Norvic

Yeah the Z does the auto tracking bloody well, but have been scoring a few large ones at depth in manual, that I had left in auto. Most of the deep ground I`ve been using the Z on has a rocky wash cover and you just can`t get the coil on the ground, in manual it seems to handle these conditions better then auto as the coil height varies from 6" mainly to occasionally getting it on the ground. Slows you down a lot as sweeping faster only results in banging the coil on rocks. Not ideal conditions for maximum depth but the Z performs far better than the PIs with that kind of air gap. Really looking forward to running the large coil over this ground. I also hate digging trash but am very fortunate to have productive ground that the old fellas had missed because there is very little surface gold or gold in creeks, with no exposed reefs. Luckily they didn`t have detectors. But patch hunting auto trackings the go for me also.

Many thanks Steve for editing my original post to show where Jasongs post came from. As you can see I just copied and paste after trying to move quote across threads, I`ve gotta get more 4M literate for sure. I am fully aware this 4M is one of the few one can post "taboo" subjects, no way would I try this elsewhere. Jasong, All of the experienced gold detector operators I have detected with to my knowledge, use the GPXs and earlier PI`s plus the auto tracking VLFs of yesterday in manual GB, resorting to auto tracking at times to get the GB right. This from experience results in more gold, because the tracking takes out gold especially deep gold. To a lesser extent this is also so with the Z, I am just wondering with interest how you folks over the pond operate, whether you mainly detect with auto tracking turned on or off.

Above is a quote from Jasong, from another thread that hits the nail on the head. Somewhat a forbidden topic on OZ forums, which I guess says a lot about social media. This matter has been touched on by others when speaking about the "new age" coils on the Xs in other threads. While I`m a confirmed and dedicated Z user, I recognise because I`ve experienced the ability of these coils and how they have closed the gap( in the field on undisturbed gold), plus in some cases exceeded the Zs ability. Saying that I`ve also experienced more cases where the Z exceeds the Xs ability. But it is interesting and really says it all about the dominance of ML, their only true competition to their latest serious gold detector is their model it replaced. This has been so for how many years? What are the other detector manufacturers doing? And why is it sort of "taboo" to post about this subject?

Spy slipped through our security net, but we have commenced extradition proceedings, he`ll be back here in no time, then hard labour for sure, that`ll learn him. Hopefully ML will give us a simple manual-auto change option in a software update, rather then frustrating us with wacky track every time we wish to change. Sort of keep quick track, although doesn`t seem to be necessary in my ground, but allow the option not to have to use it each change with user button as per original software. But the Z runs nicely in manual GB, and in particular circumstances is the go. Now I`ve gotta get used to normal, and stop reverting to difficult constantly.

The new age coils have certainly brought the Xs closer to the Z, did some in ground testing with a 14" Elite on a patch of undug nuggets, son wielding 5000, each target checked with Z, was impressed with the Elite. Of interest do you fellows run the Xs in auto GB or manual GB.

Nearly always run the Pi`s in manual, if not I found I was leaving gold behind, using the GB button to GB on occasions(this was so with the VLFs with auto tracking also). Am finding to a lesser extent this is so with the Z too. I found early in the use of the Z on recovery of those subgrammers it was better to switch into manual, thus having the user button programmed for that purpose. Now as I`ve cranked things up a wee, have evolved to when cleaning up patches, to leave in manual with occasional switching back to auto briefly when I start digging too many false signals. When patch hunting I switch back to auto tracking to cover the ground faster. Of course none of this is written in stone, the Z is an amazing machine and am sure as time goes on my methods will change. But for now I have no doubt I`m recovering more deep signals because I am using in manual GB(auto tracking off) when cleaning up patches. It is very easy to trial, and somewhat frustrating to use in manual as you slow right down, but I don`t believe the slowing down is the only reason the Z is getting those fringe signals, but it helps for sure. When I think I`ve got it all, I switch to Bogenes (auto GB)and against the experience that a threshold is a must, up pop a few more nuggets. Next when on an old patch I am going to leave in manual and try using the Quick track button on occasions rather than use the User button to GB.

Seems the more we use the Z the more we fiddle with settings, which is logical as we want to maximise our chances. I am currently having good success with Steves Insane settings except I run in difficult and general, and do not sweep too often over a target in Auto GB, have the User switch set to allow me to go to manual GB easily. Seems the Z with sens on 20, no audio smoothing, general, difficult and running in auto GB will take out positive fringe signals almost as well as it takes out ground noise, thus found I was leaving deep gold behind(nothing unusual there always have) either small deep sub grammers and larger deep multi grammers. Am finding I`m running in manual GB more and more, in fact presently feel the quick track button could simply be replaced with the GB button that allows you to cycle from manual to auto as per the Xs. Have not quick tracked for many months, I think the upgraded software has made it somewhat redundant, well to me anyway. But I must add that the country I prospect has not many ferrous targets and that settings used are constantly evolving. The Z is very capable in its default settings and really sings as it is cranked up.

Your naughty Paul, but I like you.

Tis been a positive year so far for the gold price. 31/12/15 US$1062.25 12/5/16 US$1279.25 Source Kitco London Who knows from here? but 20%+ this year so far.

Bit of a giggle about OZs financials & I guess the worlds, some truth in it might have a bit to do with this years gold price movement. " OZ only can afford to buy 2nd hand money printing presses, all the available 2nd hand money presses are worn out"

Had my fishing hut broken into years back, took fuel, gas bottles etc etc but didn`t take a 3/4 bottle of rum that was in full view on table. I smelt that bottle of rum, took a sample and tested it gingerly seemed AOK. Just reckoned a Tee totalling Slime Boil Lowlife had broken in, probably one of those hidden battery operated motion sensing video cameras would be helpful but that bottle of doctored Wild Turkey would certainly give one some satisfaction.

Same here, the hipstick is on my Z harness permanently and I have the harness belt above pants belt so dacks can be removed without taking harness off on occasions. Would have enclosed photo but had already submitted. Swing arm is in cupboard along with other thingos that didn`t work out, but the hipstick is a permanent part of detecting even with the SDC. Crikey Paul you sent me one what 6 months or so ago and only just using one yourself, if I`d known that earlier would have sent you one way back.

Reno Chris has nailed this, despite all the rhetoric about environmental "issues", what we should do to be responsible etc etc. we are naught but hypocrites when we bag mining, whilst we benefit from this great industry. We have resources we require for our fine standard of living, and we have technology to mine these resources and advance our society further plus help those who aren`t so fortunate. One thing else before you dismiss me as a environmental vandal I live totally off grid, my power to house, shed, water pumps etc come totally from solar panels and a little from wind turbines. My acknowledgement of my responsibility to sustainability. All this made possible by mining, and then there is our vehicles, our fuel etc etc right down to our detectors. A book written by OZs world renowned Geologist Ian Plimer called "Not for Greens" tells the story of the humble teaspoons origin and illustrates the complicated process`s required for such a small simple implement to be available for our table use. It is enlightening book thats first chapter is written by Patrick Moore (the originator of Greenpeace)

That`s a good read, perhaps that "halo" is the inductance Bruce Candy speaks of. Perhaps the ferrous oxide whilst not being magnetic, creates the field, also explaining why the signal diminishes when we dig into it and break that field. Those eddies from nuggets shape, thus varying the inductance of the field may also help explain why we often get a reverse signal over some nuggets. Dunno food for thought.

Yeah, solid gold is more dense and more conductive but ferrous objects because of time have corroded and leached into their surrounds unlike gold which is basically inert thus no "halo" whereas old ferrous objects have a halo. You`ll note this when you disturb that halo whilst digging ie the signal decreases.

Crikey, the Stud from Over the Pond does Down Under. Flogs our gold and our Shielas too!!!! No wonder the lads knackered.

Way to go Paul, I know from a couple of paid follow along trips I did with Doug Stone Tours back in the nineties to WA & NT, going with prospectors who are familiar with the country is the way to go, what I learnt from NQ gold fields over the years before was not applicable to the gold fields Doug took us into. Thus the cost of such tours is well worth it, makes a hell of a difference having access to local knowledge, plus you have the benefit of security and safety that only a local can give. It would taken months to achieve what you did Paul without JPs guidance, would have been very frustrating. Good on ya, definitely the way to go.

Have developed a technique that seems to work well with the Deus in parks, carry the remote and screwdriver in left hand, being fairly tone deaf just go by IDs on the remote. Without the remote on the stem it is much quicker. Use no discrimination and run in 4Kz, with pinpointer & screwdriver there is no damage to surface. 4Kz is not so sensitive to foil, of course am only recovering the shallow signals but is very productive and quick. Next will mount remote on a wristband, with remote facing inside of arm. Amazing the amount of modern coinage that is dropped by park users.

Yeah, Nenad never trusted the PIs in tracking so always used in manual, even took awhile to be convinced the Z was AOK in tracking, used Mono coils always so can`t comment on DD. Probably just a stubborn habit I developed but worked for me. Saying that I gave the SDC a good go at cancelling out a scrap, didn`t even look like it. Suspect the new coil will bring a lot of interest, stir the Z pot up again at least 70%

Running the X with a 14" Elite Mono is close to the Z with its stock coil except in one respect, the Z no doubt gives far less false signals ie a repeatable signal that the auto GB doesn`t take out on the Z is nearly always metal, on the X you will be digging more false signals or risking its auto gb taking out gold(if you risk auto gb on PIs), something the Z rarely does.. That makes the Z more productive, tis a magic machine for sure. I`ll have that new coil, the SDC with its small coil will do those places the Zs coil can`t get at, until ML bring out a small coil. But as I found with the PIs 14" is a sweet size, time will tell with the Z.

Now that may explain the red sunsets we are having at the moment up here in NQ OZ, they are usually in the West but they`ve been in the South last couple of days. Pauls bloody well glowing. On ya have a ball.

Thank you for sharing, gives one some appreciation of the detector era we live, how they have progressed. Makes you wonder in another 50 years what they`ll be capable of. Visual heads up output on your glasses, who knows?

Wow, case and all, that is impressive.

Perhaps of interest, a place to collect info of detectors from our past and their modifications. There were a few homegrown detectors about in the 80`s in OZ, their manufacturers no longer operating, perhaps also were others throughout the world, these were "the building blocks" of the sophisticated machines we use now. Some like the Goldseekers 12000 which lead to ML, and another that enjoyed some popularity was the Bridgewright. This photo is of a Bounty Hunter RB10 that has a added pot on the front near coil plug, I believe this modification may have come from not yet ML technicians back around 83-84, unfortunately I`ve lost the operator instructions which had a extra page explaining the use of this pot in GBing the detector.

Doesn`t look very encouraging that my source of the 12000s manual is going to find such, I went looking through my old stuff for old manual of my own RB10 which I believed had been modified with a early version of auto GB by early Minelab techs(had a couple of pages added explaining the use of such mod). From memory this would have been done in 83-84 or there abouts. No sign of that manual either but fortunately I still have the old RB10 so will post photo of such showing the additional pot that was added to it. Once I`ve got that photo I`ll start another thread, perhaps there may be some interest for a say "history of metal detectors & mods" thread, it was a very exciting time in detector development. This brings to mind a few other "homegrown" detectors of that period eg Bridgewright and others.