box with the hood over my earphones takes me back to the good old days cutting caulis in Lincolnshire, errr sorry got a bit carried away there.

kered · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 97 Location: NW Spain

Is the sovereign Elite better than the gt, i seem to be reading that the iron mask on the gt doesn't go down low enough so its alwaya on and may shut out some deep targets

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

Ive never had an Elite so I cannot answer that one, I prefer to look at what Im finding and not what Im missing.

kered · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 97 Location: NW Spain

good point as i'm not getting much on the wet atmo.
on a spanish forum they say its the same but just diferent colour

EdUK · Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 79 Location: Kent

The GT is the latest and best sovereign model , although there is not a great deal in it. Any sovereign will do a great job at the beach. Regarding your earlier question about tesoro on wet sand - I haven't tried my trident at the beach yet but I was told it would only be good for dry sand.

1715Hunter · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 130 Location: South Florida USA

The GT has the ground tracking switch feature that is the main up grade over the Elite so Im told, its a ground balancing all metal mode better for difficult ground and increases sensativity on smaller objects. Ive only had my GT since May and used it in the UK & Florida, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and after seeing a few of the old pros using the Sovereigns looking for spanish stuff on the beaches over here I asked a lot of questions and I decided to get myself one, Ive even used it in the water and found gold with it. For the money is got a great reputation as an all round machine and you can use it in the water , as long as you dont get the control box wet of course, hang the control box strap around your neck and the velcro on the back of the box cover sticks to your shirt so it dosnt flop around, great for shallow water hunting , the poor mans excalibur.

UK Brian · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 431 Location: Wales

GT is the deepest and most sensitive model in the range (slightly).
Ground balance and lockable ground track give it the edge especially if you aim to hunt for gold (nuggets). Iron mask could again (as with the Mk I) be switched off which didn't add to depth as much as giving better target seperation.

The early improved versions of the Sovereign in fact only really took some adjustments out of the control box where you had to move little jumpers out on to the facia of the machine in switch form.
The best coils were the solid white ones of the first couple of versions of the machine. Drawback was they were rainproof not waterproof. Something that also has to be born in mind with early Coiltek coils. Not waterproof so don't start sticking them down in any rockpools.

The Elite was not popular as an upgrade as you didn't gain performance and they had a mad moment and swapped the controls around. Didn't affect a first time user but if you had hours in with the older models it was a pain in the neck.

If your buying second hand the Mk I which is now ancient had either a solid white coil or a horseshoe shaped (Seasearcher ?) one. You had to ground balance it. Early models knobs could be pressed in to lock the position.

Next model (XS) also had the solid white coil but didn't need ground balancing. The shaft was a pale grey in colour.

Followed by the XS-2 and XS-2 Pro, both with black shafts. The 2 had the 800 open coil, the Pro the larger 1000 coil plus charger/rechargable batteries.

Battery system improved along the way and accessibility to adjustments made easier until the arrival of the Elite with its change of colour scheme (blue) and switched round control positions.

Re the Excaliber. If your not going in the water don't get the Excaliber. A lot more expensive to buy. Repairs really more expensive. No easy interchangability of coils (you have to cut the cable and use waterproof connectors) or select one of two sizes and stick to it. Not a good balance/weight. Headphones not up to scratch (you can date the machine approx. by the headphone colour).

Brian P.S. the first Excaliber was not made by Minelab but by Detector Pro who now manufacturer the Head Hunter range of machines.

kered · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 97 Location: NW Spain

cheers for that Brian, yer a tof
will help a lot for looking for a good second hand job