Garrett Pro Pinpointer Question.

[Goat Rancher]

I guess I have more than one question. I recently had a demonstration of holding a coin on the body of the pro and increasing the detection range. Just curious if anyone has explained why that works and why not put a sliding switch like on some of the older flashlights attached to the body of the pro and you could just slide the plastic switch which would move the metal part of the switch forward to the correct position to increase depth. I think those flashlight switches are plastic with a brass sliding portion. Am I out in left field on this? Looks like Garrett would incorporate this added depth trick to their pinpointers some way or have they?

 

[khouse]

You could use whatever you wanted. Why it works? Think of it this way by using the number zero with positive and negative numbers. Zero is the line of no response or response. . To make the Propointer stable. It's set up in default at say -4. This is quite a bit under 0. So by using something metal and bringing it closer to the coil you'll raise the number up increasing the sensitivity. So now your effectively changing the default number to zero. Now any little piece of metal will make the Proponter respond. Kind of like a threshold adjustment on a regular machine. I don't see the need for doing this as I think the Propointer is great right out of the box. I think some hunters just don't use it right. I have seen some vids where they open the hole then while pushing the button they start searching. This can detune the Propointer and reduce depth. Turn your Propointer on away from anything at least 6 inches. Then after the start up tone goes off start searching.

 

[MrGee]

Actually I remember the posts about sliding a coin up and down the pointer but I like mine the way it is. When I get a chirp out of my pointer, I know that my target is 2 inches or less away and if you are careful it will tell you whether it's in the plug, the bottom of the hole or the sides. I like it the way it is.

MrGee

 

[khouse]

I agree. I carry the Propointer in my hand when detecting - not the digger, sometimes both. I first stand the Propointer on end to see if the target is within the 2 inch range. So if there is no tone I know it's deeper than 2 inches. A little chirp means 1.5 to 2 inches. If it goes crazy then it's less than 1 inch. Or it can be a large target. The Propointer will tell you that too. After just a few seconds I know how and where to recover my target. All total maybe 30 seconds from beep to pouch.

 

[Goat Rancher]

Thanks khouse. That's a great explanation and makes sense. I find sometimes a little extra depth is beneficial.


Thanks Mr Gee. I am thinking seriously about trying one and see how I like it.

 

[5900_XL-1]

I agree. I carry the Propointer in my hand when detecting - not the digger, sometimes both. I first stand the Propointer on end to see if the target is within the 2 inch range. So if there is no tone I know it's deeper than 2 inches. A little chirp means 1.5 to 2 inches. If it goes crazy then it's less than 1 inch. Or it can be a large target. The Propointer will tell you that too. After just a few seconds I know how and where to recover my target. All total maybe 30 seconds from beep to pouch.

There is actually a real usefulness with that depth extension, and that's to re-true the hole. I don't always pinpoint to the exact center, especially if I'm targeting something of real size. The Pro Pointer, when tricked for the other two inches, has kept me digging when I'd ordinarily stopped. We're not all blessed with easy to dig soil, and sometimes it sure beats wearing yourself out to use the sliding coin trick to re-aim the direction the target is truly sitting toward. As far as the going crazy and the target being less than an inch...that's not true if you have a big, deep target. My lesche sets my Pro Pointer off from a good 4 inches, and the detector itself does also. I find it very beneficial to slide the coin for the extra depth, just to stay interested in the hole. jm2c martin

 

[khouse]

Why don't you tape a piece of aluminum on your thumbnail? This way it's always there when you need it. Just slide your thumb. What I mean about going crazy is the rapid beeps you get on large or shallow targets. Not the little chirps.

 

[Welwood470]

Martin, I agree 100%. My Snapon tool box will set the PPointer off at almost a foot away. The Propointer
is looking at mass and in another forum a Garrett engineer explained that by placeing a coin/metal along
the side (just opposite switch) setting it off and then back just a hair you have pushed it almost to the threshold
and a little more (target will set it off. I have used a piece of adhesive velcro strip (fuzzy part) about 4 or 5 inches long
1/2 inch wide and taped lengthwise from just opposite the switch up to the battery cap. Then take a small
piece of the hook part of the tape and tape it to the coin (I use a Dime) and then trim around the Dime.
Stow the dime up near the cap when not in use. Just remember to restow after useing before you
turn it on again or you will have detuned the pointer..