JCR

Glad you are lined out now on both units.

I'm still trying to get my head around the Dual Control/Disc settings & Tones for the Alternant search mode of Relic. It's too dang hot outside to stay at it for very long. I did just this evening snap to that the Disc Pre Set position triangle means different cut off points for Coin & Jewelry vs Relic mode. I have Relic primary straight in my head but Alternant is still weird. The book is a BIG help. Edit; I was wrong about the Disc set point of Coin & Jewelry vs Relic. It is consistent. The nails are not & the Low tone that was remaining from the un disc'ed negative numbers were throwing me off. The expanded Ferrous scale of negative numbers is great but new to me. Still lots to learn. I did paint an index line down the side of the Dual Control knob to better see the setting.

I received the book yesterday and read over half of it last night. It is very thorough. It has explained some seemingly odd things I had noticed so now I see it is a much more sophisticated design than I was expecting. Things like the relative fixed SAT settings of the different modes & their effect on Audio & EMI. The explanation of the Ground numbers in Prospecting mode & their multi uses is another. I knew the Relic mode was a Mixed mode but I didn't realize Coin & Jewelry is too with different Tones. It will take several close readings of the book for it to soak in good to my hard head. Highly recommended.

That the way to go.

I'm really liking mine. It has the smoothest All Metal channel I have ever run. Relic's Mixed mode is my favorite but Coin mode is about as deep on the Disc side, I've used Prospect mode also and really like the constant Ground read out and Iron probability. With the 13" Detech Ultimate it is almost as deep as the Vista X with the Demon coil & Anfibio w/ AF35 coil. It will probably end up just as deep if not deeper than those powerhouses in the Field because it is a good bit more stable at Max Gain. It is rare that I can run the other two flat out. Lots of fun. Already found some good stuff with it.

What I mean by Signal balance is matching the available adjustments a detector offers to the specific site conditions, day to day and even during the same hunt. The more challenging the conditions, the more important is is to run the detector in an optimized configuration. Signal balance is the combination of frequency choice, sensitivity/gain of the RX, Tx power level, recovery/reactivity, filtering, disc level, ground balance/suppression, iron bias, threshold level/ISAT, coil size/type......... all the wonderful, adjustable controls we have in our modern detectors effect the performance of the unit. The only way I know to learn is to have a basic understanding of what each adjustment does, in theory and in my real world. Thoughtful time in the test garden & in the field. The goal is to use all of these factors in harmony to get the most out of the detector for the site you are hunting right now. None of this applies to easy sites with easy targets. Factory default settings are a good starting point. It is more about understanding what the detector is reporting and why and what you can do to improve performance to be more successful. In practice, I am usually running a bit too hot, but I can listen thru a little noise.

@steveg Maghemite is in your Oklahoma red dirt, same as my East Texas dirt, I also have some sites with Hematite hot rocks. You probably do to. It is huntable if you are careful about your Ground and Signal balance. My biggest problem is deep coin size targets get swallowed up by the ground signal after 7 inches or so. It also up averages TID at depth even to the point of Iron wrap. Recovery speed seems to be the key available adjustment, and it is a pretty narrow window for best performance. Soil moisture is a big factor in how it effects the detector. True All Metal is less effected than Motion Disc but you still can't trust the ID system at moderate depths .In a Mixed Mode even the Disc Audio will have some Iron response approaching fringe depth on a clean Non Ferrous target. You just have to dig those Iffy signals on a good site. None of this may help much with the Manticore if the Tx signal is too strong. Have you played around with any of the Beach Modes? They may have some interaction between the measured Mineralization and the TX output. That would help on your hot ground sites.

That's a nice & clean old unit. Have you considered keeping it as a pampered show piece & purchasing a new modern unit?

I now have an emergency pin pointer, hand trowel & nail apron under the seat of the jeep.😁

I got out early this morning before it got hot to run my new to me MXT with the new to me 13" Detech Ultimate. Got on site and dang if I didn't leave my hunting bag at home. No big deal, I hunted for years (years ago) with out a hand held pin pointer. Wrong! It took at least twice as long to locate the dug targets. I didn't know I was so spoiled. I remember when I first got a Garrett pin pointer and thought it was the greatest thing ever. I was right.

Thrace has been in business a good long while. They have a good reputation as far as I know. The Detech coils are well made and perform very well.

Welcome from East Texas.

I would call them on the telephone and ask.

I hope to have mine delivered soon. I bet it also has good information that can be carried over to detecting in general.

This book is still available for purchase from Serious Detecting. From the interest shown recently about the MXT, I thought it may be something worthwhile for some users.

Welcome from East Texas.

On the rechargeable battery tray for Whites, there is a post by @chiil in @Jeff McClendon's thread on the DFX that recently bumped back up for some using Li-ion 18650s. I am going to see about getting one so I don't have to worry about leaking alkalines.

@auminesweeper I hope you carry thru and enjoy your camper and old friend, the MXT at some Rally’s soon.

Welcome from East Texas.

How did the MXT do for you? Do you still have & use it?

Sounds like me. My first hunt with it on ground I have covered several times, Dug a 1919 Wheat pin pointer deep. That was with the stock 950 coil in Relic mode. Very stable, very good VDI resolution. I like it. It's main use will be deep targets running the mix mode Relic & All Metal Prospect. I have a 13" Detech Ultimate coming for it. Got to see if the big coils on the Legend, Vista X, AT Max & Tarsacci missed anything.

Had not seen this one before. Thanks for making it available.

John, If you still have the Links for MXT set up you sent Tom I sure would like to have them also. I know this is an old thread but I'm really liking my new to me MXT. Thanks, Chris

Welcome from East Texas.

Welcome from East Texas. Metal Detecting is such a multifaceted thing. A great hobby. You landed in a great spot.