Garrett AT Pro coil problems..

[willy]

I've been thinking here.. how 'bout using large diameter shrink-wrap tubing to hold the coil wire in place? I'm gonna see if I can dig some up and then put the hair dryer to it. ...Willy.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

If there is 8 followed by a ) without a blank space between then the forum software substitutes the smiley that is associated with that code like this

 

[jbow]

wish I could delete my post now...

Thanks for the explaination. All this publicity about the AT has me wanting not only an AT but now the Scorpion has gotten my attention too... I am really interested to see how it's T/R Disc mode works on relics in iron... if it is true T/R disc it should disc out iron without the wrap problem that causes iron falsing on many detectors... even if it isn't really deep, I would have a use for it at several iron infested places I hunt.

(My apologies for jumping the gun about the smily... )

Julien

 

[jbow]

This really shouldn't be a problem... if it is this bad why won't anyone other than end users recognize it as a problem? Of course it is only my opinion but I wonder why Garrett doesn't change the shaft to include a cam lock and lengthen the upper part so the cuff placement isn't a problem?? ... and I have never used a detector that needed anything more than a velcro tie on the lower cable to secure it. I usually tie it about 8 or 10 inches up from the coil and then leave some slack, enough so I can use the coil at an angle to hunt or move it so it is 90 degrees to the shaft when I stand it up or place it in my truck... this just should not be ignored as if it isn't a problem...

I'm still going to try one though, but I will resent having to modify a new detector so that it does not wobble and so that the cuff fits an adult... I just don't quite understand the thinking or the failure to address the concerns. I look forward to trying one soon.

Julien

 

[synthnut]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOUojgqs5s[/video]


The loose shaft is not the problem ......A loose coil wire is also NOT the problem .....The noise is coming from the coil itself .....I will try and do a video to show you this .....Jim

 

[Ray-Mo.]

Hopefully other AT Pro owners will test their machines and see if they are similar or if yours is the exception to the rule and then let us know their results.

 

[INCH]

Thats to bad having the detector go off like that , looks like in the video there is a pile of conductive wires in the background, while u r shaking the coil. I saw some cables at the begginin of the voodeo that was on the floor , look like extention chords. I have not experieced this problem with my Atpro coil and its to bad that others have. It looks like in the video U are pointing the coil directly at the conductive roll of wire. Maybe the machine is so sensitive it reacts to everything. Your video is an eye opener for people to think about (especially newdiggers like me). , and trying to understand why the complaints are so many. But my test have been outside and not in inside a house. So if there is a real issue with this coil problem. I hope it gets worked outside

 

[synthnut]

KID,
I would say that there would be an issue with the extention cords, however , in the beginning of the video , the AT Pro was turned on , and no noise .......When the coil was not moving , and if there was a problem with the extension cords , the AT Pro would sound off even with the coil not in motion ......It did NOT sound off when standing still ...... The extension cords were over 5 ft away, and if the AT Pro can read from 5 ft away, then this is truely a miraculous machine and better than ANYTHING I have ever witnessed !!.......If being inside was going to be an issue , it would have been an issue with the coil sitting still .....but you can clearly see that when the coil is not in motion , it's quiet as a mouse ......Thanks for your reply ....Jim

 

[Jason in TN]

Mine falses when you twist it but hunts like a blood hound on crack. It is a great deep detector and I have been relic hunting along side f75 ltd's and v3's and doing as good or in most cases better than they are at finding relics. I also own both of the detectors above as well as a G2. Guess what I am taking relic hunting next time I go. You got it my AT PRO.
Nothing wrong with mine I just do not twist it back and forth when hunting. Normal swing works just fine. Forget about all the testing in the garage get that baby out and hunt with it. Some may have actual coil problems not speaking for every one. If it is to cold and snowy to hunt do not know why you would buy one right now let the guys that can hunt get them. If they are just setting you are wasting warranty time for no reason.

Jason

 

[synthnut]

Jason,
I was hunting with it until the snow came !!......I did very well in the dry sand on the beach near where I live .....I have to slow down to a much slower speed than I am use to hunting so that my coil does NOT false ....I am only showing what''s going on with my coil in the front room of my home to see if anyone else has the same issue .... I was only moving the coil back and forth quickly so that people could hear what it does at the end of a stroke .....I don't hunt that fast , but when bumping into thiings and changing direction it falses .... When I'm hunting , I don't have time to check every false and baby my machine so that it does not false when I'm using it .....I get into some brushy area's where this thing will be falsing every move I make !!..... I shouldn't have to deal with that ..... Some people as I have posted in other threads are accustomed to this as "normal " behaviour ..... I'm not .....Jim

 

[Woodchuck]

If you beat a horse to death its dead.This topic has been beaten to death! I got my AT PRO today and it works fine ! no wobble or coil problems PERIOD! and yes I tried the wiggle test. Not that I have a reason to wiggle coil like that for any reason home or in the field... I don't know about u all but I got better things to do, and thats to use the AT Pro out to find me some goods .

 

[Jason in TN]

Jason,
I was hunting with it until the snow came !!......I did very well in the dry sand on the beach near where I live .....I have to slow down to a much slower speed than I am use to hunting so that my coil does NOT false ....I am only showing what''s going on with my coil in the front room of my home to see if anyone else has the same issue .... I was only moving the coil back and forth quickly so that people could hear what it does at the end of a stroke .....I don't hunt that fast , but when bumping into thiings and changing direction it falses .... When I'm hunting , I don't have time to check every false and baby my machine so that it does not false when I'm using it .....I get into some brushy area's where this thing will be falsing every move I make !!..... I shouldn't have to deal with that ..... Some people as I have posted in other threads are accustomed to this as "normal " behaviour ..... I'm not .....Jim

You may have a problem. Mine falses if you hit sticks hard but all my detectors do that. Mine does not false just swinging the coil at a normal rate have not tried swinging it really hard see no need to do that. If you can't hunt now I would send it in. Sounds like you are not happy so why not let Garrett know send it to them and see what happens. I know mine does not false changing directions. If you don't like how it is send it in if it is no better when it comes back may not be the detector for you. Sounds like you have somthing going on there that may not be right. I have had a lot of detectors and mine is no worse than others and better than most around electrical interference. The f75 can be a real bad around EMI.
Send it to them and let us know if it is any better when it comes back. I have only relic hunted with mine and am in the grass and sticks all day if i got false signals every time it touched some thing I would be upset too. Every one that has posted a video on this has been bench testing. Would like to see this posted in normal hunting conditions to see what happens. May try to get mine out with out headphones and swing it around in the brush to show how mine reacts. The coil off the rod swinging it around does not mean much as far as a test to me. Not saying you do not have a problem some may have. Good luck what ever you decide to do. The AT is a great detector nothing comes close for the $.

Jason

 

[synthnut]

Jason,
I agree that the AT Pro is a great detector for the money ....I do not argue that in the least ....I also agree that it can hit targets deep for a machine of it's caliber .....For a machine that has a better dicrimination on the lower Iron numbers, I'm THRILLED with the VID on the upper end of the coin scale .....It distigusihes coins VERY well ....The pinpointing is extremely accurate , etc ......There's a lot to like about this machine ......There are also some problems with the machine .....Some very minor that I can deal with , but the one issue that CAN'T be fixed by me anyway , is the coil issue .....If Garrett had told me " Yes , there is an issue with some of the early release coils " " Send it back, and we'll send you another coil " ......I wouldn't have a problem with that .....If they tell me that what I am experiencing is "Normal " then I have a problem ........This is NOT normal to me ......As I said earlier ....The AT Pro is a wonderful machine, but could be a GREAT machine for all concerned , if this issue with the coil could be fixed ..... As long as these coils continue to have a respecatble showing , which they in fact do , and people are finding targets , the coil problem will continue to fall on deaf ears ...... Your average AT Pro user continues to come up with work arounds for the issues with the machine rather than hold the company accountable for them ......Do you know how many times I've heard people talk about the shaft wobbling ? What is the answer ? ....You take electrical tape and that solves the problem ....>This is a BRAND NEW MACHINE , and now I have to put electrical tape on the shaft to resolve a problem ? ....... The arm cuff is too short .....No problem !!....We'll stick a broom stick in the end and extend it !!.....People are doing these workarounds all the time !!.....I can make a staignt shaft that is tight and won't wobble ...I can extend the arm cuff to fit an adult and not a childs arm .....I can beef up the sides of the coil mount to make it stronger so that it doesn't snap when hunting in the water ..... I can put cable ties on it to stop the cable from flopping in the breeze ...... I have already gotten use to my coil and headphone connectors , and can put them on and off without too many problems if I have good light ......I can do ALL of these things to a detector that should not have these issues, and not complain a bit about it , but I cannot build a coil !!!...... Again , no detector is perfect , but when there are glowing issues that need to be addressed, this is normal is NOT the answer you want to hear !!..... Send my machine in to Garrett you say ? ...... Why would I send my machine in to someone who says that it's operating normally ? .... If you have a large group of people that are willing to make excuses for a detector and use it this way, because it's doing better than a lot of other dtectors that they have owned , how are any of thiese things going to be corrected , and make an already good detector a GREAT detector ? ...... If I were against this detector , I would not be fighting to make it better !!.....I really want to make this detector my "go to " detector .... I wouldn't be spending the time and money building a straignt shaft for it if I didn't think that it had promise !!.....I'm bringing up these points because I expect more .....I am not the type of person who is willing to settle .....There is NO OTHER machine on the market that can compete with the AT Pro that is waterproof , and has the performance features that it has for the price of admission ...NOTHING !!..... This is my first Garrett machine and I am VERY impressed with most of the machines performance , but this coil issue has to be remedied ....Jim

 

[EZrider]

Jason,
I agree that the AT Pro is a great detector for the money ....I do not argue that in the least ....I also agree that it can hit targets deep for a machine of it's caliber .....For a machine that has a better dicrimination on the lower Iron numbers, I'm THRILLED with the VID on the upper end of the coin scale .....It distigusihes coins VERY well ....The pinpointing is extremely accurate , etc ......There's a lot to like about this machine ......There are also some problems with the machine .....Some very minor that I can deal with , but the one issue that CAN'T be fixed by me anyway , is the coil issue .....If Garrett had told me " Yes , there is an issue with some of the early release coils " " Send it back, and we'll send you another coil " ......I wouldn't have a problem with that .....If they tell me that what I am experiencing is "Normal " then I have a problem ........This is NOT normal to me ......As I said earlier ....The AT Pro is a wonderful machine, but could be a GREAT machine for all concerned , if this issue with the coil could be fixed .....

As long as these coils continue to have a respecatble showing , which they in fact do , and people are finding targets , the coil problem will continue to fall on deaf ears ...... Your average AT Pro user continues to come up with work arounds for the issues with the machine rather than hold the company accountable for them ......Do you know how many times I've heard people talk about the shaft wobbling ? What is the answer ? ....You take electrical tape and that solves the problem ....>This is a BRAND NEW MACHINE , and now I have to put electrical tape on the shaft to resolve a problem ? ....... The arm cuff is too short .....No problem !!....We'll stick a broom stick in the end and extend it !!.....People are doing these workarounds all the time !!.....I can make a staignt shaft that is tight and won't wobble ...I can extend the arm cuff to fit an adult and not a childs arm .....I can beef up the sides of the coil mount to make it stronger so that it doesn't snap when hunting in the water ..... I can put cable ties on it to stop the cable from flopping in the breeze ...... I have already gotten use to my coil and headphone connectors , and can put them on and off without too many problems if I have good light ......I can do ALL of these things to a detector that should not have these issues, and not complain a bit about it , but I cannot build a coil !!!......

Again , no detector is perfect , but when there are glowing issues that need to be addressed, this is normal is NOT the answer you want to hear !!..... Send my machine in to Garrett you say ? ...... Why would I send my machine in to someone who says that it's operating normally ? .... If you have a large group of people that are willing to make excuses for a detector and use it this way, because it's doing better than a lot of other dtectors that they have owned , how are any of thiese things going to be corrected , and make an already good detector a GREAT detector ? ...... If I were against this detector , I would not be fighting to make it better !!.....I really want to make this detector my "go to " detector .... I wouldn't be spending the time and money building a straignt shaft for it if I didn't think that it had promise !!.....I'm bringing up these points because I expect more .....I am not the type of person who is willing to settle .....There is NO OTHER machine on the market that can compete with the AT Pro that is waterproof , and has the performance features that it has for the price of admission ...NOTHING !!..... This is my first Garrett machine and I am VERY impressed with most of the machines performance , but this coil issue has to be remedied ....Jim

Wall of text critically hit me for a 1000, Fixed. And i agree the AT has a coil issue. I also think they made it that way to be able to air test/hit small gold. I just think Syth coil is faulty from the get go. You should be able to swing at a good clip and not have the coil false at the ends of your swing. I would send the coil back. Not the machine.

 

[Fishers Ghost]

What is the deal with the AT Pro?
The more I read what you blokes in the states are saying about this machine, the more it sounds like a cheap made in China dertector.
Wobbly stem, bad coil, poor target ID, bad plug positioning. Am begining to see why it does not cost very much.
Some have said it is a wonderfull machine? What exactly is wonderful about it that would make me want the AT PRO instead of my SOV, Infinium.
My SOV is 12years old and is running perfectly well, it has never failed,it handles any ground conditions and is brilliant on salt beaches, has excellent TID, the shaft does not wobble , the coils have never failed or caused any falsing. My Infinium is brilliant no matter what type of detecting I use it for.
I have several other detectors that also sound as though they would leave the AT PRO for dead as coin and relic machines.

I am not trying to stir up an augument I just want to know exactly is so great about the PRO when I am reading so many complaints about it?

Fishers Ghost

 

[Southwind]

Personally I don't put a lot of weight in some of the other complaints. All my detectors false when set to be very sensitive and I hit stuff or shake it in the air. I'm not sure on the "wobbly shaft" thing because mine seems to be just fine. If I felt it had a major deal busting coil issue you can bet I'd be bitching with the rest, but I just don't see it. I've seen a few people complain that don't even own the AT PRO yet. WTH is up with that? I very happy with my AT PRO, especially for the price.

 

[EZrider]

Synthnut is my best friend and hunting partner. Between the two of us we have several different machines by different company's. All of our other machines can be swung without the coil falsing. All of the can have the coil brush the grass/sand and the coils do not false. With the AT you cant do this. At least not with his. That throws the fast and light out the window. I'm defending him because there is a problem and he is my friend. Not to mention the other machines we have to compare it too. I think Garrett should come out and say that this is the nature of the beast. Fisher did when the F75 had EMI problems.

 

[Jason in TN]

"I agree that the AT Pro is a great detector for the money ....I do not argue that in the least ....I also agree that it can hit targets deep for a machine of it's caliber .....For a machine that has a better dicrimination on the lower Iron numbers, I'm THRILLED with the VID on the upper end of the coin scale .....It distigusihes coins VERY well ....The pinpointing is extremely accurate , etc ......There's a lot to like about this machine ....."



Great, deep, better discrimination, THRILLED, extremely accurate.

You said all that not me. If your coil is falsing as you normally hunt and just by swinging it There is a problem send it in. If not then keep on hunting.
Sounds like you are doing ok.

Jason

 

[SteveP(NH)]

Jason,
I agree that the AT Pro is a great detector for the money ....I do not argue that in the least ....I also agree that it can hit targets deep for a machine of it's caliber .....For a machine that has a better dicrimination on the lower Iron numbers, I'm THRILLED with the VID on the upper end of the coin scale .....It distigusihes coins VERY well ....The pinpointing is extremely accurate , etc ......There's a lot to like about this machine ......There are also some problems with the machine .....Some very minor that I can deal with , but the one issue that CAN'T be fixed by me anyway , is the coil issue .....If Garrett had told me " Yes , there is an issue with some of the early release coils " " Send it back, and we'll send you another coil " ......I wouldn't have a problem with that .....If they tell me that what I am experiencing is "Normal " then I have a problem ........This is NOT normal to me ......As I said earlier ....The AT Pro is a wonderful machine, but could be a GREAT machine for all concerned , if this issue with the coil could be fixed ..... As long as these coils continue to have a respecatble showing , which they in fact do , and people are finding targets , the coil problem will continue to fall on deaf ears ...... Your average AT Pro user continues to come up with work arounds for the issues with the machine rather than hold the company accountable for them ......Do you know how many times I've heard people talk about the shaft wobbling ? What is the answer ? ....You take electrical tape and that solves the problem ....>This is a BRAND NEW MACHINE , and now I have to put electrical tape on the shaft to resolve a problem ? ....... The arm cuff is too short .....No problem !!....We'll stick a broom stick in the end and extend it !!.....People are doing these workarounds all the time !!.....I can make a staignt shaft that is tight and won't wobble ...I can extend the arm cuff to fit an adult and not a childs arm .....I can beef up the sides of the coil mount to make it stronger so that it doesn't snap when hunting in the water ..... I can put cable ties on it to stop the cable from flopping in the breeze ...... I have already gotten use to my coil and headphone connectors , and can put them on and off without too many problems if I have good light ......I can do ALL of these things to a detector that should not have these issues, and not complain a bit about it , but I cannot build a coil !!!...... Again , no detector is perfect , but when there are glowing issues that need to be addressed, this is normal is NOT the answer you want to hear !!..... Send my machine in to Garrett you say ? ...... Why would I send my machine in to someone who says that it's operating normally ? .... If you have a large group of people that are willing to make excuses for a detector and use it this way, because it's doing better than a lot of other dtectors that they have owned , how are any of thiese things going to be corrected , and make an already good detector a GREAT detector ? ...... If I were against this detector , I would not be fighting to make it better !!.....I really want to make this detector my "go to " detector .... I wouldn't be spending the time and money building a straignt shaft for it if I didn't think that it had promise !!.....I'm bringing up these points because I expect more .....I am not the type of person who is willing to settle .....There is NO OTHER machine on the market that can compete with the AT Pro that is waterproof , and has the performance features that it has for the price of admission ...NOTHING !!..... This is my first Garrett machine and I am VERY impressed with most of the machines performance , but this coil issue has to be remedied ....Jim

Jim, just call up Garrett customer support and describe what is happening when you use the machine. I had a different problem with mine. When I rest it on the surface of the sand when I am digging then it starts falsing like crazy, when it is lifted off of the ground and used in normal detecting mode it works perfectly. If I touch the surface of the sand when swinging even very very lightly it will false. The falsing on scuffing doesn't bother me that much but the machine gun like falsing when I am digging drives me crazy especially using the waterproof headphones as there is no volume control on those so I get all of the falsing at full volume.

Anyway I emailed Brad at Garrett and carefully described what was going on. He arranged for UPS to come to my house and pick up the machine (at Garrett's expense) and take it back to them. It arrived there last Friday afternoon and I am now waiting to hear from them after they take a look at the machine. Brad said they would either send me a new one or fix the falsing problem with that one.

So Garrett takes excellent care of its customers. If there is a fault with your machine they will take care of it if you give them the chance. The way to do that is to contact them about the issues you are having not arguing about whether there is a problem or not with the folks on this forum.

New machines often have some small problems when they are first launched. When the T2 and F75 launched the exact same sort of thing was going on with some of those. First Texas fixed those and tweaked its manufacturing process to iron out the difficulties and those two machine turned into some of the best new machines to come out in a while. Garrett's long history of top notch support shows that any issues with some of the AT PROs will also be taken care of. The AT PRO has shown tremendous potential as a first class relic machine from the short time it has been out. I can't wait for mine to get straightened out and for the ground to thaw and the relic season to start up here so I can really put it to the test and find out how far it can go.

 

[nealcat]

Synthnut, I agree with Jason in Tn, if you think you have a problem, then send it back to Garrett. I believe its still in warranty!!!