Looking for recommendations on a pinpointer

[Scotty (Upstate NY)]

The Makro, TRX and Garrets look promising based on everyone's input thus far.

One thing that is confusing to me is that it might be desirable to have great depth capability with a pinpointer. I don't understand that because I thought the main objective of the pinpointer was to locate an item after most of the digging was done.........Are the deeper models still quite directional?

Scott

In some applications shallow might be better but in most applications it is not. If you can pin point before you dig you know exactly where the target is. The second thing is that after the target is dug, the ability to simply wave your Pin pointer over the dirt lets you find the target very quickly sort of like your detector. If I could hear the Pistol Probe it works very good for this. Most Pin pointers make you just almost touch the target before it goes off and those black pennies can really hide in that black dirt not to mention all those little bits of nails. The gradiant responses help but you quickly find that the response on a coin is much less than a crushed can. The TRX is much more directional than the Pro Pointer and some people dont like this. I do like this because if you miss your spot the Pro Pointer will sit there and indicate while you dig to china only to find that the target was in the side of the hole. Finding a small earing stud with a Pro Pointer is tough. Finding one with the TRX is easier if you resist the urge to rake through the dirt with the Pin Pointer and wave it over the top using only the tip.

I just ordered a Sunray after trying most of the Major brands. If the Pin Pointer says Water resistant or water proof this means that there is a film over the speaker and this significantly reduces the volume. Not a big thing except that most of us are old men and our hearing is not so great. Couple that with wearing Headphones, city traffic, and a problem develops quickly.

Pin Pointers are great but Manufactures are slow to make changes. DetectorPro Pistol Probe says theirs is loud as they can get it. A shame since this is one of the deepest I found and I liked the way it was setup. Worthless if you can not hear it.

TRX works well and is close to the Pro Pointer in volume but not quite as loud. Takes a couple of seconds to come on and the gradient response is different than the Pro Pointer. Irritating until you get used to it, but after you use it a while you like it better.

Pro Pointer has had reliability issues, although mine has been great, but mine is a great improvement over the old Whites Bullseye II. I did not try the water proof version but I bet the film over the speaker is tougher thereby reducing the volume, I am willing to bet to the same level as the TRX.

Daddyflea, thanks for all the information. You have certainly made it easier for me to make a choice.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I use one myself for the detectors I don't have a Sun Ray probe for. These have great depth and to me is the deepest of the hand held probes. These too are made by Detector Pro and do cost a bit more, but they are attached to a great set high quality headphones too. One of the things that seems to be the main problems with headphones is a wire in the cable breaking and you have to send them in to be repaired, but the Uni Probe and the Gray Ghost NDT have replaceable cables so I keep one with my detecting gear if I ever need it. The probe will come off the headphones if you want to take it off, but yet will not fall off as it uses a great connector. They make a pocket Uni Probe also which too is good, but for the extra for the reg Uni Probe it is well Worth it and don't have to take off the headphones to use the probe. If you will notice it is hard to find a used Uni Probe built into the headphones, but can see a pocket one for sale once in a while.

Rick

 

[daddyflea]

Uniprobe is the same as the Pistol Probe. It is just a small PI Detector Just like the Pistol Probe. If you are able to wear Headphones all the time I think this is an excellent choice. I would love to see this on the Rattler Headphones. The big advantage of the Uniprobe is that you can turn the Volume up and down and hear it through the Headphones the same as the Detector.

 

[Scotty (Upstate NY)]

Can anyone who owns a TRX probe post what they don't like about it? I have determined this model to be one that I may purchase.


THANKS

 

[daddyflea]

Can anyone who owns a TRX probe post what they don't like about it? I have determined this model to be one that I may purchase.


THANKS

TRX is not as loud as it needs to be. I really like not having to use those 9V batteries. Other than the volume issue the TRX is great. I expect that the waterproofing is going to cause all the pin pointers to lose volume. It is a serious issue for me. I just sold a Pistol Probe because of this issue. TRX is loud enough for me to use but not loud enough to be completely satisfied with it.

 

[5900_XL-1]

Can anyone who owns a TRX probe post what they don't like about it? I have determined this model to be one that I may purchase.


THANKS

1. The loudness is lacking, but it s way better than the Pistol Probe. I can live with it. If you can hunt without HPs it sounds good. So, I choose to carry two pointers. Not my initial intention when I got it.

2. No side detection. That's my main disappointment. Many folks like that it doesn't side-detect. It slows me down, especially once the target is out of the hole.

The best thing besides raw depth about the TRX is how you can detect well at 3-5 inches before digging. Saves diggin' big holes.

 

[Scotty (Upstate NY)]

Why would you pinpoint with a pinpointer before you dig since you have used every discrimination and masking feature on your detector to determine where you will dig, Surely a 200 dollar pinpointer does not have the same features and capabilities as your main detector and may lead you astray, I always thought it's purpose was to finish the job after you pulled the plug. Otherwise why spend thousands of dollars on a machine to do that for you when you claim a pinpointer can do the same? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Rick(ND)]

The reason I use a pin pointer before I dig and I am sure many others do too is if the target is not real deep the pin pointer will pick it up so you know exactly where the target is, so in most cases you don't have to dig a plug, or a very small one. Now if it is deeper and I got no signal with the pin pointer I will use the detector again to pinpoint as close as possible to where the target is and check out the hole right after the plug come out. I have seen a coin on a angle pinpoint up to 4 inches off from where it is at and this is where a good pin pointer works excellent and why I like my Sun Rays pin pointers and the Uni Probe one built into the headphones as they have great depth. I remember one of our hunting buddies that didn't think he needed a pin pointer until his wife got him one for his birthday, now you couldn't get it away from him as the recovery is so much faster so he can find more for the time out, plus no more empty holes after a plug was dug out.
I feel those that are serious about detecting use good headphones, a good pin pointer and a Lesche digging knife or one similar for lawns and possibly a small shovel for farm fields, all tools of this hobby.

Rick

 

[daddyflea]

Now that I have one and tried everything else Sunray is the only way. Last couple times I went out, I left my Pin Pointers at home. Here lately the places I hunt, the Discrimination feature is great.

 

[Scotty (Upstate NY)]

Anyone have performance/experience updates on the new Garrett's pinpointer since it has been a few months now since its release?

 

[always diggin 2]

maybe I missed this in reading these post but on the gpp you put the pp at the top of youre hole then turn It on detunes it anything at the top or in the side of youre hole is easier to find hope this makes sense hope this helps hh.

 

[Scotty (Upstate NY)]

I ended up purchasing the new Garrett pinpointer and am very happy with it. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[landman]

White's TRX. Deepest of the bunch. I use to use the Tinytec, loved that too.