Separate ground balance sensing?

[bklein]

Naive question- could a signal sensed by a magnetometer sensor be used in place of one derived from the detector coil and be used for the same purpose in a detector design?

[Carl-NC]

You mean use a magnetometer to provide a ground balance signal? If so, no, the ground signal is very highly dependent on the TX waveform & frequency. A mag senses the static magnetic field.

[bklein]

Yes I was curious if using a hall effect device or one of the many choices for magetimeter chips would result in a comparable GB signal.
if you were curious to just move around and sense/hear just the comparative ground signal what would the design look like? Can the GB signal vary in just say a few tens of feet distance?

[Carl-NC]

In some places ground response is highly variable, in other places not so much. Sadly, an induction balance is a perfect way to sense the ground response.

[Teleno]

In some places ground response is highly variable, in other places not so much. Sadly, an induction balance is a perfect way to sense the ground response.

If the Rx coil is shaped like an 8 and is encircled by the Tx coil then both induction balance and ground balance can be achieved.

[green]

If the Rx coil is shaped like an 8 and is encircled by the Tx coil then both induction balance and ground balance can be achieved.

I use a figure eight coil with my PI. Can balance ground signal but mostly just reduces it. Sensitive to coil tilt.

[Teleno]

I use a figure eight coil with my PI. Can balance ground signal but mostly just reduces it. Sensitive to coil tilt.

I guess there's a need for a gimbaled coil head that adjusts itself to remain parallel to ground at all times

[Skippy]

That would be the coolest must-have search-coil ..... one that's gyro-stabilized, or terrain-following.