Ace 250 old technology?

[Tabcollector]

Hi all, I have read several post on here and other forums where people put down the the Ace because it uses old 80's technology, if this is true then we have not come a long way since then because the Ace seems just as good or better than other detectors in it's price class.

 

[jackinaustin]

I don't recall anything in the 80's that was anything like the Ace 250!

 

[Tabcollector]

Here is one quote from another forum, "Remember that the Aces use very antiquated circuitry". Well maybe older is better!

 

[rifleman]

If the Ace 250 uses 80's technology, then so do most of the $600 to $700 machines out today because the Ace works almost as well as the higher priced detectors. It just has fewer bells and whistles. For the price, the Ace detectors are the best deal per dollar. They flat work.

Best Regards, John K

 

[John-Edmonton]

There is nothing wrong with 80's technology, or for that matter even 70's or 60's. The analog systems just seem to give a cleaner hit on gold rings, silver rings, & coins. A lot of those older machines work better then some of the latest ones. The quality was better too. On the down side, they were heavier and used more batteries. The Scorpion is another example of an excellent machine, using the old ground hog circuitry. It is my hottest machine I own for finding gold and silver rings.

 

[PennyFinder]

Still use and love my 80's Garrett Master Hunter 7 on the beach. Manual or Auto GB. It cruises at 5.5khz for better penetration in the salty black sand mineralization. I'm talking magnetite city here folks. Love the coin alert bell, you can't miss. It even counts your change for you...well not quite, but pretty close. It's a really good beach ring finder. You got to try one out. Many people prefer analogue just as John was saying, we even have a separate analogue forum on Findmall.


PennyFinder

 

[Roscue2]

The people dogging the 250 are just mad because they realized that they got ripped off by spending their money on a more expensive detector that can't do anything more than the 250 can.

 

[Bryan/EastTN]

n/t

 

[TURNMASTER]

I have read in another forum that the Ace 250 is an up to date machine and likely underpriced in its ability range. Don't own one yet, but may.

Anyone want to trade for a BountyHunter LandStar

Let them talk
Jeff

 

[Uncle Willy]

I guess that's why it's the hottest selling detector on the market - all that "old" technology. Other companies only wish they had such old technology.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I prefer analog and knobs for fine tuning. Don't care for all the digital crap but it's cheaper to make.

Bill

 

[danGeorge]

IN THE 80s YOU WOULD PAY $600-$700 FOR A DETECTOR IN A CLASS THAT WOULD STILL BE INFERIOR TO THE ACE 250

 

[zaxfire69]

If the Ace 250 is just like the 80's detectors, why am I finding so many silver coins that should have been cleaned out in the 80's???? I hunt this one particular area that I have made a few video's at and posted them on youtube. I ran into an old timer the other day. He said he knew a couple of guys that metal detected this exact spot back in the 80's. He said that he has walked this area I am hunting for over 30 years. He said he remembers fellows out here detecting back then. The last 6 times I have been to this spot I have dug silver with my Ace 250. Even a large cent on one occasion. Now if the Ace 250 was like the 80's detectors this place wouldn't even produce a signal. I have a $1000 unit as well. GRANTED it is excellent at what it is designed for which is Relic hunting. When it comes to coinshooting all I have to do is pull out the Yeller Feller... It will produce the coins. I am one of those fellows that PRAISE the Ace 250. I speak about it on other forums and some guys literally laugh when you talk about this detector. I honestly would be willing to put money on the fact that if some of those folks were to go head to head with me and my Ace 250 my coin counts would be higher than theres at the end of the day. I honestly want to buy a couple more just to leave in the box and put in the top of my closet IN CASE Garrett decides to change it in anyway.

 

[Uncle Willy]

There's a dummy on every forum.

Bill

 

[Alan Applegate]

If you want to find out about the technology any MD uses, download the associated patents. You pay a small fee for the drawings and photos of course. Some of them, especially those which cover the Garrett models (including the 250) are rather interesting. You'll also discover who Robert J. Podhrasky is. Personally, I'd love to meet the man over dinner. I'm sure it would be very enlightening conversational evening.

 

[Old Katz]

One of the reasons for much of the flack over the
Ace 250 is because it's so low priced. It's automatically
assumed that if its a cheap buy then it's a cheap machine
and "no good."

What they seem to block out/fail to take into consideration is
that Garrett made an executive decicision that would grab a bigger share
of the market and that was to build a well "made machine" that would
stand up to the mid-range and higher end machines. He buildt the Ace 250
and priced it at $212.00. The plan worked.

The Plan worked so well that Fisher had to come out with the F-2, a nice
little machine by the way, but still not up to the caliber of the Ace 250.
Whites just came out with the Coin Master at $179.00, another basic
machine, but a far cry from the options you get with the Ace 250.

The only complaint I have with the Ace 250 is that it doesn't have
any concentric coils, like a 7in or 8in. At present, useing the standard
coil that comes with the Ace, your going to get about 6inches on the average
sized targets, such as a coin or ring. It will pick up deeper on larger size targets.
There are larger coils and even one or two after market coils.

Although the Ace 250 is built for the average "ground" it will have
trouble with heavy mineralized ground. But all in all the Ace 250 is a good machine
for the money, especially when you consider it could easily have been priced in
the $400-$450 range. Remember, this is a "Factory Pre-set machine." and not
intended for gold nugget hunting, although it has found large sized nuggets
in Alaska, according to one of Garrets older News Letters.

This is a good machine to start out youre MDing experience with but you will
probably grow out of it and want a higher end machine. A Whites or even a Mind Lab
might be the way to go.

Make no mistake, the Ace 250 is not CHEAPLY made. Its very well put together
and VERY reasonably priced.

I just wish Garret would listen and bring in some concentric coils!

Katz

Take time to smell the flowers.

 

[Roscue2]

I totally agree with you Old Katz. Garrett caused the whole market to shift by making the 250.

 

[barqy]

thank you for the informative post kat

learning something new every day here...

 

[waynard]

I must say that in some respects, I like analog machinery myself. There's some comfort in tapping the gauge on your detector, ( just like the WW2 pilots did) before starting your hunt.
The reason that analog machines seem to give a clearer signal, is likely that it is due to the time factor of swinging a needle in relationship to the tone output. Digital is inherently faster. And, what was wrong with the older technology anyhow? Just because something is a little older, doesn't mean its any less of a machine. Look at the 59 Coupe De Ville..
I love my Ace. The only drawback for me so far, is that it is not tuned to Canadian clad, and, as a result, I must hunt in 'all metal' mode to get all the newer coins. This can be very noisy in a trashy area. If I want to really drive myself crazy, I put on the large coil in all metal mode, and head out to an old dump.
And of course, it would be nice if gold did not ring in the same as pulltabs..

 

[reddirtfisher]

I have noticed that the 80's detectors (all brands) especially the TR/Disc units are selling for high prices on Ebay. What does that tell you? These buyers must know something ! Also concerning the Ace 250....there is only one reason I won't buy one and you guys are going to think this is stupid but I don't like the bright YELLOW color. I wrote to Garrett about this and they basically told me, "Sorry Bubb, The color will stay the same." My reasoning for this is that I am NOT trying to attract attention when I am in the field. It's kinda hard not to quickly spot a bright yellow blurr swinging in the sun. The green is fine,...but yellow? I know,...I know...they are trying to make it look "sporty" (for the younger generation). But statistically most metal detectorists are middle aged men such as myself and many others on this forum. Just my 2 cents. Happy Hunting from the infamous RedDirtFisher