"For starters, turn off "auto"

You cannot "X" the coil to pinpoint like other machines with a concentric coil. There are a couple of different ways to pinpoint, but learn the basic way first. The way you pinpoint with a double-d coil is to sweep over the target, side to side, until you get the loudest response. Once you've stopped sweeping and the coil center is over the loudest response, without moving the coil and using it as a pivot point, move your body around the center of the coil and sweep side to side along the imaginary line that the center of the coil would have made when it was over the loudest response before moving. You should now be 90 degrees from where you started and sweeping the coil side to side until you get the loudest response again.
Where the two imaginary lines cross is the center of the target. It takes a little practice but in no time at all you'll be able to do this quickly and accurately. Because the double-d coil is hot from the toe to the heel of the coil for about 1 to 1.5 inches wide along the center, pinpointing is a two step process. You get the first center "line" then the second center "line" 90 degrees to the first. I hope this makes sense. Re-read your manual. I almost forgot, pinpoint in the "all-metal" mode.

A most important point. You cannot sweep this machine like a White's or other fast sweep unit. You must sweep slowly in order to allow the micro-processor have a chance to analyse the 17 frequencies. You almost can't go too slow. About 2 seconds for a 4 foot sweep is about as fast as you want to go. Count it out, one thousand one, one thousand two. Maybe make it 3 seconds per sweep.

Deep signals are hard to describe and are the hardest to learn without someone that knows the machine showing you. It's not going to sound like a good signal initially all the time. There is no signal boost with this machine so, the soft signals are just that, soft. Unlike other machines that give those soft or iffy signals, when the Sovereign/Excalibur talks, listen. It isn't going to give you the "false" kinds of signals that you've learned to
ignore that you get with the other machines. The good deep signal is going to sound iffy at first but by sweeping over that signal with a very tight, short sweep, the signal on a good deep coin is going to start to rise. Dig those signals. If you find you seem to be digging too many rusted iron targets, ie, nails, screws, etc., you've probably got your sensitivity set too high. I normally hunt at about 12 o'clock with good signal id and depth.

These should be a good start. Slow down, turn down the sensitivity, turn off the notch, keep the discrimination low. Take a little more time to pinpoint carefully. I mostly hunt parks with the SunRay 12 inch coil and usually pinpoint dead nuts every time with it. It just takes some practice. Stop worrying about what the other guys are finding and saying. If you take your time to learn this machine, you'll be kicking theirs soon enough.

I hope this is helpful. I'm certainly no expert with this machine and a lot of what I know, I've learned from listening to others here and by practice with it. Give these a try and if you have more questions, just ask away. Good hunting..."