13
Getting Started the Right Way
Spending a little time getting familiar with the response of your Treasure Commander
TC3X before you head out in search of treasure will make your time in the field more
enjoyable and productive.
The first activity you should try is to perform bench testing using a sample of targets.
This will help you learn what response various targets will produce and how to eliminate
those you do not wish to recover. Collect items including a nail, a wad of tin foil, a pull
tab, a nickel, a zinc penny (from 1983 and later), a dime and a quarter. If you have
additional items that you might be seeking such as gold / silver jewelry or relics, include
them in your sample pile.
Place the TC3X on a table (non-metal) with the coil hanging over the edge. Ensure the
coil is not near any metal objects. Remove your watch and any jewelry you might have
on such as rings. Turn the detector on and select the ALL METAL mode.
Pass each object across the search coil and take note of the indication on the LCD screen
as well as the different tones each produces. Switch to the COINS and then the JEWELRY
mode and repeat the test. Note which targets are rejected by the detector in each of the
modes.
The NOTCH mode allow you to select which of the eight segments are accepted or
rejected and is very useful when you find yourself bothered by a specific piece of trash
and want to ignore it.
Make a record of what your test results show so that you can refer back to them if you
have questions in the field on actual targets.
Many successful treasure hunters take the bench testing concept to the next level and
construct a test garden in their yard. By burying a range of targets, you can see how
ground impacts signal response and practice pinpointing targets which will improve your
recovery rate in the field. Bury several items at depths of 2 to 4 inches. Place them at
least 18 inches apart so that you are not detecting more than one target at the same
time. Mark the location of each target (golf tees work well for this) so that you know
where each item was buried.
NOTE: Freshly buried targets will be harder to detect than those that have been buried
for years. Take the time to see the impact different settings; i.e., Sensitivity, Volume and
Discrimination, as well as the coil sweep speed have on the response you receive from the
various targets.
Summary of Contents for TC3X
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