Subtle signals

Many people even with a fair amount of metal detecting time under their belt do not understand how to interpret signals and walk over potentially valuable targets. 

The easiest signals to identify are the ones you do not actually hear, I am talking about signals within your metal detector threshold or back ground noise.

You do not always have to hear a beep from your metal detector to alert you to a target.
A slight raising or lowering of the threshold could be a deep target on the edge of detection range, it could also be a deep ferrous target being rejected.

Either way, threshold anomalies are normally a deep target that warrants further investigation, especially if you are searching for old coins and artifacts. 

A short break or null in the metal detector threshold is likely a rejected iron or junk target, if you are using even a minimum amount of discrimination. 

Time spent using your metal detector will help you to tell the difference between a threshold nulling or blanking over a ferrous object and a threshold that has been interrupted or changed by a deep non ferrous target.

On beaches known for old shipwreck artifacts, I rely on my my metal detector threshold more than anything else.

I do the same searching away from shore inside the water at tourist beaches, I have recovered many large pieces of platinum and gold jewelry after stopping to investigate a slight raise or lowering in my metal detector threshold.  
I am quite sure many beach and shallow water hunters only stop to dig two way repeatable signals, even in areas where targets are few and far between. 
It goes without saying, if you are running with a silent threshold, you are certainly not going to hear deep targets on the edge of normal metal detection range. 
If you search using an all metal mode, the easiest signals to identify are double blips from hairpins or thin elongated sparkler type wires, quite different to solid two way repeatable signals from jewelry, coins, etc.

The hardest signals to identify often turn out to be the best finds, they tend to be deep targets found by listening to slight changes in the threshold.    
This iron canister shot from the US civil war was found at an inland site, only a slight lowering of my metal detector threshold alerted me to the very deep target. 

With practice you can identify many types of target by the metal detector threshold response, including the potential size of a target. 

The more you rely on your ears instead of numbers on a metal detector screen the more likely you are to find what you are searching for using a metal detector, assuming you understand there are many different types of signals apart from beep beeps.

www.garydrayton.com