gonna throw my machine in a lake!

[seanprodanas]

ok so I swing a whites prism 3 in MA. I am constantly getting false readings that all read 25 - 50 cent piece, at 8" I dig n dig n dig for noting.... Can anyone assist? I use the factory settings it gives when turned on. I have tryed different settings with the same results.

What I do tend to find is rocks and oddly enough broken glass constantly.... I cant afford another machine and Im trying to save up for a pin pointer but until then any suggestions??

Thanks in advance

Sean

[OZARKS]

HAhah don't do that bud! You might try a factory reset...

Turn the machine on, take out the batteries while it is on, put them back in after about a minute. Then do your ground balance as usual and see if that helps?

Sure someone will be along wiht more help



.

[SkiWhiz]

Originally Posted by OZARKS

HAhah don't do that bud! You might try a factory reset...

Turn the machine on, take out the batteries while it is on, put them back in after about a minute. Then do your ground balance as usual and see if that helps?

Sure someone will be along wiht more help



.

The Prizm III doesn't have an adjustable ground balance it is factory set. You might be getting hits on large deep targets. Try turning your sensitivity down alittle and see if it helps, also try a few different area to rule out interference.

[OZARKS]

[QUOTE=SkiWhiz;1257679]The Prizm III doesn't have an adjustable ground balance it is factory set. You might be getting hits on large deep targets. Try turning your sensitivity down alittle and see if it helps, also try a few different area to rule out interference.[/QUOTE]

Ski DEF knows what he's talking about

Right on, TY for the info Guess I shoulda said, then try setting your machine up as usual...

[Bonesquat]

Get a pin pointer, practice more and NEVER trust deep signals on an older machine like that unless you know it really well. Sounds like you're going through beginner's frustration. Sounds like you need to swing more to learn your beeper.

[Irons]

What time and what lake?

Hang in there bro you are at the right place to get answers. Many times frustrating problems are something simple that has been overlooked.

I was at a small park right after I got my AT Pro and it was acting so flipped out I was convinced it either had gremlins or totally lost its little mind.

I was back in my car leaving when I happened to notice around 10 major power lines came together low over where I was trying to detect. Oopsie.

That was almost as good as waving a fistfull of dirt in front of the coil with my left hand with a wedding ring on it.

[biliff1]

Originally Posted by Bonesquat

Get a pin pointer, practice more and NEVER trust deep signals on an older machine like that unless you know it really well. Sounds like you're going through beginner's frustration. Sounds like you need to swing more to learn your beeper.

I think if you got a pinpointer, you would be finding those pesky items! Recovery of small objects caked with dirt can be a challenge sometimes. The other suggestions are also good. That is all part of the learning experience. This hobby is for those who like to constantly learn new stategies, tactics, research, etc. If you are the impatient type (instant gratification), may I suggest bike riding instead?

[seanprodanas]

thanks everyone.. im married so instant gradification went out the window 10 years ago...ill try your suggestions..thank u

[Burbank Bob]

Originally Posted by SkiWhiz

The Prizm III doesn't have an adjustable ground balance it is factory set. You might be getting hits on large deep targets. Try turning your sensitivity down alittle and see if it helps, also try a few different area to rule out interference.

What HE said... AND scan the target area when you pinpoint to see if you get a response over more than just a small target area.. easy to ID pipes that way.

I've certainly dug my share.. even recently. Get that nice "Silver" signal and then dig to China only to find a big pipe.

[Martin_V3i]

Originally Posted by biliff1

I think if you got a pinpointer, you would be finding those pesky items! Recovery of small objects caked with dirt can be a challenge sometimes. The other suggestions are also good. That is all part of the learning experience. This hobby is for those who like to constantly learn new stategies, tactics, research, etc. If you are the impatient type (instant gratification), may I suggest bike riding instead?

There is easily something more to it besides being small and needing a PPr. I have ran a V3i w/Propointer, for a year+. I found two very solid 85-88 signals in my yard, but the Whites wouldn't give the same solid report in PP, go figure. I grabbed my shovel and poked a 8" hole, big enough to insert the coil into, and it read 4-5". I dug another scoop of dirt or two, now looking at a 12-14" hole, and the PP reading was still 4-5". I installed the 4x6 coil and got into the huge hole so I could rotate the small coil to see it the target was not in the center. Nope it still "suggested" it to be in the bottom of the hole, but still 4-5". After having dug 6" past the first PP reading of 4-5", it remained 4-5". I closed the hole, but then hit the same signal about 30' away, and went through the same danged event. Solid 88 in both direction, faint PP, and never an improved depth reading after hitting it with the same shovel routine.

I hope the answer is found. I would have killed myself trying to dig this promising signal with hand digger if I'd been in another yard or a park. There is something going on with seanprodanas' Whites and with my Whites on a quarter-half signal...88 being my dominant reading.

seanprodanas...Does your signal disappear after digging? Mine doesn't, just wants to say "another 4-5 inches time after time." martin

[seanprodanas]

Martin, yes and i even made a sifter to screen the dirt I have pulled from the hole... but then as soon as i fill the hole and replace the "plug' I get a silver reading at 8" again.... so i reopen and remove the plug, scan that ..no signal, scan the hold signal... dig no signal. put dirt in one hand at a time and nothing there,,,,, This may be a stupid question but would certain rocks do this to me?

[MetalMiner]

Oh yeah some rocks will do that to you. I have dug several rocks that the MD sees as metal. I had a ProPointer & could hit the rock with it & it beeps like mad. You get a Propointer & theres no fooling it. It will help you find the smallest metal objects, I have found some real small objects that I probably wouldn't find without the ProPointer. Just remember the Propointer looks for all metal, so you may find a nail or 2 in the hole before you find that coin your after,thats happened to me a few times

[diggit1]

A pin pointer is most important so many times if it want for my pointer I would have passed by or over looked wheat penny that was the same color as the dirt. Once you get one you will kick yourself for not getting one sooner. Get a good one though. It will bee about 127.00 for new. But worth every penny and won't make a dig useless.

[Martin_V3i]

Well my Pro Pointer couldn't and shouldn't have hit a signal that the V3i kept saying was still 4-5". IMO, you won't find anything if you go back to that same hole with the best PP man has made. Your idea about rocks are as good as any, and I suspect ground EMI as a possibility. I will 110% agree that if you don't already have a good pin pointer, such as the Pro Pointer or Sunray...get one. I want to hear if you get any from that 88 target when you do get a PP. I seriously doubt any real metalic target even exists there. martin

[seanprodanas]

going shopping today, might try to talk the wife into letting me pick one up. I live on a property built in 1900 and I am yet to find a single coin and that includes a place where i know I had a coin spill wrestling with my nephew. Gonnn have the guy at the WHITES store near me take a look for me. I love the hobby and the prospect of "YA NEVER KNOW" Im not out to get rich but I also dont wanna be killing myself for nothing either.

[seanprodanas]

ok I went back to the same place I had been getting my hits... This is after I went to the Whites dealer in Framingham ma. The owner helped me understand my machine a little better and what it was trying to tell me. So I redug again put my MD on P/P. flipped it upside down and one hand of dirt at a time went over it,,,,, 1926 wheatie and a 1949 nickle.... then i was off n running all junk but i figured out how to read the damn thing finally!

[007tallguy]

Originally Posted by seanprodanas

ok I went back to the same place I had been getting my hits... This is after I went to the Whites dealer in Framingham ma. The owner helped me understand my machine a little better and what it was trying to tell me. So I redug again put my MD on P/P. flipped it upside down and one hand of dirt at a time went over it,,,,, 1926 wheatie and a 1949 nickle.... then i was off n running all junk but i figured out how to read the damn thing finally!

that's sounding very promising!
and now with some practice you'll do just fine! it takes time and patience.
good luck with your future hunts.

Pete

[Dark Chameleon]

Originally Posted by Irons

What time and what lake?

Hang in there bro you are at the right place to get answers. Many times frustrating problems are something simple that has been overlooked.

I was at a small park right after I got my AT Pro and it was acting so flipped out I was convinced it either had gremlins or totally lost its little mind.

I was back in my car leaving when I happened to notice around 10 major power lines came together low over where I was trying to detect. Oopsie.

That was almost as good as waving a fistfull of dirt in front of the coil with my left hand with a wedding ring on it.

I did the wedding ring, and figured in out in seconds, then for the next 10 or so visits still wore my wedding ring..now it stays in the house or car.

Also got difficulties from finding something that said 2" down and i would be 8" down before thinking 'sod this' and filling it in, i think there was an underground power lead for the baseball field store shed.

Sometimes you find 'hot rocks' or a tiny piece of metal that a propointer would find but you never seem able to with your eyes.

Its like giving up smoking, the first few weeks are the worst but when you finally start to understand the detector it opens up and starts talking to you (not in the lunatic way) and you start getting to know whats beneath your feet before your digger touches the soil...or at least more likely to

[Dark Chameleon]

Originally Posted by seanprodanas

thanks everyone.. im married so instant gradification went out the window 10 years ago...ill try your suggestions..thank u

Instand gratification in marriage, thats what birthdays and christmas are for

[Dark Chameleon]

Also if you find your md giving one sign, wave it over the same place but lift it 6" off the ground, if its giving the same numbers then its interfearence
, can be from a close by structure, electric, etc