Pinpointing with the Explorer

Pinpointing: Here are a couple of hints to help you out if you are having a problem pinpointing. If you have pretty much determined where the target is and then go to pinpoint mode and you seem to loose the target but a constant tone on either side of where you think the target should be, you more than likely pressed the pinpoint switch when the coil was over the target. Go back to detect mode, verify again that there is a target where you thought there was one and then move the coil off to the side. Go back into pinpoint mode and you should be able to pick up your target. It does mention this in the manual but can easily forgotten and can be frustrating until reread or remembered. Second hint is if you have multiple close shallow targets and you have been able to determine that there is a good target among target that you don't want, pinpointing can be difficult. You can do one of two things. One is just to dig everything in the immediate area that you are able to pinpoint on and eventually you will be able to get the target you are after. Second way is to zero in on detect mode and about have the target pretty much pinpointed already. Lift the coil up about 5 inches and off to the side and then go into pinpoint mode. You will still have multiple pinpoints but it will be easier to pick up the one that you already know that you want cause by raising the coil is giving you the same effect as "de-tuning" the machine. Just dig the target that is the closest pinpoint to where you figured the target was in the first place and more than likely this is the target you wanted.

LATEST TIP FOR PINPOINTING!!!
This tip was provided to us by "Bill" Thanks Bill, great tip!
I am new to MineLabs but have an Explorer XS and like many other had a problem with the pinpointing mode, especially in trashy areas. I hit upon a procedure that works for me and would like to pass it along and have others try it and see if it helps them. I move the coil about 3-4 feet to the side and a couple of feet above the ground with the coil pointing toward the horizon (at least away from the ground 20 or 30 degrees) and hit the pinpoint button while holding the coil in this position, hold it there for 1 or 2 seconds until all sounds disappear then bring the coil down and over the target and it will pinpoint with deadly accuracy (a steady hum right over the target). I know the book warns to move to the side but I was still having problems.

Here is a really great way to practice pinpointing. Have a friend tape a coin to a large piece of cardboard. Then lay it coin down on the grass in an area that is free of metal objects. Now attempt to pinpoint the coin through the cardboard.
When satisfied, place a pin through the cardboard and see how close you pinpointed. Try to visualize the spot on the coil where the coin actually was.

After a few times doing this, you will become quite accurate and also learn something about your particular machine.

While sweeping do not forget to listen for faint signals.
especially the faint ones,beginners often only dig targets that sound off loudly,when in fact the faint signals may be a deep or a small target,sometime a good rule of thumb is to use the all metals mode in the begining when you are first starting out.

Once you have detected a target you can save time and avoid digging a large hole by PINPOINTING a target that you have found. Sweep over the target and find the signal,then draw an imaginary X pattern accross the target area,mentally take note where the signal sounds off,go both ways in the X pattern and dig at the centerpoint.

If your not in all metals,you can switch to the all metal modeonce you pinpointed,so you can find the target with ease