Garrett At Pro great machine !!!

[No nuggets]

I was just looking at it to make sure all the connections were secure and the only thing I could see wrong with it is the big letters that read GARRETT . I know some people say there was a bad batch of them put on the market , maybe I got one of them but even so what kind of company would put trash on the market . They obviously didnt test them out. I'm not going to give up on it yet . Going out tomorrow to hunt . Maybe Ill find something other than garbage and two inch pocket change .

It sounds like you really don't like your AT Pro. If that is the case, you should sell it and purchase something else. Personally, I love the AT Pro, because of how well it works for me. But, if that isn't the case with you, maybe you need a different metal detector.

 

[WildOutdoorAddi]

Obviously it's broken! How much do you want for it? I'll use it for spare parts or a back up? No I'm not paying what you paid for it either...I didn't pay that much for mine a few months ago...

 

[No nuggets]

Obviously it's broken![...]

The OP should contact Garrett. If it is defective, they should repair or replace it under warranty. If is isn't defective, the OP may want to try a different metal detector. It's his choice.

 

[schill13]

When I started out with the At pro I felt the same way you are feeling. I almost tossed it into the woods and went home! Good thing I didn't! I have had the most finds with that machine then any other machine that I have ever used. Now I am trying to learn the ctx 3030. I am finding sliver almost every time out BUT is is more like work then running around with my PRO! Good luck it takes time to get the hang of the At pro!

 

[NHKeith]

my AT treated me well. Just keep plugging away. i found it hard to go from one vendor to another. you went from a whites to a garrett. they are different machines.

I went from Garrett to Minelab, and i felt the transition wasn't the best. but the more I use my e-trac the more I like it. I still pull out the AT pro if I am in the water, or if its raining outside..

 

[pescadore]

There is always hype with new machines and I don't believe much of it. I want a detector that works for me and I don't care what others think about it. I borrowed an AT Pro from a friend when I was waiting on my Etrac to come it and it performed adequately. I ran it in ProZero with Iron audio on and I think the iron disc was around 32. Iron was easy to hear by the grunting signal and it was fairly easy to pick out the good targets between the bad ones. I had it a couple of weeks and made some decent finds. My only complaint was the same one that my friend had and that was that the VDI readings are only good to about 6 inches in our experience. You will still get good tones on deeper items but the VDI is not to be trusted. The Etrac ID'ed deep targets much better. Sounds like you are frustrated and that can happen but I would send the AT Pro to Garrett and have them give it a good checkup. I live about an hour from Garrett and I have always had good luck with their customer service and usually can get one day service if I hand deliver. They are good people and will take care of you. When you get the machine back, if you are still having problems then get with a friend that has another brand of detector and try his out. Some detectors are just not a fit for the type of hunting you do or your hunting methods. All detectors have their up and down sides to them but sometimes you just like how they feel and you can easily understand their language. I have tried a lot of different brands and different detectors and have come to the conclusion that Whites detectors are best for me and I am going to stay with them however, I am sure that I could find plenty of people that would tell me that they are "junk" in their eyes. Find one you like and stay with it because it takes a long time to learn all the ins and outs of these modern machines. Good luck and I hope you can get your problem fixed.

 

[Dark Chameleon]

The at pro on std coins is like a vaccuum cleaner on clad and silver if its there....its like an idiots guide to detecting on std...i know..i stuck with it for two months which was only about 7 or 8 hunts...then tried pro and it scared the hell out of me..i kept switching back.

Now im pro zero, max id, audio on and sens to max if im not in a park and i find everything below my feet...if i dig them they can be the small shrill of a lincoln, the high 80s tone meaning dime or quarter or silver.

you can even get the hang of the pull tabs with their small jump on 90 degree sweep...it is good in the woods, fields, parks, school yards, sports fields, etc and when you use your sensa settings for high or low trash (the higher the trash the less the sensativity).

It is a lengthy learn to jump to pro but to use on std is a switch on and go...learn the vdi numbers...theres a guide on here then keep scanning 90 degree and if the numbers fit then dig....its that simple

 

[leslie(nova scotia)]

yupper

From the land of the Bluenose....yupper warming up to mine!

 

[campnagle]

Been there,done that. I bought and sold three machines when I decided to upgrade. Everyone is different and I am not bad mouthing any brand, If it has left a bad taste for you I would sell it and move on to the next machine. When you find the right fit it will be "fun" and the finds will flow!

 

[Onaug]

I finally figured out how to use my At pro , what you have to do is dig every signal you hear , even the signals that show no vdi number ! I can get a 85-86 vdi number saying 10 inches and its a piece of damn iron 3 inches deep and yes I checked the hole twice ! This machine has no idea whats under the ground whats so ever . I try to hunt in pro mode with full iron discrimination and every other hole I am digging up iron . Oh but it will find coins and jewelery as long as its no more than 4 inches deep . I can't believe I spent 640 dollars on this pile of !!!! . It makes detecting hard when your discriminating trash and it still rings out in the 20-and 30 range , !!! ? I decided to buy this machine because all the hype on here about how good they are . I just dont understand .

No Nuggets was right. Always toggle iron audio on to see if there is iron on the swing. Iron audio can help seperate an iron signal from a good signal too. Dont leave iron audio on though. An iron trash infested site will drive you mad.

 

[ohiochris]

Ive read on many detector forums where someone was unhappy with theirs and blamed the detector , only to find out later that they were not using the right settings and not putting the machine to its full potential. Ive never used one but I read everything I can on them because Im leaning toward the AT for my next detector purchase ( if I can ever afford an upgrade that is ). I suspect learning to use the various features that detector has to offer takes some time and there are plenty of tips to speed up the learning curve on this and other detecting sites.

 

[nscrcr8z]

I finally figured out how to use my At pro , what you have to do is dig every signal you hear , even the signals that show no vdi number ! I can get a 85-86 vdi number saying 10 inches and its a piece of damn iron 3 inches deep and yes I checked the hole twice ! This machine has no idea whats under the ground whats so ever . I try to hunt in pro mode with full iron discrimination and every other hole I am digging up iron . Oh but it will find coins and jewelery as long as its no more than 4 inches deep . I can't believe I spent 640 dollars on this pile of !!!! . It makes detecting hard when your discriminating trash and it still rings out in the 20-and 30 range , !!! ? I decided to buy this machine because all the hype on here about how good they are . I just dont understand .

I'll take it off your hands

 

[ohiochris]

I'll take it off your hands

Same here. Ive been wanting one for a while now but cant manage to get far enough ahead of some bills to afford one. So if anybody hates theirs and wants to sell it for what they think its worth i could take it off your hands cheap.

 

[ATDigger]

I try to hunt in pro mode with full iron discrimination and every other hole I am digging up iron . Oh but it will find coins and jewelery as long as its no more than 4 inches deep . I can't believe I spent 640 dollars on this pile of !!!! . It makes detecting hard when your discriminating trash and it still rings out in the 20-and 30 range , !!! ? I decided to buy this machine because all the hype on here about how good they are . I just dont understand .

Have you tried running it in standard mode to start? Garrett even admits the pro mode takes some getting used to, and frankly I'm not sure you need it. I generally run mine in standard zero mode with the iron discrim up to 40. I turn the iron audio off unless I need to check an iffy signal and I've found a ton more than with my Ace 250. I run mine with the 5x8 coil and I still pull stuff from 10 inches, depending on soil.



It's not the best machine out there but I feel, like many others, that for the price, it's a fantastic machine with great features. If you still find it difficult to use, I'd take the advice of others on here and try some other machines to see if they work better for you. Best of luck!
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