ghost signals

[sheepdog]

Im new to the hobby and AT pro. I have tried pro zero but dropped back down to standard as recommended to learn on. I was hunting in standard zero with iron discrimination on 22. I was ground balanced using auto balance which is at 81 where I live. Using standard coil. Hit a coupke target with consistent low end tones showing 8-10" deep. Dug down to about 6 inches and rejected the hole and the signal was gone. This happened twice. Using mt AT Pro pinpointer it continually said a target was present. I spread the dirt out and ran the pointer across it and it rang across the whole pile. Im think due to my ferrous soil I need to lower sensitivity on the pointer BUT why is my AT Pro showing a consistent target then no target? I was trying to hunt targets in all ranges learning the tones.


On a plus side I did end up finding a horse shoe and .22 casing. Not much but not empty handed. Also depth gauge seems inaccurate.

 

[John-Edmonton]

It could be reacting to the soil mineralization. The next time you use it, before you turn it on, set the tip on the soil and then turn it on. This way, the Pro Pointer should run more stable for you.

 

[mudpuppy]

Small pieces of flat scrap iron are funny, they ring high/low...really small pieces like off an old can give us the fits...dont worry though, you are good, you are running hot and over thinking this....depth meter is calibrated to normal finds like coins or rings...after a while you will be accostomed to the differences....The Pro is strong,..most of us run Pro Zero...iron audio off typically..its good to learn the tones like you are doing, but dont worry too much about it, theres a lot of variables...you need to find a good solid hit, sometimes running too hot scatters the signal...I've been in Pro Zero for 3yrs and am barely learning the tones...it takes a lot of coil time..
Mud

 

[Fabio]

The fun part of using the AT Pro is exactly that, the versatility to pick whichever setting you want, according to the area you're hunting, and, the items you might specifically be looking for. Every day is another lesson learned. ALOT has to do with luck. You could probably dig up 100 pieces of foil one day, and dig up a nice gold ring on your first target the day after. Research is very important, along with knowing where to hunt, according to the area, like for example, near big trees or even where there used to be big trees. Hilltops, or hillsides facing South. Low lying fields where farming was uncommon. Trails are good areas to hunt, hard to dig at times, and widening the hunt areas in open fields along the trails. The best thing to do when hunting parks is to dig and clean up ALL targets, whether loot or trash. This will help you when you return to the same parks a few years later, besides doing your part in cleaning the environment. I've dug up tonnes of rusty nails. Bike tires are safer where I've been hunting. As to ghost signals, I've noticed thin sheets of rust shatter into hundreds of pieces when digging. The AT Pro will then not ring at the mess, but will still sound off when using the pinpointer. I always dig the pulltab and corona cap signals, knowing that's probably what I'll find, but you never know, a nice ring or old coin could pop out of the hole. Jus my 3 cents worth of metal detecting enjoyment. And remember, patience is the first law of detecting. Oh, and fill your holes!

 

[FrankG]

Fabio,

Very well said.

 

[silver renagade]

The pro pointer is hard to improve on, but wish it had a separate tone for iron

 

[Fabio]

I find the pinpointer on the AT Pro is it's only weakness. I find it hard to engage near the target. The pinpointer on the Ace 250 is way more reliable, and functional.

 

[FrankG]

I find the pinpointer on the AT Pro is it's only weakness. I find it hard to engage near the target. The pinpointer on the Ace 250 is way more reliable, and functional.

Pinpointing does take to learning and patience, especially in trashy areas or when there are multiple targets. Don't give up. I use the ATPro and ACE 250 and find the ATPro just as easy (perhaps even easier) once you get the hang of it. I think the binary audio sometimes gives the illusion of the ACE hitting harder when trying to find a target.

Perhaps a different technique will work better for you.

Try the old standard "x marks the spot method". (my wife and grand children have very good success with this method)
1. use the pinpoint button and sweep side to side and mentally note the peak signal at the center of the coil
2. rotate coil 90 degrees and to the same side to side technique
3. where the 2 peaks cross is your target

This basic technique is very fast, repeatable, and will work with either concentric or DD coils.

If the pinpoint signal seems to strong (ie. max signal covers to large an area), you'r target is either very large or very shallow, or both. Just lift the coil higher above the ground to reduce the signal strength.

 

[Fabio]

My difficulty with the AT Pro is getting the very low volume "small target (coin)" audio tone to squeak.To do this, I have to start pinpointing very close to the target, but when I press the button, it doesn't always go into pinpointing mode, it stays in the normal detecting mode.
My ACE 250 never acts this way. When I press the button, it starts pinpointing.

 

[FrankG]

My difficulty with the AT Pro is getting the very low volume "small target (coin)" audio tone to squeak.To do this, I have to start pinpointing very close to the target, but when I press the button, it doesn't always go into pinpointing mode, it stays in the normal detecting mode.
My ACE 250 never acts this way. When I press the button, it starts pinpointing.

I have never experienced that "button not working (failure to enter PP mode)". Bummer, but that seems like a straight out AT detector problem.

A couple of off the wall ideas.
1. try a factory reset. (when you power on, hold the power button for approx 5 secs and the detector will reset, give 2 beeps and go into normal operation)
2. when you pinpoint move away from the target before hitting the PP button or it may tune out the target
3. anytime you press the PP button, the characters "PP" should immediately appear in the target ID box and stay there while the button is held. If that doesn't happen EVERY time, I think you must have a detector fault.