First hunt with Omega

[atomicscott]

Just received the Omega today with 8" concentric coil. It's a version 4, but in very clean, like new condition. At the site I was hunting today, I was expecting to have to run the sensitivity low as there were telephone poles and lines not far away. I was pleased that I was able to run 69 (just below thresh noise) sensitivity with zero noise or chatter. I found a 1954 wheaty at this same torn down home site last week with the F2 & sniper coil, so I was hoping there was silver nearby. This site is super trashy with different sized iron, aluminum & foil trash. I dug 9 copper pennies, 1 nickel, 1 dime and 12 zincs in the less than 2 hours I was there. Lot's pf 60's era coins, but no silver. I ran the Omega into the 80's for awhile into the threshold zone, got a bit of chatter when setting the Omega down to dig a target, but there was no falsing at all & zero noise when swinging, & it was DEAD silent when running below 70. Actually, the threshold noise is not annoying to me whatsoever. I played a bit in AT mode, but the ground was super hard here & it was tough getting past about 5-6" max with a standard Lesche, so I didn't plan to dig any deeper than that anyway. It seems I was hitting deep, or small targets (or both?) & I noticed I could not get as good signals on some of these targets when switching over to disc. I realized that the 'O' has some very useful, albeit subtle nuances designed into it, that help you tell trash from a good target. I could already start to see the genius behind the programming. I have a NEL Sharpshooter due Saturday, hoping that the NEL be even better as far as separation, I tend to prefer DD coils for this reason & the fairly hot ground here. Great machine, so far I am very pleased. Hope this helps someone. Scott

 

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[Phantasman]

Sounds like you are getting right into the Omega. Don't forget to utilize that confidence meter right above the numeric display. The Sharpshooter may not add depth but it does add volume per swing, is great at separating close targets and is very easy to PP with. At least that's how it is on my F2.

 

[atomicscott]

I do need to pay more attention to the signal strength meter. I was out today at another home site I use as a proving ground because I've "hunted it out" with numerous detectors/coils. I tried to remember to check out the signal strength on when getting a signal. I tend to forget to use it, I'm not used to having so much info on the screen. The ground error level is also a nice feature. 2 times I did adjust the GB a bit as I noticed an error that wasn't going away. Didn't expect to find much today, I dug a couple .22 short cases that hit about 5" deep. I also dug a very small shoe eyelet at about 5". Both were solid signals. I dug a lot of iffy targets that turned out to be iron trash. I noticed that EVERY signal that doesn't repeat well during circling seems to be trash. Other than the tiny 4" coil on the F2, I have only used DD coils at this site & I really prefer them in trash. The 8" concentric gave me the feeling that there were always 2-3 targets under the coil at the same time. I had to try a bit harder & concentrate on pulling the better signals from the adjacent trash. I was only about 200 yards away from a local airport & today had the sensitivity into the 90's with decent stability still, no EMI probs. I need to try using some disc more, it seems it will work well without masking if I keep it around 16. I am scared to trust disc as I have had other detectors on which the disc was very inaccurate

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Glad to ohear your happy with the purchase...I knew you would be.
Id's with Omega are as accurate as any detector could be,...better than most.

 

[Phantasman]

I do need to pay more attention to the signal strength meter. I was out today at another home site I use as a proving ground because I've "hunted it out" with numerous detectors/coils. I tried to remember to check out the signal strength on when getting a signal. I tend to forget to use it, I'm not used to having so much info on the screen. The ground error level is also a nice feature. 2 times I did adjust the GB a bit as I noticed an error that wasn't going away. Didn't expect to find much today, I dug a couple .22 short cases that hit about 5" deep. I also dug a very small shoe eyelet at about 5". Both were solid signals. I dug a lot of iffy targets that turned out to be iron trash. I noticed that EVERY signal that doesn't repeat well during circling seems to be trash. Other than the tiny 4" coil on the F2, I have only used DD coils at this site & I really prefer them in trash. The 8" concentric gave me the feeling that there were always 2-3 targets under the coil at the same time. I had to try a bit harder & concentrate on pulling the better signals from the adjacent trash. I was only about 200 yards away from a local airport & today had the sensitivity into the 90's with decent stability still, no EMI probs. I need to try using some disc more, it seems it will work well without masking if I keep it around 16. I am scared to trust disc as I have had other detectors on which the disc was very inaccurate

I read Monte's post on the "other" forum. He is one knowledgeable guy. I've butted heads with him a few times but he is one respectable mind of knowledge (even if he is a Whites fanatic).

 

[atomicscott]

I read Monte's post on the "other" forum. He is one knowledgeable guy. I've butted heads with him a few times but he is one respectable mind of knowledge (even if he is a Whites fanatic).

Haha! I hear ya! I know he knows his stuff & has a lot of experience with the Omega. I appreciate any info he has, but I STILL prefer DD coils, lol!

 

[Fletch88]

Glad you're enjoying the Omega! It is very good in heavy iron using 2 tone. I found it to be very close to the F-19 in the testing I did. Although it wasn't a certain nail board test everyone thinks is the end all of a machines ability but more random real world test(s). Try it with disc up to about 16 and I think you will be impressed with the unmasking ability even with the concentric coil.

 

[atomicscott]

Glad you're enjoying the Omega! It is very good in heavy iron using 2 tone. I found it to be very close to the F-19 in the testing I did. Although it wasn't a certain nail board test everyone thinks is the end all of a machines ability but more random real world test(s). Try it with disc up to about 16 and I think you will be impressed with the unmasking ability even with the concentric coil.

Thanks fletch, I wll be trying 2 tone at some of my old home sites when the elbow heals up a bit more.

 

[SouthFLdigger]

The Omega is a great machine, i found it to be better overall than my G2 for my needs. As a result i got the Gamma 6000, same performance different control sets and features.

 

[atomicscott]

The Omega is a great machine, i found it to be better overall than my G2 for my needs. As a result i got the Gamma 6000, same performance different control sets and features.

I was on the fence between the Omega & Gamma. I like the controls (rubber buttons) of the Gamma. I do like to hunt in a lot of mineralized ground near gold mines though, so I like the idea of having the ground conditions on the display as a reminder to adjust GB for changing ground conditions. That's why I chose the Omega.

 

[Fletch88]

I was on the fence between the Omega & Gamma. I like the controls (rubber buttons) of the Gamma. I do like to hunt in a lot of mineralized ground near gold mines though, so I like the idea of having the ground conditions on the display as a reminder to adjust GB for changing ground conditions. That's why I chose the Omega.

If I remember right you can just do a ground grab while in disc mode with the Omega every few feet if ground changes up.

 

[SouthFLdigger]

I was on the fence between the Omega & Gamma. I like the controls (rubber buttons) of the Gamma. I do like to hunt in a lot of mineralized ground near gold mines though, so I like the idea of having the ground conditions on the display as a reminder to adjust GB for changing ground conditions. That's why I chose the Omega.

Either way you would have gone you would have been well served, both are great machines and deep enough for most needs up to 11" on a nickel in my soil with the 8" coil !. As Walt said ground grab regularly when working the Fe soil this is especially important for proper ID, enjoy that little beast mine isn't going anywhere.

 

[atomicscott]

If I remember right you can just do a ground grab while in disc mode with the Omega every few feet if ground changes up.

Thanks Walt! I was thinking I needed to switch to AT mode to ground grab, if I can do it from disc, so much the better.

 

[Fletch88]

I'm pretty sure you can because I was comparing the F-19 at the same time and you do have to click over into AM to ground balance on that machine, but I believe the omega can be balanced without having to leave disc mode.

 

[atomicscott]

I'm pretty sure you can because I was comparing the F-19 at the same time and you do have to click over into AM to ground balance on that machine, but I believe the omega can be balanced without having to leave disc mode.

Walt, I re-read the owners manual & it says to switch to AT before doing ground grab. Easy enough, but I will look into it further

 

[Fletch88]

Scott I believe the only reason they are telling you to go to AM is to be sure you're not over any metal. If you are running low disc anyway you can be pretty sure you are not. GG is a separate button on the Omega and will grab while in disc mode. The F19's GG button is actually a multiple function button (menu and GG) and until you click it in AM it only serves as the menu button.

 

[atomicscott]

Scott I believe the only reason they are telling you to go to AM is to be sure you're not over any metal. If you are running low disc anyway you can be pretty sure you are not. GG is a separate button on the Omega and will grab while in disc mode. The F19's GG button is actually a multiple function button (menu and GG) and until you click it in AM it only serves as the menu button.

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Ok, that totally makes sense. If I see ground error, I should be able to just hit the plus or minus & adjust a bit to correct. Don't see any reason that would not work. I'm hoping to get out today, I will keep that in mind. Thanks, fletch.

 

[Fletch88]

I completely forgot about the + and - key. My soil around here is so neutral I never really looked at the graph much except when I was first playing around in my test bed.

 

[atomicscott]

I completely forgot about the + and - key. My soil around here is so neutral I never really looked at the graph much except when I was first playing around in my test bed.

In the 3 times I've used it, I think I've had to adjust it twice, & just did a ground grab. In some areas I hunt, the ground changes pretty regularly so it will be interesting seeing the graph in those sites.