How does a 1990 Whites Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

[The-Bone]

How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Hi all. Have been reading this forum for awhile now and finally decided to sign up. Great info here!!! I have been MD off and on now for the past 10 years. I have a 1990 White's Eagle (i believe it is the predecessor to the spectrum). Anyway, it is almost impossible to use unless you hip mount it and i have never really been too fond of the depths i've gotten from it..Best find as far as depth has been an indian head at around 6 inches. It is very good on shallower clad and silver. I have read mostly good things about the ace and it seems like a great deal of machine for the money. Only thing that concerns me is the lack of ground balance but i am not sure as to just how much that affects performance. It always seems to be an iffy topic. I live in Pa around the Lehigh Valley so we do have a fair amount of mineralization and iron in the ground. What's your opinions on getting an Ace or another machine. I am really ready to get back into the sport and have recently pulled from the ground a 1907 indian head, 1928 and 1950 quarter. Maybe i should just hang onto what i have. I was really hoping for a little better depth however.
Thanks
Bone

 

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[IndianaSmith]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

EM- For those who don't know, I am pretty new to this hobby, so I don't have any experience to debate much of anything regarding Md's. I will however say that I will give you thumbs-up, because it seems to me that you know of what you speak. lol, which leads me to my point, you may be alittle "over-qualified" for the 250

Personally, I'd pay $200 for a new MD as opposed to $50 for an older one (with no warranty) unless it was some ungodly "deal", like a $1000 MD. Most of us "rookies" are looking for a decent/inexpensive MD to "get out feet wet" & learn on, atleast that was my case. There are WAY too many choices for a rookie who knows little to nothing (I include myself in that statment) about MD's and all the "gizzmos, bells & whistles". It can be very intimidating when shopping for your 1st one.

I wanted simple to understand & operate, and if I give-up a couple inches of depth for it, so be it. If I got a more complicated MD, chances are increased that I'd have had difficulty understanding & operating it. I am however smart enough to know the 250 is by no means a "top of the line" MD, but I don't see it as "junk" either, that was the only point I was attempting to make.

Now, I'll give $50 for that "junk" 250 of yours.......that's shipped of course

Smitty

 

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[EasyMoney]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Understood Indiana, and no offense intended either.

The fact is, that most detector companies (especially Minelab and Garrett) seem to put things out on the market and tend to be, shall we say, "not exactly what they claim it to be"? Legends are born though, and Satsquatch is roaming the woods this very day, and so is Loch Ness's Monster swimming the deep.

Back in the 70's Garretts and Fishers were the two KINGS of metal detecting. Then came the BH's and Compasses and blew them clear out of the ballfield.

For 20 or 30 years Charlie Garrett's detectors were tauted as getting "a 10% increase in depth over last year's models". With that in mind, it would mean that a Garrett got not just 2 inches, but around 40 inches on a coin sized object by now, and that would be an outright lie.. Of course Charlie could have been playing semantics, and I'm sure he was, because if a detector got an extra 1/4 inch one year and then 10% X 1/4" the next year, etc, etc then that would make sense, but that's not what the ads read, although that's what they could look like in a legal sense. It depends on how you look at the statement. It's all a bunch of hooie and sometimes it's time for the rubber to meet the road. That's where old men like me and Sandman, Joe, etc who know better come into play. We don't take very kindly to misleading advertising and/or baloney claims. I'm just a little more emphatic about it, that's all.

The truth is, that the best detectors for their money this very day are the two new low end Fishers and ALL the low-end Tesoros and most of the rest of the Tesoros too.. There is nothing that can touch them dollar-for-dollar for value, weight, and performance. Their cheapies handle rough ground well too, and even better than the low-end White's to some degree. They match or beat Explorers and DFX's for discrimination abilities, for depth too, and cost a fraction of the price. This is not a matter of opinion, it's a fact.

I too thought I'd try the Ace 250 but found it inferior compared to what I already owned and if I had been a newby to the fun and hadn't studied electrical engineering in college or worked as an electronics mechanic or as a detector repairman I probably would have liked it a lot better than I did, but I'm a lot more picky than that because of my familiarity and knowledge of so many detectors I've worked on or used. Yes, I'm spoiled, and picky. My intention here is not to beat up on detectors or detectorsits, it's to have fun while informing and learning, nothing more.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Easymoney,
i would like to try a Tesoro if i knew of someone that had one. I've never even seen a dealer that carries that brand close to me. They've always kinda looked like very basic machines to me.(most have no sort of display, depth gauge, target id) and alot have preset ground balances. I have no brand preference or loyalty. If you can believe the advertisements about the ACE it offers features that 5 years ago would have cost $500. IF IT WORKS!!!!For that matter it is a crime that ANY of the high end detectors still cost around $1000. This is not rocket science. it is basic transmit and receive. All of the technology that these machines ause is basically 20 years old. It is just getting smaller as IC chips get smaller. As far as getting a machine that no one complains about, well, that machine hasn't nor will it ever exist

You're exactly right about the exorbitant cost of high-end detectors. Well said. I have just one or two words to add to this healthy discussion. I have used many different detectors, from the Ace to the XLT to the Eagle Spectrum, to Compass machines in addition to the two I currently own. Don't go by the look of the Tesoros--they may "look" like toys due to the small control box, but they are incredibly stable machines and they are sooooo lightweight! And when we compare the Tesoro Silver uMax to the Ace, we ARE comparing apples to apples as far as price is concerned. I bought my uMax used for $159.99 and I've been thrilled with it. Metal detecting is about DIGGING. No-meter is the only way I roll. I have to dig more, and I get more gold, relics, and jewelry items as a result. Let's face it--meters encourage you to NOT investigate a target. The Tesoros have a lifetime warranty if you buy them new.... oh... and don't ever let anyone tell you that a Silver uMax (little "toy" control box Tesoro) can't dig colonial buttons and coppers. If you need proof, here it is :

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,122423.0.html#lastPost

Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[robert roy]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Buckleboy:
I'm gathering that the Umax is a coin detector only?
Robert R

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Buckleboy:
I'm gathering that the Umax is a coin detector only?
Robert R

Robert,

After spending some time with the uMax, I'd feel comfortable taking it out on a relic hunt. It is a really stable detector around iron patches, and it does well at recognizing targets nail-infested areas due to the fast recovery speed of the machine. For locating campsites, I'd rather have my Fisher...but I'd feel comfortable taking the Tesoro out on a relic hunt any day. It's a crackerjack of a coin finder, though. I will probably outfit it with a 10 x 12 coil when I take it out on a CW hunt.

Regards,

Buckleboy

 

[nc-joe]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

First off, welcome to Tnet.

I have an Eagle Spectrum, and yeah, kina apples and oranges, but in all honesty, I have dug a time at 9 inches, and trash the size of a half dollar at 14.

I have also owned an ACE 250. After using the Eagle Spectrum, I had to sell the Ace, although it has a lot of features for the price, I needed more. I like the VDI and tone ID of the White's, I can tell the difference in a copper cent, a zinc cent and a dime. With the Ace, there are 4 tones, a few jumpy target points and every thing from a penny to an aluminium can looks and sounds the same.

After selling my Ace, I thought, that was a really good back up machine, one you can leave in the car for an emergency hunt (and if it gets stolen, you're not out $800 or more)

Since you have had the Eagle for a while and are somewhat used to it, buy a used Eagle Spectrum or XLT. They can be had for $275 and up. The Ace will cost you $212 new or about $175 used. Best of all, if you don't want to mess with the settings on the Whites, just click a present and go. You will find everything in the reach of the ACE, but if you want to make the adjustments and fool around a little, you can get another 2-4 inches. It's nice having that option.

Again, when I owned my ACE I hated it. But now, I kinda miss the little yellow guy.

And yes the ACE is light, dare I say, it feels like a toy, but it will hold it's own on finds 4-6 inches.

Good luck and Happy Hunting.

 

[ringfinder]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Hi all,
I would be remiss if I didn't give a good word for the ACE 250. I have been hunting with the ACE for sometime now and have done very, very well with this detector. Last year, here in Ohio I found over 4000 clad coins, over 100 IH's, nearly 200 wheaties, countless silver coins, 2 flying eagle pennies, many watch fobs, tokens and other assorted targets of value. This year started off on Jan. 11, with a 1899 Silver Dollar.

I hunt mostly in fields and do a lot of relic hunting. My deepest coin I every found was at 10 inches, in good top soil and wet in the early spring. Most coins I find are around 2, 4, 6 or 8 inches deep. I can't say what this detector will do in another state because I have only used it in Ohio and Ga. I had no problem in the Ga. red soil. I found many relics in Ga. also.

All I can say for those doubters of the ACE 250 is, like any detector you have you have to learn your detector. I too was a doubter of this detector when I first got it. I was using another brand that I own and my partner made a believer out of me when he wanted me to check a target he had. He said it was around 8 inches deep on his meter on the ACE 250, I using my other detector, said I wasn't getting any signal at all. He dug down and pulled out a 1911 wheat penny at 8 inches. DAMN, I put my other detector away that day and haven't used it since.

Another friend of mine was using a Top Brand detector and I tried the same thing on him as my other partner did on me. I hit a target at around 8 inches and had him bring his Top Brand over and check my signal. He said he wasn't getting any signal at all, my headphones were sounding off strong. I dug down and sure enough out popped a wheatie at 7 inches. Now he is a believer. LOL He still uses the Top Brand, which I might add cost several hundred dollars more than the ACE 250, but he also is using the ACE 250 as well as his wife.

I also have a Whites XLT, MineLab Sovereign, Tesoro Tiger Shark, Fisher 1235 and a DepthPro Headhunter. All of these detector are Great detectors. I use the Tiger Shark and Headhunter for water hunting. I still pull out the Minlab and the Whites, but mostly as I'm getting older and weight is an issue, I use the ACE 250 most of the time. On three of the detector's I use a SunRay Probe.

I know this detector will pull out coins at over 8 inches, but most of the coins I dig are around 4, 6 and 8 inches. Digging all the coins that I dig every year, I don't think I need to dig coins at 10 inches or deeper all the time.

Research is still the key. Checking those old plate maps and finding a place that no one else has hunted is PRICELESS!!!


HH all, with what ever detector you chose to hunt with.

Ringfinder

 

[99Brown]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

I use a 1991 White's Silver Eagle....and....I love it. Bought it new then, and I know the machine and it has made some great finds for me, and keeps continuing to find me good stuff.

99Broww

 

[~MetalDigger~]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

I'm all in for the ace 250 it's a real machine for the pocket change it cost. And if there is another MDer for this same price that's twice the detector, it must get 18-20" deep, then why spend $800 more dollars for another that only gets the same depth as another $200 detector that's twice as good as a Ace 250

Toy I don't think so, like several others stated you have to learn it. I'm a newbie for sure. And I can see the potential of this highly advanced machine.

But if I had the extra cash, sure I'd like to try a Minelab Se. I could not afford to buy the Ace 250 straight out, I had to sell some of my best loved items to buy it. And I'm proud to say I love it.

Garrett you made yourself proud in making the Ace series Hats off to you

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

I think the Ace has gotten a lot of hype recently--good or bad--and I know a lot of folks use it--many more than those who use comparably priced Tesoros...which explains some of the hype (we all know that folks that use a machine are much more likely to drum it up to others...even if it is the only machine they have ever gotten to know  ). 

Anyhow, all needling aside--I have been impressed with the Ace and how it has kept up with the Whites XLT and Fisher 1266 in housesite hunts and relic hunts.  Very impressed.  It is still a fact thought that with a Silver uMax or Cibola you get a much faster target response than the Ace--which is a MAJOR plus in an IRON PATCH!  ...but you also lose the "benefits" of an ID meter.  That said I'm a non-meter, analog-only detectorist...so ya pretty much know how I roll...

-Buckleboy

 

[The-Bone]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Well...the Eagle is gone....sold it on ebay...hope to get a 250 for xmas or maybe even an F2 (though i do not like the blister button design on the front panel)

 

[SC_hunter]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Well...the Eagle is gone....sold it on ebay...hope to get a 250 for xmas or maybe even an F2 (though i do not like the blister button design on the front panel)

If I had noticed this earlier, my only comment would have been...keep the eagle and buy the ace 250. I have an eagle spectrum and the ace..If I want to do some quick hunting..I use the ace...turn on and go and very very very light....can hunt for hours and not get worn out. The whites is better in my opinion but heavy as hades and it loves batteries. The ace will surprise you how long you can hunt on a set of 4. HH and GL.

 

[nc-joe]

Re: How does a 1990 White's Eagle compare to an Ace 250?

Well...the Eagle is gone....sold it on ebay...hope to get a 250 for xmas or maybe even an F2 (though i do not like the blister button design on the front panel)

If I had noticed this earlier, my only comment would have been...keep the eagle and buy the ace 250. I have an eagle spectrum and the ace..If I want to do some quick hunting..I use the ace...turn on and go and very very very light....can hunt for hours and not get worn out. The whites is better in my opinion but heavy as hades and it loves batteries. The ace will surprise you how long you can hunt on a set of 4. HH and GL.

Your arn't kidding when you say the Eagle Spectrum loves batteries. It take alot of park hunting for clad to cover the cost of those darn C cells.