AT Pro Input Please.....Saltwater Beach & Surf Experience/Summaries

bigscoop · Apr 20, 2012

So after all the hype, how's it performing in the wet sand and holding up in the surf? Is it everything it was said to be? Looking to buy a good visitor detector for just this purpose. Thanks for the input!

DewGuru · Apr 20, 2012

Some say it works great, others say its a dud ... I'd say based on the sheer volume of used machines up for sale, it'd be safe to say dud. I know of 3 who used it here on the gulf coast, and all 3 said it was a POS, but personally, don't know.

ron lord · Apr 20, 2012

Work good on the beach and wet sand, sucks in the salt water,work very good in fresh water.

Treasure_Hunter · Apr 20, 2012

Never used one, but talked to several who had one and sold it... They didnt like it at all...

bigscoop · Apr 20, 2012

Thanks guys.....heard enough already.

Now then, how do you remove that pesky question mark?

Black Caesar · Apr 20, 2012

I got one, and use it at the beach when I want to give the excal. a break. I haven't had any problems w/ it. I submerge it the whole 9 yards. Of course major wash down when I get home. I haven't had any problems w/ missing targets or other issue. It's great for relic hunting too..

guzz1 · Apr 20, 2012

I hunt the salt water beaches on the gulf coast with an AT PRO . I have Had NO issues with the ATpro at all .. My first 10 min with the ATP I found a Silver ring in the Salt water .. I have owned an excal and a Sov GT , I like my ATP just as much as the Minelabs .. Its FAR from a DUD .. I would Buy a another one ...

lookindown · Apr 20, 2012

Works great on the Florida west cost beaches...Your wrong calling it a dud Dew...that would be like me calling the Sand shark a dud...not true.

DewGuru · Apr 20, 2012

lookindown said:
Works great on the Florida west cost beaches...Your wrong calling it a dud Dew...that would be like me calling the Sand shark a dud...not true.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings.

Again, i've not used one, merely expressing what those who have, have told me. All 3 were using it in the water exclusively. And of course, all 3 were here on the populated beaches of Floridas West Coast. I had contemplated getting one at one point to give it a go, but after all the problems I have read, and the stories I have been told, personally, I opted out.

biggmike · Apr 20, 2012

guzz1 said:
I hunt the salt water beaches on the gulf coast with an AT PRO . I have Had NO issues with the ATpro at all .. My first 10 min with the ATP I found a Silver ring in the Salt water .. I have owned an excal and a Sov GT , I like my ATP just as much as the Minelabs .. Its FAR from a DUD .. I would Buy a another one ...

The ATP is a good machine and will work in salt water with a little learning curve but to say "The ATpro is just as good as the Minelab Excal in saltwater" :laughing7:

I think I've heard it all now.....

hamiddetecting · Apr 21, 2012

I wish you luck.

guzz1 · Apr 21, 2012

Mike , I didn't Say It was just as Good . I SAID i liked the machine Just as well... IV been metal detecting for 25 years and I have had ALmost every brand named machine out there .. when u get up there with the top named Brands , there all pretty good . it comes down to personal preference in the end . I preffer Minelab machines and will buy one when i can afford one . I do like my ATpro I can't say anything negative about it,, I haven't had any issues with it ... Not one . I heard that Garrett had some issues with the earlier models ,which they did . Garrett fixed the issues and so far the ATP buyers since this year 2012, Haven't had any problems.

biggmike · Apr 21, 2012

When someone says they like apples just as much as they like oranges then I take for granted that they think apples are just as good as oranges. Sorry if I misinterpreted what you meant.

bigscoop · Apr 21, 2012

biggmike said:
The ATP is a good machine and will work in salt water with a little learning curve but to say "The ATpro is just as good as the Minelab Excal in saltwater" I think I've heard it all now.....

So what's your experience with AT? How would you compare it to the CZ-21 & Excal? This is what I'd really like to get some input on. How far below these two machines is it's performance?

biggmike · Apr 21, 2012

bigscoop said:
So what's your experience with AT? How would you compare it to the CZ-21 & Excal? This is what I'd really like to get some input on. How far below these two machines is it's performance?

A hunting buddy of mine has the ATP and it does some falsing in the salt where my CZ does not. The CZ is a deeper machine by at least a couple inches and is built like a tank when the ATP has had it's problems. I bought my CZ 16 years ago and it is still going strong. In the shop only twice in all those years and if you ask anyone who knows my I don't baby my equipment. The ATP is VERY sensitive to tiny pieces of metal and gives good tones on something the size if a pencil lead and I don't want to waste my time with such small items. The ATP does find very small gold chains which the CZ does not but I think that is the only thing the ATP does that the CZ does not do. BTW... That same buddy bought the CZ21 after owning the ATP. I think he loves the ATP and it will work in the salt just not nearly as well. Now in fresh water I think the ATP is a lot closer if not better then some high end machines.

bigscoop · Apr 21, 2012

biggmike said:
A hunting buddy of mine has the ATP and it does some falsing in the salt where my CZ does not. The CZ is a deeper machine by at least a couple inches and is built like a tank when the ATP has had it's problems. I bought my CZ 16 years ago and it is still going strong. In the shop only twice in all those years and if you ask anyone who knows my I don't baby my equipment. The ATP is VERY sensitive to tiny pieces of metal and gives good tones on something the size if a pencil lead and I don't want to waste my time with such small items. The ATP does find very small gold chains which the CZ does not but I think that is the only thing the ATP does that the CZ does not do. BTW... That same buddy bought the CZ21 after owning the ATP. I think he loves the ATP and it will work in the salt just not nearly as well. Now in fresh water I think the ATP is a lot closer if not better then some high end machines.

I have a lot of experience with both the CZ & the Excal and I'm just trying to find out where the ATP sits. I have a lot of friends, relatives, etc., that come down, and are planning to come down, just trying to fill the void in good machines to suit everyone. If the ATP works well on the wet sand and in the saltwater surf then I was also thinking I could use it myself to relic hunt, etc. I also use a SovGT but I don't trust that it would stay dry in someone else's hands. :laughing7:

biggmike · Apr 21, 2012

bigscoop said:
I have a lot of experience with both the CZ & the Excal and I'm just trying to find out where the ATP sits. I have a lot of friends, relatives, etc., that come down, and are planning to come down, just trying to fill the void in good machines to suit everyone. If the ATP works well on the wet sand and in the saltwater surf then I was also thinking I could use it myself to relic hunt, etc. I also use a SovGT but I don't trust that it would stay dry in someone else's hands.

It would work for what you need I think. You just have to turn the sensitivity down and tweak it a little but I think it would do fine. That is if they fixed the leaking problem which I think they did. You can probably find a good deal on a used one too.

guzz1 · Apr 21, 2012

For the money the ATP is a no Brainer ,,, all around good detector ... The AT pro is a hell of a buyat 594.00. The CZ 21 is a great detector But big Money Xcal great detector But Huge Money I could go on and on .. your At pro will do both water and land for Half the cost and do a really good job . I researched Big time before i bought and I was on a limited budget . and after I spoke with the water hunters here in florida I decided to Buy the AT PRO .I came real close to sov Gt but i wanted a water and land Machine. I know I made the right choice .. Im a huge Minelab Fan , but for now it just wasn't gonna work for me $$$$ .My next detector will be a used ex Cal 1000.... I just have to find one . Good luck and good hunting to you .....

Sandman · Apr 21, 2012

I had lots of trouble with the first few machines and now have one that seems to work. I am stuck inland now so can only use it in freshwater. I don't like the way the numbers don't lock on even when you have a coin on the surface. Mine is not a POS, but I won't use it anymore.

bigscoop · Apr 21, 2012

Stability in the salt environment is my biggest concern. I knew when they first came out it appeared there were some issues/concerns with this. But if that's been addressed and corrected then it seems like it could work out ok for what I have in mind. I just hate to spend the money to find out I'm going to be having to deal with stability issues all the time. :dontknow: