boost or normal vs reducing gain

Which would you do first to quieten down a bit of chatter.....in audio switch from boost to normal.......or would you reduce the gain first ?

Neither, id use the stabilizer.

Ok so am I correct that dropping the stabilizer right down does not reduce sensitivity to the same extent
as it would be if I dropped the gain an equivelant value ?

It has more of an effect on taming EMI than it doe's on ground effect. IMO
If you pay close attention, it will knock a tad off tiny gold close to the surface using very low numbers. If using a smaller coil, the coil will compensate for this small lose.The stabilizer is a finer gain control, thats why its advised to set up all your other settings fist, than come back and adjust the stabilizer. When EMI is low, there's no real need to use much stabilizer.

When your aware of its effects, and not too shy about how to use it, you tend to make it work for you. Receive is everything, but ya have to know the effects of each of the settings and how their going to effect the receive.

What works for you one minute, maybe useless shortly after due to the effects of EMI.

Yes yes...it was EMI that was the problem...even after several tunes....so next time I will adjust gain so it is very nearly quiet and then drop the stabilizer....

Hi All,
Just need someone to clarify a comment by Narrawa (When EMI is low, there's no real need to use much stabilizer.) doe's this mean you use a lower number or a higher number on the stabiliser setting; it's my belief that the higher numbers equal less stabilisation, is this correct?
Cheers, AUoptimist.

it's my belief that the higher numbers equal less stabilisation, is this correct?

Thats correct.
Low numbers = more stabilization....high numbers = less stabilization.

Narrawa (When EMI is low, there's no real need to use much stabilizer.)

On days when its pretty quiet, i can be found using the stabilizer on FP or a tad higher.
The main thing with the stabilizer is, dont be scared to use it, and the best way to overcome any shyness with this setting is...test it on un dug targets. Test it on days when the EMI level is high over un dug targets. Get a feel for what it can and can't do, and how your going to benefit from implementing its levels when the time comes. Asking your mate what level he is using , and changing yours to the same, aint going to help you understand the true power of this feature/function.

Hi Narrawa,
Many thanks for the reply; I'm sure there would be a fair number of newbies out there, that, like myself in the early days with the ML5000 (my first detector) just assumed that the higher the satbiliser number the greater the effect; again it pays to read the manual over and over.
Cheers, AUoptimist.

AUoptimist, what Narrawa is saying is quite correct. Next time you're out in the field, from FP increase your stab number to max and you will notice that the detector becomes very chattery. What you're doing is opening up the "door" more but if you reduce your stab to min, your detector will quieten down considerably. What you have to do is find the balance between them, before your detector starts being chattery, sometimes it's FP, sometimes higher, sometimes lower...

Hi CostasDee,
Thanks for the additional information, I have been detecting with the ML5000 for just over three years now and feel pretty happy with how to set it up for varying conditions.(apart from screaming HOT ROCKS)
As others have mentioned we are constantly cross checking settings within our small prospecting group; to keep ourselves honest so to speak; there is hardly a trip out swinging that you don't learn a new tweak or trick to try on the next outing, this detecting game is certainly an interesting and challenging pursuit.
Cheers, AUoptimist.

Yeah! seems weird eh, the higher the number you select one would think stronger your stabiliser would be, most controls, or at least those I have come in contact with such as audio or speed controllers or whatever #1 would be a low setting and #20 would represent louder/faster/stronger etc., obviously not the case with minelab stabiliser settings, seems to go against standard thinking, anyone know or even hazard a guess why this is or was it just a minelab idea.

Wayne.