Pinpointing; Sensitivity And Variable Sat - White's GOLDMASTER Series Owner's Manual

GMX SPORT Searching
Pinpointing or "X" ing the target:
In most cases, pinpointing is easily performed by merely "X-ing" or criss-crossing. You
can also use the new non-motion pinpoint mode on the GMX. The loudest part of the
target will be under the center of the coil, just as with any detector. After the approxi-
mate location of the target is determined, take a handful of soil and check the hole again.
Continue this process until the target is no longer in the hole, but in the hand. Try putting
the handful of soil in a plastic container (pan, tray, cup, or scoop). Passing the container
over the coil will determine if the target is really in it. If so, a series of separations will
quickly expose the nugget. This is called "the 50-50" process. You take half the dirt out
of the scoop, and pass it over the coil. If the machine beeps, it's in the scoop. Dump the
empty dirt and repeat until you have the nugget in hand.
Handful Of Dirt:
Some prefer to pass the handful of dirt across the coil directly. Caution must be exercised
if this is done. The GMX is sensitive enough to pick up the salt in your hand and respond
with a signal. Try this with nothing in your hand and you will see how close you can
come to the coil using this method. One way around this salt sensitivity is to pinch the
soil in small amounts and wave only the fingers over the search-coil. The condition of
the soil - dry, wet, fine, coarse, etc. - will have a lot to do with the best method for you.
SENSITIVITY and VARIABLE SAT (Self Adjusting Threshold):
XGB compensates for common ground minerals in the area. The V-SAT control compen-
sates for the consistency of that ground mineralization (accessed by holding the Music
Note button). The greater the degree of inconsistencies, the more SAT is needed to quiet
ground noise. If the THRESHOLD becomes too erratic or noisy, it might be necessary
to use the SAT feature and/or reduce the SENSITIVITY control. This noisy behavior
will make it difficult to recognize a true target (possible nugget) from pieces of mineral,
commonly referred to as "hot rocks."
It is not wise to keep a high level of SENSITIVITY if the detector will not operate smooth-
ly. If you have been operating your GMX at full sensitivity and you determine that this is
too high because either the threshold is erratic or the detector is giving false signals, always
begin by reducing the sensitivity to a more stable range. If this does not correct the problem,
start adding some SAT speed by holding the Music Note button and using the up arrow. If
this does not correct the problem, go back to the SENSITIVITY and reduce it a little more.
Any drop in SENSITIVITY below 7-8 will result in some loss of depth. Any increase in
SAT speed above the default setting of 2 will also reduce overall depth. However, every
ground condition has its optimum setting.
Overall depth is not the ultimate goal. Finding nuggets is! Unless your threshold is con-
stant and as smooth as possible, and free from false targets which confuse the picture, you
will never be able to tell the ground from the gold.
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