Minelab GPX5000 - So much more to learn

[20x]

There is so much more to learn about the 5k, eg..
From memory on a test I did, (in particular settings) a 0.3 gram bit at 10 inches I can make it sound like a 1 grammer at 3 inches just by switching from fine gold to sensitive extra with the 17x13, if I drew a responce/depth curve the responce dips away massively beyond 10 inches.
Searching in sensitive extra either in fixed or tracking is an absolute nightmare so can only be used to amp up the responce of a deep wisper of a small nugget within the 10inch range..
To add..
Searching in super slow mo, the target can actually be up to a meter away from the original responce field, so my scrapes are sometimes massive. On top of that an aluminium can 2 metres away effects it, I have to sweep far and wide to determine if I'm hearing a deep wisper or the edge of a distant piece of junk..
Another reason why my custom fibre shaft is at full length of the coil cord to get it as far away from the metal of my external speakers that combined with the target in my spoon seems to create a recirculation of responce to the system..
And now that I've replaced a faulty patch lead its even worse..

 

[mbasko]

There is so much more to learn about the 5k, eg..
From memory on a test I did, (in particular settings) a 0.3 gram bit at 10 inches I can make it sound like a 1 grammer at 3 inches just by switching from fine gold to sensitive extra with the 17x13, if I drew a responce/depth curve the responce dips away massively beyond 10 inches.
Searching in sensitive extra either in fixed or tracking is an absolute nightmare so can only be used to amp up the responce of a deep wisper of a small nugget within the 10inch range..
To add..
Searching in super slow mo, the target can actually be up to a meter away from the original responce field, so my scrapes are sometimes massive. On top of that an aluminium can 2 metres away effects it, I have to sweep far and wide to determine if I'm hearing a deep wisper or the edge of a distant piece of junk..
Another reason why my custom fibre shaft is at full length of the coil cord to get it as far away from the metal of my external speakers that combined with the target in my spoon seems to create a recirculation of responce to the system..
And now that I've replaced a faulty patch lead its even worse..

Sensitive Extra is either for mild soils (mono) or use with DD coils. It's main claim to fame is a better response on small but deep targets, so that's no surprise. There have been areas I could use it with a mono coil to search, but not too many.
You could also just switch into Pinpoint mode?
Large targets can & do effect even small mono coils over good distances. This isn't new & shouldn't require scraping a large area unless you have the audio settings ramped too high or are struggling with pinpointing with a large coil?
Even the 6000 with a 12x8 on it sounds like it's onto a small target when sometimes a foot or so from a large target. That is why most times I will quickly sweep the general area to rule that out.
Speakers have always been an issue in close proximity to coils. They used to sell anti feedback speakers (or something similar) but not sure how effective they were.

Found:
Low Feedback speaker

Low Feedback External Speaker for GPX Series Metal Detectors

External low feedback speaker suitable for Minelab GPX Series Metal Detectors.

www.minersden.com.au

 

[20x]

Sensitive Extra is either for mild soils (mono) or use with DD coils. It's main claim to fame is a better response on small but deep targets, so that's no surprise. There have been areas I could use it with a mono coil to search, but not too many.
You could also just switch into Pinpoint mode?
Large targets can & do effect even small mono coils over good distances. This isn't new & shouldn't require scraping a large area unless you have the audio settings ramped too high or are struggling with pinpointing with a large coil?
Even the 6000 with a 12x8 on it sounds like it's onto a small target when sometimes a foot or so from a large target. That is why most times I will quickly sweep the general area to rule that out.
Speakers have always been an issue in close proximity to coils. They used to sell anti feedback speakers (or something similar) but not sure how effective they were.

Found:
Low Feedback speaker

Low Feedback External Speaker for GPX Series Metal Detectors

External low feedback speaker suitable for Minelab GPX Series Metal Detectors.

www.minersden.com.au

Confirms my results

 

[20x]

Confirms my results

How long have I been a member of this forum mate?

 

[Moneybox]

How long have I been a member of this forum mate?

About 6 months longer than me...

 

[EVIE/BEE]

Sensitive Extra is either for mild soils (mono) or use with DD coils. It's main claim to fame is a better response on small but deep targets, so that's no surprise. There have been areas I could use it with a mono coil to search, but not too many.
You could also just switch into Pinpoint mode?

Correct me mbasko if i'm wrong but pinpoint is a custom name you give to a personal mode selection.
Pinpoint is not a timing.

 

[mbasko]

Correct me mbasko if i'm wrong but pinpoint is a custom name you give to a personal mode selection.
Pinpoint is not a timing.

Custom mode that puts the detector into, what Minelab believe, are an ideal preset of settings for pinpointing.
Never said it was a timing?
Never found I needed it with the 5000.

 

[EVIE/BEE]

Thanks Matt.
You learn all the time in this business. I'll put off buying a 6000 for now. ha ha.

 

[Hawkear]

Would agree that there is heaps to learn about the 5000. Operators, including me, need to spend much more time more time understanding the effects that timings and audio controls and systems have on target signal recognition.
When I got my first 5000, I was guilty after finding a few bits of gold saying to myself that’s good enough and basically didn’t change much in the way of settings at all for a long time, so long as i continued to find gold.
After some spells with a 7000 and 2300 and with gold seemingly much harder to come by, I am paying a lot more attention to settings on my new 5000.
I now carry some graded weights from 0.1 to around 3 grams with me so I can experiment with settings whenever heading off for a longer prospecting trip.

 

[Northeast]

View attachment 11794

Having never used a 5000, I was interested in this little tid-bit above - It is perfect for those faint, hard to hear responses.

Has anyone ever just used it as a mode in general detecting if it helps with the faint ones? Or is it just not practical in mineralised ground or something? Or is just the audio amped right up? Or do we have no idea what changes happen to put the detector into pinpoint mode?

I wonder if PA member Phrunt (from New Zealand) might be able to use it in his mild ground?

Cheers, NE.

 

[mbasko]

Having never used a 5000, I was interested in this little tid-bit above - It is perfect for those faint, hard to hear responses.

Has anyone ever just used it as a mode in general detecting if it helps with the faint ones? Or is it just not practical in mineralised ground or something? Or is just the audio amped right up? Or do we have no idea what changes happen to put the detector into pinpoint mode?

I wonder if PA member Phrunt (from New Zealand) might be able to use it in his mild ground?

Cheers, NE.

Should have mentioned above that although the custom search modes are preset by Minelab, users can change them to suit themselves too.
That being said though the idea of the pinpoint mode isn't to use as a general detecting mode being preset with "amped" up settings.
You could of course adjust it (or use another custom mode) once you find your own happy medium of ground handling vs. signal volume/target response in your area. You could very likely end up back close to your usual settings though?
By design I'd assume pinpoint mode as is (without adjustment) would lift all signals including unwanted ground noise + hotrocks so wouldn't be practical for wider area detecting unless the ground was very benign. Might be ok in a small area patch going very slowly?

 

[EVIE/BEE]

I used it for a period a few yrs ago. The smallest pieces it picked up were several 0.1 gram at 3 inches max using a 10x5 inch mono.

 

[Northeast]

Should have mentioned above that although the custom search modes are preset by Minelab, users can change them to suit themselves too.
That being said though the idea of the pinpoint mode isn't to use as a general detecting mode being preset with "amped" up settings.
You could of course adjust it (or use another custom mode) once you find your own happy medium of ground handling vs. signal volume/target response in your area. You could very likely end up back close to your usual settings though?
By design I'd assume pinpoint mode as is (without adjustment) would lift all signals including unwanted ground noise + hotrocks so wouldn't be practical for wider area detecting unless the ground was very benign. Might be ok in a small area patch going very slowly?

Great answer, thanks mbasko

 

[MareebaMetal]

Recently bought a 5000 as my first ever detector, so much to learn. Still haven't found any gold with it , but have been experimenting playing around with different coils and settings and burying gold at different depths. cant wait till next year when I'll have time to go on some trips to give it a proper go and hopefully find some gold