Garrett AT Pro - Not Impressed

[Matt1344]

[I know that this is generally considered the most beloved detector which is why I couldn’t wait to use it.]

So I’ve put about 10 hours on the AT Pro (I know that’s not a lot), but so far I’m not impressed with anything it does that the cheaper detectors don’t (if that makes sense).

Maybe I just need a little more time on it or need to adjust some of the settings.

The search coil being larger than the one on my White’s which I had previously used, makes digging a nightmare. Each object rings in, in an area that is about a square foot. The pin pointer (on the detector) is useless when there are multiple objects in one area. With the AT Pro I’m digging holes three times the size and spending 5 to 10 x more time searching for the object.

The thing is all over the place with the sensitivity set higher, but the sensitivity seems to directly affect the search depth. You can’t take advantage of the deeper search depth (over 6 inches) if you don’t have the sensitivity up, but if you keep it up there seems to be too many false positives. I get coin range signals that go away. I get coin range signals when the detector is sitting still. There seems to be so many random signals that go away with this thing as well.

Speaking of depth, I laid a quarter on the surface of the ground and took the detector directly over it. It rang in at 2 inches (which is what it should do)…but then at 4 and 6 inches with the exact same motion going over the same spot. So basically the depth indicator means nothing.

Now on to the numeric metal values. The same coin could ring in (and does) at 7 different values or more. So what’s the point? Is a specific number from 70-99 really going to keep you from digging? The numeric values seem useless when there is so much inconsistency and such a wide range of values the exact same coin can ring.

WIT reminded me below, I've also found more bottle caps than EVER! Which has translated to probably 5 x more trash digs.

To me, every bell and every whistle on this thing isn’t worth the hassle…at least so far.

What are your thoughts, feel free to put me in my place/tell me what I’m doing wrong. So far using it, for me, has been very frustrating.

 

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[Rawhide]

What detector do you use ep

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

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[Rawhide]

You have attacked everything about the ATP, now you are reaching. I enjoy my hobby. There really is no bad detector. OK maybe a counterfeit.

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[MasonRoberson]

I love the AT Pro you can say its trash or cheaply made..
But then why does 99.999% of people who have bought and use the AT Pro love it.... Clearly its a good detector... And I know it is hell if the ATPro is a crap detector. And cheaply made hell I love a cheaply made detector that can get me a coin 10' down... Then

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

The AT pro is designed, conceived and built as a specific windfall device by Garret to be advertised and sold by the TV show "Diggers" to take advantage of a very specifically targeted end user base that typically purchased it for full price and used it once and never again.
Most unlike the OP are too proud and or ashamed to admit it's a actually very cheaply made piece of trash.

Completely FALSE, ATPro was released in late 2010 so obviously designed long before that , Diggers premiered in Feb of 2012

 

[Phantasman]

I love the AT Pro you can say its trash or cheaply made..
But then why does 99.999% of people who have bought and use the AT Pro love it.... Clearly its a good detector... And I know it is hell if the ATPro is a crap detector. And cheaply made hell I love a cheaply made detector that can get me a coin 10' down... Then

I saw Sandman didn't like his AT Pro. He must be that .001%

I will agree with the love of a cheaply made detector that gets a coin at 10" though. The reason I own a BH LRP. Less than half the price of an AT Pro.

 

[bigfoot1]

bash...bash...bash...I hear some bash the atp yet so many of us with multiple mid and high end detectors own and respect the atp for both its design and its performance....sooo many.

el padron,
I find your comments over the top fanboy talk.I dont claim I like it because I'm secretly embarrased about purchasing it.that is condecending,arrogant and woefully uninformed.I like it because I like it and it is performing up to the makers claims and my expectations.

The diggers boys have always had a garrett in their hands since their first days of detecting.the atp came out two years before the show.your comment about that reinforces my assertion that you are uninformed yet quite vocal.

I own and have owned garretts,fishers and minelabs.I have enjoyed them all but I prefer my atp in my hunting conditions.Call me what you want.Do you even own a detector?starting to sound a bit trollish.

 

[BigWaveDave]

yea

 

[bigfoot1]

LOL, "just tell them they need to put in 200 hours of training"

if I'm not mistaken you are actually responding to yourself,quoting yourself and laughing outloud at yourself while claiming something about 200 hrs.Where did you get that number?the industry and members here largely agree that any machine takes around 100 hrs to maximise performance in varied conditions.i.e. to master it.
garrett,like others claim it"may"take up to 100 hrs to master.

sounds about right,its not a phone.many,depending on prior expierience will surely master it quicker.some may never maximise its potential,but it does has standard mode for them and is quite easy to use day 1.you really need to do more homework and perhaps even try one.I think you might like it.

 

[Remnar]

I'm surprised that someone who is an I Phone fanboy doesn't have the grasp of how tech items are developed and produced. By the time any cutting edge tech item is available for purchase the technology it has is already out dated.

Garrett designed and built a decent machine that hits a price point and feature curve that makes it a good value. When I can pay 500 dollars for a machine that allows me to somewhat hang with the big boys swinging 1000 dollar and up machines and do so in water....That's a win in my book. For now I enjoy the machine that has enough capability to let me learn more about this fun and interesting hobby. As I move on, if the enjoyment continues, I'll probably upgrade. But for now I'm having a blast.

 

[dirtscratcher]

bash...bash...bash...I hear some bash the atp yet so many of us with multiple mid and high end detectors own and respect the atp for both its design and its performance....sooo many.

el padron,
I find your comments over the top fanboy talk.I dont claim I like it because I'm secretly embarrased about purchasing it.that is condecending,arrogant and woefully uninformed.I like it because I like it and it is performing up to the makers claims and my expectations.

The diggers boys have always had a garrett in their hands since their first days of detecting.the atp came out two years before the show.your comment about that reinforces my assertion that you are uninformed yet quite vocal.

I own and have owned garretts,fishers and minelabs.I have enjoyed them all but I prefer my atp in my hunting conditions.Call me what you want.Do you even own a detector?starting to sound a bit trollish.

The guys on Diggers had a friend on here and he said they were using minelabs, then about the time ATP came out they switched and said they work better which I person don't believe but to each his own.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

The guys on Diggers had a friend on here and he said they were using minelabs, then about the time ATP came out they switched and said they work better which I person don't believe but to each his own.

ATPRO was released before digger and diggers... ATPRO was released in Sept - Oct of 2010 which is before Digger or Diggers was ever filmed...

 

[dirtscratcher]

ATPRO was released before digger and diggers... ATPRO was released in Sept - Oct of 2010 which is before Digger or Diggers was ever filmed...

I don't understand your point. They were still detecting as a group with minelabs. I'm referring to the guys on the show rather than the show. One of the group used to post on here but constant bashing seems to have maybe driven him away.

 

[dirtscratcher]

I don't mind the show but it's oblivious sponsored by Garrett. I've seen guys say they just use what works best but don't believe for a second that the Garrett digger or the Garrett headphones are the best in either category.

 

[bigfoot1]

I don't mind the show but it's oblivious sponsored by Garrett. I've seen guys say they just use what works best but don't believe for a second that the Garrett digger or the Garrett headphones are the best in either category.

ummmm...what?....look up anaconda treasure on youtube....long before they were anybody but much like the rest of us in their passion.their 1st machines...when they got into it were gti2500s.say what you will but they have NEVER swung a minelab or any other.I like minelab products...have had three..all were capable of exactly what minelab said they were...still own my soverign gt.I like it,have done ok with it...BUT...the atp has absoluteley demolished it in trashy high iron areas.Is what it is.

Bring it....bash the atp..but know this...many high end expierienced detectorists have added it to their quiver for a reason.damn thing works

 

[dirtscratcher]

ummmm...what?....look up anaconda treasure on youtube....long before they were anybody but much like the rest of us in their passion.their 1st machines...when they got into it were gti2500s.say what you will but they have NEVER swung a minelab or any other.I like minelab products...have had three..all were capable of exactly what minelab said they were...still own my soverign gt.I like it,have done ok with it...BUT...the atp has absoluteley demolished it in trashy high iron areas.Is what it is.

Bring it....bash the atp..but know this...many high end expierienced deterists have added it to their quiver for a reason.damn thing works

First I'm not bashing the atp. Second look it up yourself they were using minelabs according to their friend that used to post here.

 

[Keppy]

I don't understand your point. They were still detecting as a group with minelabs. I'm referring to the guys on the show rather than the show. One of the group used to post on here but constant bashing seems to have maybe driven him away.

Diggers buddy on here was ..Montanagold . . He did say something about Minelab's some times but i under stood it that he Montanagold used Minelabs not the Diggers..

 

[bigfoot1]

First I'm not bashing the atp. Second look it up yourself they were using minelabs according to their friend that used to post here.

watch the interview on youtube with them.note the dates.they(not a drive by poster who left)claim how difficult it was to afford the 2500s they purchased when they were beggining in the hobby."our first detectors"

now ask yourself why,when they were nobody more important in the hobby than you or I,that virtually ALL of their early videos are swinging the 2500.....why not the mythethical minelad something...they had zero chance of it mattering.Is what it is.Your arguement about minelabs is completely without ANY evidense.NONE...its about someone said they knew someone who said...

there is a complete video history that EXACTLY lines up with what they have claimed from day one.

the only single word I can produce is"duh"

 

[dirtscratcher]

watch the interview on youtube with them.note the dates.they(not a drive by poster who left)claim how difficult it was to afford the 2500s they purchased when they were beggining in the hobby."our first detectors"

now ask yourself why,when they were nobody more important in the hobby than you or I,that virtually ALL of their early videos are swinging the 2500.....why not the mythethical minelad something...they had zero chance of it mattering.Is what it is.Your arguement about minelabs is completely without ANY evidense.NONE...its about someone said they knew someone who said...

there is a complete video history that EXACTLY lines up with what they have claimed from day one.

the only single word I can produce is"duh"

I'm telling what was said. Don't care much beyond that.

 

[bigfoot1]

make no mistake dirt...I respect you.I have read your posts from day 1 and you have ALWAYS been someone I listen to and give credibility.I just think you got this one wrong.I,of course could be wrong,but I'm betting the farm I am not.Back in the day I was a fan and watched every video they made.Bought two....not because I needed to, but because I wanted to support a couple of guys who were trying soooo hard to make a living at detecting.

what they use has no meaning to me as far as which equipment is superior.THERE IS NO SUPERIOR.Man I know its true.There are however models that are superior in specific variables.

All good my friend but as I have my own evidence that is irrefutable I stand by the fact that their very 1st machines were gti2500s....next was atp...then added atgold...is what it is

 

[dirtscratcher]

Fair enough just how I remember a old thread or I wouldn't have posted it. I love the show myself .