White’s Electronics MXT 300 - Manual (Page 22)

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DUAL CONTROL, SAT
When in the Prospecting MODE the DUAL CON-
TROL is used to adjust the level or speed of SAT
(Self Adjusting Threshold). The Threshold or
continuous faint hum heard during operation of
the MXT 300 can rise or disappear due to environ-
mental interference or by interference of ground
mineralization. This can be heard as chatter when
excessive. Faster SAT speeds tend to calm this in-
terference allowing for target sounds to be separated
from ground noise.
The MXT 300 is computerized, which allows im-
proved SAT in ways not practical in the past. These
improvements "kick in" progressively at higher
settings allowing better ground silencing in highly
variable ground. At these higher settings, cold
rocks (rocks well below the current ground min-
eral rejection level) will sound "different" giving
a "double blip" sound or vanishing entirely, rather
than giving the "boing" sound you will get at lower
settings.
Another difference between a gold nugget and a
cold rock is that when you sweep back and forth ,
the gold nugget will "stay in one spot" but the cold
rock will seem to keep wandering around. This can
also be the case with a pocket of negative mineral-
ization.
GAIN and VARIABLE SAT (Self Adjusting
Threshold) Speed:
The TRAC feature compensates for common
ground minerals in the area. The SAT control com-
pensates for the inconsistency of the ground miner-
alization. The greater the degree of inconsistencies,
the more SAT is needed to quiet ground noise. If
the THRESHOLD becomes too erratic or noisy, it
might be necessary to use the SAT feature and/or
reduce the GAIN control. This noisy behavior will
make it diffi cult to recognize a true target (possible
nugget) from pieces of mineral, commonly referred
to as "hot rocks". It is not wise to keep a high level
of GAIN if the detector will not operate smooth-
ly. This is a false sense of security. Maintain as
smooth a threshold as you can.
Recognizing a true target is the most important
part of detecting. This is an example of when less
GAIN will produce more nuggets. You must be the
best judge of just how much noise you can tolerate
and still identify nuggets, and thus the amount of
SAT and GAIN to use to produce the desired results
in your area. Therefore, if you have been operating
your MXT 300 at the full level of GAIN (+3) and
you determine that this is too high because either
the threshold is erratic or the detector is giving false
signals; always begin by reducing the GAIN toward
the Initial Setting triangle. If this does not correct
the problem, start adding some SAT speed by turn-
ing the SAT control slowly clockwise. If this does
not correct the problem, go back to the GAIN and
reduce it a little more and add a bit of SAT. As I
mentioned earlier it is sort of like seasoning a pot of
soup. Some salt and some pepper. Remember any
drop in GAIN below (7-8) will result in some loss
of depth. Any increase in SAT speed above the "P"
setting may also effect overall depth.
However, before reducing the Gain below 7 - 8 you
might try to experiment a bit with the HYPERSAT
range of the SAT control. This function is unique
to White's SAT. The Threshold will almost buzz and
loss of depth will be minimal. Reserve this option
for situations where ground is unusual or conditions
extreme. If you can't control your Threshold with
small reductions in Gain or small increasing SAT,
then "jump start" your SAT into the HYPERSAT
range. Before attempting this, you might practice
sweeping over a test nugget to learn to identify it's
sound with HYPERSAT.
We like to use the analogy of driving on a straight
road versus a curvy road. The object is to get from
point A to point B. 65 m.p.h. might get you there
on a straight road, but you will have to slow to 35
m.p.h. if the road is curvy, or you will end up off
the road. The straight road is like low mineralized
ground and the curvy road is like heavy mineraliza-
tion. High Gain and slower SAT will not get you
the Gold in heavy mineralization as well as lower
GAIN and faster SAT.
Chapter 5 MXT 300 Controls Chapter 5 MXT 300 Controls