Cancelled My Order - AT Pro:(

[jlopez5555]

I canxed my order this evening. Not because I don't think it's a good machine. I think it will be great but after taking my wife and daughter detecting with me there's no comparing audio to visual identification. I just got my daughter the ACE 250 this weekend and she and my wife have been using that but everytime they get a good beep I have to stop what I'm doing and go over their find with the GTI 2500 so they can decide if it's worth digging. I dont' see this changing with the AT Pro even though it should be better at tuning out junk. They will still be calling me over to see if it's coin size or soda can size.

I also like the imaging very much so I'm thinking of spending the extra $80 to get them the GTI 1500. For anyone who has not used imaging and is thinking about the AT Pro, I strongly recommend researching the comparably priced GTI 1500. There's alot to be said for visual imaging. Of course, it all depends on how you plan on using the detector but for most coin and jewelry hunters I would bet that the GTI 1500 or 2500 would serve you better.

 

[khouse]

After a while I would ask them to dig it up themselves. Also they would learn how size a target and know if it's coin sized or not. This way they won't depend on you as much.

 

[bearkat4160]

Yep that Imaging is nice. I believe the 1500 and 1350 are the best coin shooters in the world. However if you are a relic hunter I would go with the At Pro.

Heck look at John-Edmontons finds with the Scorpion, it has no target id, only one tone, no display, no notching, no imaging,....only his ears and the will to dig it all ans see what he gets...ALOT!. Go figure.


Alan

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Ok...but how do the higher-end Garretts perform at finding silver coins? Or is it just pure luck when one is found? That is my million dollar question. I know that with my Ace you don't know it's metal content until it's in your hand.

 

[Uncle Willy]

You forgot one very important thing, the AT has two hunting modes " standard" and "professional". In the standard mode they could hunt just like they do with the 250 and in the "Pro Mode" you could hunt like the big boys do. This detector was set up to serve both ends of the experience spectrum.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah experience, familiararity with the machine, and expertise finds the goodies not the gimmicks, bells, and whistles.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah they ain't detecting, just detecting at it, if you have to do half the work and figure everything out.

Bill

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

It's when you pinpoint. Provided a target is deeper than 2 inches, when you pinpoint, listen to how long the audio takes to drop off. A coin will have a fairly quick drop off but a soda can at depth will seem to want to hang onto the tone for ages, not wanting to drop off. The bigger the target, the longer it takes for the audio to drop off. you do need to be a little flexible when doing this, as targets can sometimes miss behave and try and trick you. You'll figure it out with time. One other caveat with pinpointing. If a second or 3rd target is under the coil while pinpointing, the audio will not break off till the last target has been passed over
Another simple tried a tested method, is simply works by lifting the coil. If it's still beeping when you have the coil over 8 inches off the ground, then it ain't a coin.
You're right about the GTI. The imaging feature is very handy. A guy/girl can get real spoiled with it.
Mick Evans.

 

[tigermoth]

I run a 2500 and it is a great detector,your right the imaging is hard to beat,when I get my AT PRO there's gonna be so many things I have organised for it that its going to be my main detector,I will be able to fall over in the river and not worry,go out on rainy days instead of getting cabin fever and having deep and meaning fulls with the dog,my arm will not be so sore so I will cover more ground ,I'm getting the 4.5 coil for the crevices that I dream about,yep I'm going to be as happy as a dog with a tail,this detector will suit my style of detecting and not others,im not saying Im going to find more coins or relics or evan gold,but what im going to do is have more fun and thats what we all need,good luck at what ever you decide and make it enjoyable Bazza

 

[SteveP(NH)]

I think you made a wise decision, I bet the GTIs are better coin shooters than the AT Pro will turn out to be. That imaging is so helpful with coins plus those GTIs just love coins. I have hit some very deep ones with my old 1500. I bet the AT Pro is going to be a killer relic machine though able to keep up with machines costing 3 times as much as it.

 

[khouse]

I've seen many a video with machines that give you the ferrous/non ferrous numbers. The user will say "it sounds like silver" then end up digging a clad quarter or trash. I don't think it's luck for any machine to find silver. I think it's 95% the hunting location and 5% luck. That requires research. My Ace tells me the metal content before I dig. Let's face it if the Ace 250 says it's iron then it's 95% iron when you dig it up. If it says pulltab then 98% it's aluminum. If it hits a solid dime/copper cent or better after sizing the target and proper pinpoint tone fall off then it's usually copper or better. If the 250 hit's in the copper cent/dime zone and goes beeping like a crazy phone then you can be sure it's a dime. But like you say until you see the target only then can you be sure of the metal content.

 

[John LA]

Your story reminds me of how it was when I took my children fishing many years ago. Someone on the waiting list will be glad you cancelled.
I don't want to offend anyone or Garrett either but I have never felt the need for imaging (sizing). I know the AT Pro is a relic machine but I'm going
to use mine to find coins mixed in iron and metal trash.

 

[Pyrites Pete]

You are spot on Mick.
Pyrites Pete

 

[Pyrites Pete]

My wife [using a ACE 250] use to do the same thing with me at the beach;
I now detect about 100 yards away .[using a GTI 2500] This solved that problem .
If it beeps she digs, and still finds more at the end of the day. Where as I analyse every
target for depth,.size , and conductivety
Pyrites Pete

 

[BusDigger]

You forgot one very important thing, the AT has two hunting modes " standard" and "professional". In the standard mode they could hunt just like they do with the 250 and in the "Pro Mode" you could hunt like the big boys do. This detector was set up to serve both ends of the experience spectrum.

Bill

So what you're saying is, you can push a button and turn a $600 detector into a $200 one? Nice

Smitty

 

[larryk56]

I watched all segments of the AT Pro video and the demonstration
of the machine was very good. We pre-ordered one for my son,

My personal opinion is that the machine is very versatile, newer
technology and will do an outstanding job. The toll roll audio
was pretty cool.

We never used a Garrett before and used the "W" brand. I really
think the AT Pro is going to give the competition a run for the money,

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I don't use the imaging that much but then I'm from the old school and depend on sound.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

BINGO!! That's why one mode is called "standard" and the other "professional. " It was designed for newbies and or oldtimers. That's another reason why it's such a bargain. Another Garrett innovation.

Bill

 

[jlopez5555]

I think I'm gonna wait until the upgrade to the GTI 2500 comes out.....should be the best of both worlds, imaging and audio.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

It's been ages since I've seen one of your posts.
I hope the AT Pro goes well for you. let us know how you go with it. I'd be interested on how it goes sorting out the screw caps from the goldies. I image that the elliptical concentric coil will do it if nothing else does, but it'll be interesting to know how the tones go at sorting targets out; ie how wide the signals are eta.
Good luck with it.
Mick Evans.