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RELICS – the deep program for large masses

Program 9 · XP Deus 2

RELIC The deep program for large masses

The Relic program (RELIC) is the XP Deus 2's secret weapon when it comes to deep, large finds in mineralised ground – Roman bronzes, medieval iron weapons, horseshoes, fittings, cannonballs, large coin conglomerates or smithing remains. It only rejects the local ground and lets through all metals above and below it.

24 / 53 kHz Max.

All Metal Mode

Subtract. Cond. ground

What is RELIC?

A specialist program with its own philosophy

While programs such as GENERAL or DEEP HC reliably reject the entire ground range, RELIC takes a different approach: it only rejects the exact, locally measured ground value – everything above and below this ground phase is reported as a signal. This allows the program to reach depths that would not be possible with classic programs that reject the ground completely.

Technically, RELIC is based on the same platform as program 8 GOLD FIELD, but uses lower frequencies with subtraction for conductive ground. From the factory it is configured to "All Metal" with low reactivity. This makes it the first choice as soon as you know or suspect that there are deep, larger objects on a site and you don't want to miss anything.

RELIC factory settings (prg. 9)

Frequency platformFMF · multi-frequency

Max. frequency24 kHz / 53 kHz (HF2)

Ground modeConductive subtraction

Disc level8.0

Reactivity1 (low)

Sensitivity95

Audio Response5

Iron volume7

Silencer2

Audio typeSquare

IAR discriminationOFF (factory)

Tracking / notchOFF

Operating principle

Why RELIC goes so deep

Deeply buried targets can take on values that resemble the ground – conventional programs then classify them as a ground signal and reject them. This is exactly where RELIC comes in: it only removes the local ground value that you have previously measured with Grab. Everything that has a different phase from this specific ground comes through – even if it is very weak.

This also gives rise to the most important condition: a precise ground balance using the Grab function is a must. Without a clean ground balance, RELIC works poorly, with constant false signals. With correct ground calibration, on the other hand, the program develops its full depth performance.

Keep the coil high

For deep, large masses, deliberately sweep the coil 15–20 cm above the ground. This avoids surface iron interference and reduces ground effects that distort deep signals.

Reactivity at 0

If you prioritise depth over separation, lower the reactivity to 0. Deep targets then produce longer, clearly recognisable tones. In cleaner ground, this is an enormous depth advantage.

Frequency at 14 kHz

Lower the maximum frequency to 14 kHz when you are specifically working on large, deep objects. Low frequencies penetrate deeper and respond better to masses.

Areas of use

What is program 9 good for in practice?

RELIC is not an all-round program – it is a specialist. It shows its strengths wherever you suspect deep, larger finds from historical periods and the ground is mineralised or has already been well searched.

Roman sites

Bronze brooches, hoards, larger lead objects

Middle Ages

Weapon remains, spurs, fittings, horseshoes

Battlefields

Musket balls, cannonballs, projectile parts

Deserted settlements

Rubble with metal content, tools, ironware

Mineralised ground

Deep red, iron-rich, magnetically contaminated

Coin hoards

Deep hoards with mass

Recommendations from practice

Proven settings for three scenarios

The factory program is a solid starting point – but real performance only comes from site-specific adjustment. Three scenarios that have proven themselves in the community and in tests:

Scenario 1: maximum depth · clean ground

Reactivity0 Long tones, max. depth

Sensitivity93–95 Just below instability

Max. frequency14 kHz Deeper, less sensitive to foil

Audio Response5–6 Amplify low tones

Coil height15–20 cm above the ground

Sweep speedVery slow

Scenario 2: iron-trashy · mineralised

Reactivity2–3 Better separation

Sensitivity85–90 Below the instability threshold

IAR discrimination3 Reject surface iron

Silencer2–3 Filter iron spikes

Max. frequency24 kHz

Ground balanceGrab, several times per spot

Scenario 3: woodland · damp mixed ground

Reactivity1–1.5 Good compromise

Sensitivity90–93

Max. frequency14–24 kHz

Iron volume3–5 Iron audible but muted

Frequency scanBefore every spot

Notch00 or 00–06 Filter out ground chatter

Important note on IAR on relic sites

XP explicitly points out: deep relic finds in heavily mineralised ground can produce a signal similar to iron. In such cases, keep IAR discrimination as low as possible or deactivate it completely – otherwise you risk losing precisely the good, deep targets.

Step by step

How to use RELIC correctly in the field

Carry out a frequency scan

Before starting, run an automatic frequency scan (long press on the G.B. button). This lets the Deus 2 find the quietest channel in your surroundings.

Select program 9 RELIC

Navigate to program 9 with the + / − arrow buttons. The factory settings are already a solid starting point.

Measure the ground with Grab

Hold down the pinpoint button and "pump" the coil towards the ground several times until the ground value stabilises. Be sure to repeat this regularly on relic sites.

Adjust sensitivity

Sensitivity as high as possible, but below the instability threshold. Listen for typical spike noises – then go back one level.

Sweep slowly and with overlap

Deep targets need time. Sweep slowly and keep the coil parallel to the ground – on relic sites deliberately 10–20 cm above it.

Pay attention to long tones

Deep masses do not give themselves away with loud signals, but with long, drawn-out ones. These are the real criterion for success with RELIC.

Cross-check suspicious signals

With deep, faint signals, sweep the spot from two directions and watch the target ID. Consistent signals from several angles → dig.

Classification

RELIC compared with other deep programs

The Deus 2 offers several programs designed for depth. Each has its own character – and depending on the ground, target and search behaviour, sometimes one and sometimes the other is the better choice.

RELIC (Prg. 9)

24 / 53 kHz · subtraction

All metal with low reactivity, only rejects the local ground. A specialist for deep large masses and iron finds. Requirement: a precise Grab ground balance.

DEEP HC (Prg. 6)

14 / 29 kHz · addition

Optimised for high conductivity – silver, copper, groups of coins. Suitable for deep coin hunting. Rejects the entire ground range in the classic way.

GOLD FIELD (Prg. 8)

40 / 89 kHz · addition

Sister program of RELIC for highly mineralised gold-bearing ground. Very high frequencies, ideal for small gold nuggets and fine low conductors.

GENERAL (Prg. 1)

40 / 53 kHz · subtraction

All-rounder, very stable. First choice when walking a new site – RELIC is then used specifically after the first pass.

DEUS MONO (Prg. 7)

4–45 kHz · mono

Single frequency as on the Deus 1. Extremely deep on clean inland sites, but more sensitive to ground interference than RELIC.

SENSI FT (Prg. 3)

40 / 89 kHz · addition

Full Tones variant for experienced detectorists with dense audio information. Better for iron-infested, mineralised areas with coins.

From practice

Seven insider tips for the RELIC program

These tips come from the many years of experience of seasoned detectorists, from US Civil War fields, Central European relic sites and XP's own application research:

First GENERAL, then RELIC. Walk a new site first with GENERAL for clean target IDs. Use RELIC specifically on the second pass to bring out what lies underneath.
Ground balance is everything. On relic sites, repeat the Grab every few metres. Even small changes in the ground cost depth and stability in this program.
Long tones are the goal. Deep masses often produce drawn-out rather than loud signals. Pay attention to long, calm tones – even if the target ID seems unstable.
The HF2 coil extends the range. With the HF2 coil, RELIC works up to 53 kHz. This also lets you pick up smaller, less conductive objects without losing depth.
Larger coil = more depth. The elliptical 13"×11" coil (34×28 cm) is the first choice on relic sites. It goes noticeably deeper than the 22 or 28 cm round coil and loses hardly any separation in the process.
Damp ground helps. After rain, wait a day and search the same field again with RELIC. The increased ground conductivity improves the range considerably.
Get to know the program. RELIC sounds different from GENERAL or FAST. Give yourself time to learn its sound before constantly readjusting – the program rewards patience.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ on the RELIC program

When do I use RELIC and when DEEP HC?

DEEP HC is optimised for highly conductive coins (silver, copper) and compact coin hoards – it adds frequencies and stays in classic ground rejection mode. RELIC, on the other hand, works in all metal, only rejects the local ground and is ideal for larger masses of all kinds of conductivity. Rule of thumb: looking for deep coins → DEEP HC. Looking for anything from historical layers → RELIC.

Why is RELIC so "loud" and restless compared with GENERAL?

Because the program works in all metal and only rejects the exact ground value. Everything that differs from this ground is reported – including ground variations, mineralised stones and ferrites. With precise, frequent Grab balancing and the right reactivity, the noise is considerably reduced.

Is RELIC suitable for coin hunting?

Yes, but in a targeted way – RELIC is suitable for deep, larger coin conglomerates and hoards, less so for single coins at shallow depth. GENERAL, DEEP HC or PARK are better suited for classic coin hunting. Use RELIC when you know that "everything on top" has already been picked off a site and you suspect remains lying deeper.

Should I activate IAR discrimination?

Only to a limited extent. IAR (Iron Amplitude Rejection) rejects iron depending on signal strength. On surfaces heavily littered with iron, a value of 3 can help. On deep relic sites in mineralised ground, XP explicitly warns against it – deep non-ferrous finds can produce iron-like signals there and are rejected. If in doubt, leave it switched off.

Which coil is the best choice for RELIC?

For maximum depth and area coverage, the elliptical 13"×11" (34×28 cm). If you search in tighter areas or in woodland, the 11" (28 cm) is a good choice. The HF2 24×13 cm coil is suitable for small, iron-infested areas where separation is more important than pure depth range.

Can I save my RELIC adjustments?

Yes. Via OPTION → PROGRAM → SAVE you can save a customised version as program 13–24. The RELIC factory settings themselves return to their original state each time the device is restarted – your adjustments are kept in the saved version.

How deep does the Deus 2 really go in the RELIC program?

Realistic values: 30–40 cm on single coins in favourable ground, 50–80 cm and more on larger masses. With reduced reactivity and a 14 kHz frequency limit, considerably greater depths are possible on large objects (smithing remains, cannonballs, hoard vessels). The final range depends heavily on the ground, coil and target.

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