Air Tests--How Good Are They?

[Sixties Kid]

Something I've always wondered about is how do detector airs tests relate to actual in-ground hunting?

I have a certain top brand detector that cost well over $1000 and in an air test it will only detect a penny at about 7 inches max. But online I constantly read where this same machine is supposed to detect pennies at like 10 or 12 inches.

Now, I understand the corrosion effect to surrounding soil making a target appear larger, etc., but is it possible for a detector to detect an object farther in soil than through the air without this effect?

I'm thinking the air test should be greater than the soil test (assuming the object is the same in all respects).

What do you say?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[GarrettDealer]

Something I've always wondered about is how do detector airs tests relate to actual in-ground hunting?

I have a certain top brand detector that cost well over $1000 and in an air test it will only detect a penny at about 7 inches max. But online I constantly read where this same machine is supposed to detect pennies at like 10 or 12 inches.

Now, I understand the corrosion effect to surrounding soil making a target appear larger, etc., but is it possible for a detector to detect an object farther in soil than through the air without this effect?

I'm thinking the air test should be greater than the soil test (assuming the object is the same in all respects).

What do you say?

Air tests are NEVER an actual test of the detectors capabilities . Detectors are made to find things in the ground . There is an elaborate technical explanation about how the signal that the detector sends out is scattered by using it above the ground BUT I'll spare you .

 

[Murray_B]

Air is a way better medium to detect things through. I can detect a nickel through 60" of air without even using a metal detector. Air is also much more consistent with the air detection range being pretty constant no matter where the test is performed.

Soil, on the other hand is a terrible thing to detect things through. It has variable composition that can include magnetic particles, salts, mosture, and other nasty things. This means that the soil itself conducts electricity and becomes detectable. This intereferes with finding treasure. Sadly, there are so many different kinds of soil that meaningful comparison tests become virtually impossible.

Air tests can give some indication of sensitivity but do not really tell very much about how well the device will find treasure. Soil tests are no good because there are too many variables. This means that testing alone cannot tell you what you really want to know. How good is the thing at finding treasure?

 

[bakergeol]

Sixties Kid
AH- I know what the problem is. I bet you have an Explorer. I mean how many coin detectors are above $1000? I don't see any other coin machines claiming those depths. Well the line given to me is that the Explorer does poorly on air tests because it needs a soil matrix. Without a soil matrix it has poor depth. They also claim that it does poorly on freshly buried coins. Gee it almost sounds that you can't test it in the shop before you buy. This is simply the line given to me to explain your observations(I did not say I agreed with all of ?these points) As a former Ex 11 user I found it to be the top of the line but has a long learning curve.

Some units(like my X-5) test really well in air tests but of course these depths are greatly reduced when you hit it with mineralization. Dealers in the know have test gardens planted so they can show their customers the performance of their machines.

This is why a lot of folks love PIs(pulse induction). These are not? severely effected the way VLFs are in severe ground mineralization. There were a lot of areas where I could not use my X-5 because of the amount of hot rocks/ mineralization only a PI would work. Build a PI with the discriminating ability of a VLF and it will revolutionize the industry.


In other words your Explorer is probably just fine.

George