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Ace 250 vs. Xterra 30..

K

khouse

Active member
Since I read DavHut's comparison of the 250 and Vaquero I thought I would put it up to the Minelab.
Even though the xt30 had a numberical read out it is nothing but a segment system.
Both units have 12 segments
Both have a factory set GB
Both read all my coins in my garden fine.
Both are light weight (ace is lighter)
Both take 4 AA batteries
Both have battery icons
Both have sensitivity
Xterra pinpoint button will stay on. Ace you have to keep holding it on.
Both air tested the same
Both are multi-tone
Both have target id (xterra is easier to see)
Xterra was difficult to pinpoint.(I pinpoint at the center of the Ace with no problem on the stock coil)
Xterra has a volume control. Ace does not.
Xt 30 has no smaller than stock coil.
Ace has the sniper coil.
Xt30 costs 390.00
Ace 250 costs 213.00
Ace feels better in my hand.
Both are top heavy and fall over.(I made a wider base for the 250)
Battery life is about the same.
Xt 30 sometimes turned off. ( ace 250 doesn't have that problem.)

The points where the Xt 3O beat out the Ace was - Larger display, volume control,pinpoint button stays on if wanted. Both could use a trigger pinpoint button. (i'm working on one for my ace)

The points where the Ace 250 beat out the Xt30 is - Lighter weight, a smaller than stock coil available (SNIPER), $177.00 less expensive.

Just for the fact you can buy a reasonably priced sniper coil and the machine is $177.00 less money. For me there is only one choice. I sold the XT 30.
 
There is just 1 other thing that would add to your comments. The ace gives more information through it's pinpoint mode, which gives me some more confidence to dig up different types of targets.
I still own my X-Terra 30, and although it hasn't had much use since I've had the Ace, it will still get used.
Full marks on the comparison. it covered honestly the differences.
Oh and one other point of difference. The Aces standard coil gives much better ground coverage the The X-Terra's.
Mick Evans.
 
I've always wanted a compression trigger pinpoint mounted in the top front of the grip. I think it would be the nuts and a great selling point. I may put the idea to Garrett and see what they think.

Bill
 
I just ordered a few togle switches to see if I could easily convert the 250 to a trigger like the Whites models. My manual GB trimmers came in but wouldn't fit (physically) so I have some more coming in to try
 
...I like the way you did that. Since the Vaquero and Ace are apples and oranges, I didnt want to do a feature comparison. Instead I opted for more of a "here's what happened when I used them side by side" sort of thing.

The pinpoint trigger is a great feature and should be SOP for all detectors. It should be pinpoint in one direction and "All Metal Hold" in the other.
 
DavHut,
That's the toggles I ordered. Monentary on / off / on
Trigger forward locks. And trigger back momentary. I know I could make a toggle mounting plate or box to make it work. But I'm going to try and fit it directly on the detector shaft. As you know there is limited space.

The GB trimmers came in but had the wrong shaft and was just a little too big. New trimmers should be in this week.
 
Hey Khouse, you get those manual GB trimmers working let me know. I would like to see how you did it and maybe you could help me out with it. I had the X30 and really enjoyed it. I really want to get a Ace 250 for my helper to use. But out here in the NW both minelab and Garrett set their preset to negative which actually hurts us here.

Minelab told me they didn't put a pot on the board for a Manual GB to be install to. Sounds like Garrett put one on and a Manual GB is possible. Would be great to buy a used one to toy with. Hope you have some success with getting it to work.
 
Well there are two surface mounted trimmers in the board in the 250. One I assume is the GB and the other may be threshold. I first contacted Garrett because my unit is set too positive on my soil. I asked them about the trimmers and go a stock answer from them "the ground balance is factory set -there are no adjustments" I asked then what the two trimmers were for. They said that they both were to adjust the visual ID and if you mess with them that the ID may be thrown off. They were not going to tell me how to adjust my GB more negative. Well I know from installing a panel mount GB on my IDX that IT will throw off the VID if it's way off. So this leads me to believe that one of the trimmers on the 250 is for GB. There is so little room to fit a panel mount GB in the ACE but after a month of looking and getting samples I believe I have found one. As for the trigger pinpoint I just ordered the toggles today. I know I could make a small box and install a regular size toggle but I wanted to make something that looked factory. I posted pictures of the stand I made and it looks stock. Anyway it looks like I'll have some cold weather mods in my future. I was thinking of selling a GB and trigger kit if I get them working.
 
I was dreaming about putting a manual gb on a Deleon and found out a few interesting things about TID and GB.

TID or VDI is directly tied to the GB setting. If you monkey with the fixed GB of a TID unit the readings will be off and will vary with every GB setting. Many, but not all, TID machines that have manual GB have fixed GB in the discrimination mode but manual GB in the all metal mode only. This is exactly what Garrett was, sort of, telling you about how that one trimpot will adjust your TID....I suspect that that trimpot is the GB, maybe just maybe. So, somehwere in the other $$$$$ machines there is software that compensates for the GB shift for when you are actually setting your GB.

I have read that there are machines out there that have two gb knobs one for all metal and one for disc mode, I have never seen one myself.

Anyway good luck and let me know how it works. If I am totally out to lunch here, please let me know.
 
Here's the way my mind sees it. lets say that we divide the gb in 10 increments -5 to +10. the factory uses something to set the gb and they may set it at + 2 for everyone. then they set the VID to give a accurate read out. Well in a perfect world that's fine. so now i buy a detector thats set for +2 factory setting, but my gound really calls for -3 gb setting. Wouldn't this alone throw off the VID? I think so. Now if I was to adjust the gb to -3 then that should put the VID back in range. I would like to here what others think about this. Maybe I'm wrong. Not sure.
 
My other though is Garrett understandably may not want people to know that the gb is adjustable. They are in the business of selling detectors. If a panel mount GB is possible then we may not feel the need to buy a $600.00+ detector to get it.

We have at least once took off those old steel wheels on a car to put on some chrome wheels. We have added a full flow air filter - maybe even a new Holly carb. Or just hung some dice on the mirror. It's in our blood. All I want to do is drop in a nice race cam!
 
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