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what to look for in a new detector

D

dflan83

Member
Hey Guys and Gals!
I recently (today) purchased a Garrett at pro package deal with the lesche digger :) to get into the hobby of metal detecting. I have been reading these forums and doing the research on which detector to buy for about a year now and it seems the Garrett at pro will serve me well for some time to come.(1) I want to learn how to use this machine effectively, and I believe the best method is to start in standard mode and switch to pro and listen to the audio and then dig the item in question. Any advice here is appreciated

My other question that I'm not sure of yet. (2)I have heard that a coil cover is necessary to keep your machine in tip top condition and protect it from scratching. Is this something that is kept on the detector at all times? What coil cover for the at Pro do you recommend? Should I forget about the coil cover?

ok last question.. Since I am new to purchasing a metal detector (3)What should I look for as far as normal operating performance. In other words, should i monitor my battery life and make sure a power drain is not present and should I do a test run with a few different metals and record the depth reading.

My grandfather has recently purchased some 70ish acres of old farmland that a house once stood in. The area has a creek as well so I figure I can get my "feet wet" and do some hunting around this old house base as well.
 
Congrats on your new detector and welcome to the world of the underground ha ha. Yes for starters the std mode is the way to go get a feel for your machine and be patient, it is a good idea to get a few items and do a simple air test just to understand the sounds and VDI on the machine. I say simple because the value you will get out of the ground can differ from the value in the ground. There are many trash items which will give the same reading as a desirable item but with some practice and stepping up into pro mode will help with this issue.

With regards to the coil cover it is a personal choice I for one do not like it as i hunt beaches often so the sand gets in between the tiny gaps, however it will keep the coil from being scratched and does not hamper performance.

With regard to performance headphones are key here they prolong battery life and help to dig out those deep targets. I have dug up silver coins so deep I got no reading on the display but the sound was there (again this is in pro mode) as the standard mode is one solid tone all the time no matter the depth of the target.

A tip for you, practice your pinpointing with the machine as it will save you time. Ground balance your machine before you hunt and check your settings before and during your hunt.

Last note remember the golden rules Fill in your holes and always ask permission before you go onto private property.

Enjoy
 
For me the Pro mode is the only way to learn. This is the audio you should learn. Personally I don't know why the standard mode is on there? Why learn two languages when you really need to learn one? Most all Pro machines and brands uses modulated audio. (pro mode on the Atpro) So you might as well get used to it. Just my thoughts........
Learn to run in Pro-Zero mode with about 30 iron disc. Don't think for a minute that your target ID numbers will lock on in the field as they do in air tests. You will get a lot of jumpy numbers in the field. If you don't dig them then others will retrieve the goodies you've left behind.

Learn how to recover targets in your own yard before going out to others. Visit tot lots a bunch to help in pinpointing. Also there is gold in the bark chips in the #40's range.
 
http://www.garrett.com/hobbysite/hbby_at_pro_videos.aspx

I would hunt along and in that creek. Look for a path. Find where the home was and search that area. Good luck!
 
hey guys thanks for all the tips! I can't wait to finally get my machine and get to some hunting. Its such a nice black friday all I can think about is getting out there to do some hunting! In the meantime I'll learn up on some videos
 
Best of luck to you dflan.:detecting:
 
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