Hello All : I too live in Florida and I have read the entire thread because it was so informative really great information. I too am pulling the trigger on the purchase of my first detector after contemplating it for 45 years and letting my family responsibility control my spending habits. I did consider the Garrett pro but for a first detector I fest it was to costly. Also since I am going to keep both feet firmly planted on dry land, and said land is very sandy I felt that the garret 350 would satisfy my present needs. So the long and the short of this post is that I just ordered a Garret 350. So I ask you did I already screw up since one mentioned the 350. Thank You and again a great thread
Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
Metal Detector Beginner - I Need Advice, Please!
- Thread starter Coin Sniper
- Start date
Coin Sniper
New member
Leroy, unfortunately, we don't have any metal detector dealers in this area, that I know of. I did visit Kellyco in Orlando when I went to pick up my son at the university for winter break. By that time, though, I had already made my purchase. Thank you for your suggestion, though!
Sailor, I agree with you and that's exactly what I did/am doing! Thank you for your suggestion!
Gunnar, thank you for your vote of confidence in my abilities! Fortunately, I haven't had any problems with my MD, but my family and I sure am having lots of fun with it!
Martin, I decided to go "all in" and I don't regret my decision to do so. Part of the fun of metal detecting, as I've come to find out, is understanding the machine and what it's telling me. It's like a challenge that I have accepted and am going to conquer, no matter what. The first day I had the MD, I went to the park and I was overwhelmed with what I was hearing and seeing. For a split second, I thought that I might have made a mistake. Then, I remember all of the seasoned veterans on the forums giving advice to newbies like myself saying to stick with it, put in the hours and keep practicing. Well, I haven't put in the hours that I had hoped for, but I have still come a long way from that first day. Again, I'm very glad that I stuck with it because it has introduced another avenue for me to be able to spend quality time with my family. Thank you for your advice!
Nirros, keep crossing all of those things that you've wanted to do off of your list! Life is much too short and you have to make time to have some fun. If I didn't force myself to do the things that I do, I would literally be working and sleeping every single day, with no time to spend on myself or my family. As I've gotten older, I've realized that certain things can wait. Now that I've learned this, it's amazing how much more time I've been able to find to stop and smell the roses. By the way, enjoy your AT Pro! I have read nothing but good things about that unit. In fact, my brother-in-law is now searching for a MD and that is the one that I recommended to him. I had hoped that he would've picked up a CTX, but it's not in the cards for him right now. Either way, I would love nothing more than for him to get a MD because then I'd have a hunting buddy!
All the best to you!
George, enjoy your Sovereign and thank you for your advice!
Edjcox, I love detecting! As I've come to find out, it's not always about the find. For me, it's more about the thrill of the hunt. Thank you for posting!
GoldHunter, I decided to get the CTX, after all. I am very happy with my decision. It's hard for me to say much more because I have never held any other detector in my hands. In my opinion, the CTX is light, well built and relatively easy to navigate and understand. Once you use it a few times, accessing the menu options and understanding all of the buttons' functions becomes second nature. By the way, enjoy your Safari!
RedRock, I would like to thank you, too, for your vote of confidence in my abilities!
I did take your advice and started with the basic programs. After, I played around in XChange 2 and learned how to manipulate my own programs. I also downloaded Evan's programs (GoneHunting) and put them to use in different scenarios. I believe that I have a pretty good grasp on the unit now, but still have a whole lot to learn. Thank you for your advice!
DirtAngler, thank you for your advice! I appreciate your time.
Neil, I was thinking along the same lines of what you posted. I didn't want to regret anything on my first venture into metal detecting. I wanted a machine that would allow me to go wherever I wanted to go, whether it be land or sea. Heck, I was even worrying about detecting on land and having to stop because of a rain storm. Now, I don't have to worry about these types of things. Thank you for your suggestions! They are greatly appreciated!
Damper, enjoy your 350! I agree with Neil, as well. You really can't go wrong with most detectors out there today. Grab one, get out there and swing! The idea is to enjoy yourself. When you locate and dig up your first coin, there's no better feeling. My first coin was a 1989 clad dime that I found at the park next to where I live. Seeing that dirty, round edge sticking halfway out of the plug that you just dug is AWESOME! Being able to guess what's in the ground before you dig it up is even more fun! Watching your children's eyes get as big as a clad dollar because you just pulled out a clad dollar out of the sand at the beach is PRICELESS!!! I can't wait to see what it feels like if/when I find a ring or a piece of jewelry. I can guarantee you that I will do a happy dance!
Sailor, I agree with you and that's exactly what I did/am doing! Thank you for your suggestion!
Gunnar, thank you for your vote of confidence in my abilities! Fortunately, I haven't had any problems with my MD, but my family and I sure am having lots of fun with it!
Martin, I decided to go "all in" and I don't regret my decision to do so. Part of the fun of metal detecting, as I've come to find out, is understanding the machine and what it's telling me. It's like a challenge that I have accepted and am going to conquer, no matter what. The first day I had the MD, I went to the park and I was overwhelmed with what I was hearing and seeing. For a split second, I thought that I might have made a mistake. Then, I remember all of the seasoned veterans on the forums giving advice to newbies like myself saying to stick with it, put in the hours and keep practicing. Well, I haven't put in the hours that I had hoped for, but I have still come a long way from that first day. Again, I'm very glad that I stuck with it because it has introduced another avenue for me to be able to spend quality time with my family. Thank you for your advice!
Nirros, keep crossing all of those things that you've wanted to do off of your list! Life is much too short and you have to make time to have some fun. If I didn't force myself to do the things that I do, I would literally be working and sleeping every single day, with no time to spend on myself or my family. As I've gotten older, I've realized that certain things can wait. Now that I've learned this, it's amazing how much more time I've been able to find to stop and smell the roses. By the way, enjoy your AT Pro! I have read nothing but good things about that unit. In fact, my brother-in-law is now searching for a MD and that is the one that I recommended to him. I had hoped that he would've picked up a CTX, but it's not in the cards for him right now. Either way, I would love nothing more than for him to get a MD because then I'd have a hunting buddy!
All the best to you!George, enjoy your Sovereign and thank you for your advice!
Edjcox, I love detecting! As I've come to find out, it's not always about the find. For me, it's more about the thrill of the hunt. Thank you for posting!
GoldHunter, I decided to get the CTX, after all. I am very happy with my decision. It's hard for me to say much more because I have never held any other detector in my hands. In my opinion, the CTX is light, well built and relatively easy to navigate and understand. Once you use it a few times, accessing the menu options and understanding all of the buttons' functions becomes second nature. By the way, enjoy your Safari!
RedRock, I would like to thank you, too, for your vote of confidence in my abilities!
I did take your advice and started with the basic programs. After, I played around in XChange 2 and learned how to manipulate my own programs. I also downloaded Evan's programs (GoneHunting) and put them to use in different scenarios. I believe that I have a pretty good grasp on the unit now, but still have a whole lot to learn. Thank you for your advice!DirtAngler, thank you for your advice! I appreciate your time.
Neil, I was thinking along the same lines of what you posted. I didn't want to regret anything on my first venture into metal detecting. I wanted a machine that would allow me to go wherever I wanted to go, whether it be land or sea. Heck, I was even worrying about detecting on land and having to stop because of a rain storm. Now, I don't have to worry about these types of things. Thank you for your suggestions! They are greatly appreciated!
Damper, enjoy your 350! I agree with Neil, as well. You really can't go wrong with most detectors out there today. Grab one, get out there and swing! The idea is to enjoy yourself. When you locate and dig up your first coin, there's no better feeling. My first coin was a 1989 clad dime that I found at the park next to where I live. Seeing that dirty, round edge sticking halfway out of the plug that you just dug is AWESOME! Being able to guess what's in the ground before you dig it up is even more fun! Watching your children's eyes get as big as a clad dollar because you just pulled out a clad dollar out of the sand at the beach is PRICELESS!!! I can't wait to see what it feels like if/when I find a ring or a piece of jewelry. I can guarantee you that I will do a happy dance!
Remember that the CTX is the most expensive detector you can buy. Even discounted it is expensive. The AT Pro IMO is the way to start. Learn the machine, for you that will probably take a couple of weeks. Once you learn the AT Pro and make those great finds, then if you feel like you can't live withoutvthe CTX, then go for it. Also remember you need a leasche digger and a Garrett pro pointer. That a &160 more. Don't waste time buying anything but a keasche and a Garrett pro pointer. Now your set, AT Pro detector and the necessary accessories.
Bart at Big Boys Hobbies will provide you with a smokin deal on anything you want to buy including a CTX.
Have a good time detecting, your goina dig it, pardon the pun
Bart at Big Boys Hobbies will provide you with a smokin deal on anything you want to buy including a CTX.
Have a good time detecting, your goina dig it, pardon the pun
I started out with a Bounty Hunter that was inherited - got me hooked on MDing though. A pawn shop might have some. Nothing wrong with going low or high tech; your choice. But, if going low tech and you find it frustrating, you won't be out a lot of money. The thing about MDing is that it uses technology, but the technology by itself won't get you to the right places. Kind of like photography - a great camera does not assure great photos. Edward Weston had an old, beat up, low-end camera for the day, but he made outstanding photographs.
Or, another analogy; like asking a piano player what kind of piano they have. It's not always the high end piano that makes great music. So, nothing wrong with high end machines, I have a few my self, but you still have to get to the right locations, and understand what the machine is telling you.
Best of luck to you,
Or, another analogy; like asking a piano player what kind of piano they have. It's not always the high end piano that makes great music. So, nothing wrong with high end machines, I have a few my self, but you still have to get to the right locations, and understand what the machine is telling you.
Best of luck to you,
Hey Victor, I saw your post going through the forum, and was wondering how it was going? I have done some MD some years ago and would like to try again after watching Diggers. I haven't purchased a MD yet but I'm thinking about the AT PRO. I live in the S. Florida area. Maybe when I buy a MD we can get together and do some digging.
Welcome first of all!! Being newer to the hobby myself...just going into the 3rd year now...I can tell you, do NOT jump into the hobby and buy a top of the line detector. That will be your first mistake! I say this from experience..I was duped into buying a White's V3i for my first detector. What a mistake to try and learn such an advanced machine when I did not even have a clue about metal detecting in the first place. I nearly gave up the hobby and probably would have if I was not introduced to the AT-Pro. It took me most of the first summer to get a grasp on and to actually understand what the AT-Pro was telling me, and to learn proper hunting and retrieving techniques. I purchased a CTX-3030 last year and there is just no way I would EVER, EVER, recommended that machine as a first machine to anyone...it is very advanced, to advanced for a beginner!!! Other machines I have had or still have are the XP Deus, Fisher F2 and Fisher CZ-21. The AT-Pro is my personal favorite...even though I have the top of the line machines sitting in a closet. Just remember...any machine is only as good as the person running it. You can have a CTX-3030 and not know what your doing and have a guy who really knows his ACE 250 running circles around you grabbing the good targets left and right. I'm not going to suggest any one specific detector as the Best to start out with (everyone is bias toward one machine or another)...but I have to in good conscience suggest against the 3030 for your first machine. See if there are any metal detecting clubs in your area, it really helps if you can find someone to show you the basics.
Good Luck
Good Luck
If you have your sites set on a CTX and done serious research on the machine and feel you can Handel the steep learning curve then by all means go for it.
Most of the people on the forum will direct you to the AT Pro. That is because being a new detectorist is hard enough by it's self. There is so much to learn about where to hunt, when to hunt, how to hunt, using all the tools of the hobby and enjoying the hobby properly.
The learning curve for a newby on the AT Pro is 1/10 as difficult as learning the CTX cold turkey with no experience detecting. For the beginner, the AT Pro will do everything for you that the CTX will do. Is the CTX a better machine, certainly it is. For the cost of a CTX though, you can owm 4 AT Pro's. The CTX has features that you will not need until you have at least 6 Months to a year of experience.
At the end of the day you are going to do what you feel best about. In any event which ever detector you choose, remember that the people on these forums have a wealth of knowledge and are your best resource.
Welcome to the hobby and good luck
Most of the people on the forum will direct you to the AT Pro. That is because being a new detectorist is hard enough by it's self. There is so much to learn about where to hunt, when to hunt, how to hunt, using all the tools of the hobby and enjoying the hobby properly.
The learning curve for a newby on the AT Pro is 1/10 as difficult as learning the CTX cold turkey with no experience detecting. For the beginner, the AT Pro will do everything for you that the CTX will do. Is the CTX a better machine, certainly it is. For the cost of a CTX though, you can owm 4 AT Pro's. The CTX has features that you will not need until you have at least 6 Months to a year of experience.
At the end of the day you are going to do what you feel best about. In any event which ever detector you choose, remember that the people on these forums have a wealth of knowledge and are your best resource.
Welcome to the hobby and good luck