Is the ATPro having alot of problems?

[Hank68]

I was considering the ATpro for my water detector but now I don't think so, any input on this matter would be helpful. HHH.

 

[Jerry-Wi]

Try the At Pro & At Gold forum and the Garrett users forum. You can follow the history back all the way back to the beginning. To answer your question, there were some problems with the earlier production runs but they have a handle on it now to the point where they have offered an upgrade and a brand new two year warranty. The upgrade includes new poles with cam locks and a complete check out of the unit. Do not know what the check up entailed but in my case I got a new coil even though my old one was not giving problems. I have not heard of any major issues with the new or upgraded units. Present production includes all the features of the upgrade. In my opinion, many of the "problems" that have been reported in the last few months have been user related and not real problems with the At Pro. There is a learning curve for this machine like most others and people who have never used a metal detector before are going to have issues unless they take the time to read the manual and watch the available videos.

Good luck on whatever you decide. The important thing is to find a detector that you like and then use it.

Jerry

 

[Hank68]

-- moved topic --

 

[John-Edmonton]

Both the AT Pro & AT Gold are excellent metal detectors. They both share the same coils, are water proof, made in the USA and are covered with Garrett's warranty....one of (if not the) best available. One machine is designed for finding tiny pieces of gold, the other is more for coin and relic hunting. But the results that are coming in show both detectors doing well for all types of targets. The "PRO" has notching abilities, but not a true all metal mode. Yhe "GOLD" has a true all metal mode but not notching capabilities. Which one is better? The jury is still out on that one.:|

 

[pkrska]

Can't wait for the AT Ultimate, will have both notching abilities, and true all metal mode!

 

[Sailorman]

One issue with the leaks that few address is the need to use silicone O-ring grease on the O-rings and battery compartment gasket. Just like similar items on housings for dive gear. I wonder if some folks wiped it off or never renewed it and had problems later.

Mine has been trouble free so far. Hasn't been submerged but I've used it in a good rain.

 

[widebody]

[size=large]i've followed the ATP since the hype started back in sept. 2010. have seen most if not all the major problems addressed. the one remaining one i have is design. they still followed the Ace series design even though it's bad ergonomics. the new ATP have a little help with the arm rest extended. i find, and that's me, that it's still coil heavy. it finds everything. as for water testing. rain doesn't apply pressure from all around a housing at the same time. totally differant. but i know some who are still skidish about dunking their machines. you'll never know if yours is leak free without taking it swimming. all in all the ATP is finally living up to the hype.jmo

HH[/size]

 

[GoGoGopher]

I agree with the ergonomics...S rods are SO yesterday...They already put your wrist at an awkward angle. Then to make the detector front heavy, just puts that much more stress on your wristit may be cheaper, but I dare Mr. Garrett to put a 40 pound pack on his back, ad swing the AT Pro for 4 hours and NOT have aching muscles and a numb hand...
I am trying to come up with a straight shaft design for mine...That or I am gonna fill the rear shaft full of lead...


HH,

 

[Sailorman]

There's a straight rod setup available if you want it! I,ve swung mine for hours at a time and no complaints so far from me. I have a rebuilt shoulder and the side to side motion causes me to switch arms from time to time but I'm sorta ambidextrous so that works OK. If the S rod is so bad then why is it that so many of the manufacturers are using some form of it?

Not being picky but design in manufacturing is in my field. These things could easily be built either s rod or straight. Usually a company will follow whatever the bulk of their customers want. So if everyone wanted a straight rod why keep building s rod?Now it would be nice if we were offered a choice of configurations but I also understand the logistics involved in that for a small company and don't figure it's going to happen.

I'm well aware that rain is not submersion, I'm a diver! But how many dare to even use their detectors in the pouring rain? Use a weather cover and you're still at risk from condensation.

Mine will get submerged eventually, just haven't hunted that way with it yet. If there's an issue the warrenty will cover it.

 

[Sailorman]

One more thought though. If you really want the rod design changed you could start a friendly campaign among Garrett owners to request the straight rod design as an option or as a new standard model. Any business that receives enough requests like that will most likely give it serious consideration.....

 

[Jerry-Wi]

One of the primary reasons for buying the At Pro for me was the weight. I had shoulder surgery several years ago and swinging the old Grand Master Hunter was causing me a lot of grief. I spent 2 1/2 months rehabbing the shoulder last winter and this year have had no problem swinging the At Pro. Even got the 9X12 coil for it and do not have problems with that either. The upgraded position of the arm rest works for me.

Jerry

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

No the problems have all been resolved.

 

[widebody]

[size=large]i even had trouble swinging the Ace 250. kept having to change arms. not changing arms as much with the ATP but that may be the better position of the armrest. after my hunts with the ATP i am fatigued. not just tired. and my back gives out sooner than with my other machines.
i still think it's the coil weight. swinging one way and stopping the swing to swing the other way. i swing for hours with my whites MXT PRO and my XLT
both of which are heavier than the ATP and i get tired but not all worn out. for some of us the ergonomics is still an issue. some may not like the color.i'd like to get one in a splashy designer color. you're not going to satisfy all so you just meet the needs of the many. SPOCK, ARE YOU THERE???

HH [/size]

 

[JohnApthorp]

Hi,
I have just had my wife's AT Pro underwater for a continuous 2hrs ranging in depth from 2 - 8 ft in one of the local rivers. PRIOR TO GOING UNDER WATER, I placed a small bead of silicone grease - about a match head size, onto ALL 3 "O" rings - coil to control unit, headphones to control unit & the battery compartment. I gently spread the grease over the "O" rings so that there were no missed spots or excess spots.
IMPORTANT.Pay a lot of attention to make sure that the connector with the "O" rings slip into place correctly. It took about 3 goes to get the coil connector to mate correctly with the control box. The first 2 times resulted in a half an "O"ring sticking out of the housing socket. Be careful.
To protect my 33yrs of marriage & any marital priviledges, I had a float on the surface of the water with 10 ft of venetian blind cord & a heavy lead weight on the bottom to let me know when I was approaching my depth limit. I had a marker @ the 8 ft level that I COULD NOT GO PAST if I knew what was good for me.(Unless I could see a very large nugget)
This satisfied the wife & I could use her detector.

Good luck everyone, I hope this tip helps.
Gary.

 

[joecatch]

I bought my AT Pro in April and it was falsing sometimes when swinging so I sent it back to Garrett last month. I got it back 2.5 weeks later with a new coil and rod. Now whenever I place the AT Pro on the ground to dig a target it sounds off, sometimes once, sometimes enough to be really annoying. Don't really want to send it back again as I don't have the $25 to ship it plus I shouldn't have gotten it back this way to begin with. I was also NOT impressed with Garrett's customer service. More than once they didn't do what they promised me when I had contacted them on the phone regarding the status of my repair when they had it.

I am not a tall person and after 2 -4 hours of swinging my neck and shoulder bother me. I would like to try the straight rod to see if that helps. With only a few days of MD'ing left here before the snow comes, I don't want waste time sending the unit back for anything.

JC

 

[Jerry-Wi]

. Now whenever I place the AT Pro on the ground to dig a target it sounds off, sometimes once, sometimes enough to be really annoying.

I get that once in a while when I set it on the ground. In those areas I just turn the sensitivity down a couple of notches and it runs quiet. Since it does not happen when the coil is parallel to the ground, I think it is picking up EMI when placed on the ground because the coil is in more of a vertical position. The At Pro is a very sensitive detector and it would concern me more if it did not pick some EMI in places when running it wide open.

Just my take on it.

Jerry

 

[INCH]

The At Pro is a very sensitive detector and it would concern me more if it did not pick some EMI in places when running it wide open.

Just my take on it.

Jerry[/quote] I thought about that the other day while hunting under alot of power lines. The Machine was picking up alot of EMI and was a chattering like a speed demon, and when I laid it down to dig the target it sounded posessed, so I turned the sens down while digging the target. I was running at full sensitivity. I live in an area where the ground balance usually comes in at 60 to 70. I think Jerry has a very good point with the concern of not picking up EMI

 

[Hank68]

Thanks for all the info much appreciated! HHH.