Page 2-10
Spectra VX
3
User’s Guide
Sweep the coil from side-to-side, with a ~3-4 foot swath, at
a rate of 1-2 seconds per sweep. Keep the coil parallel with and
close to the ground during the entire sweep; if you sweep with a
“pendulum arc” (lifting the coil at the ends of the sweep) you
will not only miss targets but also cause the AutoTrac to err.
Some detectorists rub the coil directly on the ground, though
bare dirt and gravel can eventually wear through the plastic
(most coils have available snap-on covers). Overlap each sweep
by 50% to ensure the best coverage of deep targets.
If you are hunting in a typical discriminate mode, listen for
an accepted target beep; stop and double-check the spot, paying
closer attention to the SpectraGraph response. If it appears to be
a good target, move the coil off to the side of the target location,
pull the trigger switch to enable pinpoint mode, then move the
coil back over the target and use the all-metal audio response to
determine exact location.
Use a proper digging tool and learn good plugging tech-
niques to extract the target, or learn how to “pop” targets. When
you are done there should be no trace that you dug anything.
Haul out all trash that you find; many detectorists keep a small
container of trash with them to show off the benefit they pro-
vide to the community, especially useful if a policeman stops by
to ask why you are digging holes in the park.
Research
What you get out of metal detecting largely depends on
what you put into it. Half the fun of detecting is doing historical
research on the area you live in and learning where people used
to gather and where things used to be. Visit museums and his-
torical societies, and look for old maps and photographs. Get
out and talk to people and, most of all, have fun!
