When the GPX 4800 and GPX 5000 metal detectors found their way onto the red clay fields of Virginia the results were outstanding in the way the detectors ignored some of the worst soils in the United States. We have seen targets come out of the ground at impressive depths and more importantly we have seen targets that were just below the surface in areas that were undetectable in the past.
There is however, one observation I made while hunting the area that I would like to pass along to those detecting in these soils. They may not be as bad as you think!
Minelab’s GPX Series were developed for use in the worst ground conditions imaginable, Australia. I will agree with all of you that red clay is very bad ground for a conventional metal detector, but it could be worse, much worse.
Don’t be overly aggressive with your Timing choices. The Timings of the GPX Series are designed to offer the maximum depth and sensitivity in a number of soil conditions. There is no need to use, let’s say the Fine Gold Timing, when the Sharp Timing will work without ground noise and will give you extra depth!
While recently hunting in Culpepper I had the opportunity to hunt with a number of new GPX users. My hunting partners all said that the Coin/Relic Timing would not work in one area and they were right, the ground was too mineralized. Using the Timing icon chart we sat and discussed the different Timings, their advantages and matching Timings to the soils and targets.
To keep the depth and the ability to hunt the entire range of targets I suggested trying the Sharp Timing. This brought about a number of raised eyebrows as most had been going to the Fine Gold or Normal Timing. I Encouraged the group to try the Sharp Timing and re-hunt the area. They were astounded that the Sharp Timing handled all, but one area and allowed them to find more targets and at greater depth.
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Sharp Timing Finds a good variety of target sizes in mildly mineralised ground. Similar but more powerful than Normal. It is capable of an improvement in depth, but is also more susceptible to interference and ground noise. |
So give it careful thought when selecting your Timing. Try out Sharp, if it runs quiet, great. If it’s too noisy in your location, then switch up to Normal. If it’s still too noisy, switch up to Fine Gold if necessary. Also don’t forget to re-Ground Balance whenever you change Timings.
I will be attending the DIV (Diggin In Virginia) in November and hope to see you there.
Kevin Hoagland
Comments
You showed me how to set up my GPX-4500 and how to set up my machine so I could hear those really weak signals. Since I have ringing in my ears, your help was much appreciated and the 2nd Corp Badge was icing on the cake. As I was walking from the field at DIV XIX at the end of the day, I passed over many, many signals that were so weak and I knew that they could have produced some great relics, but I had no time left to detect them.
I can't tell you the feeling that I now have knowing that I have a detector, that if you listen to what it is telling you, the finds can be endless. As they say at Diggin in Virginia, dig all the signals and this detector will take you beyoned your wildest dreams.
Thanks Again Minelab and Kevin Hoagland
Best Regards,
Dennis Morrison
Ringfinder
GPX-4500 owner
I want to thank you for giving us the short seminar on the GPX machine. Your discussion of the soil conditions in Culpeper County really put the icing on the cake. I used the Sharp Timing throughout the 3 day hunt. Only once did I jump out of the Timing only to jump right back into it. I did not search one bit of soil that the Sharp Timing could not handle.
The GPX detector is, by far, the premier detector for all kinds of hunting. Whether that be gold in the West to relics in the East and beaches where ever they are. The GPX is the only detector the serious detectorist needs!
Many thanks Kevin and Minelab.
Scott West
ScottTX
GPX 5000 owner
Thank you for your kind words and for being a part of the Minelab family.
I have to admit that at times it was rather hard to be on the fields seeing the great finds being made and not detecting.
The opportunity to work with so many of you one on one was worth every moment though and helped calm the need to detect.
I will be back and I hope the next time with my GPX 5000 in hand!
Best regards,
Kevin Hoagland
I HAVE been using deep but wonder what general would do.
I also have been getting broken signals, with small nulls on CW bullets. In milder ground.Running iron reject at 7 ? Any ideas of the cause?
Brian Sperty
Manassas Va.
GPX 5000
General is a great setting and one that I recommend for the area after being there and having the chance to work the ground. Response to targets in Sharp and General is fantastic and I have also found that the target depth has been incredible as well.
I will always recommend that after successful hunting an area in General that you consider going to deep slowing down the coil and re-hunt the grid to check if there are any deeper targets.
As for the broken signals and occasional nulls, it might be attributed to hunting in deep and swinging just a little too fast. I have found that I can create a slight broken signal while running in deep if my coil management is not spot on. When hunting in deep I always try to slow my coil by 1/3rd of the speed of general. It takes a bit longer for those crazy deep targets to get the signal back. Give that a try and email me directly if you wish with your results.
Regards,
Kevin
I know your soil! It is unusual that you are only getting the depth you are with your E-TRAC please email me your phone number and a good time to contact you I would like to take some time with you and go over all of your settings one by one.
Using the MPS Pulse Induction Minelab GPX 4800 or GPX 5000 in your soil would open up a new world in your recovery of all targets in all of the soil conditions that you put the coil over. The 8 Timings allow you to effortlessly match the unit to the ground conditions you hunt and working through modern iron trash is simply not an issue.
I hope to hear from you soon, let’s get you back out there hitting more of those deep targets.
kevin.hoagland@minelabamericas.com
Regards,
Kevin