Ace 250 sensitivity settings

[Idaho PRB]

Yes, another 250 question. Sorry about this but I guess most of us 250 users are probably newcomers and we will have a lot of questions and you folks sure have the experience. My question is, what exactly does the sensitivity setting do? I have had good luck with a setting of 4/8 on the scale and get good results most of the time pinpointing too, except in really wet soil. I would like to go deeper in a few areas that I have removed most of the hits to 3-4 inches and was wondering if increasing the sensitivity might do that or is it more of a "Ground Balance" thing? When the sensitivity is bumped up, I seem to get erratic behaviour like "No Target" in the hole, or poor pinpointing success. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks.
Idaho PRB

 

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[Harley digs it]

Baa, this thing wouldn't let me post my responce the first time lol.

I new to the ace 250 as well. From what I've read and tested to get best depth go 8/8 on sens. all metal mode. Find your target, if target ID bounces around drop your sens till you get a consistent target ID. If you loose it when you drop your sens. then it might be a false target or multiple targets.

To dig or not to dig!

 

[gregl01]

Hi, sensitivity depends on soil conditions. I like to it as high as the ground conditions allow without falsing. I live in upstate NY and most places can run it at 5-6 bars. In playgrounds or beaches to need to lower it accordingly. I have never run it at 8 bars, it is completely nutso!!! Just learn to do what the machine needs to be productive. With practice you and the machine will know what each other needs
HH
Greg

 

[Monty]

My Garrett manual says to think of sensitivity as depth. The higher the sensitivity, the deeper it will detect but.....Hah, there's always a but. If you are in an area where there is a lot of junk, a high sensitivity setting will make your unit go bonkers! I usually start out with the factory setting and then back off as necessary. Sometimes if I am reading a very weak signal, I'll turn it up just for that one target which often will cause it to lock in on the weaker signals. I generally wind up operating on about the fourth notch. JIM

 

[Idaho PRB]

I concur Jimmileo, I have saved myself much misery in digging false targets and inconsistant hits by using the Ace at 4 notches in sensitivity. 5 notches doesn't seem too much better, or worse either but 6 and up and it seems to lessen my accuracy in pinpointing and increases my false targets. I am digging a lot of targets that dont give me a great reading, just because I am afraid I might be missing something cool so I probably dig a lot more junk than I should. I just hate the thought of missing a ring or a deep dime. My "Coin Garden" has taught me that known "Good Stuff" can really give inconsistant readings that jump around a lot from the silver end of the scale to iron especially if the targets are 4" and deeper. I have noticed that my Ace 250 really likes to give a high pitch ring on rusty nails when the soil is really wet. Guess I should just run 4 bars when the soil is that wet. Thanks for the input everyone. I will continue to attent the school of metal detecting and keep you posted on my progress.
Idaho PRB

 

[Monty]

I have read that the ACE 250 does not do well on wet soil like at a beach. I have noticed I get an occasional false reading when using mine in heavy wet grass from the morning dew. But, for the most part the little ACE is right on. JIM

 

[wingman]

i like to stay at 4-5 bars myself,and sometimes use 6(in fields mostly).7 and 8 just go nuts with tons of false'n.
i heard both ways with wet ground.
mine i think gets a better "cleaner" in the early morning with all the dew.
HH
wing

 

[hollowpointred]

i set my sensativity different according to the spot i want to hunt. some spots i can get away with 6 or 7 bars in others i can only get 3 or 4. i think it has something to do with the type of soil you are trying to detect in.i will usually crank it up as high as i can get it before it starts falsing.