I used to be scared to use discrimination on my metal detector because I didn’t want to risk losing something valuable even if it meant I would get more time-wasting hits. But, after finding countless pull tabs, and nothing particularly valuable, I’ve realized I might have been wrong.
Understanding Metal Detector Filtering
Metal detection filtering, commonly known as discrimination, is a function that allows users to ignore signals from certain types of metals. This is particularly useful to reduce the number of false positives for undesirable objects, streamlining the search for items of value. Many modern detectors now feature this capability, giving the treasure hunter control over what types of metals to exclude, starting from ferrous objects like iron, and progressively filtering out other materials like foil and steel bottle caps.
However, a great deal of older detectors will simply include a dial which, while still signaling for the metals, will show the user what metal a target may be. Moreover, even older metal detectors might simply come with a dial which is associated with numbers that signify the strength of the signal detected. This number can then be associated with general signal strengths of various objects and types of metal.
How Does Metal Detector Discrimination Work?
It is important to note that while most any VLF (Very Low Frequency) will come equipped with DISC features, PI (Pulse Induction) metal detectors have no discrimination capabilities. This shouldn’t be an issue for most users as PI metal detectors are often expensive in comparison to VLF metal detectors and therefor only purchased by users who would already know that PI metal detectors don’t have discrimination. However, this information should be in the description of the metal detector if you are unsure.
VLF metal detectors work by sending a constant alternating current through a coil which, due to the polarity being reversed thousands of times per second, creates a transmit frequency that is sent into the ground. If this transmit signal encounters metal, a signal which is opposite in polarity to the transmit coil is produced within the object. These currents are known as eddy currents and are a natural response to a metallic object encountering a magnetic field.
DISC works through the same process by which normal metal detection does. The eddy currents produced within the object are first detected by a second coil. These signals are then processed and then amplified to create the sound which lets you know metal has been detected. DISC simply intervenes during the processing of these signals and tells the alert device on the metal detector to ignore certain frequencies or prioritize others.
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What is the Difference Between Metal Detector Discrimination and Sensitivity?
While DISC deals with processing signals to determine an objects metallic composition, metal detector sensitivity is simply changing how strong (or rather weak) a signal your metal detector will accept. This means that by increasing your metal detectors sensitivity you may be able to detect objects which are non-ferrous metallic or simply deeper in the ground. While this can be used, in some degree, to exclude certain types of metal it is nowhere near as comprehensive or easy to use as the DISC function. It is for this reason that the two functions are separate and are deemed to have separate purposes.
Metal Detecting Tip: Read more about the sensitivity on a metal detector in this article – How to Set the Sensitivity on a Metal Detector.
Example of How to use Metal Detector Discrimination / Sensitivity: Garrett ACE 400
The Garrett ACE 400 (Link to Kellyco) comes equipped with three different +/- sets of buttons: one which controls sensitivity, one which controls discrimination, and one which controls both by simplifying the settings down to the type of object you are looking to find.
The custom function allows a user to create their own desired profile for sensitivity and DISC.
If you’d like to read the actual OWNERS MANUAL for the Garrett 400 that goes into detail for setting the Discrimination and other settings select the button below for a FREE DOWNLOAD. PDF Courtesy of Garrett Metal Detectors
The Zero mode will allow all types of metals. Essentially, discriminating against zero of them.
This will allow you to choose between 8 different sensitivity levels.
This will affect the depth which the metal detector will be able to reach although this will not be shown on the depth scale. This depth scale is only used for showing the depth of objects detected in real-time.
This will allow you to move markers upon a list of various types of metals/objects. To either discriminate against or discriminate for a desired object/metal, press the button below the discrimination dial.
The constant discrimination feature which shows the composition of targets in real-time will still be active, however, discriminated against object shouldn’t elicit an audible response from the metal detector.
The Discrimination Chart of a Garrett ACE 400
This is the chart of options which are available for DISC for or against on the Garrett ACE 400. The metals are presented in the order and position which they appear on the Garrett ACE 400 metal detector.
6 Tips and Tricks for Using Metal Detector Discrimination
To improve my metal detector’s efficiency, I manipulate the discrimination settings, which allows me to filter out unwanted metal types. By increasing the discrimination level, I can focus on detecting specific metals while ignoring others that are likely to be trash. This functionality helps when searching in areas with a lot of metallic debris.
1. Using Metal Detector Discrimination to Eliminate Ground Mineralization Interference
Different hunting locations will have different kinds and compositions of soil. In some cases, you will encounter soil which is rich with ferrous minerals that generate eddy currents of their own when affected by a metal detectors signal. While it is unlikely that these signals will be strong enough to elicit an audible response from your metal detector, their effects are not undetected. These signals from the minerals in the soil can overload a metal detectors RX coil with useless target allocation even if a real target is in range of the coil’s detection field.
However, to eliminate these signals from your detection array you simply need to discriminate against Iron signals altogether. Most targets of value will not be affected as Iron is a low value non-precious construction material. In highly mineralized soil, Iron discrimination won’t be perfect but will be undoubtedly useful for finding targets and elimination phantom hits.
2. Depth can Affect the Discrimination ID of an Object
The depth of an object, along with the chosen level of sensitivity, can affect which type of metal an object is identified to be by your metal detectors DISC circuit. If an object is detected from the outer edge of a magnetic field then only a portion of the magnetic field will be processed by your metal detectors elimination circuit. Unfortunately, this can result in your metal detector confusing one metal for another which has a similar DISC ID.
Moreover, if a DISC ID is not incorrectly reported there is still an issue of signal reliability. A weak signal such as this can cause a very low tone, which is both difficult to locate and hone in on, to be produced. In some cases, the signal will not even be reported, this is another common source of phantom hits.
3. Smaller Objects can have Inaccurate Discrimination ID
For a similar reason to why depth can affect DISC ID, the size of an object will also change DISC ID. Essentially, the larger an object is the greater the signal from internal eddy currents will be. The stronger a signal is the easier it is for your metal detectors DISC circuit to determine metallic composition.
So, it would stand to reason that a smaller target, coupled with low sensitivity, could create a very weak signal. The weak signal a small object produces is no different than a very deep object and therefor will have similar characteristics. This means that the object could have: an incorrectly reported DISC ID, a low and unreliable tone, or even an inability to be detected.
4. Oxidation can Cause Discrimination ID to Change
The only metal which is unaffected by surface oxidation is gold and various gold-alloys. Everything else is prone to an unavoidable, and inevitable, oxidation. Oxidation, more commonly known as rusting, happens when a reactive element is exposed to oxygen. In this case it is the production of a myriad of metallic-oxides which we are concerned with.
Metallic-oxides which are produced from corroding objects will bleed into the surrounding soil when moisture is present. This is more commonly known as the halo-effect. It is referred to as the halo effect because a targets field of detection will increase in a radiating pattern around the object.
If the soil which you are hunting in is moist, then the halo-effect can be your best friend. Allowing you to easily find smaller and deeper targets which have had their detection fields increased. However, these metallic-oxides will produce different DISC ID’s which might be discriminated against if you are excluding Iron or even Tin.
5. Adjustments to Increase Sensitivity for Gold Discovery
To enhance my metal detector’s sensitivity for finding gold, I make careful adjustments:
- Utilize a higher frequency coil as gold is better detected at high frequencies.
- Adjust the ground balance to suit the specific soil conditions.
- Fine-tune the sensitivity settings to pick up smaller gold signals without increasing noise from mineralization.
6. Positioning/Orientation of a Target Affects Discrimination ID
Due to the copious amounts of information modern metal detectors can gather and process, even the orientation of an object, in the ground, can affect DISC ID. A perfect example of this is that of the orientation of a coin. A coin may have a strong signal if it is positioned with the flat side parallel to the metal detector coil. A coin may also have a very weak signal if the flat side is positioned perpendicular to the metal detector coil.
The difference in the strengths of these two signals affects DISC ID in a similar way as both depth and size previously have. If the coin is positioned perpendicular to the coil: the DISC ID could be incorrectly reported, a low and unreliable signal can be detected, and in some cases an object will be completely unable to be detected.
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Should Beginner’s use Metal Detector Discrimination?
The answer to this question will depend upon the objective of the user. Many beginners may find it useful to gain experience from finding various pop can pull-tabs, nails, and other low value high presence objects. Finding these objects can teach a beginner how to use the pinpointer function of a metal detector and how to properly dig for an object. It is in this case that is in fact useful to not use any form of metal DISC.
If you are a beginner but you don’t care much for gaining experience, and instead favor finding only valuable targets, DISC can be incredibly valuable. Without the experience and know-how of an advanced user, a beginner can relatively easily find coins, rings, and other valuable objects. All of this while not being bogged down by constantly finding junk.
In either case, to ensure the value of your choice to, or to not, discriminate for or against certain metals, it is important to become familiar with both the discrimination and sensitivity settings of your specific metal detector. The guide provided above, for the Garrett ACE 400, will give you the basics that are translatable to most any modern metal detector. That is to say, “the basics” only. Other metal detectors can, and probably will, have different features, functions. And controls. Learning how to effectively use these things is essential to proper DISC utilization.
Learning How to Use Your Metal Detector Can Be Tough, But I’ve Got You Covered with These Articles
- How does a Metal Detecting Coil Work?– What is that round thing on the end of the metal detector?
- Can you Metal Detect in the Winter – Yes but read this article to learn the tips and tricks.
- Metal Detecting Digging Tools Complete Guide – Digging is part of metal detecting get the tools to do it right.
David Humphries, Writer and Creator of METAL DETECTING TIPS. After borrowing my son’s detector and finding $.25. I felt like a treasure hunter. FREE MONEY! I was seriously bitten by the metal detecting bug.