Simple question here.... honest answers please

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Does anyone else have a love / hate for the AT Pro?

It seems, based on all of the posts, EVERYONE loves theirs, I like mine at times too, however I also dislike it as well.

I would like to hear comments from those of you who also bought your own AT Pro with your own $$s.

I am interested in hearing about the actual performance using either mode. I am not interested in its cost value or water resistant design or unique connectors etc.

I have approx 35-40 hours on the unit. It is a very brand new one. It does nothing wrong. Target ID is rock steady on good targets.

I have read most every post, watched most every vid, used the AT Pro in most all situations except in water.

One moment I like it, another moment I cant wait to turn it off and get ANY other unit out of the car.

Anyone else been there? Currently there? Or am I an isolated case? Did you overcome the dislike? How did you do it?

I definitely agree that THIS is the absolute BEST Garrett ever.

I am really looking forward to liking this unit ALL the time, so any suggestions are most welcome along with comments indicating that I may not be alone too.

FWIW, I have had most every unit out there over the last 30+ years, I have never owned a unit with such mixed emotions ever. I am not sure why I can not zero in on my feelings about this AT Pro. I REALLY want to like it 100%

Thanks for the assist -
Tony

 

[INCH]

Yeah I have a love hate thing since ive owned mine. I love to hunt with it and hate it when I forget to put it in my truck, and then get off work early and no detector. Sorry to hear about the emotional thing. Maybe ergonomics and noise chatter ? Hope it gets better.............

 

[Bill_S]

[size=medium]The more I use mine the more I like it. I also have a couple other detectors that I use too. I think it really takes a little while to appreciate how good it is, especially in iron. I like some of the features of my other detectors better but the AT Pro seems to do better in the iron so I like that better about the At. I think its just a matter of personal preference and what type of hunting you do.[/size]

 

[BobinFla]

You never mentioned why you dislike it.

 

[Rick N. MI]

I had the same thing happen to me when I first had an Explorer. I would put it back in the car and grab my other detector. I don't have the ATpro yet but I plan on it. So I think it makes sense that you need more time learning the sounds.

Rick

 

[khouse]

I really think a lot of hunters have given up on it too fast. I personally took right to the Pro mode. I have never used the STD mode. I will tell you though. My first Garrett was the Ace 250. I have to tell you that coming from using another brand for 14 years I didn't like the 250 at first. But I would read the forums about all the great things about it. So I started using it more and more. After giving in to the Garrett system I was doing way better than my buddies with machines 7 times more expensive. Partly because while they were fiddling with all their adjustments I was digging. Give the ATpro a chance and it will sing.

 

[garrettlover]

I love my pro, but I think any qualms about it is that it gives us more information to digest than any other machines we have used. that very thing though makes it so great, and so different from other detectors.we are so use to things being easy. like on the other garretts you turn them on and it shows the probable find,and depth and thats about it.on the pro there is so much more with the audio and pro mode and all.we may just be lazy lol

 

[goodmore]

The chatter is something I will have to get used too. My other detector is a Sovereign. When it makes a noise I dig. Not so with the AT Pro.


But I picked up the AT Pro to hunt in the junk. Target separation and quick recovery. Something the Sovereign is not capable of doing. Lets face it. The places we hunt are getting filled up with trash. Yes people are hogs. Trash everywhere. Gum foil, nails, pop tops, pull tabs, can slaw, you name it. I got the AT Pro to pick through it. And the kicker is that it can. But I need to listen to the chatter. Hopefully I can train my brain. The problem for me has never been depth. It has always been target masking. I might have to pick up the sniper coil after all. This detector can do some special things. It makes a great alternative to what I already have.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hi Bob,

I cant put my finger on the exact reason(s) why I am undecided in liking the AT Pro. For some reason, as simple and straight forward as the AT Pro is to operate, it 'seems' that it requires an unusual amount of time to be spent deciding if the target is good or not so good.

Then, it seems like the target itself never sounds very clean, even if the target is in clean dirt by itself.

I know this sounds like it could be MY OWN problem, and I surely accept that, YET, be certain, I am not saying the AT Pro has a problem.

I guess, my question may be more clear if I were to ask IF some users felt there was a larger learning curve to the AT Pro than meets the eye. I dont think so, I am confident in my operation of it, its straight forward.

The Audio is very busy, even with Iron Audio off, which is how I run it.

I do detect in VERY trashy iron filled areas. I tect at fort and home sites. I do not run high sens, No sense in checking the target with the Iron Audio as there is a blanket of iron every step of the way. I run the iron disc approx 30-35. If its repeatable, no matter on the meter, I dig.


IMO, at this point, about 30 hours into it, this isnt a beep and dig unit, its more like a beep and maybe dig, at least so far in my experiences.

Just wondering if someone else felt this way for a while and THEN the light bulb lit or are they still learning the unit before commenting.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Thanks Bill,

I hope to like it BETTER as time goes on as well. That is what I was wondering....some folks HAD to force themselves to like it, I will hang in there.

 

[khouse]

You said "Then, it seems like the target itself never sounds very clean, even if the target is in clean dirt by itself." Until you get used to it try this. While sweeping over said target. Keep reducing the sensitivity until your can't hear the target. Then bump it up one notch and see if that hasn't cleared things up some. This will eliminate at least some of the adjacent trash and help you pick that good target out. I still do this on some targets.....

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Rick,

I sure didnt want to mention the Explorer BUT to me, that is the unit I would compare the AT Pro audio to, except it doesnt meow, it grunts, constantly. Constantly because all my areas are loaded with iron. Maybe I will simply jack up the iron disc all the way for a while and have a much more quiet outing.

I guess I like it best when I first start using it, after a couple hours my lil brain hurts already!

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Good idea Kenny, thanks. I will give it a shot. What I tend to do at most sites with any tector is when I get a deep hit, I reduce the sens to simply know how much sens I actually really need to hear targets at that particular depth. I find this builds confidence alot. This way, I wont feel really concerned when an area is SOOOO BAD that I need to lower the sens to what seems to be a very low value.

I will give your suggestion a go perhaps tomorrow.

Thanks
Tony

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hey goodmore,

the AT is FAST when compared to the Sov isnt it?! I too got it for tecting in the trash and of course looking for that 'edge' as well !

 

[goodmore]

Yes the AT Pro is so much faster than the Sovereign I sometimes just laugh to myself. But when it comes to wet sand I'll take the Sovereign.

The grounds we hunt are changing by the amount of trash adding up.
The detector Manufacturers are changing the detectors to deal with it.
We have to change too. If we want to hunt. Or we can go sit on the porch and watch.

 

[Clyde(La.)]

Tony, I can understand you perfect...If you were a newbie, then I would tell you to hunt in standard mode for a while. But I know you are not because I have seen you on here and other forums like me forever.....I will tell you that I bought my detector new, with my own money.. I feel the same way sometimes, but only because I know what other detectors I have in the truck waiting on me, in case I get tired of the AT Pro...I have made a point, the last two trips out to only use this detector, no matter what happens or how I feel about the place I am hunting. I think for me, is the fact that I have to build my confidence with this unit. Once I or you build confidence with this unit, then everything will fall into place. I am amazed for the AT Pro, because it locks(ID) on better than MOST on deep targets, but not the best. I will say the negatives for me is it is nose heavy, even with the Gizmo attached. I have modified my headphone jack to use what ever phones that I want to. My opinion is that with good phones, the audio is better. Also the fit is a lot better. I know why Garrett supplied these headphones with the detector, but it does hurt the unit. I have not done anything for the wobbling shaft, as mine does not move much. This is the NEW Garrett.. It hunts different than any other Garrett that I have used. I really believe that Garrett is heading in the right direction. Just think about this for a moment. The price that this detector is selling for is, in my opinion, unbelievable.....I can see Garrett taking the AT Pro, later this year or next year, making a few adjustments and coming out with an even better detector. They should only move forward and narrow the playing field with the best that is out there....I know that they can do it, because a few years ago, they had some of the best that was out there. I think that they took the side line too long.
Tony, just do not give up on the detector. It will tell you what is in the ground, you just have to believe it...One thing I did notice, last weekend, is my cousin was hunting with me and found an old graduation ring in the football field. We stopped for lunch and decided that after lunch, we would hit the field hard for another ring. It was not deep, so I turned the sensitivity down on the AT Pro, to half way. I wanted to get rid of all the deep false signals and settle the machine down, so that I could hunt shallow targets and dig the sounds that I wanted too.....I am hunting alone (half sensitivity) and I get a nickel signal that sounds good...I did not look at the depth gage. It did not sound reel shallow..I dug thinking that it was 2 to 3 inches deep target...Well I dug a silver war nickel at about 7 inches deep. This made me sit back and think.....
One last thing, Tony, I do understand what you are saying about everybody says they love there AT Pro. I do not hear many negatives on this forum. It is the nature of the Garrett followers that will not say anything negative about Garrett. I do not think there is nothing wrong to say small negative things about any detector on any forum, because the manufactors are reading these forums. If we do not say anything is wrong with it, then they will think it is perfect and will not improve it...
Anyway, Tony, I would tell you to hunt on, because you have a very capable detector.....Just learn it....I think it is the best from Garrett, period......
Good Hunting,
Clyde (La.)
I forgot to say that mine does not false in any way...It is extremely quiet....Except in an iron laden area....Where it is a fast responding detector...

 

[Germanshep]

I can relate to your comment that even the good targets have some extra noise. I realize that I need to put in a lot more time, I am new to the hobby, but my biggest issue is trying to decide whether those iffy signals are worth digging. My experience so far is that the signals that are faint but repeatable, turn out to be nothing. As one person suggested, it may be a pocket of black sand that is giving me the repeatable, but phantom signal. I am hunting the beach and it has it's own challenges. Today I hit a bottle cap, re burried it, and spent a few minutes trying to train my ear on it. I am going to try the tip one person gave on reducing the sensitivity on certain targets. I have not tried that before.

On a different note, the full moon tide definitely made a difference down on the Outer Banks this afternoon. I hit three targets in the first 10 minutes. Three dimes and a penny, believe me, they were welcome finds after getting pretty skunked for the last few hunts. Problem was I hit the tide coming in and got quickly shut out as the surf rolled in. I will try Sandbridge Beach, VA tomorrow at dead low. I have a good feeling there will be more to find. Wish me luck.

 

[Dream Catcher]

Love my AT pro... Best ever! I owned a MD that was twice the price and a pain in the butt to operate.

 

[lafatlife]

I have now had a hunt or two with my PRO and I have to admit that I like the pro mode better than the standard. I also use the iron audio. It helps me to decipher the bottle tops from the coins most of the time.

Things I don't like about it, the headphones, they don't fit me right because I have a small head. I HATE the placement of the headphone connector, I hate the connector itself. It is not easy to connect and screw it on and because I am right handed I have to constantly fight the cord.

I will buy an adapter soon for it but I want more time on the machine first.

I also think it is a little coil end heavy. I noticed that if I am not digging targets my arm will get a little tired swinging it. My Omega is so well balanced that I can swing that all day and my arm won't be tired.

The angle of the control box is a little forward as well. It would be nice if it could be tipped back just a little bit towards the user.

Aside from those few bad things, I think this is an awesome machine. The target separation is fantastic. If you hear a good beep in the middle of bad beeps stop and check it out. It's not a fluke.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

I too think the overall tector is nose heavy(coil side) MAYBE we can get Ken to build a 3 pound or more arm cuff extender which may bring the entire unit into proper balance Yes it will be heavier BUT balanced.