ACE 250 First Hunt Thoughts

[tab-nabit]

I put the ACE 250 to the ground first time today for almost 2 hours. Got windy and cold so I'm working on a pot of coffee to thaw. I have had the machine about a half year but have been using other machines, mainly the explorer-II. For now - my 1st thoughts (which will change after more experience with the ACE):
It works... actually works well. It's quick to start as there is no ground balancing, way simple to operate. No menus makes it a good starter machine, quick, fun and easy for the experienced too. If I only had a short time to hit an area, the ACE makes going in short order. I did what I call ok in the pinpointing but I know I need to work more on that. The light weight and balancing was a real plus.
Cons: Pennies displayed as dimes on the meter. I haven't figured this out. I used 4 bars on the sensitivity, maybe I should have tried more or less. Pinpointing was not always obvious of where I thought the targets were. Sometimes I hit right on, but about a 3rd or more times I had to work at it again. Sometimes it seems to center, other times it was at the top of the inner loop. Maybe I should get the sniper coil for grins. I also got a pinpointer and headphones with volume control before going out. They should have provided a volume control but thats no big deal.
I actually had took along a minelab too, learn a lesson too, I left the minelab battery on the charger at home. This leads to another plus for the ACE. I was close to home so no big deal, but if I was some good distance, the AA batteries for the ACE is common all over.
Bottom line for now: Value, lightweight, easy, and a fun machine. I usually take 2-3 machines along and the ACE will come along too.
Results using All Medal and Coin modes: 1 ring (no value), 1 key, a link from a bike chain, 1 quarter, 3 dimes, 11 pennies (no silver & no wheat's, no nickels), and of course, mostly pulltabs, a few in beautiful condition too.
Area: A playground, picnic Bar-B-Q park on a de-activated Air Force base. The base closed from the BRAC list. I use to work there.
If the winds let up, I'll give the ACE some more dir duty tomorrow.

 

[Digdoug]

I noticed the same thing with my son's Ace 250. Memorial cents read as dimes but the audio signal was louder. After nailing a few dimes and pennies we both were able to guess what the coin was though. We didn't use headphones because I am teaching my son how to use it. We ran in coin mode only to eliminate digging a lot of trash...I didn't want him to get discouraged.

I have a White's Classic IDX and a Fisher Coinstrike and I am amazed at how feature rich this little detector is for the money. The light weight is perfect for my son too. It was such a pleasure to use I am tempted to buy one for myself. I look forward to running it wide open for relics soon to see how deep it is.

We tested it at a school playground and ran it at about 3/4's sensitivity but backed it off to about halfway when close to the metal support posts. Overall, this seems to be an excellent machine for the beginner in this hobby and with the optional coils it may be all one needs. So far, I'm really impressed with it.

 

[tab-nabit]

Thanks for the reply - I need to tune in more on the audio and I should have known that from years ago using analog detectors. The newer digitals don't seem to have as much perceptible ramp up, duration, ramp down of the tone as compared to the analogs.
As far using the speaker, you can always get a y-adapter ( 2 into 1 ) like at Radio Shack. Then you can use 2 headphones on 1 machine. I don't know if the ACE would work on both the mono and stereo jacks so that may or may not make a difference.
I just tried new headphones today, but now I'm looking at a post about going wireless. Sure would have been nice on the older analog machine as I recall the cord getting to a toggle switch or knob sometimes. Also read a article earlier today about the Sun-Ray Pro Gold headphones.
So your son has the ACE 250 and now your tempted? I wonder how long now:>)
Thanks and good luck to you and your son...

 

[khouse]

Detuning and x-ing the target hits in the center of the coil for me. Yes the sniper is a killer.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Hi Doug.
Just a couple of tips that I picked up from the guy I bought the Ace from and this forum.
1) When hunting around play equipment; when you are close to the metal, drop your sensitivity down to one or two bars. You will be amazed at how close you can get with the Ace. When doing this' it accounts for a quarter of my finds in playgrounds. The sniper coil can hunt DIRECTLY UNDER metal objects when you hold the pinpoint button down!This doesn't give you any discrimination, but you will find coins that other machines can't. I did this on my second time out with the sniper coil and was amazed that I found a coin while the coil was in direct contact with the metal above!!
2) For shallow pinpointing, there is a second method for pinpointing.
Practice with a coin at home. Check the ground for a clear spot, place a coin on the ground then with the coil next to the coin, press and hold the pinpoint button and slide it over the coin. sliding the coil from side to side, get the coin centred in the middle of the coil listening to the audio. you will hear it peek when you have it centred. Next, slide the coil forward or back and note when the pinpoint drops off. It happens just as the inner coil passes over it. One little thing I do as the signal drops off, is I give the coil a slight wiggle, just to make sure I have it centred properly and that I have the drop off of sound at the correct location. If the target is deeper in the ground, then the actual drop off on the pinpoint will occur a bit closer to the middle of the coil due to the conning effect of the signal deeper in the ground.
Have fun and I hope you don't have too many arguments with your son as to who is going to be using the Ace.
Mick Evans.

 

[Digdoug]

...I hope to try them out soon. The pinpointing tip will come in handy next time I take Brian to the park.

I really appreciate the help!!

 

[Uncle Willy]

If you get one prepare to shelve your other machines, especially if you pick up the big coil for the 250. This little machine has been a real eye-opener and has taken detectordom by storm.

When I field tested it I told Garrett they had better gear up for some serious production. They didn't and got caught with their pants down but have caught up now. I believe it's about the top selling machine in the country currently.

Bill