I put it together, took it out into the yard, ground balanced at 75, set the iron disc. at 25 and tried it on various objects from a silver dollar to can slaw just to see what the readings were. Too long to list all, but encountered two problems that I would like to mention. First was the difficulty in getting the electrical connections hooked up for the coil and headphone. The attachment is sunk back into the power head a few inches and is or was extremely hard for me to line it up and attach the cables. The connecting pins look very tiny and fragile and I think they might be easy to bend or damage. I had to get down in the floor and use a flashlight held between my teeth to get them connected! Second, when I was yard testing the pinpoint button stuck on. This is not a new problem and the same thing was encountered and documented on the GTI 2500 I use to own. Just wanted to mention this as a service to all other AtPro users. Onus
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Just got my AtPro and................
- Thread starter Onus
- Start date
Onus I had the same problems with the connectors. They aren't made for quick changes of coil and headphones. Had to use a flash light to get my connectors connected. I don't know if I have the headphones connected or not because I can only tighten about a 1/2 turn. The high targets were scratchy. I do like the AT though just some things a guy has to adjust to. HH... Happy Trails.....Z
Uncle Willy
New member
With the rush on at Garrett production glitches are going to be numerous and with any completely new machine there are always problems at the production end.
Bill
Bill
Frank in NH
Active member
It does not sound like you have it on all the way, should get about 8 turns or better. It screws on easier after a few times connecting it.
Uncle Willy
New member
'COMPLAIN" If Garrett gets enough of them they will correct their screw ups. Don't know where the engineers minds are when they design this stuff, maybe in their hip pocket and they have sat on them too long.
Bill.
Bill.
Uncle Willy
New member
It should go on right the first time and the user shouldn't have to have a degree in engineering to get it on. What happened to " User Friendly." ?
Bill.
Bill.
Women have little fingers, get your wives to attach the connectors for you guys? I had issues with mine too, took 20 minutes to get the coil connector thing lined up under a strong overhead light and screwed together properly. I just air tested and could get 8+ inches on a silver quarter in Pro Mode ,max sens, no gb. It screams over a several ounce copper nugget. It works well in my house at Sens turned down 1 notch.My other detectors are about useless at home due to EMI.
White stuff on the ground now and I am not a diehard detectorist. I like the Ace 250 style buttons, easy to get used to. Lookin forward to some creek action looking for gold and copper nuggets next year.At least I won't have to worry about dunking or dropping my expensive MXT in the water now.
-Tom V.
White stuff on the ground now and I am not a diehard detectorist. I like the Ace 250 style buttons, easy to get used to. Lookin forward to some creek action looking for gold and copper nuggets next year.At least I won't have to worry about dunking or dropping my expensive MXT in the water now.
-Tom V.
Mile Marker makes some good quality winches, but a few years back they came out with a new model and used an extremely substandard connector. When disconnecting the wired remote control, the pins would actually pull out rendering the winch inoperable! Quite an embarrassing oversight for an otherwise reputable company. Within a few weeks, they pulled the faulty winches off the shelf and replaced the connectors with quality pins that could withstand being unplugged. Mile Marker also took care of the customers that had already purchased the first-run winches.
This is an extremely common occurrence for any company and it is why I wait for the second run or so of any new product being made. If I wanted to be a tester and was willing to deal with the problems that would inevitably spring up, then I would buy a first run. But there are enough people out there who are willing to do that, so I wait.
I do appreciate all of the guinea pigs who are willing to work through the first-run problems so that the later purchasers can benefit from the improved product. Thanks!
This is an extremely common occurrence for any company and it is why I wait for the second run or so of any new product being made. If I wanted to be a tester and was willing to deal with the problems that would inevitably spring up, then I would buy a first run. But there are enough people out there who are willing to do that, so I wait.
I do appreciate all of the guinea pigs who are willing to work through the first-run problems so that the later purchasers can benefit from the improved product. Thanks!
Macedonian
New member
I do not have a real problem with the connectors on mine and you have to appreciate they are designed to be water tight down to 10 feet so I doubt there is a simplified connector out there that would do this.
The problem seems to be that you only have access to halve the screw ring because of the proximity of the connector body to the housing, it makes for a nice neat look but does not aid connectivity.
The answer to this would be to have both connection points spaced further out from the housing to allow fore finger and thumb contact with the screw ring.
The only question that runs through my mind is what happens after long term contact in wet conditions as any corrosion on the threads will make disconnection very difficult, I guess only time will tell and I would suggest using a light coating of waterproof grease on the threads just in case
The problem seems to be that you only have access to halve the screw ring because of the proximity of the connector body to the housing, it makes for a nice neat look but does not aid connectivity.
The answer to this would be to have both connection points spaced further out from the housing to allow fore finger and thumb contact with the screw ring.
The only question that runs through my mind is what happens after long term contact in wet conditions as any corrosion on the threads will make disconnection very difficult, I guess only time will tell and I would suggest using a light coating of waterproof grease on the threads just in case
Uncle Willy
New member
That's true but that would be a major revamp.
Bill
Bill
Fishers Ghost
New member
Jeez I dunno! Are you blokes all Minelab agents or something? This is a garrett forum is it not?
All I am reading is whinging about the AT Pro. The machine sounds pretty good to me and our agent here in Australia has not had any complaints.
Has anybody got anything good to say about it? I don't want to hear about a dicky hp connector or whether the stem is a bit swingy; I want to know how well it performs; Has anybody has used it on a salt beach yet and if it worked OK or not, how does it handle iron mineralisation? What's the sensitivity like on small gold chains? is the TID accurate/ Suff like that.
All I am reading is whinging about the AT Pro. The machine sounds pretty good to me and our agent here in Australia has not had any complaints.
Has anybody got anything good to say about it? I don't want to hear about a dicky hp connector or whether the stem is a bit swingy; I want to know how well it performs; Has anybody has used it on a salt beach yet and if it worked OK or not, how does it handle iron mineralisation? What's the sensitivity like on small gold chains? is the TID accurate/ Suff like that.
Yeah, you might change your mind on that!-----Forget changeing coils (stock coil to small coil or vice versa) or changeing h.p.'s out in the field OR ANY WHERE ELSE!---Once you get them things hooked up, you don't want to go thru that again very soon .----True, performance is ALL IMPORTANT---but there's just a few more things in this game than that.---It's called working the "bugs" out of detector design.-----Why didn't they make the numerical #'s & face plate info. larger for tired old eyes?-----I ain't gettin one, now don't everyone start "cryin" at once!! 
--------Del
--------DelFishers Ghost
New member
The TID numbers look plenty large enough to me and I'm nearly blind. but I agree,other info print seems to be a bit small.
The WP HP and coil connectors seem the same as what is on the Infinium. With these connectors I find that it is better not to put any grease on the threads because good electrical contact is usually required between the coil cable connector screw collar and the control box connector otherwise earth or shielding instability can sometimes occur, it depends on whether the connector collar is supposed to be connected to earth side of the ccts.
I just noticed that sombody has already had some touch pad problems with the pinpoint mode, I guess that is not a good sign so early in the production.
I would still like to hear how the unit performs at the beach. Although I know the detector was not designed for salt beach work, I have heard that the GB covers the salt range.
The WP HP and coil connectors seem the same as what is on the Infinium. With these connectors I find that it is better not to put any grease on the threads because good electrical contact is usually required between the coil cable connector screw collar and the control box connector otherwise earth or shielding instability can sometimes occur, it depends on whether the connector collar is supposed to be connected to earth side of the ccts.
I just noticed that sombody has already had some touch pad problems with the pinpoint mode, I guess that is not a good sign so early in the production.
I would still like to hear how the unit performs at the beach. Although I know the detector was not designed for salt beach work, I have heard that the GB covers the salt range.
D&P of Oregon:
You are a dealer. One of the few stores in Portland Oregon. Should I shop somewhere else because my tired old eyes do not like what I read? Why not use one of the many magnifiers you sell? I know the brands you carry and the brand you push because you have to meet a dealership quota. That group seems to have an inventory glut now that the sales have dropped off for the Sudan. The only one who has to sweat the quota to keep a Point of Sale is you.
There are other stores ya know, and I don
You are a dealer. One of the few stores in Portland Oregon. Should I shop somewhere else because my tired old eyes do not like what I read? Why not use one of the many magnifiers you sell? I know the brands you carry and the brand you push because you have to meet a dealership quota. That group seems to have an inventory glut now that the sales have dropped off for the Sudan. The only one who has to sweat the quota to keep a Point of Sale is you.
There are other stores ya know, and I don
Sunny Jim----Don't you be accusin me of that! ----I ain't no dealer, I'm just a 71 yr. old fart down here in eastern OR that loves this wonderful hobby of m.d.ing & has for MANY years.----You're evidently getting me confused with D&K Detectors out in Portland, OR.-----Look at my handle for kryin out loud (D&P-OR)---Del (me), Patsy (my wife)--Oregon (OR, where we're from)----thus, D&P-OR.------All I (we) are in this for is to be in the greatest hobby in the world, enjoy the hunt (whether we make good finds or not), the healthful excersise & being in the great out-of-doors.------After all, m.d.ing IS a hobby (for most) and is SUPPOSED to be enjoyable (for everyone)---right????---------As for the AT PRO, I see it as a detector that DOES have good promise---but boy, do they need to do some adjustments on that detector (in certain areas).---And yes, I have had one in my hands! 
---------Have a good 'un, Del
----I ain't no dealer, I'm just a 71 yr. old fart down here in eastern OR that loves this wonderful hobby of m.d.ing & has for MANY years.----You're evidently getting me confused with D&K Detectors out in Portland, OR.-----Look at my handle for kryin out loud (D&P-OR)---Del (me), Patsy (my wife)--Oregon (OR, where we're from)----thus, D&P-OR.------All I (we) are in this for is to be in the greatest hobby in the world, enjoy the hunt (whether we make good finds or not), the healthful excersise & being in the great out-of-doors.------After all, m.d.ing IS a hobby (for most) and is SUPPOSED to be enjoyable (for everyone)---right????---------As for the AT PRO, I see it as a detector that DOES have good promise---but boy, do they need to do some adjustments on that detector (in certain areas).---And yes, I have had one in my hands! ---------Have a good 'un, DelI really like some things I have heard... the main one being that at an old site loaded with iron, it is difficult to interpret the audio... that tells me that it is giving a LOT of information. This will probably be frustrating at first but I see it as a really good thing. Also I have heard that it is the first digital machine with audio that is like analog audio. That is a good thing.
Yeah, I don't like that the HP jack is on the rear right instead of left, that according to users is a PITA to connect to, and that the upper/lower don't have a lock (I can shim/tighten that and I can work around the rest of the minor dislikes, they are making an adapter for the HP jack and I think there is already one available aftermarket).
The main thing is that is finds good targets that are hard to find because we all know that virgin sites are rare and these days you either find some great site through research and then have the luck to gain permission OR you rehunt those pounded sites with a new machine that has the edge of somehow alerting to some good target that other machines miss... or it could all be sunspots, the phase of the moon, and local electric generating cycles..hmmmm. That is why I have a stable of machines, I find that each one will to some degree find things that the others won't find. Tesoros are great at ignoring small iron, Sovereign is good at ignoring larger iron, E-TRAC is good at unmasking, T2/F75 are FAST and light, V3 is adaptable to most sites/conditions and will ID at depth. I am looking forward to seeing where the AT will fit... my opinion from reading others opinions is that the AT will find good targets at good depth in trash and iron and I am really excited at the prospect of a digital machine with "virtual" analog audio... audio is KING.
I also like what I hear about the recovery speed. IMO, super fast recovery speed has it's place but I do not like to swing really fast all the time, I don't ever like to have to swing really slow so it sounds to me like the AT is just right as far as recovery speed, in the PRO mode. If I am right it is slower in the regular mode and is pretty much beep/dig but with a jam up coil.
Did I mention it is LIGHTWEIGHT and WATERPROOF to 10 ft?
There is always something wrong with everything. Do you remember when the E-TRAC came out and many people hated it because it was not an Explorer III? ML made it very clear that it was not an Explorer but people still complained because they couldn't make it be a better Explorer. First Texas makes good machines buti've only had one that I didn't have to send back for repairs, some more than once... so, I take it all with a grain of salt.
What matters to me is this: Can I use the detector for hours without pain and will it make good finds at "hunted out" sites... everything else can be tweaked somehow. If it has to be sent in and fixed, that really does not bother me... it is not a perfect world and I am very thankful that there are people who put so much time and money into designing detectors that keep improving on the VLF platform.
If Garrett sells as many ATs as I think they will, someone will offer an improved aftermarket shaft, different HP adapters and WP headphones that use the Garrett connector. SR will make an inline probe... things will roll along and get better and better but the basics will remain... great audio, audio that baffles users at first but then begins to reward... with targets that should not be "there".
The AT-PRO is a GREAT machine from my perspective and I plan to have one in the early spring, it is why I spend time on this forum.
Did I ever mention that I LOVE detectors? I love detectors as much as I love detecting and that is another thing about the AT-PRO... have you taken time just to look at it? It is the Dodge Challenger of detectors... it looks incredible!! It isn't a square box with a pod on the handle,,, it is sleek, rounded, and black.. it is a work of ART.
Good work Garrett... this will be my first Garrett detector, I have a Pro Pinpointer that I use as a backup and it is built like a tank.
Julien
Yeah, I don't like that the HP jack is on the rear right instead of left, that according to users is a PITA to connect to, and that the upper/lower don't have a lock (I can shim/tighten that and I can work around the rest of the minor dislikes, they are making an adapter for the HP jack and I think there is already one available aftermarket).
The main thing is that is finds good targets that are hard to find because we all know that virgin sites are rare and these days you either find some great site through research and then have the luck to gain permission OR you rehunt those pounded sites with a new machine that has the edge of somehow alerting to some good target that other machines miss... or it could all be sunspots, the phase of the moon, and local electric generating cycles..hmmmm. That is why I have a stable of machines, I find that each one will to some degree find things that the others won't find. Tesoros are great at ignoring small iron, Sovereign is good at ignoring larger iron, E-TRAC is good at unmasking, T2/F75 are FAST and light, V3 is adaptable to most sites/conditions and will ID at depth. I am looking forward to seeing where the AT will fit... my opinion from reading others opinions is that the AT will find good targets at good depth in trash and iron and I am really excited at the prospect of a digital machine with "virtual" analog audio... audio is KING.
I also like what I hear about the recovery speed. IMO, super fast recovery speed has it's place but I do not like to swing really fast all the time, I don't ever like to have to swing really slow so it sounds to me like the AT is just right as far as recovery speed, in the PRO mode. If I am right it is slower in the regular mode and is pretty much beep/dig but with a jam up coil.
Did I mention it is LIGHTWEIGHT and WATERPROOF to 10 ft?
There is always something wrong with everything. Do you remember when the E-TRAC came out and many people hated it because it was not an Explorer III? ML made it very clear that it was not an Explorer but people still complained because they couldn't make it be a better Explorer. First Texas makes good machines buti've only had one that I didn't have to send back for repairs, some more than once... so, I take it all with a grain of salt.
What matters to me is this: Can I use the detector for hours without pain and will it make good finds at "hunted out" sites... everything else can be tweaked somehow. If it has to be sent in and fixed, that really does not bother me... it is not a perfect world and I am very thankful that there are people who put so much time and money into designing detectors that keep improving on the VLF platform.
If Garrett sells as many ATs as I think they will, someone will offer an improved aftermarket shaft, different HP adapters and WP headphones that use the Garrett connector. SR will make an inline probe... things will roll along and get better and better but the basics will remain... great audio, audio that baffles users at first but then begins to reward... with targets that should not be "there".
The AT-PRO is a GREAT machine from my perspective and I plan to have one in the early spring, it is why I spend time on this forum.
Did I ever mention that I LOVE detectors? I love detectors as much as I love detecting and that is another thing about the AT-PRO... have you taken time just to look at it? It is the Dodge Challenger of detectors... it looks incredible!! It isn't a square box with a pod on the handle,,, it is sleek, rounded, and black.. it is a work of ART.
Good work Garrett... this will be my first Garrett detector, I have a Pro Pinpointer that I use as a backup and it is built like a tank.
Julien