new member thinking about the AT Pro

[hihosilver]

Hello, I'm a new member. Have been reading alot of posts on this forum about the AT Pro. Thing is, I bought a Garrett 150 for my daughter (grade 6) for Christmas and now I thinking I need a detector for myself as well. I have been out of the hobby for a long, long time. My first and only detector was a Bounty Hunter "Outlaw" and boy did I have fun with it. Found lots of neat stuff and silver too. My best finds: 1780 Austrian dollar (had a hole in it, so I presume it was worn as a neckless), 1839 seated halk dime in AU condition, and a standing liberty with no date.

Back when I owned that BH, I was in high school and it was all I could afford. Well, I can do a little better than that now but not so well that I would consider the E-Trac or the Fisher F75. Looking at the mid-range detectors and the AT Pro looks very good. Problem is, won't be until spring AND, gotta convince the wife.

 

[88junior]

I am fairly new to the AT-PRO and I am loving it!! I have used the other detectors you mentioned and all have their perks but in iron this is probably the best detector I have ever used!! I have been detecting for 20 years and have used over 50 or more detectors and this AT pro is a great unit for beginners to seasoned veterans!! You can set it up many ways to accommodate your style of hunting!! I relic and coin hunt and this detector works for me!! But you can also take it and rain and water hunt with it to up to 10 feet in lakes and rivers. It's a very versatile machine at a very reasonable price!!

 

[hihosilver]

Thanks for the reply 88 junior. As I said, I am really leaning toward the AT Pro, but once and a while I see posts complaining about the depth capabilities of the AT Pro, especially for coin silver. I was also attracted to the F5, but I really like that iron disc on the AT Pro. So I would like to ask everyone about the depth of the AT Pro for silver, I don't need to be digging huge holes but something that could find a dime as deep as 8 inches would be all the detector I would want. Does the ATP acheive this depth over dimes (not an air test, but in the ground)?

 

[88junior]

I haven't found silver dimes yet but I did dig a couple wheaties that were in the 8-9" mark with the AT!!

 

[darrenb]

In good soil, a silver dime at 8" is a good, solid tone on my AT. I also have a F75 LTD, but as far as bang for the buck, and simplicity of use, the AT can't be beat. Of all of the machines I have, the AT is the only one that I would never consider parting with.
HH!
Darren

 

[John-Edmonton]

Water proof, fantastic target separation, good variety of coils available at decent prices, manufactured by a company which really backs up it's products and it just works great!

Check out my finds last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yh9Y7vxkLeU

 

[chakra22]

looking forward to the 2012 finds vid!

 

[William-NM]

I think you'd be very pleased with the AT Pro's capabilities, including depth. One thing to consider would be the 5" x 8" coil- it's become the preferred coil for many of us who hunt in trashy areas. You can either pick one up as an add on or I think many dealers will let you specify when you order your detector. Bart at Big Boys Hobbies gave me a great deal and fast service! Enjoy!

 

[hihosilver]

Thanks for the input on the AT Pro. One thing I have been reading about is a comparison with the AT Gold. That true "all-metals" mode with threshold adjustment on the AT Gold sounds like a nice feature. But I like the notching adjustment on the Pro. So I was wondering how important that all metals mode actually is, and do I really need it for what I want to do. It sounds like the Pro gets great depth (when properly adjusted) on silver, so am not sure the all-metal mode is something I will really need. (Too bad Garrett does'nt sell an AT series model with the combined features of both the Pro and Gold, with the ability to select frequencies).

I would appreciate any thoughts on the trade off regarding the notching capabilities on the Pro side vs the "all-metal" mode on the Gold side...

 

[azsh07]

I have a recently aquired At Pro....and I have used the F5...well I have used almost all of the mid to upper level detectors...kind of a hobby in and of itself...playing with detectors.

The thing is..either will work well...really...honestly. Unless there is something unique you are doing like water hunting where waterproof is a requirement....then each will find what the other will.

I have been detecting for 30 years or so and man I have owned a buttload of units and with very few exceptions...detectors in the same price range...and in the hands of a person with decent skills..both will find the same targets...for the most part.

Of course we are not comparing detectors out of the AT Pro's price point...like say a Minelab Etrac...Whites V3i....and so on.....and even then most targets are within the detecting range of almost all detectors. Anyone who hunts knows that the majority of coins are not below 10"...now that is not always true but the majority are...even 300 year old coins.

I have dug 300 year old coins at 3" and clad at 10"....so one never knows.

Point being that it comes down to which one you like for whatever reason that is. Does it feel good...does it look good....do you look forward to using it? if so..there you go....decision made. Barring that the specific machine does not have on going problems...you will be fine.

There are times you may have to look at things like...does it have a manual or automatic ground balance.....or certain iron disc abilities and so on. If that is the case you take that into consideration. But when it comes down to say 2,3 or 4 detectors in a similar price point that have similar features...you will find the same targets on average irregardless of which unit you choose.

I know this after owning and testing a buttload of units....and agin the F5 is great machine...and it will see a dime at 8" in most ground....not all ground mind you but..ground that it can't see it that deep...well neither will the At Pro and most others as well.

By the way...very few detectors are built to maximize depth on silver coins. The frequency that is best for silver coins and depth is around 2-4 Khz...that is why the old Whites Blue box machines were at like 2.2 Khz or so. But...that is not optimum for gold which is better at or above 12Khz.....best depth on gold and nickels is , if I remember correctly, is closer to 20Khz or so.

Also ground minerals interfere with a detectors ability as does iron oxide in the soil...and then iron trash is a challenge....each of these also are heandled better at higher frequencies for the most part especially iron rejection.

So detector manufacturers have found that a good comprimise frequency is from 7 to 12 Khz depending on what their trying to accomplish. You get good response to all targets and good or better iron rejection as well as ground handling abilities. But...you lose some depth on silver.

So....point being..most newer machines run at a compromise frequency to try and achieve performance overall and we lose a bit on small silver like dimes....so....that comes with the territory for better abilities overall.

In the end...buy what you like and what fits your budget...and in the end...the pile of coins and relics will not be more or less with either machine. The machine you enjoy the most is the one you will find the most with...trust me on that one.

scott

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Hello, I'm a new member. Have been reading alot of posts on this forum about the AT Pro. Thing is, I bought a Garrett 150 for my daughter (grade 6) for Christmas and now I thinking I need a detector for myself as well. I have been out of the hobby for a long, long time. My first and only detector was a Bounty Hunter "Outlaw" and boy did I have fun with it. Found lots of neat stuff and silver too. My best finds: 1780 Austrian dollar (had a hole in it, so I presume it was worn as a neckless), 1839 seated halk dime in AU condition, and a standing liberty with no date.

Back when I owned that BH, I was in high school and it was all I could afford. Well, I can do a little better than that now but not so well that I would consider the E-Trac or the Fisher F75. Looking at the mid-range detectors and the AT Pro looks very good. Problem is, won't be until spring AND, gotta convince the wife.

Best machine in my opinion in that price range. Gets my pick every time! Holler with questions or a great deal! Bart

 

[Stanl]

You will not regret getting an AT Pro or AT Gold,
Light weight machine, good depth and target separation.
Simple selections on the menus, very straight forward operation.

I recently started using the Garretts, mentioned above, after using other brands (which I'm keeping for the time being anyway)
But, I found that I was spending more time with my other machine looking at the pretty display rather than digging targets.

Good luck.

 

[grumpysrb]

Ordered an AT Pro from Bart at Big Boys Hobbies today. Got a good deal. Thank, Bart. Wish I had made up my mind sooner. It's not the best time to be waiting on a package to arrive.
I'll be back to let everyone know how I do with it/

 

[hihosilver]

Thanks so much to every one for the input. I have pretty much decided to go with the AT Pro. Not having the "all metal mode with threshold adjustment, is about the one and only downside to it, but I am not sure how much I wouls use this feature, even if I had it. All the reviews I have read are great and the iron discrimination features are what seem to set this machine apart from others. For what I want to do, coin/jewelry hunt in parks, old homes and beaches (not salt water as I live inland), I think this is the best choice for what I have to spend.

Only problem is, I must wait until spring to get one (all the $$$ spent on Christmas for 6 children and a wife). But as I indicated earlier, just bought the Ace 150 for my 11 year old daughter (who asked for a metal detector) and I did not want to buy a silly toy. I know its an intro machine, but it has great reviews as well for its level. This is all part of my master plan, for I told the wife that getting our daughter the MD would be a great way for her and I to spend time together, well as anyone can conclude from this... you need two machines!!! Enter the AT Pro come April/May.

 

[88junior]

Yeah I told my wife the same but when I kept coming up with more machines than the one my son and myself uses I told her I got her and my daughter each their own! LOL looks like to me you have little more playing room to get a few more detectors with 6 kids and then you get to throw your wife in for one to!! All jokes aside I believe you picked a great machine and wish you the best of luck using it!!

 

[firstring]

It was always brand loyalty for me. What a major mistake in my stinkin' thinkin. I got a check up from the neck and love my AT Pro.

 

[SE-5]

I really like my AT Pro... I have a CTX 3030 also, but I've only fired it up today for it's first out of the yard hunt. Hit a wheatie and a 1940 merc today with it.

 

[grumpysrb]

I'm anxiously waiting for my AT Pro to arrive. It's been in Little Rock for two days. Supposed to be here on the 27Th, but could have been here. I am wanting to re hunt a couple of sites with the AT Pro I hunted with my Ace 350. I think there may be some more coins to find that are in trash or a little deeper than the 350 can pick through.

 

[marcomo]

Anyone who hunts knows that the majority of coins are not below 10"...now that is not always true but the majority are...even 300 year old coins.

Excellent and well thought out post, Scott. You make a lot of good points. The one above I'd disagree with, though.

I know coins are seldom found deeper than 10", but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

There's no magic carpet at 10" or any other depth to stop a coin from sinking. A coin will stop sinking when it reaches the level in the soil that is compacted enough to equal the density of the coin, or until the coin comes in contact with an obstructing object like a tree root.

I would argue that a significant percentage of coins at old sites are more than 10" deep and beyond the range of current detecting technology.

That's why when several inches or more of topsoil is removed at older sites, it's not uncommon for so-called "hunted out" areas to become alive again.

I don't remember the exact quote, but Tom Dankowsk1, metal detecting's favorite rocket scientist, says something to the effect of, "how do you know it's not there if you don't even know that it is?"