Got a VX3 Today...So Far So Good! But...

[fella]

Been struggling with the E-Trac since I got it. Not the language or settings but the ergonomics and fruity fluty tones. I knew it wasn't something I really wanted to continue with so I decided to trade. Been looking at several other detectors and I had it narrowed down to 3.
Long story short...I traded my ET for a brand new VX3 today.

When I got it home, took it out to the back yard that has been gone over with 7 different detectors including the ET and dug a '66 memorial penny at <2in. Dunno how that got missed with so many coils run over the yard in the last 4mo.

Anyway while I was playing around with it, I had put an iron nail about an inch away from the penny and passed the coil over. If the coil passed the coin first it would pick it up. If it passed the nail first the coin was masked. I slowed my swing speed but came up with same results. Fellow TNet member BottleCapBandit was there with his (my) Vaquero and it hit the coin no matter what angle he hit at. I turned on my MXTP w/D2 coil and it would pick the coin up no problem too. I played with the Recovery Delay on the VX3 with little to no improvement. I'm hoping that the D2 coil on the VX3 will have better results unmasking those situations but I haven't tried it yet.

Ground is getting pretty hard up here in Wis but I'm gunna try tecting tomorrow to play with my new toy. It's gunna suck if I gotta wait till spring! I really need a short winter!

 

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[gjbateman]

I too have a new VX3 and have noticed the same. The manual says the default settings are HOT so I am trying to turn down the Rx gain, all metal sensitivity and discrimination sensitivity. A little at a time...I was getting a lot of falsing and was in an area where there is junk and a coin or two. Let us know how you get it finally set up for your area.

 

[fella]

Ok I'm a little giddy tonight after having a really good day hunting. 3 silver dimes ('41 Merc, '16 Barber & '10 Barber), 2 Wheats and a several other clad pieces.
The Merc was about 7-8in and the Barbers were about 5".

Didn't really expect this result with a new machine that I really know very little about. Last night I played with some settings in the preset Coin program and tweaked a bit more at the site today. I found the standard Coin program had a bit more disc in it than I wanted so I opened up the zinc penny(to get the IH's) & nickel ranges a bit. What a great little machine. Pretty user friendly too. I was a little worried about the options/settings being a bit overwhelming but it's really quite easy.(After reading the manual & watching some vids)
I'm really looking forward to learning this machine! ONLY complaint I have is it doesn't have any "user" slots for custom programs. Thought that was kinda dumb!

I too have a new VX3 and have noticed the same. The manual says the default settings are HOT so I am trying to turn down the Rx gain, all metal sensitivity and discrimination sensitivity. A little at a time...I was getting a lot of falsing and was in an area where there is junk and a coin or two. Let us know how you get it finally set up for your area.

I took my D2 coil off my MXT Pro and threw it on my VX3 and the masking was solved with the penny/nail combo. It would bang on the penny EVERY time!

As far as my settings for MY area, I was fortunate enough to run my Rx up to 14, Disc 75 & All metal at 75. I could have run the Rx all the way up but I didn't. I was using the 12.5kHz ground filter and had my Recovery delay set at 45 most of the day.


I'll post some pics later tonight.

 

[fella]

A few pics.

 

[fmrUSMC_0844]

Nice finds! Im glad you are enjoying the new machine. I had a Safari for about 2 months but I couldnt get used to the way it sounded and how it sat in my hand. I started on an MXT so I think that is why the transition was so hard.

I may have missed it but what coil did you have on your VX3 before you took the D2 of the MXTP and put it on the VX3?

 

[fella]

Nice finds! Im glad you are enjoying the new machine. I had a Safari for about 2 months but I couldnt get used to the way it sounded and how it sat in my hand. I started on an MXT so I think that is why the transition was so hard.

I may have missed it but what coil did you have on your VX3 before you took the D2 of the MXTP and put it on the VX3?

The Safari and the ET have the same configuration right? I can understand why you wouldn't like it. The VX3 feels great. Very well balanced.

The VX3 came with the Eclipse 950(Same as my MXTP). I'm sure it's a good coil but I find the D2 works soooo much better for my needs. One funny thing about that, when I got the VX3 the dealer said "one nice thing about the VX3 over the V3i is the 950 coil." He told me most people he sells to prefer the 950 over the D2.
Not me!

 

[wingmaster]

I think they are missing out not using the D2 coil, I'll take the D2 over the 950 anyday unless using it on a saltwater beach then the 950 would be my choice. They should use it for awhile to try and get used to it, most people I see having problems with it are people than haven't used a DD type coil before and they have a really hard time getting used to pinpointing with a DD type coil. HH

 

[fmrUSMC_0844]

The Safari and the ET have the same configuration right? I can understand why you wouldn't like it. The VX3 feels great. Very well balanced.

The VX3 came with the Eclipse 950(Same as my MXTP). I'm sure it's a good coil but I find the D2 works soooo much better for my needs. One funny thing about that, when I got the VX3 the dealer said "one nice thing about the VX3 over the V3i is the 950 coil." He told me most people he sells to prefer the 950 over the D2.
Not me!

The safari did not feel right at all. Let alone the sound of it. Also it was a slow machine.

I use the D2 on my V3I and the only complaint I have is it pinpoints different. I have thought about getting a 950. I like that coil. And my ground here isnt too mineralized.

 

[fella]

The safari did not feel right at all. Let alone the sound of it. Also it was a slow machine.

I use the D2 on my V3I and the only complaint I have is it pinpoints different. I have thought about getting a 950. I like that coil. And my ground here isnt too mineralized.

Happy to trade ya one of my 950's for your D2!

 

[texjim]

i will not take my d2 coil off of my vx3 for anything unless i am at the beach. if you want to get deeper with the vx3 try the 5 filter and slow your sweep speed way down. it seems like a shop vac. good luck.

 

[fmrUSMC_0844]

Happy to trade ya one of my 950's for your D2!

If I had 2 D2s id go for it. I want to keep it.

 

[Giant056]

I love my D2 coil I'm really bummed about my original D2 with the orange label going south on me, I bought it when the D2 coil first came out, it's really light compared to the one that came on my V3i but since then I've gotten use the difference, I'll be using it today at a spot where the coins are very deep. Whites released the D2 coil before they did the Vision which is the predecessor of the V3 & V3i.

 

[mfitzs70]

Ok I'm a little giddy tonight after having a really good day hunting. 3 silver dimes ('41 Merc, '16 Barber & '10 Barber), 2 Wheats and a several other clad pieces.
The Merc was about 7-8in and the Barbers were about 5".

Didn't really expect this result with a new machine that I really know very little about. Last night I played with some settings in the preset Coin program and tweaked a bit more at the site today. I found the standard Coin program had a bit more disc in it than I wanted so I opened up the zinc penny(to get the IH's) & nickel ranges a bit. What a great little machine. Pretty user friendly too. I was a little worried about the options/settings being a bit overwhelming but it's really quite easy.(After reading the manual & watching some vids)
I'm really looking forward to learning this machine! ONLY complaint I have is it doesn't have any "user" slots for custom programs. Thought that was kinda dumb!




I took my D2 coil off my MXT Pro and threw it on my VX3 and the masking was solved with the penny/nail combo. It would bang on the penny EVERY time!

As far as my settings for MY area, I was fortunate enough to run my Rx up to 14, Disc 75 & All metal at 75. I could have run the Rx all the way up but I didn't. I was using the 12.5kHz ground filter and had my Recovery delay set at 45 most of the day.


I'll post some pics later tonight.

The VX3 has a "demo" program at the bottom of the list just for demostrating it in stores , pretty mild settings, I use that slot for my favorite settings so I modify it the most.

 

[sollyman]

sounds like the vx3 is a great simple machine hope to get one soon i have read good reviews.

 

[fella]

sounds like the vx3 is a great simple machine hope to get one soon i have read good reviews.

hmmm...I'd say not complicated rather than "simple". While you can turn on and go with a pre-set program w/o ground balancing, it would be better to adjust to whatever environment you are in. (ground balance, freq offset for emi, etc etc) I can turn on, make my adjustments and be up and running in less than 2 min.

 

[sollyman]

I have done a little more reading on the vx3 and I agree it will be a hands on learning experience I have mine coming in feb.and I am sure I will have questions thanks for any info .given.

 

[slingblade]

The VX3 is an awesome machine for sure. Picked up a 10D2 coil, but have not had a chance to try it yet.