Is Alpha usable on saltwater beaches?

[jordanls78]

I'm considering buying a new metal detector and I narrowed my choices down to 2 detectors the Fisher F2 and the Teknetics Alpha. I was wondering if anybody here has an Alpha and have used it on a saltwater beach. I'm currently living in California and I'de love to search the saltwater beach before I leave California.

I can only afford a metal detector that's $200 or less at the moment. I've been researching metal detectors since November 2009 and I'm drawn to the Teknetics brand and Fisher brands.

Thank you for any and all help that you can provide me,
Jordan

 

[chillyhiker]

If you plan on staying in the dry sand you will be ok when you get to the wet sand area its gonna chatter...most VLF detectors do unless they have a ground balance feature. Sometimes you can lower the sensitivity enough and it will do ok. happy hunting.

 

[jordanls78]

Thanks for the quick reply. I read several reviews of low end detectors that will actually work in wet saltwater sand if you lower the sensitivity to 2 bars on the Fisher F2 and I believe 2 bars on the Garrett Ace 250. I'm hoping the Tekentics Alpha is going to be the same.

I don't have enough money to splurge for a manual ground balance detector or even the Teknetics Delta 4000 which is what I would love to replace my Bounty Hunter Prospector with. I'm still looking for my 1st gold or silver ring that will go towards the purchase of a new metal detector.

 

[chaddy]

Yeah i've been in the same situation. And it's only when i moved up to Multi Frequency machines did i start finding the good stuff.
Good Luck. And dont give up.

 

[jordanls78]

Thanks!

I'm going to keep searching until I find my 1st gold or silver jewelry.

I would love to eventually upgrade to a Minelab Safari so I can have total confidence in the detector.