A Tip For New Nexus Users 'Micro Blog'

If you've never swung a Nexus before it can be quite a culture shock, I've explained time and time again that they don't operate like any other detector, if you've only used digital and you don't have an open mind then you're going to struggle. If you've used analog before and think that Nexus operates the same, in some respects this is true, but it's the finer details that you need to be mindful of, for example swing technique and how you work the coil. If you think you know everything there is to know about metal detectors you will also fail to master Nexus, nobody knows it all about anything. 

Mastering Nexus Takes Patience

There's one tip that I'd recommend to new Nexus users to help them get a grip of the operation, and that's the threshold level. Nexus has a true threshold and it's this that enables the machines to detect at extreme depths. Hunting with an audible threshold allows you to hear the really deep targets, for a raised threshold to be used it's important that you've practiced your swing technique, the coil has to be swung from the point you've ground balanced from and you need to keep the coil level. 

If you swing the coil below the point of ground balance you're going to get excess noise from the ground itself. When you swing the coil at the point of ground balance the threshold will only respond to metal items in the ground. If your swing technique is bad then these targets can get masked by ground noise. Swinging your coil a couple of inches off the ground might feel counterintuitive but it allows the machines to perform to the best of their ability. 

How Do I Know The Height To Swing My Coil?

Simple, the machine will tell you as you start the ground balance procedure, the point you swing the coil at is where the ground phase starts, it's at this point you balance to. This can vary due to coil size, frequency and terrain, for instance wet and dry, clay etc. 

When Do I Re-Ground Balance My Machine?

Simple, the machine will tell you, if you're finding that you're getting excess noise at the end of each swing then it's time to dial it back in. This doesn't happen very often but it can happen, for instance if there's a part of the terrain you're hunting which is waterlogged or wet. You might then have to review the ground balance when you find yourself back on the dryer section of your terrain, this is because Nexus is really sensitive, it's a precision tool that needs adjustment.  

So back to my key point, if you initially hunt with your threshold raised before you've mastered the machines operation you might struggle with stability. This mainly happens due to swing technique, with a raised threshold you might find it a little overwhelming. What I suggest is starting off with a threshold setting of "just below audible", this will provide a quieter hunt. You'll still get good depth running the machine like this and as you master the operation start to raise your threshold to an audible level.

One last point, threshold level can vary depending on what size coil you're swinging, for my larger dual coils it might not be as audible as when I'm swinging my smaller coils. Once again, understanding where to have it set will come from personal experimentation of YOU swinging your machine with the coils you've chosen to purchase. 

Key Points For Smooth Operation

Practice The Ground Balance Procedure

Swing The Coil At The Height You Ground Balance To

Master A Slow Steady Swing Speed

Keep The Coil Level To The Ground

Never Scrub The Dirt  

Lose Your Digital Frame Of Mind