4-Level Search Program for Detecting Hammies with E-Trac and CTX 3030, page 13

7. Search Program Level 4 for Experienced Detectorists

This Level-4 "Expert" search program provides maximum detecting range while accepting all types of silver hammered wire coins and rejecting the high-conductive coins of sizes ranging from small to medium. All small low- and medium-conductive targets including unwanted ones will be accepted. And many questionable signals will be muted due to utilization of the "nails-only" Discrimination in an IRON zone of the 2-dimensional Discrimination scale. Implementing such a pattern of Discrimination decreases an amount of incoming iron-false signals.

To maintain good time efficiency in the field and reduce audio discomfort of an operator, the "4-Tone in Ferrous" audio mode (E-Trac) and "4-tone FE" Tone ID Profile (CTX 3030) are implemented. Most of high-conductive targets of a medium size will be rejected by the Discrimination, QuickMask and the CTX 3030's Second Discrimination patterns.

This program is for a highly experienced detectorist who knows how the sound characteristics of desirable targets change under various ground conditions, how implementation of certain combinations of settings affect his/her metal detector's performance, and how to decipher most "questionable" signals. If the Level-4 search program is used with the E-Trac, an operator must be able to identify targets "by ear" to maintain high time efficiency in the field. It is much easier to use this program with the CTX 3030 because of its advanced visual Target ID features.

NOTE 1: In the "Level 1 - High Discrimination/Low Noise" COINS Program Description, I explained every program setting's level or mode I utilize. If any setting in the following program has a different mode or level, or not utilized at all, a clarification will be given accordingly. Otherwise, please refer to the Level-1 Program Description for detailed explanations of program settings and useful tips for their implementation.

NOTE 2: While all the E-Trac functions, program setting and modes are given in black, the program settings of the Minelab CTX 3030, references to their description pages in the CTX-3030's Instruction Manual, and my short notes on their utilization in this program are given in this pink font color.

NOTE 3: I ALWAYS operate my metal detectors with headphones.

SEARCH COILS:
Both small search coils (for E-Trac: 4.5 x 7" DD EXcelerator ("Sniper" type), 6" DD EXcelerator EQ 2 Pro, Minelab FBS 8", 8" EXcelerator Concentric, and 8x6" SEF (Butterfly); for CTX-3030: CTX 06 Smart Coil), and a standard (stock) 11" DD search coil (for CTX-3030: 11" DD Smart Coil) should be used with this program. If you utilize a larger search coil for detecting hammered coins in the farm fields, make sure the coil is SENSITIVE enough to detect the tiny coins.

PROGRAM SETTINGS for NEUTRAL or LOW-MINERALIZED GROUND:

NOTE 5: Some program settings for detecting on HIGH-MINERALIZED grounds are included and explained.

NOTE 6: Summary Tables for these program settings are shown on next page.

DETECTION SCREEN - PATTERN Screen (to select this mode, press "Detect" button; page 23 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual) - see details here.

CTX 3030:
DETECT Screen
(page 7 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

Sensitivity Menu:

(see details on page 3 of my description for 3-Level "COINS" Search Program)

SENSITIVITY - Auto or Manual at 24 or lower (page 56 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
SENSITIVITY - Auto
or Manual at 24 or lower (page 21 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)
Setting the Manual Sensitivity level higher may bring negative results as a large search coil will scan a few gallons of dirt and a lot of mineral content contained in it. If mineralization intensity is above a moderate level, your metal detector will respond to the ground with many false signals, and the detector depth penetration will be greatly reduced.
The Manual Sensitivity should be set on the detector's stability level. If mineralization is too high, select the 'AUTO' mode of Sensitivity to avoid both ground and iron falsing.

AUTO SENSITIVITY LEVEL - A if you use AUTO SENSITIVITY (page 55 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
AUTO SENSITIVITY LEVEL - A
if you use AUTO SENSITIVITY (page 21 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

Audio Menu

(see details on page 4 of my description for 3-Level "COINS" Search Program)

THRESHOLD LEVEL - 15 (page 58 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
THRESHOLD LEVEL - 15
(page 23 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

VOLUME LIMIT - 15 (page 60 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
VOLUME LIMIT - 15
(page 24 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

VOLUME GAIN - 27 (page 61 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)
Decrease the setting level to 26 or lower if the ground is HIGH-MINERALIZED.

CTX 3030:
VOLUME GAIN - 27
(page 23 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)
Decrease the setting level to 26 or lower if the ground is HIGH-MINERALIZED.

RESPONSE - Long (page 62 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
RESPONSE - Long
(page 39 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

NUMBER OF TONES - 4 Tones (use the Tone ID sub-menu; page 64 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)
The NUMBER OF TONES setting is not available in CTX-3030

CTX-3030:
TONE PROFILE TYPE - "4-tone FE"
(page 36 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)

SOUNDS - Ferrous (page 65 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)
The SOUNDS setting is not available in CTX-3030

CTX-3030:
TONE PROFILE TYPE - "4-tone FE"
; however, other Tone ID Profiles, whichever is more effective, can be utilized.

VARIABILITY - n/a (page 67 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)
This setting does not really play a big role unless you utilize the MULTI Tones mode
VARIABILITY setting is not available in CTX-3030

TONE ID LIMITS - n/a (page 68 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)
This setting is only available when the NUMBER OF TONES is set to MULTI.
The TONE ID LIMITS setting is not available in CTX-3030

TRESHOLD PITCH - 17 (page 69 of the E-Trac Instruction Manual)

CTX 3030:
TRESHOLD PITCH - 17
(page 24 of the CTX-3030 Instruction Manual)