Any Help with this damn ACE 250!!!!

[ugotit22]

My father got an Ace 250 last year has his first machine. To say the least he has been very fustrated with it. I have tried to help him, but the machine is nothing like my Whites IDX Pro. I took it out one day to see if i could master it and help him, however i had the same problems has him. For one im not sure what mode to use where. Another issue he and i both have noticed is the tones that come up when an item is hit. It seems like the tones are not as cut and dry as my machine, it almost lags when you hear the tone, this brings me to the biggest of our issues. Pinpointing. he cant seem to pinpoint with this thing worth a damn. And im not saying im an expert, but even my experiece does not help with pinpointing with this thing. It takes about 2 min to get the target somewhat under the coil, at which time im reaching for my IDx cuz i have no more patiance. Any helpful hints has to what he, and i are doing wrong

 

[lonewolfe]

slow down dude! It's not that complicated

try using coin mode for say 3 or 4 weeks until you get the jist of the machine and how it works/sounds

next (once you get use to the machine) try relic mode (gen use of the machine to find the most targets consistently) and which I use all the time but not until you get use to the machine

pinpointing and because of the concentric/oblong coil is a bit diff than that of a round coil -

still in all - use the X method and cross (back & forth/criss/cross) method/s to pinpoint and you'll be rgt on the $$ most times

HH

 

[plumloko]

Just like anything else, what you put in is what you get out.

Time and practice with any machine are important.
A high end vs. low end machine in my opinion is important.

I also think that a lower end machine will not produce the same results as a higher end one.

As an example, I detect with a metal detector dealer and he sold a gent an Ace 250.
He took his 250 to a dirt lot that he found which had a couple of houses torn out and detected to his hearts content for a few days.

He came by the shop and showed us what he had found, some wheat pennies.
He told us where this lot was after saying that he had detected it for a few days and that it was "hunted out".

We went to this lot and absolutely cashed in on all of the treasure that he missed.

Was it the machine he was using? experience?

I'm sure that it was a combonation of both.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

There is no doubt that the ACE is more difficult to pinpoint with. Below is what Garrett says. The target will be under the smiley face. The line in the pic is to help center the coil.

There are three tones on the ACE. The low tone is for low conductivity targets such as foil and iron. The mid tone is for nickels and jewelry ( and pulltabs). The "bell" tone is for high conductivity targets such as copper and silver.

If your coil is delaying in the response, you are over a junk target such as large iron. The response on the ACE is fast, allowing you to find good targets right next to iron. If you get the delayed tone, move on.

What mode to use where depends on your style and goals. If you are looking for relics use relic mode, but I would recommend using the coin mode to get used to the machine first, then coin and jewelry mode, then I would try out relic mode. Coin mode should eliminate some of the false "delayed" tones.

The Garrett machines tend to detect there own coils more than the White's. Make sure the cable is wrapped OVER the bottom rod, and is fastened snuggly. Keep the sensitivity at 3 or 4 bars maximum. Above this you will get a lot of falsing.

You may also be having trouble if your ground is highly mineralized. The Ace is pre-set to average ground conditions. If are detecting in extreme ground conditions, the Ace may not be the model for you.

I hope this helps!

 

[beachroamer]

link to helpful video's on ace detector
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,143786.0.html

should help

 

[Jack(IN)]

Most of your problem might be is you are trying to figure it out like its a Whites detector your used to and its not, so have your dad take it to some tot lots to dig clad to get a feel for the sounds! Practice will be the best remedy for this problem, and take the advice of the above posts as well.

 

[emtrescue]

Pinpointing :
stolen from thread http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,140143.msg1059729.html#msg1059729 (thanks Khouse)

[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>[/youtube]

 

[DougF]

That diagram from Garrett that Neil in WJ posted is very good. After using that method, my pinpointing with the Ace 250 was right on target. I don't know why that info is not included with the Ace, maybe it is, but I found it posted on a forum.

 

[SC_hunter]

I have another thing you might want to try. If you can, get the sniper coil. It works real well in very trashy areas and when you get a signal and pinpoint..It IS directly under the X on the coil. It looks like a hockey puck but it will find coins in trash.

 

[Ramapirate]

People crack me up. "Why, this darn ACE 250! I walked around with the thing swinging it like a kiser blade ("some people call it a kiser blade, I call it a slingblade..") and didn't get the first gold coin or diamond ring to jump out of the ground into my pocket like it always does with my magic White, Minelab, Fisher, you fill in any name of any detector that cost AT LEAST twice as much as the Ace 250. Give it a rest ya'll, I love you all like family, but give it a REST! I find my share with the Ace 250 and most of the people I know that have them find their share, too. Follow the directions, stop trying to use it like you used another detector, and you'll find your share of what on this big ball of dirt we're riding on.

Thank you from the bottom of my thanking place,
Ramapirate

 

[Goes4ever]

the ace 250 is so easy to pinpoint with it is not funny. I can dig a 2" plug for almost any coin that is 3-4 deep. It took pratice, but once I understood the machine it is so simple it is not funny. The video posted above (khouse) helps a LOT, that video was actually made for me on another forum because when I first started I was ready to pull my hair out trying to pinpoint with the ace250.

I have showed people in person and within 4-5 minutes they can pinpoint like a pro.

 

[ugotit22]

People crack me up. "Why, this darn ACE 250! I walked around with the thing swinging it like a kiser blade ("some people call it a kiser blade, I call it a slingblade..") and didn't get the first gold coin or diamond ring to jump out of the ground into my pocket like it always does with my magic White, Minelab, Fisher, you fill in any name of any detector that cost AT LEAST twice as much as the Ace 250. Give it a rest ya'll, I love you all like family, but give it a REST! I find my share with the Ace 250 and most of the people I know that have them find their share, too. Follow the directions, stop trying to use it like you used another detector, and you'll find your share of what on this big ball of dirt we're riding on.

Thank you from the bottom of my thanking place,
Ramapirate

All i wanted to do is get feedback from others with the same machine, and info from what i was doing wrong. I have been detecting for abotu a year now and i know the stuff doesnt jump out of the ground like you say. I understand there is many skunk days, this has nothing to do with the fact that i dont understand this "cheaper" macnine that you speak of. in fact i think my father and i payed around the same for our detectors. I never once mentioned anything about price/value. Infact im pretty sure the ace is a better machine thgen my whites. The problem is neither of us know how to use it correctly. If your not going to add something of value please stay off the forum b/c ranting amlisly makes no sense.
keith

Thanks to everyone else for the info. My dad read it all and is going to try all the new advise tommorrow in our club hunt. thanks again.

 

[ugotit22]

Pinpointing :
stolen from thread http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,140143.msg1059729.html#msg1059729 (thanks Khouse)

[youtube=425,350]<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/liyIUKonpGs&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/liyIUKonpGs&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>[/youtube]

I understand the video and i think i get it. the only thing im not sure on it what does he mean by DETOONING it. I believe what he is staying is after you have an idea of the area, take it off pinpoint, and move alittle off center. Then repinpoint and it will get you a much smaller area. is this and accurate? thanks.
Keith

 

[mountainplayer]

Hi Keith,

I've been using the Ace 250 for almost two years now, and have only two complaints. It does terrible against the black sand of my local river, so I can't nugget hunt. Two, the fixed ground balance can be difficult in certain areas. The majority of the time, though, its a solid machine and can hold its own.

The detuning you are wondering about is something that is worthwhile to learn. Some targets, even coin sized ones, can "sound" HUGE in pinpoint. I'm sure there are several reasons for this, but I'll let the smart guys tell you what they are. Here's my take on detuning, and what it does.

Lets say you get a decent coin signal, and press pinpoint. The signal is "big"....maybe six or seven inches across without any point where the signal is clearly stronger. Let off the pinpoint button, move the coil slightly to the side (can't tell you how many inches here, because it varies). Then, hit pinpoint a couple of times (lets call this "multi tapping"), quickly, keeping it held down after the second time you press it. Now, move the coil back over where the "large" target was. It MAY be much smaller now. If it is not, its because you didn't detune it. Keep trying, keep "multi-tapping" the pinpoint button, and eventually it will detune. Take it from me...you will KNOW FOR SURE when you have it detuned.

One thing you need to watch out for is tuning out your target completely. This is why you need to move the coil slightly to the side before multi-tapping the pinpoint.

The ultimate goal here is to have the coil over the "halo" around your target, without actually nulling out the target itself.

Hope this helps you and your dad.

MP

 

[texan connection]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it but the senitivity needs turned down to around 3 or it'll drive you nuts.

 

[Goes4ever]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it but the senitivity needs turned down to around 3 or it'll drive you nuts.

depends where you hunt, I always run mine at 5 bars

 

[texan connection]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it but the senitivity needs turned down to around 3 or it'll drive you nuts.

depends where you hunt, I always run mine at 5 bars

Definetly true I tend to hunt in pretty trash areas, and I have to say I havent used my ace as much since getting the minlabe, I did get it out for about 3 hrs the other day and was frustrated at first but it started coming back to me, I think a sniper coil with it would be fun.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I understand the video and i think i get it. the only thing im not sure on it what does he mean by DETOONING it. I believe what he is staying is after you have an idea of the area, take it off pinpoint, and move alittle off center. Then repinpoint and it will get you a much smaller area. is this and accurate? thanks.
Keith

You may know this feature on your White's detector as Ratchet Pinpointing. Ratchet Pinpointing, or Detuning shrinks the target. It allows you to easily find the center of the target so you know where to dig without damaging the coin.

This is from my DFX manual, but I think it explains it well:

Manual shrinking is completed by squeezing and
releasing the TRIGGER several times as the loop
is [directly] over the target. [Each time you press the button, the target will get smaller].
Manual shrinking can
completely eliminate the target. If the target no
longer responds after manual shrinking, move the
loop away from the target, squeeze and release the
TRIGGER, and again sweep the loop over the area.
If the target is a metal, it should again respond.

 

[diamondjim]

Step 1) Take ace-250 to nearest river

Step 2) Launch it as far out into the river as you can

Step 3) Go get an IDX

IDX RULES.

:-)

Kdding. I have nothing to offer on the 250 'cept PRACTICE. Knowing your hardware is WAY more important than the name on the box. The IDX is a quirky machine in it's own right...you didn't learn it over night. Garret's just have different quriks, that's all.

 

[Ramapirate]

I'm sorry, i thought my "read the manual and follow the directions for the ACE 250" was a great pointer, I'm sorry I offended you. I own the Ace 250 and have had a ball with it. I intended on using it as a threshhold machine toward a Whites or Minelab but it ended up being everything I wanted. So I' for some well intended albeit ill conceived reason tend to get "ired" when someone speaks even a "little" negative about my detector.

Please except my heartfelt apology,
Ramapirate