Make Your Treasure Hunting Easier with a Pinpointer
A handheld pinpointer enables you to home in on a signal with greater accuracy. This means that you can save valuable time and effort digging around the approximate location of a find. It can also prevent possible damage to the object as you'll know exactly where to dig. Whether you're a professional archaeologist or amateur hobbyist who enjoys the excitement of looking for buried treasure, a pinpointer is an essential piece of equipment. Some compact models can also be used as metal detectors if you have security concerns for a venue or business. eBay has a wide selection of pinpointers which can be used on any terrain and in all weather conditions.
What kind of pinpointer do you need?To make sure you choose the most suitable pinpointer, take the following factors into account:
- Manufacturer: Select among the range of branded and unbranded pinpointers.
- Dimensions: Consider the size/weight of the device to ensure easy use and portability.
- Location: For underwater use, check if the pinpointer is waterproof, and to what depth.
- Power source: Think about the voltage/number of batteries, battery hours, and if they're rechargeable.
- Colour: Although available in many colours, brightly-coloured pinpointers can be easily found in poor light or dirty water.
- Modes: Audio and/or vibration mode notify you of a find, or alarm mode (audio and LED light) signals an inactive misplaced device.
- Special features: Some models have auto retune, a LED torch, and/or a second probe cap with digging blade.
The pinpointers on eBay range from 3-100 kHz. Your choice will depend on the location you'll be searching, and what you're looking for. Low frequency pinpointers use longer wavelengths and are more accurate at greater depths. They are also ideal if you're looking for objects of high conductivity such as silver. High frequency pinpointers use shorter wavelengths, and so are suitable for smaller objects which are closer to the surface and have lower conductivity like gold and iron. These probes tend to give more false positives because of their greater sensitivity.
How can you prevent false alarms with a pinpointer?Some false signals are due to the way you use the pinpointer. Pushing down too hard on the probe or not keeping it equidistant from the surface can often lead to false alarms. Buying a pinpointer with ferrous tone ID and/or with varying levels of sensitivity (controlled by microprocessor circuitry) can also prevent you from receiving a false reading from ground mineralisation.