Learning the x-terra 705

jhen999

Sr. Member
Apr 17, 2014
293
232
Northern Califorina
Detector(s) used
Whites 5000D..Whites Classic 3 SL with Mr. Bill mods..Whites MXT...Minelab X-terra 705..Minelab Explorer SE Pro..Whites DFX..Minelab E-trac...Minelab CTX3030
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I have put about 40 to 50 hours of in the field detecting with the 705 and just starting to understand how it works and what you can do with it..just starting to hunt in the AM mode with the 3 or 4 tones and that seams to work about as good as the discrimination modes if your going to find the good stuff and dig pull tabs. Another 40 to 50 hours I should about have it dialed in.....is that about right.... I am still getting a little chatter on some good signals and I had my sensitivity sit at 20 and I have put it down to 12 and will see if that helps with the chatter...the dimes and quarter's are a good solid sound , penny's are where I get the chatter...the AM mode seams not to do that, and I guess it shouldn't....
 

I've been thinking about getting the 705. How do you rate it? How is it on removing iron, from small to large? Will it ring on a good target, next to iron? Do you think it could be a good prospecting detector, as good as the Eureka Gold? What do you think of the disc. mode on it? Is it accurate, does it work as expected? Does it have notch and disc.? Do they work? I had an F-5, was disappointed with the disc/notch, not working, not removing targets, as expected? Are you satisfied with it? If not, why not? Do you feel it will go deep? How deep? Would you purchase it again, given the chance? If you don't mind answering my questions, please? Thanks, Big Red
 

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Great choice. I have still own one a just love it. I can teach you a few tricks about it also. First, the AM mode gives you more depth. Of Course you detect all metals but i recommend while in AM you dif all hits. Another trick is to set your volume to 1 and by Koss (UGA) Unity Gain Amplifier. The can be bought at kellco:Metal Detector Headphones For Sale - Kellyco Metal Detectors. Setting volume to 1 and using audio amplifier lets the detector use more power for the coil while reducing power to the audio. The amplifier will then boost sound using its own batteries thus prolonging you detector batteries for the coil. Also a Coilteck coil is highly recommended. research them. The standard coil that come with the 705 gold package has great discrimination. Especially looking for small gold pieces.

You will learning the different ways of using the detector faster if you research online and view youtube videos. Especially for wet ground targets and water areas.

A few examples of my finds as far as depth: Coilteck 3khz coil - Object found at 48 inches deep the size as a loaf of bread. Coiltech 18.75khz coil located three 6.2 kg Gold Bars at 19 inches. This was all luck and was not exspected here in Philippines.

I have put about 40 to 50 hours of in the field detecting with the 705 and just starting to understand how it works and what you can do with it..just starting to hunt in the AM mode with the 3 or 4 tones and that seams to work about as good as the discrimination modes if your going to find the good stuff and dig pull tabs. Another 40 to 50 hours I should about have it dialed in.....is that about right.... I am still getting a little chatter on some good signals and I had my sensitivity sit at 20 and I have put it down to 12 and will see if that helps with the chatter...the dimes and quarter's are a good solid sound , penny's are where I get the chatter...the AM mode seams not to do that, and I guess it shouldn't....
 

Big Red...That's a lot of questions and I am not sure I cant answer all of them , it does seam to hit targets pretty deep, I have hit some targets deeper then I want to dig in a park with just a digging tool, and it seams to ID the target's pretty good and the depth meter seams to be right on most targets...but I haven't had enough time on the machine yet to really tell you much more than that , by the end of summer I should have a good idea about it..
 

How do you rate it?
IMO it's the most under-rated machine on the market.
How is it on removing iron, from small to large? Will it ring on a good target, next to iron?
That depends partly on the frequency selected. In general it does quite well in iron. A 3kHz coil will enhance the difference in response differentiation between higher conductive brass, copper, and silver from low conductors like iron. I've personally pulled silver that was stained with rust from iron that was laying against it.
Do you think it could be a good prospecting detector, as good as the Eureka Gold?
Prospector mode with Iron Mask enables the 705 to be an excellent prospecting machine for a multi-purpose VLF unit. No other detector available is as versatile in it's application as the 705. You can use an 18.75kHz coil in Prospecting mode for hunting sub-gram "pickers", then turn around and put a 3kHz coil on in C/T mode to go coin shooting, all with the same machine. Each coil you add to your arsenal is almost like having another detector for the price of a coil due to the differences in target response and separation.
What do you think of the disc. mode on it? Is it accurate, does it work as expected? Does it have notch and disc.? Do they work?
It works as it should, however, by notching anything you risk missing potentially good targets. Most of us strive to run All Metal, and not missing targets is one reason.
This article that Randy Horton wrote describes some of why discriminating anything can potentially cost you good targets.
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure...-terra-ever-wonder-what-you-re-missing-part-1
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure...-terra-ever-wonder-what-you-re-missing-part-2

And this four part blog this article will give you an idea of what different coils can do for you.
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure-talk/which-x-terra-coil-is-best-for-me-part-1
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure-talk/which-x-terra-coil-is-best-for-me-part-2
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure-talk/which-x-terra-coil-is-best-for-me-part-3
http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure-talk/which-x-terra-coil-is-best-for-me-part-4

Do you feel it will go deep? How deep?
Properly setup it's every bit as deep as my FBS machine in my soil conditions. In highly mineralized conditions a multi-frequency machine generally has an advantage, but at a cost both at the checkout counter and in terms of weight.
Would you purchase it again, given the chance?
In a heartbeat! Ive said it before, and I'll say it again, other machines that I have may come and go, but I'll always have a 705 for what it brings to the table....it's that good.

I have put about 40 to 50 hours of in the field detecting with the 705 and just starting to understand how it works and what you can do with it..just starting to hunt in the AM mode with the 3 or 4 tones and that seams to work about as good as the discrimination modes if your going to find the good stuff and dig pull tabs. Another 40 to 50 hours I should about have it dialed in.....is that about right.... I am still getting a little chatter on some good signals and I had my sensitivity sit at 20 and I have put it down to 12 and will see if that helps with the chatter...the dimes and quarter's are a good solid sound , penny's are where I get the chatter...the AM mode seams not to do that, and I guess it shouldn't....
...but I haven't had enough time on the machine yet to really tell you much more than that , by the end of summer I should have a good idea about it..
Pennies that jump around or chatter are usually zinc, and most often in some stage of decay. Pushing max depth with any machine on any target the response gets a tad "iffy", but those within the detection range should be pretty solid like the dimes and quarter tones that you've experienced.

By the end of summer you should be pretty comfortable with it, but due to all of the available setup options, you will be years investigating all that the machine can do, and in what conditions each option has it's advantages. It is a machine to grow with, as there is no other that offers as many user selectable/adjustable features.

If what you're doing isn't working....Change Something!!
 

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I've been thinking about getting the 705. How do you rate it? How is it on removing iron, from small to large? Will it ring on a good target, next to iron? Do you think it could be a good prospecting detector, as good as the Eureka Gold? What do you think of the disc. mode on it? Is it accurate, does it work as expected? Does it have notch and disc.? Do they work? I had an F-5, was disappointed with the disc/notch, not working, not removing targets, as expected? Are you satisfied with it? If not, why not? Do you feel it will go deep? How deep? Would you purchase it again, given the chance? If you don't mind answering my questions, please? Thanks, Big Red
Big Red, I just started with the 705 Gold Pack and added the 6" Digger coil. This machine is definitely a keeper and as good as the Etrac with X-5 coil in my very neutral soil at digging thru iron to find coins. The prospecting mode operates almost identical to the GPX in terms of audio and iron reject. As Longhair stated above it's the most underrated machine in its price range.
 

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And your right Longhair...it will take years to really learn this 705..i was talking about the basics by the end of summer...and I am glad that I made the right choice in the 705..I am hoping by learning the finer points of the 705 in time and with the different places , beach's, Gold nuggets , I,ll improve the finds that I get with it in time...
 

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