Nokta Legend Will Not Ground Balance

[Professor K]

G'day! 

My name's Professor K, new to this forum. 

Have one Nokta I'm waiting on a refund for due to it not being fit for purpose. A replacement I bought is currently - I think - lost in Mangroves due to the bag breaking free during a marine rescue. Now have an opportunity to buy a replacement second hand. However, it won't ground balance. 

1. About four years old

2. Updated it for the guy today

3. Two shafts, one metal and one carbon fiber.

4. 6 inch and 11 inch coil

5. No headphones (lost them)

6. Backup battery 

7. Minimal use (No screen protector yet the screen is almost pristine) 

AUD$350 

I've run a frequency check. Have it on field M1 with sensitivity down to 15 (when it was the original software went as low as 1 and still all over the place). Found a place where there was zero action. But GB will not settle. For example might start at 45, drop to 20, then up to 30, 43, down to 19. The update has helped but still not settling.

If anyone has any ideas, or experience with this, would appreciate the help. I've told him in the meantime that I can't buy it but that I'd do more research and let him know. 

[Lead Detector]

Do both coils produce the same result? 

[JCR]

If you happen to be trying to Ground Balance on soil that has very low mineral content, the machine has no reference and will not settle on a value.   You might try setting the GB to zero manually.  If it runs stable it will perform just fine. Selecting G disc will probably be helpful also.

[Professor K]

When I first checked it out, with the 1.05 firmware, using the 11 inch coil I couldn't get it to _ _ _ _ anywhere before attempting to GB. With the 6 inch coil it would go to _ _ _ _ but wouldn't settle when attempting to GB.

Regarding ground. I tried it in multiple places at his home. Today, he bought it over so I could update it for him, and then I tried it in multiple places here. Now, with the other two NLs I had no issues getting to _ _ _ _ and doing a GB here, but had to hunt around to get to _ _ _ _ with his. As previously mentioned, even with the updating to 1.17 it still wouldn't settle. 

I'll ask him to try the manual ground balancing and see how he goes. However, I'm thinking now that I'll just bite the bullet and wait until I have the funds to buy a Deus II. Detect Ed suggested I consider one when I told them about my future plans.

I'm aiming to perform an archeological survey of several islands, and the fact that it's convertible to a 2-box detector, while still being a multifrequency machine, makes it perfect for my needs. I only bought the Nokta so I could become accustomed to using a metal detector before moving onto a 2-box. Fortunately, I didn't know about the Deus II, otherwise that's the one I would have lost to the mangroves. 

Haven't given up on the Nokta yet. Will be making my own mud shoes this week so I can go hunting for it again. At times I was up to my knees in the stuff and had to resort to 'swimming' across the top of it. Between the coral, oyster shells and the various marine creatures, my legs are pretty messed up...grin. Nonetheless, must say I love the mangroves.

Such a peaceful and quiet environment. Awesome place to explore, as you never know what you'll come across seeing as they are a kind of catch all. Found six crab nets in varying condition, and an awesome one in near new condition with the guy's mobile number on a card inside it. Going to contact him and get it back to him first chance I get.

Some of the creatures you encounter are astonishing too, like a marine worm my sinking leg forced to the surface. White segmented body, about six inches long and in the middle about four inches wide (tapered body). Bizarre little thing, moved like a snake, looked like a mix between a prawn and a caterpillar, and very Zen being utterly unconcerned by my presence. 

Metal detecting is a brilliant activity, takes you to places you'd never imagine you'd ever be. 

[JCR]

Buddy, you need some good waders.

[Rick N. MI]

I wear a wet suit when in the water.

[Professor K]

Grin...yeah...but I figure the waders would fill up with mud. There were times when I was up to my knees in the stuff, and it's great at pulling off footwear. Saw some great mud shoes online, but around AUD$300 so figure I'll make my own. 

Ah my wetsuit...brilliant...but I don't have a super-thin, so in our summer you'd die from dehydration.

[Rick N. MI]

I do have a the thinnest wetsuit. When I get hot, I dunk myself and the water cools me off running inside of it.

In the past I wore thin lightweight nylon pants in the water.