Got a problem with my AT... Looking for suggestions.

[darrenb]

Hey guys, I have been out of metal detecting for quite a while due to a back injury, but have been able to get out for a few hunts lately. On the first hunt, my AT was very noisy. Hunting at the same old air base that I have probably put 100 hours on the AT in the past. I lowered sensitivity to 1 bar, and it still didn't act right. The next hunt, I did a master reset on the unit, and it seemed to be doing much better, but pennies are scratchy sounding now. Previously, the zincs would sometimes sound a little scratchy if they were half rotted away, but a copper penny always sounded really smooth. I hate to admit it, but my AT was left in my work van for the 6 months that I was not detecting. (yeah, with the batteries in it.) I am going to give it another shot tomorrow, but am thinking it might be time to send it to garrett for a checkup. I'm running in pro custom, iron disc at 40, sensitivity anywhere from 1 to 4 bars. I have also installed new batteries, and checked the coil connection. What am I missing?
Thanks guys!
Darren

 

[GoGoGopher]

Does your AT have the upgrades? The camlocks and extended shaft??? If so, it is time to send her in for service.

HH,

 

[John-Edmonton]

Did you ground balance it?
Is your iron audio turned on? That might account for some of your scratchy signals.........
Try a new set of batteries.
Retune the detector (hold the on button) to see if it makes a difference, then manually reground balance it and turn off the iron audio....that should fix it.

Good luck!

 

[darrenb]

I have ground balanced it several times, and have tried moving the ground balance up or down from what automatic balancing sets it as. No luck with anything so far. Iron audio is off. I only use iron audio when I get an iffy signal and am trying to determine if it is a bottle cap. Have installed fresh batteries as well. And this one has had the upgrade done with the camlocks and longer rod. Looks like I may be shipping it back for garrett to check it over. Guess it is time to pull out the old 350 again!
Thanks guys.

 

[Metal Magnet]

send it in. that's not right, especially the copper pennies in a place you know isn't trashy.

 

[jmorton04]

Before I sent it in for service, I think I would gently polish the battery contacts and the contacts in the machine with a pencil eraser. Sometimes a resistant film builds up on the metal parts if the batteries are left in too long.
HH,
John Morton

 

[darrenb]

Well, I got the AT back from Garrett today. I took it out for an hour long hunt, and found 4 wheaties and 2 silver rosies! I have been using my Ace 350 while the AT was out, and I had forgotten how nice the proportional audo is. Anyway, as usual, Garrett took care of me and got my machine back to me very quickly.
HH
Darren