F-70 + snow = strange results?

[CincinnatiKid]

Hello all. I've been looking at, air testing, admiring, etc., my new F-70 since its arrival Thurs eve. After coffee this morn, I could take no more! I had to take it out. 6" of snow fell here Sat and is ever present.
I decided on a county park and focused on a sled hill. Site is always full of tabs and clad. I've also pulled 2 14k rings in past. The hill was a semi-hard packed 3" of snow/ice, after recent sledding and last nights freeze. Ground was easily dug though.
I left machine at air test settings. Only the 85 sensitivity had me concerned. I've heard/read, how unstable this machine can be above 60 sens. The snow/ice also worried me.
Upon arrival, ground balance was not gonna happen. No matter what change I made, ground read a firm 90? I attribute this to the snow/ice. Pinpointing had a constant hum, but was usable.
As I'm new to this detector, I dug all but iron signals. 19 pull tabs, 4 zincoln's, a "bling" key chain and a nice old button-shank intact, still soaking.
The strange thing is this; all targets when pinpointed were at the exact depth the machine told me. Yet I was at least 3" above actual ground? Did the machine not see the snow?
Please help!!! Peace

 

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[luvsdux]

I'd assume the detector did not see the snow as any different than air.
luvsdux

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Thanks luvsdux. That is my question. When my coil was 3" above dirt, (on top of snow/ice), why did I receive accurate depth? My depth levels should have started at the 6" level, considering 3" of snow/ice and 3" of dirt? I have no clue. Peace

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Possibly because the detector is ground balanced over soil with minerals so the snow doesn't have them and is ignored. But I'm guessing.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Went into snow again this day. Same results. Machine was not able to be ground balanced and targets were identified at accurate depth in ground, although I was swinging coil 3" above ground. This should have added 3" to depth?
Confused....? Peace

 

[dirtscratcher]

Went into snow again this day. Same results. Machine was not able to be ground balanced and targets were identified at accurate depth in ground, although I was swinging coil 3" above ground. This should have added 3" to depth?
Confused....? Peace

Does depth reading change when you kick snow away.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Thanks dirtscratcher, but no? I still get true depth. Soil disturbances are minimal here too. I have no clue why this is occurring?
Please let me reaffirm, that a 3" deep target reads at a 3" depth when coil is 3" above ground. This should equal a depth of 6"? Peace

 

[CincinnatiKid]

I had 5 great hours w the F-70 today. Finally. No great finds, but I did retrieve my first thimble. An unidentified tag, 6 shotgun shells, bullets, horse shoe, fork, lead, ground pottery, and a nice "O" pin. No idea what the "O" means, it's still soaking. The F-70 preformed and identified well, except for square nails? They showed as 88-95 TID? Confusing at best.
The journey continues... Peace