fredmason

I am hesitant to broach this subject. Please donot take this as my expert opinion as I am not in any way an expert. Also, I am not very good at remembering every setting I tried with the Z. So with those disclaimers...... When I was in Gold Basin for my maiden Z voyage the schiest-y rock there were abit of a problem. They were always really difficult with a vlf. I learned to trust my 3500 and 5000 when the distinct warble came through. However, the Gpz is completely new to me. Inititially I tried the default settings and thought the tracking system would quickly eliminate the HR's...that didnot work well. Then i set up with Doc's settings he posted on Rob's forum. (thank you, Doc)...that seemed better for noise but the Hrs still came through. Then I decided to try my old system for judging if the signal was an hr or a legitimate target. While in auto-track I would raise the coil a few inches; if the signal completely faded away I was sure it was an HR. However, some of the bigger and/or deeper Hrs still gave a "good" signal so I would dig...just a another Hot love-stone. There are a lot of these rocks in Gold basin so i was not thrilled. After a while I setup the user button so I could go from tracking to manual/fixed...checking in manual the HR seemed less hot and using the fast-tracking they would usually track out quickly. Just to be sure I tested with my little test nugget near the hr...the nugget always came through albeit with a different signal...more testing and experience is needed. The few iron-stone type hotrocks I detected were handled better by switching some of the modes...again more experience is needed but a similar result seemed to be had using the raise the coil or manual tracking/fast track option...I will be going to The dale area next week to see how the tons of ironstone is handled there. And to practice until perfect-that could be a very long time. One of the meteorites I detected I was fairly sure was ironstone but it would not track out...and it looked a little different...on filing an edge it proved to be a chrondrite...so even small meteorites will probably not track out-that is good news to me. On my way home I spent an hour or so in the Potholes area on a field of basalt that has/had a little gold. I thought the basalt was handled pretty easy in HY/Diffcult and auto track...I used Russ' setting there mostly...the detector ran well but no gold. I have much to learn so any tips or techniques for improving in hotrock infested areas will be appreciated... fred

a glass eyeball when I was sifting near Prescott, Az.... fred

Thanks Steve...that snake wanted to pose...better than any other snake I have found! I will start a new thread tomorrow...have to rest my tired arm and brain... fred

Well I am back home...That detector will give you Popeye forearms!!! The GPZ is certainly the easiest to learn/use Minelabs I have used. The 3500 with JP's settings would be a close second from an eae-of-use point... Did I find loads of big and deep gold-NO! but I did find a 1.2 grain bit. That was my first and made me happy...then I found a 4.2 grain piece and things looked very bright. But no more gold for me that trip. I did get three Gold basin chrondrites. That was good because I was unsure if the new tech would see chrondrites... The "shiesty" hot rocks at the basin were a bit of a trial...but I think I got that down. I stopped at the Potholes, near Yuma to see how it did in the basalt...I think got them down too. Do I really need a 10grand detector for my limited prospecting? Probably not but I think I will keep it anyway! now I need to sell my 5000..................... and i made a new friend, pic is attached fred

It is here and its alive!!!! Minelab reacted quickly and did exactly as they said...Nadia was very sympathic and helpful...thank you very much. Tomorrow I will be off to the big/little nuggets...I hope. fred

good detecting...! fred

Just to be clear...I never have met anyone down-under that I didnot like...some much more than others, of course! Yes, that says it all...very funny! fred

very nice gold! Of course! There must be something in the water down in Oz...many contrary folks...that are otherwise hospitable and friendly... like that old commercial- they would rather fight than switch... fred

My detector will be here today... Steve, thanks for the Q & A...I like to charge my batteries at night and sometimes forget to go take them off the charger...it is good to know that is not a problem. fred

Thanks Russ...you the man! My new gpz is out for delivery...I will be watching like an eagle for that UPS truck!!! it is only a matter of time before you get a real workout digging a thumper three feet deep...congratulations in advance! fred

The manual specifically says not to poke the coil into the dig area...and to slope the side of the dig....a false signal on all the detectors I have used can be generated by poking at the signal area... I of course have no actual experience yet....but, sometimes it really is best to follow the manufacturers directions......... and maybe even read those directions... fred

Dang Russ it is so sad you have to dig all those itty-bitty nuggets....just teasing. You are moving and improving and getting little yellow rocks to boot, such a deal, my friend! There is also the appparent proof that you guys did not miss any giant nuggets in those areas-so far. What would you say is the deepest so far? Also, have you found your favorite settings yet? best wishes fred

I agree, I would love to read about your ctx methods!!! fred

thanks, guys...it may not be an issue with the z like other detectors...time will tell. fred

I noticed that the coil cover on the gpz is alot different from covers I am accustomed to. My question how are y'all sealing the cover to keep the very fine dirt out of it. Also, what is the best method of removing the cover if that is needed? I got a tracking number for my replacement it should arrive sometime Monday.... being an old drywaller I have heard "the check is in the mail thing" too many times so; I am skeptical... fred

well, back to my little problem...Nadia, at Minelab, has been very helpful and polite-even friendly. She assures me that they will ship my new toy today...as i shipped theirs yesterday. Tracking is a wonderful thing for convenience. Hopefully I will have the detector by Monday or Tuesday.... fred

I am happy to get a new unit...the last time I started out with new detector problems the nightmare just kept running... I know a small % of any product will have problems; but why mine??? just kidding guys, thanks for the helpful hints. fred

ok, I just spoke with Minelab. They don't have any spares, so, I will send them my detector and they will send me a new one. I can't complain about the service...but, it is a pain in the butt. And has definitely delayed my FUN! fred

Thanks,Klunker, I am hessitent to start sticking probes into the batteries....or the charger Thanks Chris; Yes, that is an option...and I may have to do that. I just spent 10 minutes on hold to get a message machine... i will with hold my urge to cuss and swear for a few minutes... fred

Ok, I was trying to stay under the radar...but, my battery for the gpz does not take or hold a charge...I have a 3030 so the charger is not new to me. I immediately put the batteries to charge while I continued my painting project. After 4 hours or so I saw the green lights were steady so I thought I would turn the gpz on...no power! I took the connecters to the detector apart and reassembled, took the battery out and reinstalled...nada! I put the ctx battery on and lights and power came on . Then I tried the gpz battery and it worked so I thought there was dust or something...I put it away and went back to painting, eager to get done so I can hit the goldfields... After cleaning up for the day,I picked up my gpz to turn it on and cuddle with it but no power...what the heck! I put the 3030 battery back in and she got turned on... I don't know what other trouble shooting to do???????????????????????? any suggestions, this is really going to delay my trip.............................................. fred

Jonathan, you dog; you had me all juiced up for your secret settings. This missive was way better! again I thank you for all the time and effort you put into helping us... fred

I wear the metal-free 5.11 tactical from lapolicegear.com Also Doc sells a similar product ... I get comfort and good mileage out of mine and I am pretty hard on my shoes... fred

and they say fairy tales don't come true....great story! And more importantly, great ethics! fred

I understand Norm; however, standard headphones are not the best way to get good sound. The sound is blasting directly into your ears which can decrease your hearing by basically numbing your ears-too much of a good thing. A single speaker will cause you to lose your stero hearing because you will favor your better ear. The placement of the speaker or speakers is critical to efficient hearing. Ambient noise will affect your hearing-as you know. Having the signal with 3/4 or full modulation will help...but some times reducing that to nearly a single tone will be better. You can buy a cheap pair of Sonys like I use for 20 bucks...that is a cheap experiment and they make a very lightweight back-up. The model I use is Sony MDR-J10...the new models have alooped ear rather than the hook like these. You can buy an adaptor to plug two speakers into and try dual speakers... If you want to try any of these things I will show you when we meet again... meanwhile, best of luck! fred

Norm, when i was in Oz we had an old guy in the group ( he was probably 65-that was old to me then, now it is what I am).... I watched him detect and pass up signals. So, I asked him why he did not dig thoses signals. He said, What Signals? You won't know what you aren't hearing unless someone that can hear is with you... Do you use headphones? Have you tried dual speakers? I solved my friends problem with a cheap set of Sony over-the-ear buds...they worked way better for him than regular headphones... fred