ATPro display question

[Tucson Dan]

I have the 350 and my huntin' partner swings the ATPro. His display shows obviously more detail with regards to target ID. Even though my 350 displays the probable target he seems to be able to decipher even more by his numerical display. How much do you rely on the numbers is my question and is it pretty easy to learn?

 

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[TruePatriot]

Number is a good starting point on what the target potentially is.

Other factors include:

• the quality of the audio signal (bottlecap versus penny, they will sound different)
• the depth of the target
• how big the target is when pin pointing
• how ground balancing the machine shifts target ids
• consistency of the target indicator
• multiple targets in close proximity can give the illusion of inconsistenct junk targets

Depending on what you are hunting for will determine how much weight you put on each factor.

Generally, if I am hunting for rings, I will dig anything regardless of the other factors if the target id is in the range from foil to nickel. They say you have to dig it all to get rings. If there is a lot of trash, some people only dig the most consistent targets, and they might only dig under a certain depth, if the target is not a coin.

The numbers are very easy to learn. Again, ground balancing can shift the numbers a bit, but on my ATPro it is usually:

• 1-35 iron
• 35-49 foil, small piece of aluminum, smaller gold ring (women's)
• 49-51 nickel, gold ring
• 53-55 newer pull tab, gold ring
• 55-57 old pull tab, gold ring
• 57-70 larger gold rings
• 71-80 penny, bottlecap
• 81-84 dime, silver jewelry
• 85-90 quarter, silver coins
• 91+ silver coins

I think the best way to have success is to just put in hours using the machine and getting familiar with it. I've put in probably 100 hours with mine so far and finally feel like I have mastered it.

 

[Tucson Dan]

The numbers are very easy to learn. Again, ground balancing can shift the numbers a bit, but on my ATPro it is usually:


[*]1-35 iron
[*]35-49 foil, small piece of aluminum, smaller gold ring (women's)
[*]49-51 nickel, gold ring
[*]53-55 newer pull tab, gold ring
[*]55-57 old pull tab, gold ring
[*]57-70 larger gold rings
[*]71-80 penny, bottlecap
[*]81-84 dime, silver jewelry
[*]85-90 quarter, silver coins
[*]91+ silver

Wow. That list is great. My friend can tell me almost every time what he is getting ready to dig and most of the time he's correct. My 350 combines dimes and quarters on the display and he can differentiate them for instance. I sometimes dig bottlecaps after a dime/quarter signal too. Do you find the numbers are right on or close most of the time? I may go with the ATPro soon.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

That list is great, I'm gonna see how close it is with my AT Gold

 

[pkb]

I've dug silver rings in the 70's with my atpro

 

[xr7ator]

The numbers are easy to learn but the real trick is learning the tones.
I only look at the visual screen out of curiousity now before I dig because I dig based on the sound.
If you step up to the AT PRO, don't mess with standard mode much and go straight to pro mode(s).

 

[Tucson Dan]

The numbers are easy to learn but the real trick is learning the tones.
I only look at the visual screen out of curiousity now before I dig because I dig based on the sound.
If you step up to the AT PRO, don't mess with standard mode much and go straight to pro mode(s).

Right now all I have are tones with my 350 and the tones on the ATP are completely different. Another learning curve but worth it in the end probably.

 

[badpenny]

I agree with everything here. I DO use my VDI Number to get an idea of what I am looking at but I listen to the tone more than anything. Once I hear what I expect to be a good target I dig, if I hear crackling and a lot of noise, or I lift my coil and I still got a strong signal I walk on. Good stuff here, remember it.

 

[Tucson Dan]

I agree with everything here. I DO use my VDI Number to get an idea of what I am looking at but I listen to the tone more than anything. Once I hear what I expect to be a good target I dig, if I hear crackling and a lot of noise, or I lift my coil and I still got a strong signal I walk on. Good stuff here, remember it.

I talked to my buddy and he said I could borrow his AT Pro anytime. Now I have all the time I need to figure out if it is my upgrade machine or not. Different tones to learn now from the 350.

 

[christo000]

I talked to my buddy and he said I could borrow his AT Pro anytime. Now I have all the time I need to figure out if it is my upgrade machine or not. Different tones to learn now from the 350.

Probly the best way to figure out if it'll work for or if u should go another route, I got no problem if there's someone near me & they got any questions or wanna c 1 of the detectors I use, I'd b glad to let someone try one out

 

[lookindown]

I don't use the numbers to determine whether or not to dig...its just nice having a good idea what your digging. An 87 is a quarter signal and 81 is a dime, so if your digging an 87, a dime isn't going to come out of the hole. A quarter might not come out either, it could be anything, but most times its a quarter...you never know for sure what a target is by the number. Its just nice when most of the time, it is what you thought it was.

 

[Tucson Dan]

I don't use the numbers to determine whether or not to dig...its just nice having a good idea what your digging. An 87 is a quarter signal and 81 is a dime, so if your digging an 87, a dime isn't going to come out of the hole. A quarter might not come out either, it could be anything, but most times its a quarter...you never know for sure what a target is by the number. Its just nice when most of the time, it is what you thought it was.

Lookindown, that's very useful info. I know the machine can never be for certain what lies beneath, but at least you can decipher a quarter from a dime. I can't do that on my 350. Tonal quality is what I use primarily as well but it'll be nice to have the secondary display to assist.

 

[badpenny]

Agreed...

 

[Normsel]

Like most everyone else i listen to the tones, if it sounds good i look at the vdi for and idea of what it may be but I don't rely on the vdi. The sound will tell you more.

 

[rks1949]

I listen for a solid (good ) tone,the last thing I do is look at the numbers,and if it's a faint soft tone,and repeatable,I will dig it! Deep coins often show NO numbers on the display,but if you can hit it consistently,you can bet it's a coin,and a deep one (the Good Stuff). I have a friend that always say's,"if it ain't deep,it ain't old"!