Pro pointer erratic behavior...*UPDATE from Garrett.*

[cntrydncr1]

not sure how mineralized your soil is but my pin pointer went nuts in the northern VA soil. If this is the case, you have to ground balance by turning the thing on when it is IN THE HOLE, TOUCHING THE SOIL!! That worked for me.

 

[Bonesquat]

Just talked to Garrett - they are finally shipping out my old one and apparently it's fixed. We'll see when it gets here.

My new one that I just registered is already have issues and they said to send it in for repair when I get my old one back. I think I'll pick one when I have both and sell one off. Then I'll use the X-1 as my primary and use the pro pointer as a backup.

Garrett was super nice about everything and said they rarely have any complaints about the pro pointer. Just so happens I got lucky getting two defunct ones. Oh well - at least they're making it right.

 

[PI Hunter]

Garrett will more than likely replace it. I had a new one that did the same thing, they sent me a new one. I did not complain and was happy to get new one.

 

[RyanChappell]

not sure how mineralized your soil is but my pin pointer went nuts in the northern VA soil. If this is the case, you have to ground balance by turning the thing on when it is IN THE HOLE, TOUCHING THE SOIL!! That worked for me.

Yes. I have to do that sometimes. Sometimes it will lose the target completely when detuning in the hole, because the ground is nearly as strong as the object. I have to detune with it partially in the hole, and just deal with it being not detuned enough.

 

[Stevo]

The switch seems to be a common problem with the PP. Mine was acting like that, last year. It would either beep continuously, or not beep at all, until I beat it against the edge of the hole a few times. Then it would work fine for a while. When the season was over, I sent it in and got it back in about 10 days. It works fine, but has become a back-up for my new X-1. Unfortunately, you just seemed to have a cloud hanging over your situation. You'll like the X-1.

 

[Bonesquat]

The switch seems to be a common problem with the PP. Mine was acting like that, last year. It would either beep continuously, or not beep at all, until I beat it against the edge of the hole a few times. Then it would work fine for a while. When the season was over, I sent it in and got it back in about 10 days. It works fine, but has become a back-up for my new X-1. Unfortunately, you just seemed to have a cloud hanging over your situation. You'll like the X-1.

Thanks - I can't wait to try out the X-1, so sick of digging 15 nails before finding my non ferrous target.

 

[Jerry-Wi]

not sure how mineralized your soil is but my pin pointer went nuts in the northern VA soil. If this is the case, you have to ground balance by turning the thing on when it is IN THE HOLE, TOUCHING THE SOIL!! That worked for me.

There is no ground balance function with the Propointer. Placing it close to metal before turning it on detunes it. This is a handy feature when you have a coin in the side of the hole and it beeps wherever you put it in the hole. You can detune it enough so you nearly have to touch the coin before it beeps.

On the other hand, it can be made more sensitive by sliding a coin up the area of the switch so it is just shy of beeping.

Jerry

 

[John W.H.]

Pro pointer issues

Thanks - I can't wait to try out the X-1, so sick of digging 15 nails before finding my non ferrous target.

I went through pretty much the same problems as you did with the Pro Pointer. They work good, when they work right! I got sick of dealing with them and bought a sun ray x-1 as well. The x-1 takes a little getting used to after using the Garrett for a while, but I'm really getting the hang of it and I love it, I think you will to. Good luck. HH

 

[Chris J]

My Garrett PP started making sounds today like a siren..sort of..I changed the battery..now it's fine. Was the original battery so I am happy with how long it lasted.

Try changing the batteries.

happy Hunting

 

[RyanChappell]

There is no ground balance function with the Propointer. Placing it close to metal before turning it on detunes it. This is a handy feature when you have a coin in the side of the hole and it beeps wherever you put it in the hole. You can detune it enough so you nearly have to touch the coin before it beeps.

On the other hand, it can be made more sensitive by sliding a coin up the area of the switch so it is just shy of beeping.

Jerry

Turning it on while just inside the hole but not right on the target has a ground balancing effect. Or if you have a big hole and a pile of dirt with no junk or coins in it you can stick it in the dirt and turn it on. Again this is if you have mineralized soil, most of you guys especially in the Midwest, don't have significant mineralization for this to matter.

 

[Parkham]

The switch seems to be a common problem with the PP. Mine was acting like that, last year. It would either beep continuously, or not beep at all, until I beat it against the edge of the hole a few times. Then it would work fine for a while. When the season was over, I sent it in and got it back in about 10 days. It works fine, but has become a back-up for my new X-1. Unfortunately, you just seemed to have a cloud hanging over your situation. You'll like the X-1.

Thanks for all the posts guys/girls.

This happens to me. Push the button, it beeps and doesn't turn on. Push it down in the middle and it will then work. Also noticed that if a fine layer of dust/dirt gets on it, it will chirp and go crazy for no reason (doesn't happen all the time though). Turning it off, wiping the layer off and turning back on fixes it.

Now that I know how it acts, it's not a big deal.. but should it not do this and should I send it back to them?

 

[biliff1]

SouthWind, the interference you were getting was from those big sunspots the sun has been sending to us lately. JMHO

PS - notice, this is post #400 !

I'm glad that somebody mentioned sun spots. I've been a Reactor Operator at a Nuclear Power plant for 20 years and we've been recieving forcasts from the government about sun spot activity for the las 18 years, which drives some of our electronics crazy! It just gives us a heads up to verify our indications with redundant indications. Sun spots are real and I have seen thier affects at work AND with my MD. At least I don't start thinking my MD is a piece of S___, knowing this!

 

[countryboycoins]

went home today and put a quarter in the cap of my PP and it fixed the wacky behavior of it. The quarter helped by pushing the battery more into the connection terminals. Thanks to whoever posted that tip!!

Darold

 

[longbeard]

Just talked to Garrett - they are finally shipping out my old one and apparently it's fixed. We'll see when it gets here.

My new one that I just registered is already have issues and they said to send it in for repair when I get my old one back. I think I'll pick one when I have both and sell one off. Then I'll use the X-1 as my primary and use the pro pointer as a backup.

Garrett was super nice about everything and said they rarely have any complaints about the pro pointer. Just so happens I got lucky getting two defunct ones. Oh well - at least they're making it right.

you had 2 do the same thing?? it must be you.or somthing your doing to them.or your soil.but the last post about the 25 cent piece under the cap does work.

note to self .dont buy a used pro pointer from this guy.

 

[longbeard]

i just did some reseach.i withdraw my last statement.od so many are going bad.garret knows about this.im told manufacturing is being adressed

 

[stewart73]

I think Garrett is fibbing a bit when they say they haven't received many complaints about the Propointers. I personally know of four people who have contacted them about theirs, I've had problems with two myself, and it seems that there is a post every other day here about problems with them. As somebody said, best tool ever WHEN IT WORKS PROPERLY.

 

[RyanChappell]

I think Garrett is fibbing a bit when they say they haven't received many complaints about the Propointers. I personally know of four people who have contacted them about theirs, I've had problems with two myself, and it seems that there is a post every other day here about problems with them. As somebody said, best tool ever WHEN IT WORKS PROPERLY.

Basically it is a plastic handheld metal detector. It takes a ton of abuse, yes they eventually break, hopefully before the two years is up. There is nothing better, except for maybe a sunray probe, but that is another beast, a coil.

 

[Jo ann]

I blamed it on magnetic waves coming from the center of the earth...

I think it's the critters living in hollow earth just happened to detect the same spot you did.... (I have to stop listening to late night radio lol)

 

[Martin_V3i]

I will both ask a question, and offer a suggestion. First though, I own two ProPointers and have loved then both. One...I hosed up the first by making the mistake of trying to take one apart. That was a bad idea! Garretts supported me on repairs with that one, free of charge, GREAT customer service IMO! They could have at least charged a penalty fee for what I did on my own. Homer DOH!, I just thought I might clean it inside was why I dove into it, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Question to those with with these problems, "Are you leaving it on all the time?" If so, then I suggest to turn it on when you go to PP mode, find your target with it, and then turn it off and go to the next hole. Seems simple enough to me. Mine's only gone nuts if left on a lot, or if the layer of dirt on the tip is imbedded with tiny metals.

The "Turn it on to PP and turn it off" between holes system, might just remedy many people's complaints. My Pro Pointers have been great, as long as I keep the screwdriver away from it. martin

 

[VooDooMan]

propointer erratic

I bought mine at a pawn shop a few months ago. At the time, it was great but recently it acts erratic and triggers for no reason even with a fresh battery. Today I was out and my MD read the targets 2-3 inches down but the PP never triggered. I had to sort the dirt to find them and had to touch them to it for it to trigger. It does this randomly and has made hunting a frustrating experience. I don't know if it was abused by its previous owner or not. Also if I just touch the side of the hole it goes off and I have to restart it.