Phantom signal

[Pistol_Pete]

Hello fellow hunters

I just bought my first two detectors a prizm II for my wife and an Ace 250 for myself. From time to time I will find a consistant signal and after I dig it up, it disappears. This happened today in my yard three times and four or five times in a sand rodeo arena. Could someone please tell me what is going on and how to correct it. My Ace and Prizm both act the same way from time to time.

 

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[hollowpointred]

one of two things is going on. #1- it may be a good hit, a coin, that was moved into a position during your digging that makes it hard to detect. like on edge for example. or #2 you are seeing what is known as the "halo effect". a lot of times an old nail will ring in as a good hit. over the years of being in the ground some of the iron from the nail (or other object) leeches into the soil. as the iron deteriorates into nothing, all that remains is this iron "halo" in the soil. when you dig and disturb the halo, the signal disappears. i think it happens to all of us from time to time.

 

[Pistol_Pete]

This happens to me half of the time. I dig up not only the pinpoint spot but a pile of dirt 10 inches wide and 8 deep and I still can not find the signal. Part of the time I will sift through the pile that returns no signal and find a coin or toy.

 

[hollowpointred]

half of the time? maybe the problem is more in your technique. if you don't already have one, do yourself a favor and get a handheld pinpointer. you wont believe how much easier it makes things. also, check out this link to Garrett's website. it has some helpfull tips on pinpointing with the ace.



http://www.garrett.com/hobby/techsupport/pinpointing.htm#