D
daniel74868
Guest
if so, do you like it?
Davisdog
Jr. Member
I used a borrowed GTAx 550 for a couple of months this summer. After a couple months swinging a Discovery 3300, the GTAx 550 seemed significantly heavier.
The controls and display on the 550 are easy to use, but I wasn't really impressed with the pinpoint feature. I frequently had to try a few times to get it to work. The 550 found several coins that my 3300 had missed. I found the targed I.D. to be very accurate, but I didn't find coins as deep as with the 3300.
The arm cuff on the GTA is too wide and isn't adjustable, so it would slap my arm at the end of each swing. It does have a battery pack with a belt clip, but I found that leaving it on the machine was more efficient, even with the greater weight. Taking it off changed the center of gravity and I didn't like the power cord stretching from my waist to the machine.
Overall I liked it and I don't think you would be disappointed with it. Were I to buy a new machine today, I would probably look elswhere, but wouldn't pass up a good deal on this one.
The controls and display on the 550 are easy to use, but I wasn't really impressed with the pinpoint feature. I frequently had to try a few times to get it to work. The 550 found several coins that my 3300 had missed. I found the targed I.D. to be very accurate, but I didn't find coins as deep as with the 3300.
The arm cuff on the GTA is too wide and isn't adjustable, so it would slap my arm at the end of each swing. It does have a battery pack with a belt clip, but I found that leaving it on the machine was more efficient, even with the greater weight. Taking it off changed the center of gravity and I didn't like the power cord stretching from my waist to the machine.
Overall I liked it and I don't think you would be disappointed with it. Were I to buy a new machine today, I would probably look elswhere, but wouldn't pass up a good deal on this one.
OP
OP
daniel74868
Guest
- Thread starter
- #3
I just got in today. I played with it for about an hour before the sun went down. I dont really like the pinpoint feature either. but I do love the hand held pinpointer I ordered, its great!
aa battery
Gold Member
my 550 for some reason misses coins,buttons and nickels in the coin mode.Try the all metal mode and it will show everything.It takes some getting use to.
Diggincoinz
Bronze Member
- Dec 19, 2004
- 1,581
- 212
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab X-Terra 70 / Tesoro TigerShark / Fisher F70
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
I've had my 550 for just about a year, I really like it but keep in mind that I do not have the experiences of higher end detector's to be spoiled by either. I graduated from a Bounty 101.
I don't know anything about the 3300 that Davisdog speaks of, but everything else he says I agree with. The detachable battery pack is a nice idea but I hated the cord stretching from me to the machine and when I squat down and lay the machine on the ground I do not have much movement of the detector when I sit there and re-scan the hole. So I no longer detach it and deal with the extra weight of the batteries. Not too bad though.
The pinpointing works most of the time, it's the only thing about this machine that I wish worked better. But if I keep thumb pressing the button it'll take usually the 2nd or 3rd time. IT IS EXTREMELY ACCURATE when it zero's in on the target! It's the best!!!
Depth reading is pretty accurate also. Never any problems with this feature.
I have learned that the deeper targets (7" or more) are sporatic on the screen. To this day I still can't be sure what it's reading but learning that if it's significant enough of a reading that it's a coin. Indian Head cents do this a lot to me. Also coins angled enough in the dirt are giving those "iffy" signals no matter how shallow or deep the targets are.
I also have a neat little cover for it to help keep it dry if it's raining a bit or whatever, but the cover is real tight and actually does not fit well enough, could be a bit larger. When I do use this cover, the plastic window quickly becomes all fogged up underneith and you can't view the screen at all.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this an 8.
Chris
I don't know anything about the 3300 that Davisdog speaks of, but everything else he says I agree with. The detachable battery pack is a nice idea but I hated the cord stretching from me to the machine and when I squat down and lay the machine on the ground I do not have much movement of the detector when I sit there and re-scan the hole. So I no longer detach it and deal with the extra weight of the batteries. Not too bad though.
The pinpointing works most of the time, it's the only thing about this machine that I wish worked better. But if I keep thumb pressing the button it'll take usually the 2nd or 3rd time. IT IS EXTREMELY ACCURATE when it zero's in on the target! It's the best!!!
Depth reading is pretty accurate also. Never any problems with this feature.
I have learned that the deeper targets (7" or more) are sporatic on the screen. To this day I still can't be sure what it's reading but learning that if it's significant enough of a reading that it's a coin. Indian Head cents do this a lot to me. Also coins angled enough in the dirt are giving those "iffy" signals no matter how shallow or deep the targets are.
I also have a neat little cover for it to help keep it dry if it's raining a bit or whatever, but the cover is real tight and actually does not fit well enough, could be a bit larger. When I do use this cover, the plastic window quickly becomes all fogged up underneith and you can't view the screen at all.
On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this an 8.
Chris
TonyinCT
Sr. Member
For gold hunting on a budget try the Minelab Xterra70 . I have them on sale for 699.95 with two coils ; one is a gold hunting coil. Give me a call.
860-623-1153
860-623-1153
TonyinCT
Sr. Member
i would consider a trade in of your detector toward an X70. 
TonyinCT
Sr. Member
It would be new and you can call me.
860-623-1153
860-623-1153
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