Nexus Standard MP V3 'Lets Talk About Iron'

In this blog I'd like to write about how the V3 responds to iron, specifically 'deep' or 'deeper' iron, this can be quite confusing when you first start using the machine. The V3, unlike the V2 doesn't have an iron reject mode, you have what I call 'standard audio/all metal' and then 'VCO audio'. If you're using the meter in iron, most of the time iron won't show up, you'll get a signal response without a kick or colour. But there are times when you will get a meter response when swinging over some iron, there are a few reasons for this, I personally believe the main reason to be the iron bleeding into the soil around the target.

In regards to audio, it has to be understood that the VCO on the V3 doesn't react in the same way that 'iron tones' do on digital detectors. From my experience swinging both the Equinox 800 and Nokta Legend, you basically get the same generic low tone when swinging over iron with very little nuance unless it's really large, then you get a clear 'overload' response. From what I've seen of the Deus 2 it appears to be a little more nuanced with its iron audio.

When swinging the V3, depending on the shape of the iron the VCO audio will literally draw the shape, for example on a long nail with a flat head at one end, if you're moving across the target long ways the VCO might sound smooth and then wabble into a high tone as you pass over the square head. You'll find that if you turn on these types of signals there will be an angle that only produces a low tone. This makes it obvious that you're swinging over iron. Also you won't be able to isolate the mid to high tones that you're hearing. Below is a diagram showing what I'm trying to explain, there's a video further down that demonstrates it. "It's important for me to point out that what I've explained above won't necessarily happen on all pieces of iron, it can happen periodically.".

The V3 will hit really really hard on large shallow iron, you may or may not get a meter response, it's very obvious to tell large shallow iron because the indentation within the audio nearly knocks your eyes out of their sockets. Also the other way to identify large shallow iron is to listen for the low tone as the edge of the coil 'just starts' to approach the target. You'll find that you always get a low tone first sometimes followed by a high tone which is usually falsing off of a specific area of the iron you're swinging over, this point is demonstrated in the video included in this blog.

Deep iron needs a little more focus because, when starting out, it can be easy to mistake it for a deep non-ferrous target. There's a few principles that need to be understood when identifying deep iron, firstly it can still sound like what I've described above but the audio is slightly quieter because the iron is deeper, and you still won't be able to isolate any mid to high tones that you hear. Secondly 'if using the meter in unison with the 'VCO' you have to pay close attention to 'where' on your swing the meter is responding and the audio is kicking.

So How Does The Meter React To Iron? The meter pretty much mimics the audio to varying degrees, one point to highlight is the fact that the machine won't lock on to iron with the centre of the coil. It usually responds on the outer edges, this means that you will get a 'delayed' reaction on the light meter, I call this response the 'after-thought' because the indication will come towards the end of each swing, from left to right and right to left. The meter won't synch up with your swing, when you have a small deep target that only gives a small meter/audio response, if you're not careful this can passed up as iron. 

On these specific targets pay close attention to where the coil locks on and - is the meter mimicking the audio perfectly without a delay? if it is then you have a small or small and deep non-ferrous target under the coil. Another point to pay attention to in these situations is, it's easy to mistake a mid-tone on the VCO as a low iron tone, learn what a quiet mid-tone sounds like. Below is a picture highlighting where iron tends to register on the coil, the solid line in the centre is where non-ferrous targets register and lock on.

To master everything that I've explained in this blog takes time and you need to apply your mind every time you go out hunting. It's taken me ages to really understand the little nuances of the V3, it might not have a digital display but it does have a series of "tells" that, once learnt they enable you to hunt in a very intuitive, sensory and effective way. The problems occur when users can't be bothered to really connect with the machines language, there's no quick fix with Nexus. If you think there is I'd advise you not to bother purchasing one. Below is a video demonstrating most of the points I've mentioned in this blog.