Ground balancing

[kliner]

I've been setting up my IGSL doing the ground balancing and it is clear that how the GEB is set up does affect the depth (in air anyway). I've been using a piece of ferrite rod from a small radio antenna and tuning the GEB so I hear nothing with the sensitivity turned up.
I'm sure this method is loosing us precious centimetres (every centimetre counts), when I do the same test with my 2 bought detectors I can hear the ferrite even with the sensitivity turned down a bit, it's not a clear signal, it crackles a bit but even so it's there.
I read somewhere on the forum (Ivconic I think) that you can use a plastic bag with bits of Roman tile and other stuff (I don't know what other stuff) and it's much more representative than a lump of ferrite.
How does everyone else do it?

[golfnut]

I thought it was just me!

Ive been thru this.


I bought a ferrite rod too... not too much help here either.

If you get full reject of ferrite the sens will suffer, you may loose response to some metals too eg gold.

Take machine out on soil similar to where you are hunting, adjust for balance on both channels and then test coins and metals to see what you get.

With optimum ground balance over my soil, I get best sens on targets and I detect ferrite easily.

I think the ferrite trick is useful for setting up in a USA factory, where USA users get hot rocks and black sand - little use in Europe with Clay/ limestone /chalk .
Steve

[kliner]

Stuff to ground balance?

For a final set up outside is probably the best bet to set up the GB but I can't do it at home because there is a phone relay that gives me problems. There must be something else than ferrite we can use in the workshop to compare detectors etc. Whats the difference between Roman tile and modern tile?

[golfnut]

If you have relay problem at home, do not adjust your machine at home with any ground imitating material.

Ground you are searching on is the best you can get.

Bring the gb pots to front panel.

I am going to do away with the 2 'Accept level' pots and replace as GB pots.

S

[kliner]

I'm going to see if I can't get hold of a couple of double coaxial shaft pots to cut down on the number, you don't see them so often, people use digipots, I suppose they are cheaper!