New Member from Arkansas – Ace 250 Pinpointing Question

[Mitchelldad]

Hey everyone,

Newbie here from Arkansas! I’m excited to join the community, there’s definitely a lot to read and even more to learn.

I have a quick question as I get used to my new Garrett Ace 250. I’ve noticed that while using pinpoint mode, the sound intensity varies depending on the target. Does this volume change based on the depth of the item, or is it something else?

Thanks for the help! I’m looking forward to getting involved and contributing to the forum however I can.

 

[John-Edmonton]

The loudest audio is when the coil is centered on the target.

 

[Confetrit]

Mitchell dad, A Big Welcome to You to the forum and to the world of treasure hunting from Georgia. You are at a great place here. There are a lot of great folks here willing to help with any questions you may have, with lots of experience. The Garrett Ace 250 is a proven metal detector. Best of Luck to you, and again Welcome. We look forward to seeing some pic.'s of your found treasure.

 

[Odanscoils]

Welcome Mitch,

As John mentioned.
The closer you get to the target in pin point the sound gets louder.
Pinpoint is full all metal.
Even in all metal settings it's not quite true all metal.

In answer to your question.
Yes the deeper the target your pinpointing.
The quieter the sound will be.
Giving you an audio aid to determine depth and size of the target.
Plus the depth gage of the machine.

Practice with coins and junk above ground to help you get a better feel of the machine.
Lift your coil a few inches for better response.
Then bury coins and see if you can determine each coin and accurate depth.
The sounds from pinpoint give more information.

Remember that depth indicator is for coin sized target's.
And will be off depending on size and depth of item detected.
I hit a perfectly round 3/8" ball of can slaw.
Mowed up aluminum cans.
Said it was a quarter at six inches.
Nope. That little ball about 3 inches.

I Loved and still have my 250.
It's my primary loaner.

Found my first valuable earring with it.
Rang up as a solid nickel.

Enjoy and Good Luck.

 

[Mitchelldad]

Welcome Mitch,

As John mentioned.
The closer you get to the target in pin point the sound gets louder.
Pinpoint is full all metal.
Even in all metal settings it's not quite true all metal.

In answer to your question.
Yes the deeper the target your pinpointing.
The quieter the sound will be.
Giving you an audio aid to determine depth and size of the target.
Plus the depth gage of the machine.

Practice with coins and junk above ground to help you get a better feel of the machine.
Lift your coil a few inches for better response.
Then bury coins and see if you can determine each coin and accurate depth.
The sounds from pinpoint give more information.

Remember that depth indicator is for coin sized target's.
And will be off depending on size and depth of item detected.
I hit a perfectly round 3/8" ball of can slaw.
Mowed up aluminum cans.
Said it was a quarter at six inches.
Nope. That little ball about 3 inches.

I Loved and still have my 250.
It's my primary loaner.

Found my first valuable earring with it.
Rang up as a solid nickel.

Enjoy and Good Luck.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That really helps clarify why the audio fluctuates so much in Pinpoint mode. I’ll definitely take your advice and set up a test garden in the yard this weekend with some coins and 'can slaw' at different depths to train my ears.

It’s interesting that the machine can mistake a small ball of aluminum for a quarter, I guess that’s where the 'audio aid' you mentioned becomes more important than the digital depth gauge. Good to know the Ace 250 is still a reliable primary machine (or loaner) after all these years.

I’m hoping for a 'solid nickel' hit that turns out to be an earring like yours! Once I get a better feel for the coil height and those faint deep signals, I'll report back on what I find.

By the way, do you usually hunt in Jewelry Mode to filter out some of that 'can slaw,' or do you prefer the All Metal settings?

 

[Mitchelldad]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. So happy to be part of this wonderful community.

 

[Odanscoils]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That really helps clarify why the audio fluctuates so much in Pinpoint mode. I’ll definitely take your advice and set up a test garden in the yard this weekend with some coins and 'can slaw' at different depths to train my ears.

It’s interesting that the machine can mistake a small ball of aluminum for a quarter, I guess that’s where the 'audio aid' you mentioned becomes more important than the digital depth gauge. Good to know the Ace 250 is still a reliable primary machine (or loaner) after all these years.

I’m hoping for a 'solid nickel' hit that turns out to be an earring like yours! Once I get a better feel for the coil height and those faint deep signals, I'll report back on what I find.

By the way, do you usually hunt in Jewelry Mode to filter out some of that 'can slaw,' or do you prefer the All Metal settings?

Depends on what your hunting.
I've moved up to the Legend and Manticore.
Been years since I regularly used the 250.
I actually dug it out to CK that pinpoint function.
The 250 is a really nice beginner machine.
Though it only gives variable audio in pinpoint.

The Tesoros are one of the best audio machines to exist as far as I'm concerned.

When you get good with the 250 machine and really start to understand it and detecting in general.

Save your finds and money and move up to a full rich audio machine.

The Minelab Exterra Pro would be a great step up.
I would recommend purchasing the small extra coil for really sorting out trashy locations.
There are many here who will atest to the power of this machine.

 

[Odanscoils]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That really helps clarify why the audio fluctuates so much in Pinpoint mode. I’ll definitely take your advice and set up a test garden in the yard this weekend with some coins and 'can slaw' at different depths to train my ears.

It’s interesting that the machine can mistake a small ball of aluminum for a quarter, I guess that’s where the 'audio aid' you mentioned becomes more important than the digital depth gauge. Good to know the Ace 250 is still a reliable primary machine (or loaner) after all these years.

I’m hoping for a 'solid nickel' hit that turns out to be an earring like yours! Once I get a better feel for the coil height and those faint deep signals, I'll report back on what I find.

By the way, do you usually hunt in Jewelry Mode to filter out some of that 'can slaw,' or do you prefer the All Metal settings?

Make certain your test garden target's are at least 18" apart.

Be more accurate testing that way.

Not swinging over more than one target at a time.

A nail near a coin is a good test.
I wouldn't go more than six inches for best results.

Good Luck

 

[still looking 52]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Odanscoils]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That really helps clarify why the audio fluctuates so much in Pinpoint mode. I’ll definitely take your advice and set up a test garden in the yard this weekend with some coins and 'can slaw' at different depths to train my ears.

It’s interesting that the machine can mistake a small ball of aluminum for a quarter, I guess that’s where the 'audio aid' you mentioned becomes more important than the digital depth gauge. Good to know the Ace 250 is still a reliable primary machine (or loaner) after all these years.

I’m hoping for a 'solid nickel' hit that turns out to be an earring like yours! Once I get a better feel for the coil height and those faint deep signals, I'll report back on what I find.

By the way, do you usually hunt in Jewelry Mode to filter out some of that 'can slaw,' or do you prefer the All Metal settings?

That ball of aluminum was the first day using the Manticore.
At my son's new property from the early 1900's a couple years ago.
Perfect tone. Dead on the line in the 2D screen.
I was certain I had a Silver.
Nope.

Sometimes this addiction can be disappointing.

Though many times it's quite rewarding.

And for us Old Farts.

It's Great exercise ...

Again
Good Luck

 

[Odanscoils]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That really helps clarify why the audio fluctuates so much in Pinpoint mode. I’ll definitely take your advice and set up a test garden in the yard this weekend with some coins and 'can slaw' at different depths to train my ears.

It’s interesting that the machine can mistake a small ball of aluminum for a quarter, I guess that’s where the 'audio aid' you mentioned becomes more important than the digital depth gauge. Good to know the Ace 250 is still a reliable primary machine (or loaner) after all these years.

I’m hoping for a 'solid nickel' hit that turns out to be an earring like yours! Once I get a better feel for the coil height and those faint deep signals, I'll report back on what I find.

By the way, do you usually hunt in Jewelry Mode to filter out some of that 'can slaw,' or do you prefer the All Metal settings?

I believe there are hundreds of missed earrings on the beaches and in the water that Soo many have missed.
Earrings are the number one lost item at the beach.

Be patient and pay attention to those weak whispers.

Though you'll only really hear them in pinpoint with the 250.

 

[Confetrit]

That ball of aluminum was the first day using the Manticore.
At my son's new property from the early 1900's a couple years ago.
Perfect tone. Dead on the line in the 2D screen.
I was certain I had a Silver.
Nope.

Sometimes this addiction can be disappointing.

Though many times it's quite rewarding.

And for us Old Farts.

It's Great exercise ...

Again
Good Luck

Hey.......... I resemble that remark! LOL