What is the XY screen on the XP Deus?

The XY screen is an oscilloscope-like display mode that shows the electromagnetic signature of a target in two dimensions. The X axis shows ferromagnetic properties, the Y axis conductivity. This creates characteristic patterns that improve target identification.

How do I activate the XY screen on the Deus II?

On the Deus II: activate OPTION → SETTINGS → XY PROFILE. Alternatively, press both buttons at the same time on the standard screen for the full-screen view.

What does XY zoom mean on the XP Deus?

The XY zoom (levels 1–10) controls the sensitivity of the display. Low zoom values (1–3) only show strong, close signals. Higher values (6–10) also show weaker, deeper targets. Zoom 3–5 is recommended for coin hunting.

Does the XY screen also work on the Deus I?

Yes, the XY screen is also available on the original XP Deus I. Set the zoom by holding the pinpoint button for 2 seconds. Important: not available with HF (high frequency) coils.

XP Deus I & II · expert knowledge

The XY screen –
your visual target system

Everything you need to know about the XY display mode: how it works, target signatures, zoom settings and practical field experience – by detectorists for detectorists.

XP Deus I XP Deus II XY screen Target identification Zoom setting

Contents of this guide

What is the XY screen?
Layout and controls
Activation on the Deus I and II
Understanding target signatures
The 5 original examples from the XP manual
XY zoom: 10 levels explained
Deus I vs. Deus II compared
Practical tips from the field
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is the XY screen?

The XY screen is an oscilloscope display mode of the XP Deus I and II. Instead of just showing a target ID number, the detector plots the electromagnetic signature of the detected object as a two-dimensional curve. This curve reveals whether an object contains iron, how homogeneous its material is and how strong the signal is.

The principle: while you sweep the search coil over a target, the Deus plots on the X axis the ferromagnetic properties and on the Y axis the electrical conductivity. The interplay of the two values creates a characteristic trace – the object's "fingerprint pattern".

Rule of thumb The XY screen does not replace your ears – it complements them. Experienced detectorists use it as a second opinion when a signal is acoustically ambiguous.

Schematic representation of the XY screen – target signatures and axis labels

Layout and controls

The XY screen is divided into four quadrants. The position of the signature curve shows at a glance whether an object is made of iron or not.

Display elements at a glance

T.ID (target ID): Numerical conductivity value of the detected object (0–99)
G.ID (ground ID): Currently measured ground phase as a reference value
F/NF indicator: Quick iron identification – left = ferrous, right = non-ferrous
Signature curve: The plotted XY trace of the target – the real added value
Signal strength: The extent of the curve indirectly shows the depth/strength of the signal

Pro tip The more compact and even the signature curve, the "cleaner" the object. Very large, diffuse or asymmetrical curves indicate iron or complex objects.

Activation on the Deus I and II

XP Deus I – activation

Switch on the remote control and select a program
In the main menu: OPTION → SETTINGS
PROFILE select → activate XY screen
Zoom setting: Hold the pinpoint button for 2 seconds
Use + / – select the desired zoom level (1–10)

Important Not available with HF (high frequency) coils. With an HF coil, XY mode remains deactivated.

XP Deus II – activation

Switch on the remote control, select a program
Menu path: OPTION → SETTINGS → XY PROFILE
Set the XY screen as the standard profile
Zoom directly under: OPTION → SETTINGS → XY PROFILE → ZOOM
Quick access: on the standard screen, press both buttons at the same time → full-screen target ID

Deus II menu path – XY zoom

OPTION › SETTINGS › XY PROFILE › ZOOM

Display profiles compared

The Deus II offers three display profiles, which you switch between depending on the situation:

Standard screen: Large T.ID + F/NF bar graph with depth indicator – for quick decisions
XY screen: Oscilloscope view of the signature – for difficult ground and target identification
Full screen: Maximum T.ID display in large format – for poor light conditions

Understanding target signatures

Every class of object leaves a characteristic trace on the XY screen. The following patterns are the most important ones you should know:

Coin / ring

Compact oval, top right (NF)

Foil / lead

Short line, top left (NF)

Iron (small)

Small dot, bottom (F)

Can / large iron

Diffuse ellipse, bottom right

Ground phase

Horizontal centre line, ferrite/ceramic

Depth and signal strength The size of the curve shown gives an indication of signal strength and indirectly of depth: a large, clear curve means a nearby or large object. A small, shaky trace indicates greater depth or a small object.

What does a "stable" signature mean?

A good target – such as a coin – produces a reproducibly similar curve when the coil is swept from different directions. The pattern remains recognisable. Iron objects, on the other hand, change their signature greatly depending on the sweep angle, which leads to restless, jumping patterns.

Practical tip: cross check Sweep the coil over the target in two perpendicular directions (cross). If the XY signature remains similar for both sweeps → a good sign of a non-ferrous object.

The 5 examples from the original XP manual

In the official user manual, XP shows exactly these five signature images – this is what the patterns look like on the real display. Learn these patterns and you will know the most important situations in the field.

Non-ferrous · e.g. coin

Wide, flat lens shape in the upper NF zone – diagonal from bottom left to top right. Typical of coins and homogeneous non-ferrous objects.

Non-ferrous · e.g. foil

Narrower, slimmer lens than the coin – also diagonal in the NF zone. Typical of aluminium foil, flat lead and similar thin non-ferrous objects.

Iron · rejected

S-shaped squiggle in the lower F zone on the left. A classic iron signal – nails, wire, small pieces of iron. Occurs exclusively in the ferrous zone.

Iron · cans / large objects

Large, open hook crossing the centre line. High T.ID despite iron – a trap! Typical of tin cans and large iron parts. The signature jumps during the cross check.

Ground phase · ferrite / ceramic

Long dotted horizontal line exactly on the centre line, full screen width. Ground phase, ferrite and ceramic sherds – no need to dig.

Caution: example 4 (iron can) is a trap Large iron objects such as cans can produce a T.ID of 60+ and therefore look like a coin at first glance. The difference: the XY signature is large, diffuse and crosses the centre line. A cross check with the coil exposes the iron immediately – the signature then jumps a lot.

All 5 signatures compared directly

This is what the patterns look like relative to each other – the position on the XY screen is decisive:

Recreation of the 5 original examples from the XP Deus II user manual (page 29)

XY zoom: 10 levels explained

The zoom level determines the sensitivity of the XY display. A low zoom only shows strong, close signals – the curve stays calm and clear. A high zoom also makes faint, deep signals visible, but also increases background noise.

Zoom level	Sensitivity	Suitable for	Note
1–2	Very low	Testing, rough sorting	Only very close / strong targets visible
3	Low	Trashy ground	Good iron separation, little noise. Shows coin behaviour similar to the Deus I
4–5	Medium ★	Coin hunting, general	A balanced ratio – recommended as a starting point
6	Medium-high ★	Relic hunting, fields	Also shows medium-depth targets well – the Deus II standard setting of many users
7–8	High	Deep seeking	More background noise, requires experience
9–10	Maximum	Special applications	Very sensitive, even faint deep targets visible – patience needed

Deus I: zoom 3 for coin behaviour On the Deus II, zoom level 3 shows signature behaviour that is very similar to that of the original Deus I. Anyone switching from the Deus I is best off starting with zoom 3 and working their way up.

Deus I vs. Deus II – XY differences

XP Deus I

XY screen available since firmware V3
Zoom can only be set via the pinpoint button (2 sec.)
No separate profile switch – standard or XY
Not available with HF coils
Simpler signature display, but easy to read
One frequency at a time → signature sometimes less stable

XP Deus II

XY screen selectable as a full profile
Zoom can be set directly in the menu (OPTION → SETTINGS)
Three profiles: standard / XY / full screen
Works with all compatible coils
More stable signature thanks to multi-frequency (FMF)
With V4.x: dual-channel processing improves the XY display further
Quick access: both buttons at the same time → full-screen T.ID

Deus II V4.x and the XY screen Since firmware V4.0, the Deus II processes two independent detection channels at the same time. This considerably improves the stability of the XY signature in mineralised ground – especially with ferrous interfering objects.

Practical tips from the field

When is the XY screen particularly valuable?

Doubtful signals: When your ears alone do not give a clear decision, the XY curve gives a second opinion
Iron-rich ground: Large, diffuse curves deep in the lower half = iron – safe to skip
Aluminium vs. gold: Pure aluminium produces a more compact, more symmetrical signature than a gold ring with a similar conductivity
Deep targets: Visible at high zoom – the small, shaky curve shows that something is still there
Learning phase: Set up a test garden – bury known objects and study their signatures

Limits of the XY screen

From a depth of approx. 15 cm, signatures become smaller and more restless – interpretation becomes more difficult
In very heavily contaminated ground, the signatures of several objects overlap
The XY screen is not a miracle cure – your ears remain the primary tool
Practice needed: at least 20–30 hours of field practice before the signatures are recognised intuitively

Don't trust it blindly Even experienced detectorists report surprises: a faint, unclear signal with a small XY curve turned out to be a rare silver penny. If in doubt, dig – a poor signature does not rule out a good target.

Recommended settings for getting started

Start with XY zoom 4 or 5 – this is the most balanced starting point for most terrain
Combine the XY screen with the "Park" (prg. 5) or "General" (prg. 1) program of the Deus II
Set up a test garden : coins, nails, aluminium foil, ring pulls at 5, 10 and 20 cm – and get to know the signatures
Sweep every signal crosswise (0° and 90°) – stable patterns in both directions = a good sign
Note your observations in a field notebook – after 50 digs you will know your machine

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

No. Many experienced detectorists search primarily by ear and only switch on the XY screen for doubtful signals. The standard screen with its large conductivity display is often more practical for making quick progress. Use the XY screen as a tool, not an obligation.

Possible causes: zoom level too high (reduce it to 3–5), ground too heavily mineralised (check the ground balance), iron or aluminium objects nearby, or the target lies very deep. With strong ground minerals, increasing reactivity slightly helps.

No – and this is an important point: the XY screen is available exclusively on the remote control (RC) . Neither the WS6 nor the WSA ST headphones show the XY screen. This is one of the few functional differences that makes the RC indispensable on the Deus II – if you want to use XY mode, you cannot do without the remote control.

A signal that crosses the centre line indicates that the object has both ferromagnetic and conductive properties – typical of mixed alloys, heavily corroded coins or iron objects with attached non-ferrous parts. These targets should usually be dug, as they can be interesting.

For gold hunting – especially for small gold rings or jewellery – zoom 5–7 is recommended. In combination with Full Tones, you can watch the XY curve and spot slight deviations from a pure aluminium signature that could indicate gold. Never forget: evaluate your ears and the XY picture together.

Ready for your XP Deus?

Whether you are a beginner or a professional – we will advise you personally and help you find the right detector for your search area.

Discover the Deus II Personal advice

Happy hunting! — Your metalldetektoren.de team

XP Deus 1 & 2 XY explained

The XY screen –
your visual target system

What is the XY screen?