AT air tests not impressive

[upnorth]

I did a few quick air tests on my AT Pro in my home, away from metal or electrical interference. I was disappointed. In Standard and Pro modes I never got more than 5-6 inches on a nickel or silver dime. Is this normal ? Granted the machine is not set up optimally yet, but I expected more than this.

 

[grumpysrb]

I got more, 7 or 8, and thought I'd get more in an air test. Check your sensitivity setting. It's possible you are still getting some emi. Even though you are not close, you are surrounded by it in your home. Make sure your batteries are fresh too. Mine went dead out of the box. And check the coil connection, it may seem connected properly, but isn't. I had that problem and It drove me nuts. You have to make sure the plug is all the way in before tightening the ring.

There's also the slight possibility you got a bad machine. A guy on another forum did a test on a buried silver half dollar and only got 6 inches. I have found a Penney at 10 inches. Barely heard it and at a 90 degree turn didn't. An v3i got the same reading. A slight signal with no vdi from one direction and no signal from another. I have gotten solid and load signals from larger coins a the same depth.

Good Luck

 

[Southwind]

Not sure your problem but here is my air test on gold at a good 12"

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEmI7TlpwD0[/video]

And another

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5IzyhvtOd4[/video]

If you're referring to the depth that the AT Pro will give a solid and accurate VDI than you're correct and this is pretty common. Accurate solid target ID requires you to spend a bit more money. Even then most detector, even high end, don't have that accurate VDI below 6". Especially in the ground.

 

[Swingbeepdig]

It does well on silver coins~Deep

 

[Leslie(nova scotia)]

n/t

 

[MikeLab]

Deep targets require a quick, smooth sweep speed. It's difficult to get that by holding the target in your hand and moving it past the coil.

 

[John LA]

When you can work in the yard, run sensitivity as high as you can, GB and you should get a couple more inches. For coins I manually GB 10 to 20 lower, get another 1.5 inches.
At least that is the way my soil works.

 

[John-Edmonton]

n/t

 

[wayupnorth66]

don't know about air tests but if it helps anyone wanting to buy one(ATP)...does 120+ rings in two years help?....lol This detector ROCKS

 

[WildOutdoorAddict]

you should get much more than that.. I've dug coins at 9-10 inches in good wet soil

 

[marcomo]

Stinkfoot, assuming no interference and the sens isn't turned way down, something is wrong with your detector. Send it in to Garrett. 5-6 inches airtest on a nickel or dime is not right.

 

[GroundScanner]

I get 11" on air test @ 7/8 sens. w/a dime , thats not bad, but in ground its not the same.

 

[jimmyjiver]

Hi,,,Put some good batteries in that AT then get back to me..........JJ

 

[grumpysrb]

My vdi isn't accurate? Huuummmmm...? It seems to be accurate for me except for very deep targets, 10 or more inches, depending on coin size, or if there is more than one target at a time. Even the I can usually tell there is more than one and often tell what they are. Picked a 2008 quarter out when it rested with a tab and piece of aluminum can.

 

[ralph]

I've the us version(not international) it air tests with 8.5x11 inch coil close to 12 inches (pro zero mode at 1 increment less than maximum sensivity) on silver dime with iron disc set at 20.

 

[Trackerman]

Well im sure as hell impressed 3 gold rings in 1 months ownership. Try doing that with any other detector and i
havent even hit the beach yet.

 

[grumpysrb]

Heard if you put good Litium Batteries in the ATP you can get another inch to inch and a half.

 

[upnorth]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am not trying to kick dirt on the AT, just wondering why the weak air tests. I'm using the factory batteries and I may have been two bars down on sens. I found a ruler and will do this over again outside with fresh Duracells. This may well just be my ignorance of the machine, user error.

 

[mudslingers8]

There are Too many factors that determine depth on any detector, EMI, ground mineralization, length of time target is in ground, position of target, proximity to iron, moisture in ground.
Let's just take one of those, EMI I have hit quality targets with the PRO at 10-15", yet if EMI is present I won't get 6-8" on a quarter. That's why I hold all air tests as practice points to help you learn your detector. Bart at BBH has also stated that certain machines perform better with targets in the ground. How is your machine doing in your hunts in your ground?
Thats the only one answer that matters.

Mudslinger

 

[rayoh]

I get 7 to 9 with the 8x5 head for air test, Using the 8x5 head in a farm field dug a 3 cent piece at 6 inches.