At least with the V3i - yes and no. It is entirely up to you.
For all these "complicated" detectors you can still just turn on and go like you can with a "simple" machine. The choice of how much to fiddle with the settings is entirely up to the operator and is not needed before detecting. By just using the standard programs and not adjusting them you will still get depths that are better a turn on and go machine. For example the Coin and Jewelry program on the V3i as set by the factory is slightly deeper and more sensitive then my AT Pro.
BUT the advantage of having a lot of control of the settings is in places where the going gets tough. Areas of high EMI or mineralisation are examples where the ability to adjust the machine more becomes very helpful. It also means you can even get greater depth and sensitivity on normal areas because you can customise the machine to a particular patch of ground and get the most out of the detector - for example when I lived on Waiheke I had written particular programs to match different parks.
Think of a programmable detector as a computer. Anybody can turn on a computer and lets say browse the web, but if you want to do more with it then you can but the more you do the more learning is involved. Being an IT specialist is not necessary to operate a computer, and likewise with these top of the range detectors - you don't have to be an expert but if you want to learn you can.
Those that quit the detectors and went back to switch & go ones probably tried to do too much at once. This is not necessary since they are very good detectors straight out of the box. There is a saying on another forum about learning to use the V3i - "you can eat an elephant one bite at a time".
Edited by user Saturday, 13 July 2013 10:41:02 AM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
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