finally one of the you

[captn cupcake]

Finally bought myself a detector today (ace 250) After a year of reading and salivating over everyones finds I finally had enough stash money to get one. got to try it for about 45 mins. today (painting the interior of the house) small school park with wood chip play ground. found 2 pennys and a jacket zipper. started to get frustrated with false signals and such. but will jump back on the horse tomorrow. Would like to play in the yard but the old owner was a mechnic and there is a lot of trash, also the ground is so hard for lack of rain that digging is a real pain for the time being. Hope i can figure this machine and not get to frustrated. I'll be sure to post pictures when i have something to post.

keep sharing ace 250 tricks as i read them all
HH
Darrin

 

[hollowpointred]

first ace 250 trick........if false signals are driving you nuts, turn down the sensativity until the machine becomes stable.

 

[Digginman]

It's a great machine and easy to learn. You will do well.

DM

 

[Lafitte]

I've had my ACE 250 for just a short while as well. It's an "easy to learn" MD, but pretty darned good. If you heed the advice you get here, it's even easier! That's why I lurk around TNet.
My rookie tip would be:
If the mechanic trashed some ground, use it as a practice field. It'll teach you alot about discrim and elim. Not to mention sensitivity, as HPR pointed out. Check my post about "bonfire beach". It taught me alot about these things.
Almost forgot. Welcome! And post lots of pics.

 

[wayneglue]

Keep with it. I have had my Ace 250 for one 5 weeks now and it has already paid for . Do you know how frustrated I was at the beginning. I live in Canada and the machine is based on American currency. Got it all figured out now and its all good.

Good luck.

 

[weasel606]

alittle time with your new detector will pay off and with time you will learn the sounds it makes and what it tells you , its a good machine and the more you use it the more you will love it! goodluck on your hunts and take the time to learn your machine it will pay off in fun and finds

 

[txkickergirl]

congrats you will love it and can't wait to see your pics

 

[Prober]

Hey Captain, welcome. I don't have a 250 but from what I read on TN it is one of the better machines and everyone that has one finds lots of stuff. Looking forward to seeing your posts.

 

[lucky1777]

Keep practicing and you will be an old pro in no time. Looking forward to seeing your finds.

 

[Trescher]

Capt'n,
As Hollow pointed out you should definitely adjust the sensitivity, probably no higher than 4 out of the 8. My second trip out was to the beach and I thought that the more sensitive the better and spent the entire time diggin' black sand and never thought to lower the sensitivity. Now I run almost exclusively at 4, sometimes a little higher and sometimes a little lower, but never at 7 or 8.

Some hunters will run in All Metal mode and dig everything (not a bad idea in your yard as practice), but in a playground I will run in Jewelery mode, dig the pull tabs and pick up the jewelery.

Enjoy your 250, I know that I do. And I get my 2500 on Monday

Cheers,
Paul

 

[randall61]

the key to pulling good finds is to know your machine...the more you hunt the better you will get........keep diggin

 

[chefrider]

Welcome capt cupcake, I know what you mean about the trash in the yard. The previous owner of my property was also a mechanic. I am learning alot about discrimination on my 250 as well. I have found a 25 ft extension cord, a foot of swing chain, an adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers, 2-12 inch steel rods;1 inch thick, and the usual cAnfetti, nails, washers, and o'yeah...17cents. But I not going to be discouraged! HH, chefman

 

[mumszie]

Frustration is part of the learning process and there will be days even after you have been doing this for years that will also be frustrating. You have good days and you have bad days. Just keep at it and you'll have that ACE paid off in no time and will have fun doing it!

 

[navarrone]

Greetings&Salutations;I'm a new owner of an ACE250 also,was frustrated at first BUT WATCHED THE DVD & saw what the rep was doing on the picnic table with the various bells&whistles eminating from the items he was passing over the coil....The factory set it up with the default COIN setting,so keep that in mind first. EVERY item has its own signal.A nickle & pop tab are the same...With the ACE REMEMBER the DISCriminator & ELIMinator work TOGETHER,For example if the signal shows pop tab hit the iliminator button.,if you just want to hunt for QUARTERS eliminate EVERYTHING BUT QUARTERS then when you get a signal it will be a QUARTER.....................BUT the important thing with an ACE is to read the manual CLOSELY & WATCH the DVD.......the ace has THE MOST CURRENT technology available in a VERY cost effective package. Good Luck & WATCH YOU DON'T RUN INTO ANY TREES!

 

[captn cupcake]

thanks guys doing some painting right now but plan on a hour or so of practice later.

Didn't get a dvd with my unit wish it had.

darrin

 

[BioProfessor]

If the ground is really hard, trying to dig with a small scoop or shovel will kill you. Take along an ice pick. It will jab into the ground easier than the scoop and you can loosen a lot of dirt with it.

Daryl

 

[ringfinder]

Just a few words to add what everyone else has said about this great little detector. I also use around 4 notches of sensitivity and hunt in the coin mode. But then when I hit an area where there is little trash or hot rocks, I turn up the Sensitivity and hunt in many different modes. I and my partner Gary, like to dig up signals that are kinda iffy. If the signals are iffy and 4 to 8 inches deep, we dig. But then again, we dig a lot of everything, shallow or deep.

If you swing in one direction and get a signal, then swing the other way, the target is usually iron.

My best advice to you is make a coin plot. Lay coins down or bury them and see how your detector picks them up. Also try different ladies rings, small and big. Mens rings small and large, Ladies necklaces and so on. You will never know where these items will show up on your detector until you try to find them with your machine.

If you delete items off your screen and only hunt for certain items, you will be missing a lot.

Good Luck, Welcome to the TNT, Ringfinder

P.S. I and my partner both use the ACE 250 with a SunRay Probe.

 

[PATreasureHunter]

I've had my ACE250 for about 2 months now, and allow me to throw in my two cents:

1. You MAY get frustrated at first, but once you learn to use and master pinpointing, your finds will get better and better.

2. I agree with what was stated above - keep your sensitivity at about 4 (under normal hunting conditions), and hunt in coin mode.

OR

3. When you are first starting out, leave it in all-metal mode, in order for you to learn to dig as much as possible. This will allow you to master the different sounds it makes, so you know what to listen for.

4. Watch the DVD that your ACE 250 came with over and over, and bench test many different items, again, to learn what the different sounds they make.

5. Know that your MOST LIKELY best finds will come when you least expect it, and know that the older the site is, the more likely that there are older coins there.

6. Always remember - ASK PERMSISSION before you trespass, leave the site better than you found it, always be courteous, and dig as little plug as possible. You will find that the better you get at it, the smaller and less noticaeable your plugs and holes will become.

7. Research! Reaseach! Research! Look into where that old hotel, swimming hole, gathering place, etc etc once was "back in yesteryear", and search those places. You'll most likely find the good stuff, and learn a whole lot of great local history in the process.

8. Ask questions, and seek everyones advice and opinions on here. As you have seen, there is a wealth of great people, knowledge, and users on here that will help you with all aspects of MD'ing.

9. When in dount - DIG THAT SIGNAL! the one signal that you DON'T dig may be your next (or first?) huge find!

10. HAVE FUN!!

11. Join your local Historical Society, or Metal detecting club in your town or city. Again, you will learn alot, and you will discover many potential digging sites along the way.

Best of luck, and HAPPY HUNTING!!!!

 

[PATreasureHunter]

Here's a link to a copy of the DVD video that comes with your Garrett ACE250. I just read your post, and saw that you said you didn't get a DVD with it. Here's the video:

[video=google;954949324017952181]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=954949324017952181&q=Garrett+ACE+250[/video]

 

[diggitdoggie]

Welcome aboard, lots of good advice already given so I'll just say hang in there and don't get frustrated on those not-so-good days.

Looking forward to your future posts.

DD