New ATP User

[mlamp20412]

Recently got an ATP. This is my first machine with VDI. I had always suspected my soil was a bit mineralized, but was lead to believe is was mild by other information I read on forums. When I GB the ATP it settles down at 89 which is pretty high mineralization, correct? I seem to have a lot of iron in the ground as well. I have been using Pro Zero Mode with the stock coil and am finding things my old detector did not, nothing great, but new targets. In most cases I am having to do the "wiggle pinpoint" since there is so much iron, otherwise the pinpoint mode is locking onto iron/trash targets or goes silent due to pushing the pinpoint button over iron off to the side of the intended target. From what I understand when you push the pinpoint button, whatever is under the coil become the neutral baseline that the detector uses to determine the strongest signal over a target. In other-words,if you push pinpoint while over the target or over other metal off to the side of the target, you may not get a signal over the intended target when you put the coil back over it to pinpoint. I plan on getting the 5x8 DD and hope that will simplify things a bit. I am enjoying the ATP, but look forward to improving on my pinpointing and picking the better targets as I learn the machine. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[wag-jr]

i think you will be happy with the 5x8 still get good depth and great for hunting trashy areas well worth the money.

 

[grumpysrb]

My soil here, dependingon the site GB's at 55 to 56. Beach sand dry at 36, in the water 12, the rst in between.

I have found that when I pin point with any Garrett it will only do so while swinging from left to right over the target. If the target is very thin aluminum or close to the surface you have to lift the coil or it won't work. Often if close to the surface, just under the grass, and you have the sens turned up it will tell you it's deeper than it really is. If you can't find it in the plug, check the grass on top of the plug. The 5x8 will help, a little, in trashy areas. Lightens the machine too.

 

[MikeLab]

My suggestion is find an area with less trash to start out. You can set the pinpoint over the target a few inches above the ground..

 

[Diggin-it]

My ATP's also ground balance around those same numbers....pretty common in my area. I have 3 ATP's and used to only run the stock coil, but last year I bought a used ATP package that included the 5X8 coil. I gave it a spin in a super trashy swim area and I can tell you it is a must have coil. I was able to pull 2 silver rings and a silver cross out of a horrible sea of iron garbage. I run mine in PRO Zero mode with zero discrimination...I swing slow and listen very intensely for just the slightest hint of a good sound....it has paid off!!

 

[Trackerman]

The At Pro is a simple turn and go machine. But very powerfull. I found 3 gold rings with it in one months ownership. learn the tones and id and it will reward you. Oh and allways use pro mode good luck and Happy hunting.

 

[William-NM]

Congrats on the new machine, mlamp. Here in southern NM, mine ground balances from the mid 70s to low 90s (lots of iron here, natural and human contributed). I get a lot of use out of the 5x8 coil, especially when hunting in trashy areas like ruins and some of the ghost towns. The 8.5x11 is excellent for sports fields and cleaner parks (hah!). You'll get the hang of pinpointing quickly. I imagine that you've already watched the training videos on the garrett site. I'd suggest getting a few hunts in & then watching them again. I usually just pinpoint off the tip unless I'm in a manicured park or lawn, then I do the "x marks the spot" just to be sure.
Looking forward to seeing your treasures!

 

[grumpysrb]

What tone and vdi number are you getting for gold(rings, necklaces,etc.)?

 

[mlamp20412]

43-55 depending on size. I did not try any large men's rings

 

[Diggin-it]

What tone and vdi number are you getting for gold(rings, necklaces,etc.)?

Here is a video I made last summer to demonstrate the VDI numbers on various Platinum, Gold, Silver, Stainless Steel, and Tungsten rings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSTADU9UWIM

 

[sparkster]

The best discriminator is a shovel or a digger. They both result in no doubts about what is in the ground. Never rely on VDI only.

 

[grumpysrb]

I ask because prior to the ATP I had an ACE 350. On the 350 gold rings rang up as a high tone quarter. I went for two months with the atp and not finding a single nickle. They two rang up as a high tone, but are a mid tone on the atp.