What do I need to know about the AT Pro?

[Woodstock]

Hey Everyone! I'm a experenced detector user and just traded up (but some won't think so) to a nice AT Pro I got from "southwind". I'm getting out this weekend and would like some advice on the best Pro mode set up for coinshootin' old homesteads and parks. I'm really impressed with what it's showed me so far and all the Pro Mode tweaks so I'd like to get started in the Pro Mode right off. I've had the best the market has to offer so I should pick it up fast without any hassles. I've had an Ace 250 as a back up and I was impressed by that little beast and I know the AT Pro gonna be a monster in the right hands. The area's I hit are spotted with old bottle caps and small iron and aluminum. So I need you all to gang up on me and fill my ears with good advice so let's get the thread movin'.
I'll check back as often as I can......any help? Any advice? Happy Trails and Hunting to All of You! Woodstock

 

[Caretaker me]

Put it in pro mode , zero, full sens, GB, back it off 5, iron on 31, start swing and adjust from there

 

[John-Edmonton]

All metal is the way to go, with at least some discrimination added to get rid of some of the irritating iron. (don't worry about losing depth like some machines using the adjustable rotating knobs) But, if you can still revert to listening to everything with push of a button, by using the iron audio button. PAy attention to the high tones. Peek at the VDI numbers. If you are in the 70's or 80's, dig it. Keep in mind, that the the type and amount of oxides forming on the surface of say silver or copper targets, will lower the VDI numbers. For example, yesterday I dug up a copper coin from the 40's, which read about 76-78 with a greenish brownish oxide coating on it. Normally, an oxide free copper penny would read in the low to middles 80's. Target sounds with a high signal mixed with a lower signal need to be further played with and investigated. If the high number shoots up into the 70's to 80's, dig it. Yesterday I got an iffy signal (low 40'a-high 80's), and dug it up anyways. Out came a flattened, crumpled piece of aluminum foil. I scanned the hole again, and dug up the high tone target, which happened to be a penny. How the AT Pro managed to read the penny correctly with aluminum foil above it with a low tone correctly is beyond my comprehension, but it worked.

Your other alternative it to hunt in coins mode, which will allow you to hunt less iffy signals (you will lose some of those high-low mixed sounds) but will be able to hand pick your good targets.

So in summary, use the Po Mode which will give you that sweet audio and use it in conjunction with the VDI numbers. If that is to much of a "POWER" learning curve for you, use the coins mode. Your third option is to used the standard mode, and dig all the bell tone signals in all zero discrimination, relics mode or coins mode. Good luck with your hunt this weekend. A couple of gold rings and the AT Pro is paid for. And by the way, the At Pro because of it's operating frequency of 15 kHz is very hot on gold rings, old round pull tabs and silver rings.

John

 

[KCK]

Make sure you take a shovel....."You are going to be digging deeper targets than ever before." The depth gauge is right on so far in my evening experience with the ATP.

 

[John-Edmonton]

n/t

 

[Woodstock]

Thanks for the advice everyone ! I plan on actually going right to the Pro mode and pay close attention to what I'm hearing and seeing on the meter and let the machine teach me it's language. And I like to hear from everyone who had theirs out. It's way better than this way to me, I read the manual then I get your feedback on what you feel are the best settings and start from there and see where it takes me.
Thanks for all the tips and I'll keep everyone updated on my success. Happy Trails to All ! Woodstock

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Some of those good signals i.e.in the high 80s to 90s can be deceiving.
Lots of my sites have soil infested iron that was brought in as fill
and recovered with dirt and sod.
I can tell by the width and tone of the signal that its junky.
Will probe it with a long handle screwdriver to check it just in case.