Does my machine have a probelm?

[togamac]

Hello All,
I've had my AT Pro for about a month now; have approximately 12 hours on it on the dirt and in fresh water. One thing that is bugging me is that no matter what mode I'm in, I can not run at max. sensitivity. In fact, I have to back off to 2-3 notches from the bottom at the most to quiet the machine. That said, it doesn't seem to affect the depth; I pulled a small junk bracelet out at about 12" deep. However, I'm haunted by the thought that I'm missing targets. Any suggestions from you more experienced hunters would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I have never, and I mean never, run a Garrett at max sens. If you want to run an unstable, chattery rig, then go ahead. More Sensitivity, does not mean more depth, just more sensitive to EVERYTHING in the ground, good and bad. I run my ATP at 4 bars and have dug some deep targets with a solid repeatable signal. Not everything old is 2 feet deep anyways. You're doing right, set that sens. where your machine is stable and get out there and have some fun and quit worrying about what you think you're not getting and enjoy what you are getting.

 

[Old Virginia]

Ok, now that raises a question for me on the opposite end of the spectrum . . .

I've only had mine out once for a couple of hours, but had NO PROBLEM running at max sensitivity in both modes. Yes, Pro was a bit chatty, but not bad. So does my machine have a problem?

 

[Jerry-Wi]

I don't think there is anything to worry about. Just turn it down a few notches and it should be fine. Think of it like the detector has more available sensitivity than can be used in a particular location. Just like the accelerator on your car, when you push it to the max, you go fast, but there are not many place where you can do that without getting in trouble

I have some areas that are quiet enough to run sensitivity at max but more often it is set at something less. Depends on how much random chatter you want to listen to.

Once you get used to it, sorting out the good repeatable signals from random chatter is easy.

Jerry

 

[Old Virginia]

Thanks Jerry. Gonna take her out for a spin this evening.

 

[TerraDigger]

Your sensitivity levels depend on amount of ground mineralization and EMI sources (electro magnetic interference) in the air or under the ground. And also the level of discrimination used. The lower the disc, the less sens it takes to make the unit chatter. Its not a AT Pro thing. Its a VLF detector thing.
Also, if one use's too much sensitivity it can actually reduce depth. Its kind of like a blow-back phenomena. Instead of penetrating the soil, the coil emissions bounce back prematurely, thus a loss of depth. A little extra sens can sometimes be helpful, but over-kill will retard the depth that you could get with a normal sensitivity setting.

 

[John-Edmonton]

I think your machine is just fine......doing what it was supposed to do under certain conditions such as mineralization.

 

[togamac]

Thank you sir; I am going to do that!

 

[sasquache]

I have never, and I mean never, run a Garrett at max sens. If you want to run an unstable, chattery rig, then go ahead. More Sensitivity, does not mean more depth, just more sensitive to EVERYTHING in the ground, good and bad. I run my ATP at 4 bars and have dug some deep targets with a solid repeatable signal. Not everything old is 2 feet deep anyways. You're doing right, set that sens. where your machine is stable and get out there and have some fun and quit worrying about what you think you're not getting and enjoy what you are getting.

Well said bud

 

[togamac]

Well, thanks for all the feedback guys and girls, I have the answer to my question and to Old Virginia's concern that he or she may have the opposite problem. I went to an old sledding hill yesterday and lo and behold, was able to use full sensitivity, that is until I headed east for about a hundred feet and started getting all kinds of noise. I looked up and about 200 more feet to the east were power transmission lines. I skedaddled back where I came from and it was clear as a bell that interference from the power lines was the culprit!
You were right and I thank you for helping me out and putting my mind at ease.

 

[Old Virginia]

I also own an MXT Pro. I can rarely run it at full gain but, there are a few spots now and then where I can. As has already been noted, I suppose it all depends on the ground and what's close by.