MXT GREENHORN

[Canchola]

I have been waiting patiently for a long, long time.
I have been reading everyone's post on different metal detectors.
Thank you all for your comments.
I stuck with White's. This past Saturday, I finally purchased a MXT.
It is Awesome!

Last night I saw about 50 yards of sidewalk that had been taken out.
I went out early this morning (20 degrees F) because I wanted to do some coinshooting before it was filled-in.
Well, I thought I was doing everything right, but when I tried to search, all I saw on the display was -
HOT ROCK, HOT ROCK, HOT ROCK, HOT ROCK! I got frustrated.
So, I went to a park. I basically got the same thing - HOT ROCK ...
I went to work and at lunch, I went home and tried in my backyard.
Everything seemed OK; I found ... two pennies and a 1" x 1" piece of metal (penny wanna-be).

My questions:
Was the ground too cold for my MXT?
What is the Correct procedure for ground balancing?
Set the readings at Waist Level - FIRST. Then, lower the MXT and "pump" the coil.
Or, turn on the MXT. Set the readings, bring it to Waist Level. Then, lower the MXT and "pump" the coil

I have looked in the owner's manual. The instructions are a little vague for me.
I also have Jeff Foster's book. It has a lot of information in it, but I cannot find a procedure to ground balance.
I think I am a visual person. I really would like someone to DRAW me a PICTURE.
I sure would appreciate some help.
Thanks!

Martin from Missouri

 

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[Keppy]

When i had my MXT all i ever did was set the knobs and switches to the pre sit marks adjust the threshold and gain and went hunting never had any problems. But then i never did ground balance the MXT and never tried and it worked great for me....But then some one might have had your problems and can answer you.. Those extra books they write on the detectors for Whites and minelab every time i bought one i thought they were no better than the instruction manual.....

 

[Tin Nugget]

Page 28 will give you the best way to make sure your MXT is ground balanced. Once you have a good ground balance, if you continue to get HOT ROCK, back off the gain. If you are only getting the HOT ROCK where the sidewalk was taken up and not in the grassy area to the sides there may be a layer of something causing it. You may even need a DD coil if you can't get it calmed down. Old pulled up sidewalks can produce some great finds so try it again. HH

 

[Hutch911]

Someting in the ground was giving the hot rock it happens sometimes turn down the gain or use ground lock. also when you balance all you need to do is make you adjustments I keep the coil flat on the ground turn it on then pump it about 4 inches off the ground a few times until you hear the threshhold blanace and you hear a steady hum and you should be good.

 

[Canchola]

Thanks Jim_K, Tin Nugget, and Hutch911 for your comments. ~ Martin from Missouri

 

[minton7]

many time there is a layer of coal cinders under the old sidewalks.. that might be messing with your machine.. cold ground shouldnt ever make it do that... but also..... too much metal will freak out the machine.. as well as power lines.. and oddly enough.. invisible fence

 

[arizonaames]

I just took my new MXT outside today. Since there was over a foot of frozen snow on everything, I tried it in my driveway with 2 inches of ice over frozen limestone. I had the disc set for nickles but not pulltabs. I went over a lot of iron and pulltabs and go now sound..only visual VDI. Finally I got a clear distinct sound and the VDI and meter said a nickle or ring. I was estatic....my first target!!! I went in the house to get my miners pickaxe and picked my way throught the ice but the frozen limestone was like granite and after an inch, I gave up. I was very pleased that I was able to disc iron and even pulltabs but could still find a nickle or a VDI similar to a nickle. It is one heck of a machine and I am very happy with it. It said the nickle was down 6 inches when I pinpointed it. Wow!!!!

 

[Tin Nugget]

What was the VDI? A Jefferson nickel will read an 18 or 20. Down 6" it may read a 16. If it's anything else it is probably not a nickel. Glad you got out. The MXT is a bad azz machine you will enjoy!

 

[arizonaames]

It was reading about 16 but the ground was too frozen to dig it up. I am really very impressed with the MXT. I had a goldmaster/vsat for about 15 years.....jim