Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ #1  Which detector should I buy??

Answer: The truth is, only you can answer this and it's the most asked question in the business. We have a buyers guide located HERE that you are welcome to check out. If that doesn't give you a clear answer you're welcome to call us and we'll find you the perfect machine for your budget and needs. We love metal detecting and we'd love to help you find that machine you're looking for.

FAQ #2  How do metal detectors work??

Answer: Metal detectors work by setting an electromagnetic field into the area around the coil. A receiver coil then picks up any refraction of that field. Some coils have two coils built into one for different styles of hunting, ground conditions and target objects. Minelab products are the best at this hands down. Minelab units make better use of the information sent from the coil to give you the best and most accurate description of whats below the sod. Minelab detectors also find objects deeper than other machines due to their high quality coils and software.

FAQ #3  How much better is the $1549 detector than the $399

Answer: Plenty! While the technology that is in the less expensive Xterra series is similar to what is in the E-Trac, and the heavy hitting CTX 3030, it is in no way the same. When you add price to units you don't just line the manufacturer's pockets, you get better search coils, processors, more convenience, allowing in with the good and out with the bad in much shorter time. More expensive units can process information better and find those small targets deeper and more reliably. The CTX 3030 can distinguish a silver dime sitting right next to an old barn nail and a respectable depth. Few machines can do this, and the CTX does it with relative ease. It all depends on what you're doing and how serious you are. If it is not a hobby you do regularly, or you're on a limited budget, the adventure line is an extremely high functioning line of machines for the price designed for all uses and users. If you're the serious treasure hunter looking for deep objects long forgotten, the treasure lineup is where you need to look. The greatest thing about Minelab is that they make a unit in every price range, and you can bet that any unit, dollar for dollar, is going to out perform competitor's units. If you need help or have more questions about this you are welcome to contact us.

FAQ #4  What is the difference between coil styles and sizes?

Concentric Coil

Double D Coil

Large and Small Coils

Concentric Coils

Concentric coils are generally a simpler coil with one coil outside and a smaller coil inside. They concentrate all the signal in the middle of the coil and are effective for pinpointing. They discriminate the best of out most coils due to their focused strong signal. Concentric coils are used for most general hunting but are more effected by mineralized ground and trash.

Double-D Coils

Double D coils are otherwise called widescan coils. Double D coils get their name from having two overlapping coils. These coils are best suited for troubled ground like trashy areas or mineralized ground. This type of coil is preferred for gold hunting and relic hunting.

"iron masking" is when a piece of iron is discriminated out and the pause
during the discrimination "masks" the good target next to it.

Large Coils

Large coils allow you to search greater area with every pass, great for doing large areas and looking for larger targets. The larger coils see deeper but can have a tenancy to miss smaller targets because of iron masking. Large coils as large as 18" are great especially when relic hunting open wide areas of ground.

Medium Coils

Medium coils are the standard with almost all detectors purchased new. They provide all around hunting advantages and provide most of the benefits of the other coils with reduced effects of the drawbacks. This is the suggested coil for general use and is the favorite of most users. Standard size is 10".

Small Coils

Small coils are generally around 6" or smaller and provide a limited path. The smaller more concentrated field almost eliminates iron masking in most situations. It is a smaller field and as such does not find objects as deep. It will however locate smaller items easier than with larger coils. Pinpointing with the smaller coils is also much easier which makes them great for water hunting as well. The biggest drawback to these coils is the lack of ground covered.

FAQ #5  How do I use my detector to the fullest?

Using your new Minelab detector can be as easy or as complicated as you choose to make it. Minelab products come with presets and discrimination right out of the box. These settings are great for almost any circumstances. Depending on your ability these are a great place to start.

Finding a target

So you've got it out of the box and you want to play with it. With all machines what to dig, and what not to dig will take trial and error. Depending on display and sounds you will learn eventually with practice the general difference between trash and treasure. Using the preset discrimination and eventually on some machines your own personal settings you'll customize what you do and don't see. A good starting place is to practice in your yard with placed coins, pop tabs, foil, and maybe some jewelry in your back yard. You'll get a feel for what is good and bad. Good signals, repeatable are what you want. All over bad signals will have you digging trash in most cases.

Discrimination

Discrimination is a great way to start out. The higher the discrimination the less questionable foil, zinc, iron, and general trash items you'll get a signal from. Discrimination is nice in parks and trashy areas. Even experienced hunters will use discrimination on a regular basis.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity refers to the detectors sensitivity to targets. Deeper objects are more easily found with higher sensitivity. Minelab machines have an automatic sensitivity setting that is reliable and can be tuned on some models. Manual sensitivity can be set higher but can cause the detector to become erratic or over sensitive causing false signals due to mineralized ground or power lines near by. For beginners automatic sensitivity is the best. On powerful machines automatic can be optimal for best use. (CTX 3030)

Ground Balance

Ground balance is an amazing feature helpful in negating mineralized soils. Units with ground balance will "see" farther, clearer and be more reliable in troubled ground. Ground balance can be manual or automatic as well. For most advanced users manual is great but for your average hunter who's not looking to "overtune" a detector, automatic balance is the obvious choice.

Stupid Penny!

That's right, you'll say it. No matter how good you get, you'll dig a signal that could be a dime and pull out a stinkin' copper penny. Not all pennies are the same though! A penny made post 1982 is made of zinc. They will read closer to aluminum than to silver. Pre 1982 pennies are made of copper which is more conductive and will read like a dime. You'll be able to discriminate out the zinc pennies, but not the copper ones if you want to find dimes and silver rings.

Batteries

Always, always, always use the rechargeable batteries supplied with the machine or alkaline batteries.

EarPhones

Earphones are really up to the user. It is "common knowledge" that the best detectorists use headphones. WRONG! The speaker output is IDENTICAL to what comes out of your earphones. If you are hard of hearing or in noisy places headphones are suggested. They are not required to find items. You'll find that while it saves battery life, it is not crucial to finding good items. There are also settings available on some machines that make it easier to hear.

Places to go

In most places around the country city parks, schools, playgrounds and other publicly owned property is open to hunting. Be sure to look into the laws where you are from. It's often good practice to ask permission before hunting new areas. Private ground is great but again always ask permission first. The advantage to owning a Minelab product is that there is never a truly "hunted out" place. Your Minelabs ability to filter out trash and find treasure will have you busy in even the most worked grounds.

Be a good steward

Digging craters and leaving them for the park or school staff is not good policy. Watch youtube videos and see how other hunters make their presence unknown if you need help. We want our hobby to continue on and for that to happen we must be good to the ground we search. ALWAYS fill your holes, and try to be discrete about digging. Use your pinpointer to get an accurate place before digging. A digging tool like the big grip cutter supplied with our detectors is a great way to keep holes small. Avoid carrying a big spade shovel around as that looks terrible to onlookers in parks and is likely to result in conflict with park staffs and eventually the denying of our hobby in public grounds. Eventually with practice, most coins will come out with as little as a flick of a flat blade screwdriver. Strive to be this good! You shouldn't need a backhoe to find a lost coin, practice, practice practice makes perfect! It's our hobby and lets keep it something we can all enjoy!