XPlained Deus' Features, Modes and Their Settings, page 1

A Complete Explanatory Guide to All Features, Modes and Their Effects on Performance of XP Deus v2.0, v3.2 and subsequent versions

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XP Deus Program Settings, Features and Modes Are Explained

NOTE: A NEW revised, corrected and updated GUIDE to all features and modes of the XP Deus v2.0-v3.2, v4.0 and v4.1 is under construction now and will be posted soon.

The Table Of Contents below will help you navigate to pages describing and explaining the XP Deus' features and modes (and their settings) that you are not sure about and would like to understand better.

XP Deus User Metal Detecting in Field

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Part I - EXPLAINED FEATURES, MODES and SETTINGS of XP DEUS v2.0, v3.2, v4.0 and subsequent versions:

Two XP Deus Metal Detectors Out of One

Part II - PRACTICAL TIPS for METAL DETECTING with XP DEUS (will be posted in parts upon their completion):

Introduction (Must-Read)

The current XP Deus User's Instruction Manual is the XP Metal Detectors' total failure as it does not deliver information in any comprehensible way and lacks necessary explanations of the Deus features and modes, especially how they interact with one another, and what effects combinations of their settings have on the Deus' performance. As I mentioned in my Review on XP Deus, the XP Deus has the highest User-Adjustability among all today's advanced metal detectors, and this is what makes the Deus the most versatile metal detector. But, one must understand that the highest User-Adjustability means not only limitlessness in terms of Target Separation and Target Recogntion, but also complexity in the fine-tuning process. The Deus shines only when it is fine-tuned to the unique metal detecting conditions of EVERY hunt site, types of targets sought, and the user's hearing abilities and preferences.

Obviously, fine-tuning of the Deus is a complicated task for a beginner-user, especially if one has just started metal detecting. But even for an experienced detectorist who has used different metal detectors over years, grasping the Deus' User-Adjustability concept and elaborating an optimal combination of search program settings can be problematic. The principal idea of detecting with the Deus is simple: since the Deus can be attuned relatively to any metal detecting conditions, it is only your own limits that will not let you get most finds out of any metal detecting site. For example, being not willing to climb the learning curve all the way up to the top can be considered putting a limit on oneself. Using the factory preset programs on a regular basis is another limit which the Deus users voluntary impose on themselves.

This is why it is not recommended to use the factory-preset search programs for serious detecting as they are designed for introductory purposes (to be used only for a short duration of time) and as the "foundations" for one's own custom programs. Moreover, it is a proven bad practice to use the customized search programs posted for all on the internet. Such programs have attractive, promising names but, if not modified, do not suit metal detecting conditions other than the conditions of those localities where these programs were created. Do not get me wrong, you can still make many good finds with those programs, but you will never know how many real valuables you would leave behind! However, any "program for all" also can be used as the basis for your customized search program suitable for local levels of mineralization/iron contamination and specific target TYPES.

This explanatory guide will help you understand all ins and outs of the Deus features and modes, climb the very steep learning curve faster, and expand your limits. But, to "cement" your theoretical knowledge, you need do your practical "home work" - experimenting with various program settings and targets in focus at hunt sites you visit. This can be done by using a very effective method - "Depth Penetration Test", which will be described in my upcoming article/tutorial (it will be posted soon).

To have something to start with at home, conduct an Air Test (Bench Test) to get familiar with VDI's of various targets that are typical for YOUR search area, and then use the obtained VDI's for setting optimal Accepting and Rejecting ranges in Discrimination patterns of your custom search programs. If you run the Air Test inside the house or apartment, lower the Sensitivity level to 70 to eliminate interference from electrical wiring and home electronic devices including wireless routers, wireless networking adapters, etc. For determining somewhat appropriate settings of the Target-Separating features, and improve the Deus' Target Recognition ability, construct your own Test Garden.

Even for an experienced treasure hunter who is not familiar with the XP Deus, there may be too much info in this guide to digest quickly. Please do not try to understand everything at once! Follow a simple rule of learning: gradually move from simple to complex. It is best to read and reread every feature's description a few times so that all given information can be fully comprehended, sorted out, and later used to one's advantage. In this guide, all explained basic features and modes are arranged in the same order as they are arranged in a User's Instruction Manual; however, all corresponding Expert settings are placed along with their "parent" features and modes on same pages for convenience. I suggest to make notes on key points right in the user's manual for quick reference when you customize or modify your search program(s) later.

My guide does not cover "How-To's" for assembling the Deus, setting a clock, pairing headphones to new coils, editing search programs, upgrading to a new firmware version, and fast switching between them (actually this subject is covered in my article - How To Fast Switch Between XP Deus Search Programs). This article was neither created to explain why there is a flashing light on a search coil all the time... Oh, well, ok, the light is there because the search coil always stays ON (in a standby mode)!

NOTE:

After the first part of this guide was posted here, new updated firmware versions, v3.0, v3.1, v3.2 and v4.0, were released. The version 3.2, for example, acquired 13 new improvements and some new features in comparison with v2.0. Even though the latest version v4.0 acquired some changes in existing features, and a couple of more additional features, and is supposed to provide better digital signal processing, increased target separation and detection depth in mineralized ground, it still got some bugs in it. Moreover, the v4.0 was released to serve the white HF search coils which were specially designed for gold nugget and meteorite hunting. Therefore I would not urge you to upgrade to the v4.X, especially if you have used the version v3.2 for a while, feel comfortable with it, and are satisfied with results. Same goes for the version v2.0 which is still considered the best in providing the most Detection Depth.

Visitor's Feedback

From John ("Relichunter") in Ohio, USA:

"Hi Sergei,
Hope you are doing well and finding time to get out detecting. I received my XP Deus last week. I did as you had mentioned in one of your articles, read, reread, and reread the instruction manual.

I went to a F&I War site - Braddock Expedition of 1755 camp site. This site, though large, has been hunted heavily over the last 40 years. My first trip to the site was in 1973. But in 40 years or more of hunting, by many, many people and with every type detector imaginable, we considered it pretty much completely hunted out. I thought that would be a good first challenge for the XP Deus, just to see if I could find anything at all.

Much to my surprise, I was still able to find several pieces of iron grape shot (about 3/4" diameter), a grapeshot plate ball separator (very similar to a large steel washer), a half dozen or so .69 caliber Brown Bess musket balls, some fair sized hand forged nails, a very nice but small period brass button with what appears to be a fleur-de-lis on the face, and even some loose change lost by people that must have picnicked in the woods. Of course there were the pieces of junk, pull tabs, foil, newer nails, etc.

I was only hunting for 5 hours but that was the best I have done at that site in the past 15 years. I had even previously hunted it with a Fisher F75, a Whites Spectra, a Minelab Sovereign, a Minelab SD2200d, and the new Minelab CTX 3030.

The lightweight of the coil and shaft assembly was such that I could easily swing the detector quickly and effortlessly without any fatigue to my arm so I probably covered more ground in the time I had to hunt. For me, the 9" coil was easier to maneuver through the forest undergrowth, fallen tree branches, and protruding rocks.

I chose not to use the control box for visual target identification but put it in my pocket instead so I could more easily change sensitivity with the changes in ground minerals in the different areas I hunted. I found myself running at a sensitivity of 85 most of the time and sometimes dropping as low as 80 to minimize ground noise. As an old time detector user, I prefer to listen to the signal to make a decision to dig or not. While the Deus sometimes produces a crackling sound, generally speaking I could distinguish most small nails by the double beep in one direction and the single beep at a 45 degree angle. The larger nails I dug intentionally as the signal was strong and I have heard similar signals on things like knife blades or anything else being long and slender such as a broken spoon handle, files, etc.

When relic hunting, I want to find iron, so I used a custom 3 tone discrimination profile with iron being the lowest pitch of 200 at a breakpoint of 10 for T1-T2, 0 discrimination, and iron volume of 5. I did set the ground balance to tracking and that seemed to do the best for me since in some areas it went as low as 70 and in others as high as 90.

I didn't find anything deep enough that pushed the limits of the Deus. Sometimes a bit of ground noise fooled me enough to recheck a spot by passing the coil over it several times. In those cases, repeated passes didn't produce any signal so I never dug a "false" hole.

I have to admit I am very much amazed at what the Deus can do. I think it will be my number one choice when going on most detecting trips. I am looking forward to reading your "Review and Tips" when you find time to write them. I suspect that will be a task since the Deus has so many capabilities.

Mostly I just wanted to pass on to you that I too have found the XP Deus to be the detector other manufacturers will have to catch up to. My other detectors will either be retired or see far less use.

So, thanks again for the excellent write up about the Deus you have on your web site. That write up helped me decide to buy the XP Deus and now I am so very happy I did.

Warmest regards,
John"

You may want to visit my other pages with helpful info on the XP Deus metal detector and its accessories:

Useful Articles

Secrets for Beginners

MD Reviews

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