Garrett ATX

[richrider99]

I bought the Minelab CTX3030 last year for about the same price. Its not a pulse detector, but has GPS< Mapping, Smart Find, is water proof up to 10 ft and has a color screen. It has a X Y grid on the screen & will pull out a coin right next to a nail. I got one of the first units which had a problem with shutting off. Did not need to return it to the dealer to be fixed. Just hook it up to my laptop using the UPS port and down loaded a program from Minelab that fixed the problem. Also down loaded a New Saltwater program.

 

[SavingThePast]

the atx and ctx are completely different machines.

I bought the Minelab CTX3030 last year for about the same price. Its not a pulse detector, but has GPS< Mapping, Smart Find, is water proof up to 10 ft and has a color screen. It has a X Y grid on the screen & will pull out a coin right next to a nail. I got one of the first units which had a problem with shutting off. Did not need to return it to the dealer to be fixed. Just hook it up to my laptop using the UPS port and down loaded a program from Minelab that fixed the problem. Also down loaded a New Saltwater program.

 

[Night Crawler]

I bought the Minelab CTX3030 last year for about the same price. Its not a pulse detector, but has GPS< Mapping, Smart Find, is water proof up to 10 ft and has a color screen. It has a X Y grid on the screen & will pull out a coin right next to a nail. I got one of the first units which had a problem with shutting off. Did not need to return it to the dealer to be fixed. Just hook it up to my laptop using the UPS port and down loaded a program from Minelab that fixed the problem. Also down loaded a New Saltwater program.

Their are some very nice features with the CTX that's for sure. The USB updater available on any machine, is a real home run I feel, saves a whole lot of time and money when you can just hook up the machine to be analyzed over the internet. My Gamin GPS and the Little ones Leapfrogs Leapad has that feature and I updated both firmwares using USB. Hopefully the new ATX will have it as well.

Thanks for your input RR99

 

[artman60]

Well, I'm not an engineer, or detector pro, but from what I've read here, and the type of detecting I do, the two points I would be interested in are, 1 -five pounds something? Gotta be able to hipmount it then.2- 25 points of discrimination? Will it totally discriminate out iron? So far from the reading I've done, pulse detectors are not so good on discriminating. At the suggested price, I think I'll be waiting for others to prove its merits, and see if there are any bugs that need to be worked out. I'm sure I don't want to be digging lobster traps at 3 feet. Artie

 

[Night Crawler]

Well, I'm not an engineer, or detector pro, but from what I've read here, and the type of detecting I do, the two points I would be interested in are, 1 -five pounds something? Gotta be able to hipmount it then.2- 25 points of discrimination? Will it totally discriminate out iron? So far from the reading I've done, pulse detectors are not so good on discriminating. At the suggested price, I think I'll be waiting for others to prove its merits, and see if there are any bugs that need to be worked out. I'm sure I don't want to be digging lobster traps at 3 feet. Artie

Hehe, yeh, I think digging Lobster Traps on a regular bases would wear on ya a bit I'm, sure. I'm far from a detector pro myself, I enjoy swinging though great "mental therapy" to get out into the treeline and swing for awhile. You mentioned discrimination artman60 and I "thought" I heard something about the coil being a DD coil for the 12" and Monos for the other 2 sizes available for the ATX. My question here iis, do they make DD coils for PI machines? VLFs is all I ever owned, so I was just curious about that.

Thanks for you input artman60, I think everyone is waiting for Garretts next move here (as myself).

 

[artman60]

I'm with you on the never having owned a pulse machine before, I do have an Excalibur, which is a multifrequency machine, but not a pulse. And not trying to start a Chevy/Ford type war here, I own a Whites, Fisher, Minelab, and a Garretts, my loyalty is to a good product, not neccesarily a brand. Prior to the ATX, everything I've read about the pulse units are they will go the deepest, but have none, or next to none, discrimination. I think that might turn my detecting time from fun to work, albeit with a better payout. I think I will let the sales/experiences of the ATX dictate future consideration of it. Plus being an old, outta shape, over the hill, type, pretty sure I can't swing a 5 pound plus, detector for too long a time. (anybody saying hip mountable?). If pulse plus discrimination is available, I think all other issues can be resolved, let's face it, some one here will make a hip mount kit for it, if necessary. I am eagerly awaiting its arrival, and the first reports from nonspokesman types. Artie

 

[Daugela]

When they're available I will be buying one.

Living in Arizona, there's not much history here for relics or coins for that matter. I'm excited if I find a coin in the 50's!! Everything is too new here and the old areas are covered in concrete and asphalt.

All my friends here go nugget shooting. I've never done it but figured I should give it a shot since it's in my backyard. Meteorites too. I think this machine will be perfect for the AZ desert. Especially going far out in the desert/mountains for gold or meteorites.

 

[Night Crawler]

I'm with you on the never having owned a pulse machine before, I do have an Excalibur, which is a multifrequency machine, but not a pulse. And not trying to start a Chevy/Ford type war here, I own a Whites, Fisher, Minelab, and a Garretts, my loyalty is to a good product, not neccesarily a brand. Prior to the ATX, everything I've read about the pulse units are they will go the deepest, but have none, or next to none, discrimination. I think that might turn my detecting time from fun to work, albeit with a better payout. I think I will let the sales/experiences of the ATX dictate future consideration of it. Plus being an old, outta shape, over the hill, type, pretty sure I can't swing a 5 pound plus, detector for too long a time. (anybody saying hip mountable?). If pulse plus discrimination is available, I think all other issues can be resolved, let's face it, some one here will make a hip mount kit for it, if necessary. I am eagerly awaiting its arrival, and the first reports from nonspokesman types. Artie

I'm getting up their myself artman60, so I have learned over the years to keep things short, sweet, and simple, the AT Pro Is just that (for me). With the ATX weighing over 5 pounds and the price tag for it I'm hoping to see some features in this new PI machine that would off-set those 2 negatives (for me anyways). I think you pretty much summed it up with the "lets wait and see approach". That sure is a WAK if detectors you have their artman60, are you married? hehe. I would have a lot of "Splain'n" to do with my better half with that many detectors hanging around..

When they're available I will be buying one.

Living in Arizona, there's not much history here for relics or coins for that matter. I'm excited if I find a coin in the 50's!! Everything is too new here and the old areas are covered in concrete and asphalt.

All my friends here go nugget shooting. I've never done it but figured I should give it a shot since it's in my backyard. Meteorites too. I think this machine will be perfect for the AZ desert. Especially going far out in the desert/mountains for gold or meteorites.

I admire the adventurous ones to take the bold step in buying a new metal detector right out of starting gate. I would really appreciate your feedback with the new ATX when you get one and field test it for a bit Daugela. Thanks for you input as well.

 

[togamac]

Well, it's not going to fit into my budget for quite a while, so I'll have plenty of time to follow the reviews. I like the compactness and straight shaft. I'm getting ready to hit some new sites that I'll mountain bike into (just a few miles in) - I can stuff one my AT's into a daypack and milk crate on the back of the bike, but it would be great to have a more compact setup. Then again, maybe I'll pull a 'mudpuppy' and have cash to burn!

I do 90% of my MDing travel on a bike. Great for the knees. I have a bag big enough for my home-made scoop, AT-Pro broken down into 2 pieces, a hard hat, and my Pro-Pointer and blade. I'm not sure what the total package weighs but biking 20 miles is not a problem. Single shoulder strap works great.
I recommend it for all you MDers!

 

[artman60]

I'm getting up their myself artman60, so I have learned over the years to keep things short, sweet, and simple, the AT Pro Is just that (for me). With the ATX weighing over 5 pounds and the price tag for it I'm hoping to see some features in this new PI machine that would off-set those 2 negatives (for me anyways). I think you pretty much summed it up with the "lets wait and see approach". That sure is a WAK if detectors you have their artman60, are you married? hehe. I would have a lot of "Splain'n" to do with my better half with that many detectors hanging around..

Hi Nightcrawler, I bought a Whites Eagle Spectrum back in 91, and then got a Fisher 1280x for the water in 91, and yes I was single, and bought all the toys I liked. 22 years later, we got a settlement check at work after working for 3 years with no contract. Miraculously there were no family emergencies going on, and since I typically don't spend any money on myself, the Missus had no problems with me buying two new units, her reasoning is 2 new units, every century LOL. I picked up an Excalibur, and an AT Pro in January, love both of them. Unless either of them starts paying off bigtime, a new unit, (especially at 2 grand plus) isn't likely. I'm still trying to figure out if I want one, I know the CTX 3030 hasn't appealed to me, and I'm not brand loyal, I consider what kind of hunting I want to do, and then figure out what I think is the best detector for that kind of hunting, that I can afford/make happen. I love the Excal at the salt water beach, and I love the Pro everywhere else. Never had found any gold till this year, and have found gold this summer with both new detectors, still kinda learning both machines, and not really sure I'd do any better with any other units at any price. Do you have the 8X5 coil for the Pro? I put mine on in May, haven't taken it off yet.

Togamac, If I was biking into places where there was no, or very little trash, that would change my thoughts on a pulse machine. Also I suspect that if you are biking in, with a round trip of 10-20 miles, you are in way better physical shape than myself, and a 5 pound machine wouldn't slow you down at all. The weight off any machine is a major factor for myself, it's why the Excal, and the 1280x are both hipmounted. Now for myself, if in the next year the ATX is finding massive amounts of good targets in areas previously thought to have been hunted out, that could change opinions. I tend not to buy new models of anything, until they prove themselves, my kid laughs at my cellphone, it has no camera, games, apps, doesn't connect to the web. Artie

 

[William-NM]

Daugela: A trooper stopped to chat one day when he noticed me hunting in the Gila NF. He mentioned that he was detecting around the Prescott area with his uncle a while back and found a spur wedged between two rocks. He went on to find the other one and a very rare prototype pistol, and maybe even a badge... so 'ya never know! There's a lot of country to cover, though. Of course, the Spanish were wandering around, too - I think Coronado came up across part of AZ and the Northern Gila Wilderness area in the 1540's (?). Nugget hunting sounds like fun, too. I haven't been very diligent about learning where and how to hunt to make nugget hunting pay - I only find gold when I'm not looking for it.

Togamac: I've done a few bike hunts and it makes for a great day in the out of doors. There are some old wagon and logging roads (closed to motorized traffic) that I'd like to explore. One logging camp was attacked by the Apaches 9 times. The last time they tied the cook to the woodstove and burned the log cabin down with him in it. The proprietor gave up logging, moved to Silver City, made a fortune in mining, lost it all gambling, and killed himself.

 

[Night Crawler]

Hi artman60 - I have only had 2 machines to date. a ML which I spent more time fiddling with than actually swinging it. Sold that one and bought the AT Pro. Man, what a difference, I actually enjoy metal detecting now. I just turn the at pro on, gb, and go.

As for the 5x8 coil, I purchased one about three months ago. I do a lot of relic hunting and I like the 5x8, but it's not as deep as the 8x11 that's for sure. The deepest I got so far with the 5x8 is 8" on some tin foil in a river bed. I did some air testing with a very small piece of gold in a vile and the 5x8 picked it up at around 3" and the 8X11 didn't see it at all.

Now with the 8x11 coil, I have dug down just over 12" for some buck shot, and 36" on a drain pipe (I know, don't ask, it's a long story, hehe). I also did an infield test on a Canadian nickel under a 7" (approx.) high mineral rock and the 8x11 coil picked it up. The 5x8 coil was blind to that test completely.

So now my dilemma, which coil to use? The 5x8 is more accurate and sees smaller items, or the 8x11 which is deeper on a bit bigger items. The odd thing about this artman60, is I haven't taken the 5x8 off since I bought it, it's great for swinging and in tight spots which I sometimes run into.

Either way, I'm very impressed with the 5x8 coil, deadly accurate and not to bad on depth (8" on tin foil) this was measured with my digger I have that has a 0-12" measurement rule on the side of it. And that's only what I have dug up so far, the 5x8 may go even deeper on the right target which I'm pretty sure it would. I got a good solid hit on the tin foil that's why I dug it in the first place.

The 5x8 coil is a great investment either way, I'm a relic hunter by heart and I'm only basing my comments above from that environment which I mostly swing in.

 

[Daugela]

There's certainly history here, but either it's on private property in Tombstone or at a historical site. Tombstone would be a great place to go but everyone there doesn't want a metal detectorists on their property. At least that's what I was told...As far as Spanish coming through AZ, it happened, but actually finding camps would be next to impossible. As far as I know there's no record of it. It's just the wild west out here.

Daugela: A trooper stopped to chat one day when he noticed me hunting in the Gila NF. He mentioned that he was detecting around the Prescott area with his uncle a while back and found a spur wedged between two rocks. He went on to find the other one and a very rare prototype pistol, and maybe even a badge... so 'ya never know! There's a lot of country to cover, though. Of course, the Spanish were wandering around, too - I think Coronado came up across part of AZ and the Northern Gila Wilderness area in the 1540's (?). Nugget hunting sounds like fun, too. I haven't been very diligent about learning where and how to hunt to make nugget hunting pay - I only find gold when I'm not looking for it.

Togamac: I've done a few bike hunts and it makes for a great day in the out of doors. There are some old wagon and logging roads (closed to motorized traffic) that I'd like to explore. One logging camp was attacked by the Apaches 9 times. The last time they tied the cook to the woodstove and burned the log cabin down with him in it. The proprietor gave up logging, moved to Silver City, made a fortune in mining, lost it all gambling, and killed himself.