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Which Pinpointer Is Better
- Thread starter moose57
- Start date
It is basically the same setup as the ProPointer.
Same shape, takes a 9V cell that is screwed into the back end.
Added features:
You can tune the sensitivity - whether that is a bonus remains to be seen.
It starts beeping when left on - in their advertisement this feature is supposed to make you find it, should you have left it behind after digging.
Should this be the case it could also attract others - like when searching in a public park.
Since most people wear their headphones as soon as they continue searching, a doubtful feature.
Same shape, takes a 9V cell that is screwed into the back end.
Added features:
You can tune the sensitivity - whether that is a bonus remains to be seen.
It starts beeping when left on - in their advertisement this feature is supposed to make you find it, should you have left it behind after digging.
Should this be the case it could also attract others - like when searching in a public park.
Since most people wear their headphones as soon as they continue searching, a doubtful feature.
Roscue2
Active member
I have used the GPP since it came out back in 2008 and have never had a problem with it, other than the battery door disconnecting with the battery over time. To solve this problem I put a chair foot cushion inside the battery door, and it has worked fine ever since.
I have not used the MLP, but from what I hear it is about the same performance wise as the GPP. So either one will probably do just fine.
HH
I have not used the MLP, but from what I hear it is about the same performance wise as the GPP. So either one will probably do just fine.HH
Chuck in KY
New member
I use a GPP & like it fine. It is good for finding bird shot in my small game.
Critterhunter
New member
If you look back in this forum 4 or so months or so ago you'll find a thread where a guy posted some videos of his new Minelab vs the Pro Pointer. The Minelab air tested a bit deeper but then later in the thread you'll see another video in an actual "in ground" hunt and the Minelab didn't appear to do nearly as well as the Pro Pointer. That thread has all the pros vs cons so no sense going over them here. Some do like the extra features of the Minelab for the extra cost, while others don't feel it's as a whole as good as the Pro Pointer in certain respects to them. All about which you are looking for I guess. Me? I won't hunt without my Pro Pointer. Best accessory hands down for a metal detector other than headphones, and even then if I had to make a choice I might have to give up my headphones before I'd give up my Pro Pointer. 
By the way, might want to check out this slick way to super or detune the Pro Pointer I did a pictorial about. Easier one handed (thumb) method than all prior ones I've tried, so I did a pictorial style video about it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ozNtD-dKh8
By the way, might want to check out this slick way to super or detune the Pro Pointer I did a pictorial about. Easier one handed (thumb) method than all prior ones I've tried, so I did a pictorial style video about it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ozNtD-dKh8
copperdave
New member
I love the Vibra Probe. It is good for 200' in water too
Critterhunter
New member
A friend picked up a Vibra Probe for water hunting. He's got a Pro Pointer too so he never uses the Vibra Probe. I tried it myself and the auto on/off drove me nuts and I wasn't too thrilled about it's depth, but for sure if you need waterproof without doing the various ways to waterproof the Pro Pointer (I like the vacuum food storage bag idea best) then the Vibra Probe is a good choice.
By the way, I was just on a hunt today with a friend and the one flaw with the Pro Pointer I've heard of showed it's ugly head. His Pro Pointer's switch stopped working and he couldn't turn it off. I tried it and noticed the rubber switch cover is also lifting off on one side, so I suspect he got mud down into the switch and it locked up. This is the one weak point in this otherwise very reliable pin pointer. I should also add he hunts a lot and has used the Pro Pointer a ton over the 3 or 4 years he's had it, much more than most people probably.
I'm wondering- Does anybody know if Garrett is fixing the switch out of warranty for free, since I'm sure they know this is the one flaw in this pin pointer that seems to have a number of failures for people. Also wondering if they have updated the switch somehow to guard against future failures? Garrett is good at listening to their customers so it wouldn't surprise me if they've fixed the switch issue.
I saw one neat mod in the modifications forum where a guy took a mercury switch and stuck it between one battery lead and the Pro Pointer. He didn't have to solder or alter the Pro Pointer, but rather just curled the mercury switch's leads into a spring so it acted like a negative battery lead. Now his Pro Pointer turns on when upright (since the on/off switch is left in the on position on the Pro Pointer), and it turns off when he flips the Pro Pointer upside down to put in his holster. This would seem the perfect solution to avoid over use of the on/off switch to head off future problems with that switch, and also as a way to fix the on/off issue when a switch goes bad and will no longer turn off. Only thing is I didn't care for that up/down on/off thing on the Vibra Probe myself, but if it means saving the switch then I just might go that route myself.
By the way, I've dropped my Pro Pointer from a height of about 6 feet at least twice onto the hard cement due to the stupid place I was storing it in my garage and being clumsy getting it out of there. Just wanted to point out it still works like brand new. Some have reported their Pro Pointers are unstable right at power up and not several minutes later when they drift out of tune. I think what might be happening is they are pushing hard on the tip in holes and distorting the coil windings over time. Far as I know the coil isn't encased in epoxy like they are in a regular detector coil to prevent misalignment. Point is I would get out of the practice of pushing hard with the tip in a hole. That isn't going to make it see deeper, and any sound off you get is only because you are distorting the coil windings. Try it some time. Push hard on the tip and you'll have it sound off. I would avoid doing that. Far better to super tune for more depth and that actually works.
By the way, I was just on a hunt today with a friend and the one flaw with the Pro Pointer I've heard of showed it's ugly head. His Pro Pointer's switch stopped working and he couldn't turn it off. I tried it and noticed the rubber switch cover is also lifting off on one side, so I suspect he got mud down into the switch and it locked up. This is the one weak point in this otherwise very reliable pin pointer. I should also add he hunts a lot and has used the Pro Pointer a ton over the 3 or 4 years he's had it, much more than most people probably.
I'm wondering- Does anybody know if Garrett is fixing the switch out of warranty for free, since I'm sure they know this is the one flaw in this pin pointer that seems to have a number of failures for people. Also wondering if they have updated the switch somehow to guard against future failures? Garrett is good at listening to their customers so it wouldn't surprise me if they've fixed the switch issue.
I saw one neat mod in the modifications forum where a guy took a mercury switch and stuck it between one battery lead and the Pro Pointer. He didn't have to solder or alter the Pro Pointer, but rather just curled the mercury switch's leads into a spring so it acted like a negative battery lead. Now his Pro Pointer turns on when upright (since the on/off switch is left in the on position on the Pro Pointer), and it turns off when he flips the Pro Pointer upside down to put in his holster. This would seem the perfect solution to avoid over use of the on/off switch to head off future problems with that switch, and also as a way to fix the on/off issue when a switch goes bad and will no longer turn off. Only thing is I didn't care for that up/down on/off thing on the Vibra Probe myself, but if it means saving the switch then I just might go that route myself.
By the way, I've dropped my Pro Pointer from a height of about 6 feet at least twice onto the hard cement due to the stupid place I was storing it in my garage and being clumsy getting it out of there. Just wanted to point out it still works like brand new. Some have reported their Pro Pointers are unstable right at power up and not several minutes later when they drift out of tune. I think what might be happening is they are pushing hard on the tip in holes and distorting the coil windings over time. Far as I know the coil isn't encased in epoxy like they are in a regular detector coil to prevent misalignment. Point is I would get out of the practice of pushing hard with the tip in a hole. That isn't going to make it see deeper, and any sound off you get is only because you are distorting the coil windings. Try it some time. Push hard on the tip and you'll have it sound off. I would avoid doing that. Far better to super tune for more depth and that actually works.
you said "air tested" deeper but "in ground" hunt didn't appear to do nearly as well as the other metal probe - Pro Pointer
The reason is very simple. I call it is medium Detection parameters
Parameters are different from Soil - water - sand - stone
when the probe be automatic adjusted sensitivity it should follow with target medium, so "air tested" the medium is Air
but the gold and metal are underground when you put into mud - the medium changed and you should adjust sensitivity immediately
this is simple tech solution you have to manual adjustment every time when you detecting different medium air or water or mud
The qualified metal probe is
1 . TMP-A(on land) TMP-B ( underwater)
2. Pro Uni probe (on land)
3. Sun Ray X-1 (on land / underwater)
4. Bullsyes II (on land)
above Four models can adjust sensitivity to meet the different medium
and 1. 2. models the probe end 0.55 inches, this is the key to find smallest gold grain and only TMP is pocket probe 7 inch length
Minelab design Length is 9.3 ( 237mm )
is the same as Metal Probe MD2012 
Coincidence
They may be known short length will cause faulty alarm
The reason is very simple. I call it is medium Detection parameters
Parameters are different from Soil - water - sand - stone
when the probe be automatic adjusted sensitivity it should follow with target medium, so "air tested" the medium is Air
but the gold and metal are underground when you put into mud - the medium changed and you should adjust sensitivity immediately
this is simple tech solution you have to manual adjustment every time when you detecting different medium air or water or mud
The qualified metal probe is
1 . TMP-A(on land) TMP-B ( underwater)
2. Pro Uni probe (on land)
3. Sun Ray X-1 (on land / underwater)
4. Bullsyes II (on land)
above Four models can adjust sensitivity to meet the different medium
and 1. 2. models the probe end 0.55 inches, this is the key to find smallest gold grain and only TMP is pocket probe 7 inch length
Minelab design Length is 9.3 ( 237mm )
is the same as Metal Probe MD2012 CoincidenceThey may be known short length will cause faulty alarm
The best probe need three alarm modes 1.LED 2.buzzer 3.Vibra for our choice
But the one switch controls three options, Only metal probe TMP and SMP can be pushed 50000 times no-fault
Rubber switch Cover is the key component for the metal probe
for it be used more frequently than ground detector
and it should be pushed without release to flashlight on
Unless Garrett can use the same switch as Metal Probe, surely it is impossible to solve in short time
I've seen Garrett switch and it is a selective error
Pro Pointer from a height of about 6 feet at least twice onto the hard cement it still works like brand new.
I do not believe
If the probe is not one body shell structure any tiny fission junction will produce a shock
even it is tiny loose for high sensitivity detectors Also lethal potential threat
But the one switch controls three options, Only metal probe TMP and SMP can be pushed 50000 times no-fault
Rubber switch Cover is the key component for the metal probe
for it be used more frequently than ground detector
and it should be pushed without release to flashlight on
Unless Garrett can use the same switch as Metal Probe, surely it is impossible to solve in short time
I've seen Garrett switch and it is a selective error
Pro Pointer from a height of about 6 feet at least twice onto the hard cement it still works like brand new.
I do not believe
If the probe is not one body shell structure any tiny fission junction will produce a shock
even it is tiny loose for high sensitivity detectors Also lethal potential threat
Which Pinpointer is better? I think it could be situation or hunting style specific. If you dig holes for all targets, and wave your PP over the dirt pile or plug, then the ones mentioned above are the thing you need. If you stab coins with a screwdriver, and just wow out a hole no bigger than your finger, then (here we go) the Fisher Fpoint is just the ticket! Every once in a while, like maybe a few times per week, a coin will be tipped on edge, or theres a thin chain, or thin ring down in the dirt or sod that a guy just cannot feel with the screwdriver, thats when I deploy the FPoint. With the FPoint, you have to be touching the target or within 1/4 inch or so for it to sound off, it really helps a fellow retrieve targets that are still in the ground, without digging a plug!...I know it gets a lot of bad press, but for the situation I describe, the others are just too wide to do this effectively. I also use mine as a Self Defense tool, can you imagine what a perp would think if you pulled that out and turned it on and pointed it at them, brandishing it like a weapon as you backed off towards your truck? Thing would be all buzzing to be danged, and theyd think it some sort of stun gun. OK..you may fire when ready, Gridley!
Mud
Mud
I agree it could be situation or hunting style specific. 
And Professional hunter only attention the follows key points for the pinointer metal probe
1. Sensitivity (Gold Grain dim. 0.07 inch for tip detecting > 0.04 inch or side detecting > 0.6 inch)
2. Function ( buzzer alarm with LED - Silent Vibration Alarm with LED - LED Flashlight -
3. It can withstand the tremendous torque 50-60 kg and digging without spade)
4. Underwater detecting
5. Small enough can be put into pocket
And Professional hunter only attention the follows key points for the pinointer metal probe
1. Sensitivity (Gold Grain dim. 0.07 inch for tip detecting > 0.04 inch or side detecting > 0.6 inch)
2. Function ( buzzer alarm with LED - Silent Vibration Alarm with LED - LED Flashlight -
3. It can withstand the tremendous torque 50-60 kg and digging without spade)
4. Underwater detecting
5. Small enough can be put into pocket