Depth Gauge indicates coins are much deeper than they are

Quisp

Jr. Member
Feb 14, 2011
79
102
Upstate NY
Detector(s) used
Equinox 600, Teknetics Omega 8500, Garrett GTA-1000, Pro-Pointer
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I continue to notice how coins are much more shallow than the depth indicator seems to indicate. I know it's two inches per triangle based on a quarter, but even subtracting 1- 1.5 inches for grass I find it is at least 2-3 inches off every time and sometimes more. Now I'm used to a depth number from my other detectors and now I have to count triangles. But, my other detectors seemed to always be within 2 inches and most times an inch of the proper depth on most coins, not just quarters. This is probably just a little gripe but it's something they could address with an F/W update.

What have others experienced?

Dan
 

I've noticed this as well but found that running sensitivity closer to 15 in the park makes it much more accurate on shallow targets. There are other post on this topic as well so you might hunt around I think Vferrari has covered it in depth.

GB, Soil Conditions, trash, emi, etc all play a part in the accuracy
 

My AT Pro was the same way, MY CZ the same and my whites, the same as well as my Equinox. Maybe there's a few detectors that are nut's on every time for depth, but I find all detectors it's just giving you a rough estimate and varies by target size, soil, target composition, any nearby trash etc...
 

Ive noticed the depth gauge on the equinox is pretty much useless. I go by tone to gauge depth. Obviously the light whispers are deep and the double beep is just under the surface. And anything that is loud and clear single beep is 3-6 inches. I love getting a faint beep, digging a 7 inch plug and still getting the signal in the hole. That gets the heart racing.
 

SultansofSwing's tone thumbrules above are good benchmarks while in detect mode. Going into pinpoint mode helps to gage relative target size and depth, too.
 

Last edited:
Ive noticed the depth gauge on the equinox is pretty much useless. I go by tone to gauge depth. Obviously the light whispers are deep and the double beep is just under the surface. And anything that is loud and clear single beep is 3-6 inches. I love getting a faint beep, digging a 7 inch plug and still getting the signal in the hole. That gets the heart racing.

I am not noticing a variance in volume. There have been times I thought the signal sounded quiet at first pass but it always ends up at the same volume. What’s more, 7 -8 inch deep targets I’ve recovered have sounded the same as 2-3 shallows with the latter just being more erratic. The depth indicator is almost worthless.
 

I've never had any detector where I paid any attention to the "Depth" gauge. The VDI numbers I only use as a reference point perhaps, but the depth gauge? Just can't go by it, it's always ended up being "Audio", just the nature of the beast I'd say.
 

I am like spailroad, I never pay attention to the depth because I don't care. I can usually tell by tone but I have dug 12" targets thinking maybe it was 6".

It's all fun to me. I get a bit tired of dropping to the ground to dig pennies because I am getting old but i'd rather dig a penny and find a ring than dig a nickel and find a tab
 

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