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Minelab X-Terra Tips for the Coin-$hooter

What follows are some recommendations for setting up your machine, as well as what to listen and watch for while coin hunting. This isn't the Holy Grail of X-Terra coin-shooting but a few tips that will hopefully make your coin-shooting experience with the X-Terra more productive. It is now up to you to study the X-Terra manual and understand every aspect of the model you have. Learn how to set the sensitivity and ground balance, if applicable. Learn the tones and numeric displays for the model you use and the targets you might encounter. Practice in your yard with a variety of coins and trash! Listen for consistent sounds. Watch for consistent target location. Look for consistent numeric readings. And most of all have fun and enjoy the hunt!!!Having been a big fan of the 5kHz Musketeer series, I was excited to hear that Minelab had developed a single frequency detector with audio and visual target ID. Both the X-Terra 30 and the X-Terra 50 offer single frequency technology, multiple audio tones, adjustable notch discrimination, pinpointing mode, all-metal mode, a large LCD panel, adjustable sensitivity and separate adjustable volume settings for speaker or headphones.

Although the notch segments, audio tones and ground balance differ between the two models, both offer the same basic functionality. The fixed ground balance on the X-30 is set to provide adequate operation in most types of soil. The adjustable ground balance on the X-50 allows the user to adjust the ground balance to operate smoothly in most every hunting environment. Ground balance settings apply to all hunting modes of the X-Terra 50. Proper ground balance will minimize false signals caused by ground mineralization and maximize the ability to provide accurate target identification. To properly adjust the X-50 for the site you are hunting, set the detector to the all-metal mode and find an area of ground that is clear of any metal. Before making any adjustment to the ground balance, temporarily adjust the sensitivity down to a level in the single digits. Sensitivity is the detector’s level of response to a target, the ground or outside interference, and we will increase that level after we have properly ground balanced the X-50. After lowering the sensitivity to a “single digit” level, hold the coil steady and about 4-inches above the surface and press the Ground Balance pad. You should now hear a constant hum known as the Ground Balance Tone. Lower and raise the coil repeatedly, without touching the ground. As you do this, you will hear a fluttering tone that is either high in pitch, or low in pitch. If the tone is low, you will need to press the + key until the high tone is heard. If the tone starts out high, you will need to press the - key until the low tone is heard. Your objective is to get the high tone and low tone to "meet in the middle". I seldom find it possible to completely eliminate or nullify either tone. I usually set mine at a point where neither tone is dominant and the two tones blend together. And, as I mentioned earlier, after I have achieved optimum ground balance, I boost the sensitivity up to maximize the detector's potential, without causing false signals, chatter or erroneous TID. Most of the sites I hunt are moderately mineralized and I typically find my optimum GB at levels of 8 - 11. Once properly ground balanced, I am generally able to run the sensitivity at 20. Those new to detecting with the X-50 may want to start out with lower sensitivity settings and increase it as they become more familiar with the X-Terra. Those hunting beaches may find that settings below 10 are required for stable operation.

In addition to manual GB, the X-50 also has a Noise Cancel feature. This allows the user to adjust the operational channel of their detector to one of three separate channels. Changing channels will reduce noise caused by interference from AC, RFI or other detectors. With proper ground balancing, optimum sensitivity settings and appropriate noise cancel, you should be able to achieve maximum performance from your X-Terra. If you only remember one thing from this article, I hope that it is the importance of consistency. Consistency in audio tone, target location and target ID numbers. Although the X-Terra offers excellent discrimination “Patterns," I prefer to coin-hunt in the all-metal mode and allow the audio tones, target location and target ID numbers to help identify each target. When hunting for coins, I generally ignore all low tones. Low tones represent ferrous targets, which will not be produced by US coins. I concentrate on listening for medium-low, medium high and high tones. On my X-Terra 50, nickels provide a medium-low tone and register a target ID of either 9 or 12 on the LCD, depending on the metallic make up of that particular nickel. If I am wanting to find nickels, I dig both 9‘s and 12‘s. A small copper cent produces a medium-high tone and will register 24, 27, 30, 33 or 36 on the X-50. As with nickels, the visual display of a copper cent will depend on the metallic content of that particular coin. A dime will produce a medium-high tone and either a visual ID of 33, 36 or 39, depending on the metallic composition. A quarter will produce a high tone and indicate 42 on the LCD. Half dollars and silver dollars each produce a high tone and read 45 on the LCD.

Let me further explain the multiple ID readings on some coins. When I first got my X-50, I passed more than 100 Seated Liberty, Barber, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes under the coil. I was surprised to find that some dimes produced a different visual target ID than others. At first I thought it might be the amount of wear or the specific issue of coin. Then I realized that three Mercury dimes, in similar physical condition, each gave a different reading. One was 33, one was 36 and another was a 39. However, I also noticed that if a specific dime read 33 on the initial pass, it would always read 33. If it read 36 on the initial pass, it would always read 36. And, those that read 39 on the initial pass would always read 39. Notice the consistency of the readings on any one specific coin. Each coin always “locked on” a specific number, with every pass under the coil. (Exception: The depth that a coin is buried may have an effect on the numeric reading. A few weeks ago, I dug a dime that initially read 36 at a depth of 5-inches. After cutting a plug and removing it from the hole, I found the dime near the surface read 39.) Visual target ID is a good tool. But it should only be one of the tools you use to determine when to dig.

The X-Terra 30 offers three audio tone responses to targets. The X-Terra 50 offers four. But, as I mentioned before, when hunting with the X-50, I ignore the low tone generated by ferrous targets and listen for medium-low, medium-high and high tones. When I hear one of these three tones, I pass the coil back and forth over that location from several directions. If the tone remains “consistent” from a variety of directions, there is a good chance it will be a coin. By consistent, I mean a tone that is sharp, clear and provides one single tone. If you hear more than one tone being produced by the same target, it will not likely be a US coin. If the tone is consistent, I make a mental note where the center of the coil produces the loudest sound. It may be “marked” by a blade of grass, a clump of dirt or a leaf. (Although the X-Terra has an excellent pinpointing mode, I prefer to remain in the all-metal motion mode use an “X-ing” method.) As I pass the coil back and forth over the target area, I look for target location consistency. In other words, is the loudest tone coming from the exact location with each pass of the coil? Does that sound stay in the same location when I sweep from various directions? If not, then it will not likely be a coin. If the location is not consistent with each direction of the sweep, I go on to the next target. If the target audio tone is generated from the same location (consistent) as I sweep the coil over the spot I have made a mental note of, I look to the numeric display for target confirmation.

For example, if I hear a medium-high tone that is consistent in sound and is coming from a consistent location, I look to see if the LCD is displaying a number 24 or greater. (24 represents the lowest reading I have found on a copper cent. 39 represents the highest number assigned to a medium-high tone target) While looking at the LCD, I make sure the target ID number is consistent. It is permissible for the number to change by one notch in either direction. But, if it jumps by two or more notches, it won’t likely be a US coin. (Never say never). But, I have not yet dug a coin whose reading varies by more than one notch either direction, prior to being exposed. I have dug dimes that may bounce between 36 and 39. And I have dug dimes that bounced between 33 and 36. But I have never dug a dime that bounced between 33 and 39. I have dug IH cents that bounced from 27 to 30. And I have dug Lincoln cents that bounced from 33 to 36. But, I have never dug a copper cent that bounced between 27 and 33 or between 30 and 36. Separation by more than one notch has not yielded any coins with my X-50. Since each notch is “wider” on the X-30 than it is on the X-50, I believe you will find this to be true for it as well. You may chose to dig some “inconsistent” signals until you feel confident you can differentiate coins and trash. When the tone, location and visual display are consistent or within one notch, dig the coin. When I locate a target that provides a solid “coin” number from one direction, and a 21 or 24 from another direction, it will usually be a pull-tab, screw cap or can slaw. With hundreds of varieties of pull tabs and screw caps having been produced, you need to confirm the target ID of those lost in your area. Jewelry hunters need to keep in mind that ignoring non-ferrous trash items may result in missing some nice finds. Again, this article is for coin-shooting. Know the numeric readings of the types of items you want to recover and look for consistency. The important thing for those hunting coins to remember is, if the numbers bounce more than one notch in either direction, it won't likely be a coin.

HH
Randy
aka “Digger”

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