Expert Articles for Metal Detectorists

Want to Learn Metal Detecting and Master Your Research and Detecting Skills Faster? All Essential, Sought-for Information is Here: 57+ Articles!

My in-depth articles on various aspects of metal detecting will provide you with knowledge which you can put in action and get results in no time! More helpful and practical info related to metal detecting is available in Guides and Tutorials sections of my website.

57+ Articles on Metal Detecting:

NOTE: Not all pages are mobile-friendly yet, but their reconstruction is under way. Please be patient. Thank you for your understanding!

1. Articles in Secrets For Beginners section:

Be Aware of Fake Expert Websites, Blogs and Videos about Metal Detecting and Equipment!
This is an important note to beginner-detectorists seeking helpful info on the Web. My note warns the newbies against getting influenced by misleading info contained in untruthful web articles, paid reviews and forum posts, and promotional YouTube videos massively published on the Internet.
A Complete Guide to Metal Detecting Research
Research is a MUST in metal detecting! This guide contains detailed articles on map research, footwork, archives research and more.
Search Coils 101
- this article contains basic info about search coils: their types and designs, coil sizes and their applications, advantages and disadvantages, target pinpointing techniques and useful tips.
Fast Method of Pinpointing Coins without a Hand-Held Pinpointer (this page is under development)
How to Metal Detect Successfully
This article includes the basics of metal detecting and some useful tips for beginners. More articles with important info for beginners are available in these sections:
Helpful Guides for Detectorists
and
Practical Tutorials for Detectorists
Magazine Article #1: "Exploring 'White Spots' In Winter"
How to research and locate good hunt sites in wooded areas during the winter months.
Magazine Article #2: "Searching The Obvious"
Strategy of metal detecting at the "hunted out" sites - most accessible and easy-to-locate sites.
How Sensitivity Settings Affect Detector's Performance
This article explains why Sensitivity feature must be used wisely. This write-up is part of my guide - How To Metal Detect Around Cellar Holes Successfully
Halo Effect
Learn about a phenomenon causing appearance of false "good" signals, and why they always disappear upon target recovery.
Hot Rocks 101
Learn how to reduce or completely eliminate audio responses to hot rocks.
Conductive Order of Metals and Conductive Relationships
Learn how conductive properties of metals relate to the Visual Discrimination Identification (VDI) numbers of targets.
From Being Controlled To Being In Control
Find out how coin shooting has evolved since the early 1990s.
How To Deal with Explosive WW1 and WW2 Military Junk at Hunt Sites
This article explains how to treat dangerous unexploded "ghosts" from the World Wars of the 20th century. This article is included in my guide - MD'ing Research
How To Avoid Missing Valuable Targets (this page is under development)
What's Better: Multi-Frequency or Single-Frequency Operation?
This is Chapter 7 of my in-depth article - "Truth About XP Deus" (see below), and gives details on advantages and disadvantages of two competing VLF technologies.

2. Articles for Detectorists of Intermediate Level of Experience:

Less Discrimination Lets You Find More
Use of Discrimination might reduce your finds rate by up to 90%! This article explains 1) negative effects of "aggressive" Discrimination on performance of any VLF metal detector, and 2) cases when usage of "heavy" Discrimination can be beneficial.
Metal Detector's Quiet Operation vs. Finding Most Deep Targets
This article might be an educational read for users of detectors of all brands despite the fact that the article is included in the Search Programs for Minelab CTX 3030 and E-Trac section.
Metal Detector's Depth Penetration Ability
Learn how to avoid reduction of your metal detector's operating depth range (detecting depth) in real metal detecting conditions.
Questionable Signals and How To Decipher Them
Learn all types of "questionable" signals, and how to recognize target responses of the 'Coin + Nail' type with Minelab E-Trac and CTX 3030 metal detectors. This article contains lots of useful information for users of metal detectors of other brands! If you are an XP Deus user, see my article - How To Decipher XP Deus' Ambiguous Audio Responses To Targets
Factors That Affect VDI Readings of Non-Ferrous Targets
Learn why VDI read-outs (conductivity values) of non-ferrous targets may appear lower than what they actually are. Though this article is included into a section on features and modes of the XP Deus metal detector, information in this article is useful to owners of ALL advanced VLF metal detectors.
Why A True All-Metal Mode Should Be Used for Detecting Gold Nuggets and Meteorites (this page is under development)

3. Articles/Reviews on Various Metal Detectors:

XP Deus
This 2-page article/review covers advantages and disadvantages of a fully wireless XP Deus metal detector which appeared on the market in 2009 and got many detectorists excited, but then, a few years later, many users turned away from this machine because of the annually increasing complexity of its firmware which has never been bug-free, the steepest learning curve, and high price.
Pulse Star II Pro
This review describes the most effective detector in its class of the Pulse-Induction deep seeking units that easily detect sizable treasures 2 meters (6.5 feet) deep and ignore any mineralization.
Minelab E-Trac
This review describes the most capable detector-model ever produced by Minelab, and gives a few links to my in-depth articles on this superb machine.
My Field-Test Report on Minelab E-Trac
This article describes how the Minelab E-Trac performs at the "searched-out" site heavily littered with iron square nails.
Garrett Ace 250
This is a short story of a successful, one-time joint hunt which my female companion Galina and I conducted while sharing the Ace-250 at a fantastic hunt site.
Tesoro Cortes
This review describes the most reliable and everlasting metal detector one can imagine.
Minelab Explorer II
This short review reflects pros and cons of Minelab detectors of the Explorer series, which started the Minelab's 10-year domination on the market.
Legendary White's Spectrum XLT - My Short Review
This is a one-page recollection of great metal detecting times I had with this fantastic detector which not only incorporated a few innovations back in the early 1990s, which are coming back now in the latest detector-models, but also taught me a lot about what an advanced metal detector with remarkable setting-adjustability can do.
Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II
This was my first metal detector which got me addicted to metal detecting during my first time out with it, in fact, upon digging up my first target - a silver Mercury dime!

4. Articles on XP detectors and accessories; also articles from XP Deus section:

A Detailed Review on XP Deus
This 2-page article/review covers advantages and disadvantages of two XP Deus metal detectors, v3.2 and v.4.1, which my girlfriend and I have been using and experimenting with since 2012.
The Truth About XP Deus V3.2-V5.X
Learn about a development strategy, business plans, marketing tricks and mishaps of XP Metal Detectors in regard to XP Deus. This article also includes results of my comparative field-testing of the XP Deus versions 3.2, 4.0 and 4.1 operated with legacy coils. Also included are short descriptions of the cutting-edge newcomers to the market that are most likely to end the XP Deus' 11-year old "novelty".
A PDF copy of this article is available for $4.95 (upon purchase, please enter this copy's Index Number - A001, in the 'Comment' field on a DonorBox payment form)Get a PDF
Complete XPlanatory Guide to ALL Features and Modes of XP Deus
This detailed guide explains ALL Deus' features and modes in firmware versions v2.0 - v3.2 and subsequent versions, and how they affect the Deus' performance in combinations with one another. A new guide to all features and modes of XP Deus v2.0 - v5.2 is coming up soon.
How To Fine-Tune XP Deus for Detecting Deep Coins (this page is under development)
Degrees of Difficulty of XP Deus Learning Curve (this page is under development)
XP Deus Manual Ground Balancing
Learn an unconventional concept of the Deus' Manual Ground Balance.
Detailed Pros and Cons of XP Deus Firmware Versions v4.0 - v5.2 (this page is under development)
How To Decipher XP Deus' Ambiguous Audio Responses To Targets
Learn all types of questionable signals and how to decipher them using simple techniques and features of the XP Deus.
Search Coil Wiggling Technique for XP Deus
Learn a simple search coil technique to decipher the XP Deus' ambiguous signals of Coin+Nail type.
Pros and Cons of the XP Deus HF Search Coil (this page is under development)
XP Deus Air Test and Sergei's 100-Target VDI Chart for Jewelry, Coins and Relics
Learn why air-testing both ferrous and non-ferrous targets is essential for optimization of the XP Deus' search program settings. My 100-Target VDI chart provides Deus users with invaluable information - VDI values of common targets (most coins in my chart are the US coins), for creating the most efficient search programs.
How To Duplicate Your XP Deus - Make Two from One!
What is required for making two Deuses from one, and how to switch the Deus' headphones to their own search coil before using the Deus and its "double" side by side.
Advantages in Fast-Switching Between XP Deus Search Programs
Increase your field-time efficiency by fast-switching between search programs "on the fly" while using two or three of them for target evaluation.
Switch-To-Low-Frequency Technique (this page is under development)
Headphones for XP Deus
This article describes the XP Deus headphones, and which non-XP headsets may or may not be used with the Deus.
DetectorPro Grey Ghost Headphones for XP Deus: Pros & Cons
My detailed review on the DetectorPro Grey Ghost wireless headphones designed for the XP Deus. Included in the review are my field-test report, pros and cons, my comparison of the wireless Grey Ghost headphones to the XP WS4 headset and photographed reactions of XP Deus users on sound quality of the Grey Ghost headphones.
Practicality of XP Deus' Emergency Field Charger
This fantastic little accessory can save your metal detecting day with the Deus.
XP Deus Reviews by Real Users
This page also includes specifications of the XP Deus, and allows you to submit your review, especially if you have used the XP's updated firmware v4.0-v5.2 and would like to list the pros and cons of it.
Practical Tips and Advices for XP Deus Users (this page is under development)
XP MI-6 and MI-4 Pinpointers: My Detailed Review
An in-depth evaluation of the XP MI-6 electronic probe used without a radio connection to the XP Deus metal detector, which is actually an XP MI-4 pinpointer.
XP ORX - Is it just an XP Depar DPR 600 PLUS?
This is my review and thoughts on the XP ORX metal detector, which is posted in
Metal Detector Reviews section.
XP GoldMaxx Power
This review describes pros and cons of a legendary analog detector-model which was a predecessor of XP Deus, and is still quite popular among coin shooters and hunters for non-ferrous relics.
How To Cope with Flawed Design of XP GoldMaxx Power
Learn how some flaws in the XP GoldMaxx Power's physical body design can be fixed. This article is especially helpful to those who use the GMP metal detectors with original S-shaped shafts.

5. Meteorite Info Corner:

Meteorite Info Corner
General Info: what are meteorites and where to search for them?
Meteorite Hunting - All Info
This chapter of my "Guide to Metal Detecting Activities" gives all information on meteorite hunting, including tips for beginners, and describes metal detectors, accessories and equipment required for this challenging endeavor.

6. Articles on Hammered Wire Coins:

Metal Detecting Hammered Wire Coins
This section includes articles on the Early Russian Hammered Coins - "Wire Money", and various aspects of searching for them in the fields.
Brief Info on "Wire Money"
Brief facts about highly collectible hammered coins of tiny sizes, that were minted in Russia and some European States between the 15th and 18th centuries.
Optimal Ground Surface Conditions for Detecting Tiny Hammereds
This article explains which conditions of the ground surface can bring the best results in detecting small hammered coins.
Search Coil Discipline for Detecting Hammereds
Learn search coil discipline and my recovery techniques for retrieving single hammered wire coins.
Wire-Money Hoard Hunting
Learn efficient search and recovery techniques for coin-cache hunting in plowed fields.
Photo Gallery of Russian Wire Money
This photo gallery contains photographs of the most common types of silver wire-coins.
How To Identify and Interpret Cyrillic Dates on Russian Coins of Peter I The Great
This article is to help coin collectors identify the wire money and round coins issued under the rule of Peter I, which have their dates expressed in old Cyrillic letters instead of numbers.
A Simple Method for Minting Silver Wire Coins
This article explains how the wire money were made a few centuries ago.
Identification of Silver Wire Hammered Coins, ca. 1462-1717 (this page is under development)
Grading Silver Wire Hammered Coins (this page is under development)

7. Miscellaneous Articles:

Lyme Disease Prevention
Lyme disease symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control.
WW2 Info Section
This section gives brief history of World War II on the Eastern front, includes photos of various relics of the period (links to photo galleries of images of the WW2 relic finds are included), and provides info on related relic-hunting activities.
Thematic Photo Galleries
This section includes photogalleries of pictures taken during metal detecting trips: "Old Ruins", "Picturesque Sunsets", "Nature Scenes", "Unusual and Surrealistic" and many more.
People in Photos
This page lists two photo galleries: TH'ers and Other People depicting th'ers I met at various locations around the world, and Women of Eastern Europe showing young single women from Russia, Estonia and Ukraine - fasten your seat belts! :)

8. Other Expert Info Directories:

In Brief:

All articles are written by Sergei UpstateNY, last time modified: December 28, 2022

From my articles, you can learn both the basics and advance metal detecting skills and techniques, learn about both natural and man-made factors that negatively affect any metal detector's performance. A few articles explain how to minimize negative effects of such factors by using specific features available in the today's most advanced metal detectors.

This directory also includes articles on metal detecting research, coin and artefact cleaning, search coil types and discipline, and other subjects that are equally important to any serious metaldetectorist/treasure hunter. My articles will sure arm you with valuable knowledge, and then it will be up to you to put it in practice!

NOTE: Not all pages are mobile-friendly yet, but their reconstruction is under way. Please be patient. Thank you for your understanding!

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