Bounty Hunter 505 lasted 5 years Garret At Pro 21 days

[thadious]

I am a little disappointed in Garrett right now. I bought my at pro on May 31 and on June 21 it craps out on me. I had only used it 5 times with approximately 10 hours on it. I was at the beach in Mission Bay working my way to where a beach area at a hotel looked like a good spot to try the detector in the water for the first time. I didn't even get a chance to get there. I got a good signal and went to look at the target id when it started going crazy. the screen would go blank then flash all over the place showing only half a target id no target id only one bar of battery but at the top and the depth jumped all over the place. I turned the detector off then reset it. It went crazy again in just a few seconds. I went home changed batteries and reset it again and detector would not turn on. The detector is now on its way to Garrett for repairs. I still like the at pro but can't help but remember how may people on here badmouthed my Bounty Hunter 505 and called it a piece of junk. The bounty hunter lasted me five years and I found a lot of things with it. I would think the at pro could have lasted longer than 21 days. I am not bad mouthing Garrett I have a ace 250 which has worked well for me the last year. I am just frustrated because I saved for 6 months to buy the at pro and now I have to wait at least one to two weeks to get it back.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[knightsquad]

3 hours and no replies...
Cause no one wants to say what I'm going to.

Oh so what! It's broke, ---- happens dude. Send it in, let them repair it and be done with it!
What do you expect anyone to say to your post?
I've seen others before with problems and they just dealt with it.
It'll be like brand new when you get it back! If ya waited 6 months then another week won't kill ya !

Pete
Hang in there! Haha

 

[Sapper724]

It happens...

I had a fisher F2 for 25 days, then it died. I sent it back to Amazon for a full refund, and realized I wanted an upgrade, so got the AT Pro. Do I hate Fisher now? Nope, I still refer them to new detectorists.

Once in a while, products have problems. Nothing can be built 100% perfect, no matter how great a company is. Luckily, you bought a Garrett, and I hear their customer service is amazing. One reason why I went with Garrett this time. I realized that new products can have problems, so might as well be covered by the best out there, right?

 

[rks1949]

Garrett will take care of it,and fast too! Yeah,your BH worked for 5 years,but it won't do what the ATP will once it's repaired/replaced. I've got a little radio shack detector that's a piece of crap,but you can't kill it! It will find a 15 inch car rim,and a dime buried in the ground (Same tone) infact everything is the same tone! It's a super stud finder with a handle on it!

 

[badpenny]

Like everyone else said "Crap happens" and being a computer tech, electronics usually fail in the first couple of weeks, if there is a problem, and that's a good thing because usually the component is still under warranty.

 

[knightsquad]

Yup, that's exactly true...

Pete

Like everyone else said "Crap happens" and being a computer tech, electronics usually fail in the first couple of weeks, if there is a problem, and that's a good thing because usually the component is still under warranty.

 

[John-Edmonton]

Don't panic......Garrett will look after you. Probably better then any other metal detector manufacturer. It's made in USA, by one of the oldest companies....next year they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

 

[Uncle Jeff]

one bar of battery:

might I suggest RTFM? It says replace batteries when you get down to one bar. Also I see you went home and replace the batteries and it wont even turn on now. Might it be the batteries are not installed incorrectly or did not set properly?

 

[Uncle Jeff]

Ok sorry about being so harsh there in above post I am having a bad day, but seriously, once the battery meter gets to one bar you need to replace the batteries, and once you swapped them the unit stopped working, so I would say either batteries are in wrong, not seated correctly, or possibly the replacement batteries are deader than the other ones. The unit should not just not turn on any more after swapping batteries

 

[harryb007]

I was running lithium batteries in mine last year, they were great for quite awhile but without warning they went from 4 bars to 1 and the ATP went nuts. I replaced with regular batteries and was fine. I now replace when I hit 2 bars and have not had any issues. My point----I think the voltage needs to be at or above a certain point or you will get erratic operation. JMHO. HH

 

[signal_line]

Check for loose cable connections. If they get wet, you need to disconnect them and let them dry out.

 

[rks1949]

I've run mine down to 1 bar and never had any problems? I did change the batterys out as soon as I was done,though.

 

[thadious]

Not expecting anyone to say anything just venting. I sent it in before I even wrote the post.

 

[thadious]

I have nothing against garrett actually like the at pro and am looking forward to getting it back. I agree **** happens. Just after waiting six months to be able to buy it and then it breaking after 21 days I just wanted to vent.

 

[thadious]

Read the manual twice before I even put it together. When I got back from the beach I read it again and followed the troubleshooting guidelines and did replace the batteries. As for the bar when the batteries get weak and show one bar it is suppose to show it at the bottom not one bar at the top. Batteries were put in properly and was rechecked to make sure. The detector is on its way to Garrett and I am sure it will be repaired and returned soon. Just vented out of frustration.

 

[thadious]

Thanks for the inputs guys both those helpful and those critical. I was venting my frustrations when I wrote this post. I like the AT PRO do not want to get rid of it and expect it will be the detector I use when I travel and can only bring one. As for Garrett Customer service Hilda at Garrett was very helpful and got me set up right away to send it in for repairs. Soon I hope to be taking it out again to learn more of it's abilities in the meantime I still have the ace 250 and Sovereign Gt to keep me going. Good luck to all of you and Happy hunting. Ted

 

[knightsquad]

Ted,
I agree buddy it does stink when that happens but just hang in there.
It'll be your best machine when she gets back I'm sure!
Sovereign GT huh? I had one of those years ago! That's a super machine there! Outstanding on the beach and deep too! The guy I hunt with still has his. He kept his when I sold mine though.
If ya have any questions about the Pro just shout! We will all give ya some tips but it sounds like you've been around the block anyway!

Pete