Making the transition from auto to manual sensitivity and other advanced settings in the Discrimination mode
When you are comfortable using your Sovereign GT and understand how a machine reacts to different targets you are ready to move beyond the basic control settings.
Discrimination Search Mode
Iron Mask: On
Band: Optional
Silent Search / Threshold
Threshold
Disc: Minimum
Notch: Minimum
Volume: Full
Sensitivity: 12 o'clock
Threshold: Barely Audible
Sensitivity Control
I remember the first time I was brave enough to turn my Sovereign GT sensitivity control knob out of the auto position. I noticed straight away that the 12 o’clock position setting I had chosen still produced a stable threshold. Not the mass of threshold chattering and false signals I fully expected to hear. Every so often, I would receive a signal that did not really sound like a target. But regardless, I would stop to investigate the signal. A quick double check over the area confirmed the false signal every time. False signals tend to be short sharp signals unlike the clearly defined wider signals produced by an actual detected target. False signals generally occur at the end of the sweeping motion when searching over changing ground such as the wet to dry sand. Depending on the mineralization of the area you are searching, the 12.00 to 12.30 o’clock position is a good point to start out setting the Sovereign GT sensitivity level. Lower or raise the sensitivity level in small increments until you find an operating level that provides a smooth steady threshold or back ground hum.
The size of your search coil will also effect what level of sensitivity you can use on the Sovereign GT.
A small Tornado search coil will allow you to crank up the sensitivity higher, the small coil has less ground to read under the search coil than the larger 10 inch Tornado search coil.
Searching in the discrimination mode in auto sensitivity allows a new Sovereign GT user to learn the target tones without having to deal with false signals or an erratic threshold. Searching in the manual sensitivity levels in the 12 o’clock position allows an advanced Sovereign GT user to learn to recognize false signals without being overloaded with false signals.
Threshold control
When using manual Sovereign GT sensitivity settings, the threshold control will help to maintain a smooth steady threshold. Lower the threshold from the clearly audible setting down to a barely audible. This is accomplished by turning the threshold knob counter clockwise until the background hum disappears, then tweaking the threshold hold knob clockwise until the background hum just reappears and is barely audible. The Sovereign GT is operating at its most sensitive with the barely audible threshold setting.
Volume control
Turn the volume control knob from the 3/4 position all the way clockwise to the fully on position.
This will allow you to hear the feint whisper signals of deeper targets now within range using the higher manual sensitivity setting. If the high volume setting is too uncomfortable, try using headphones with volume controls and lower the headphone volume instead of the control box volume.
Manual control setting goals
Setting the correct manual sensitivity level for the area being searched.
Learning to recognize false signals.
Recognizing deep target signals.
Gary Drayton
www.garydrayton.com
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