Nexus RGB Meter Response Revisited

I wanted to write a short blog about the RGB meter response on all Nexus machines since the creation of the Credo DDM. Unlike any other detector out there, Nexus uses a colour meter to help with target identification. They have the ability to I. D both ferrous and non-ferrous targets by emitting a colour,  most of the time you're going to get a two way hit on the meter. What I mean by this is, you'll get a meter response as you swing from right to left and left to right.

Red = Non Ferrous On The Credo

Critics of the brand state that this form of I. D is dated and limited compared to those on the modern digital machines. If you look upon the meter in a very 'baseline' way, I can see why you might think this, but in reality it couldn't be further from the truth. The meter is tied to the audio but it doesn't just simply move up and down when you swing over a non-ferrous target or, depending on the machine you're using, a ferrous target. The nuances and charactorists within the audio are displayed within the meter response. Can you get nuances from the audio on a single tone machine? yes you can, you just have to pay attention and listen. Over time you start to hear the differences but you need to apply your mind and really listen, like everything worth understating, it takes time to master.

MP V2 - Blue = Ferrous Red = Non Ferrous  

As mentioned before, you get a two way hit on the meter most of the time but there will be targets where this doesn't happen. There is an approach that can help this, firstly when you find a target, lower your coil down over the top and widen your swing slowly rotating 360. This will allow the meter to really latch on and there could be one angle that you get a two way meter response from. During this process you'll usually find that the signal response gets stronger, a lovely slow and rhythmical swing allows the machine to operate at optimum levels. Spend time with your targets, it's not a race, if you want to race then don't buy Nexus.

There will be other occasions when the meter response won't be two ways and this can be for a number of other different reasons. Firstly, you're swinging too fast so you're not giving the detector enough time to work for you. If you want to swing stupidly fast don't buy Nexus, secondly you might be swinging to high off the ground. Like I've mentioned before, once you locate a target, lower your coil over it and perform wider swings as you rotate 360. The other reason the meter might not hit both ways is the orientation of the target. Items that tend to be on edge or sitting at odd angles "can" respond differently to those that are sitting flat or level. 

MP V3 - Multi Colour = Non Ferrous No Response = Ferrous

These types of targets usually give an uneven meter response, what I mean by this is, on one swing the meter might rise sharply and on the second swing it might only nudge up a fraction. The meter will be in line with the audio, another response to a target sitting weirdly is the meter firing right up to the top on one swing and only firing half way up on the following swing. This usually indicates a target of unorthodox shape, sitting at an odd angle or an item that could be eroding. Basically the more targets you dig the quicker you'll understand what the meter is saying.

There will also be occasions where you get a mixed signal, on the V2 this will be a mix of red and blue, on the Credo it will be a one way red indication and on the V3, depending on the conductivity you'll get a multiple colour, or a fixed colour hit from one way. This could mean a number of things, orientation of the target, erosion, the machine could be lighting up on the edge of a large piece of iron, or you have both ferrous and non ferrous in the same hole or in close proximity. Turning the VCO or multi-tone on will allow the audio to clarify this. You will find if you're getting a false signal on the edge of iron, you won't be able to isolate the target/high tone when you rotate. 

MK2 - Red = Non Ferrous No Response = Ferrous

Large shallower targets will have a strong meter response, the audio will have a clear punch behind it and this can been seen in just how strongly the meter reacts. You'll find it will fire up fast to the top on both swings going from left to right and back again. Deep targets will have a lovely smooth audio and the meter will have a smoothness to it as well, both the meter and audio will work in unison with each other. Deep targets rarely push the meter all the way up, it usually sticks from a quarter to a half. When I say 'smoothness' does that mean the meter can display a 'roughness'? 

Yes the meter can respond in a 'jagged' way, aluminium and shotgun head stamps have a habit of giving what I call a jagged response in both the audio and the meter. Instead of the meter moving up in a sweet smooth fashion it's very staggered and stuttered. Once again, you'll start to notice these types of responses the more you use the machine and the more that you dig. You'll find that coke has a very similar reaction, the audio has a translucent quality to it and the meter is jagged in its response.  

Small targets and small deep targets might only give you a tiny meter response, I find you tend to get a an initial 'small indent' in the audio as you swing over the target. The meter follows with a small nudge one way followed by a tiny little nudge as you swing back. One these types of targets, once pin pointed I will minimise my swing and with tiny swings try and isolate the signal the best that I can. Using this approach on tiny signals can widen the target response, once again, this is mastered by digging lots of tiny targets. 

To sum up, the RGB meter isn't just a basic indicator of ferrous and nonferrous targets, if you don't apply your mind and pay attention it can seem that way. But .. when you understand how it functions including all its little idiosyncratic 'tells', it's providing you with far more information than you first think. To truly understand it you have to put the hours in, everything I've explained in this blog I've worked out myself. Don't take Nexus machines at face value, there's more than meets the eye with all their detectors and if you're in touch with your intuition you should pick up on all this pretty quickly.