side to side in about a three foot arc, overlapping succeeding strokes well. This motion is
called a “sweep.” The Golden µMax was designed to get maximum depth without the frantic
pace required of earlier motion detectors, so go at a pace that is comfortable for you. In fact,
trying to hunt too fast may even cause a loss of depth in heavily mineralized locations.
Regardless of which mode you are using, try to keep your searchcoil height constant and close
to the ground. Most people tend to raise the coil at the end of a sweep—much like a
pendulum—especially if in a hurry. Try to avoid this, as any increase in height from the
ground will cause a corresponding loss of depth.
In areas with well-kept lawns, the easiest way to maintain a constant searchcoil height is to
allow the coil to rest on the grass as you sweep from side to side. In rough and rocky areas, it
is best not to “scrub” the coil on the ground, as the rocks will act like abrasives and wear
away the coil bottom (an optional coil scuff cover will protect against this). Sweep the coil as
close to the ground as possible without touching. Hitting the ground or rocks may cause a
false signal much like a desired target would. Sweeping the coil too high above the ground
results in a loss of depth.
Planting a Test Garden
To better learn how your detector will perform in the field, it would be helpful to bury some
coins and trash metal items in an area that you know is clear of other metal objects. Check the
area with DISCRIMINATE LEVEL set at MIN to be sure it's clear of trash, then bury the
targets at least 1 foot apart and from 3 to 5 inches deep to start. Make a map of the area to be
sure you know what each target is and how deep it is. Practice on these targets to familiarize
yourself with your detector’s target response. This will also help you learn the proper sweep
speed for best operation. This type of practice area is often called a “test garden” or “test bed”
and is one of the best tools to help you develop your metal detecting skills.
Recognizing False Signals in Discriminate Mode
When operating in the DISC Mode, some “false signals” may be caused by 1) heavy
concentrations of trash metal objects, 2) very large trash metal objects, or 3) electrical
interference. These signals are generally short, choppy sounds and sound different than “good
signals” (good target response sounds).
At the end of your sweep, as you reverse the coil direction, the detector is most susceptible to
trash-induced noise. There are two ways to tell whether these sounds are good deep signals or
trash “noise.” The first is by repeatability. Trash-induced noises will not be regular as you
sweep the coil over the suspected target several times, whereas a good target response will be
repeatable. The second method is to switch to ALL METAL Mode and check the target
response sound. If the response is weak, it may well be a deep, good target. But if the
response is very strong, it is probably trash. Note that a coin close to the surface can give a
double beep sound, but it is regular and repeatable. Raising the coil an inch or two will restore
the single beep on surface targets.
Recovering a Target
If the target is shallow and the soil is soft, you may be able to “probe” and find the exact
location of the target before you dig it. Since filling all holes after you recover the target is so
important, digging a small precise hole is best. If the target is deep, you may need to dig a
