Is the Garret AT Pro that good??

[diggerfab]

I'm in the market for a new detector. Problem is, I cant decide. I watch youtube and it seems like almost everyone uses the AT pro. whats the story with this machine? is it that good? I know its waterproof up to 10' I get that attraction, but otherwise, is it really special?

 

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[chub]

I believe the TV show 'diggers' helped to make this detector popular ( I could be wrong) and the fact that the ACE250 is very popular.....so perhaps Ace 250 users upgraded. I thinks its not a bad detector, some have said its a bit nose heavy. Some have said the numbers on the vdi are a bit small etc. Garret have recently introduced the AT max, so there may be many AT pros on the market as people are 'upgrading'.
Remember that the AT max like most single frequency VLF machines do NOT do well in wet salt water / sand. Is your CZ a bit too old or a bit too heavy?

Chub

 

[clv]

They are low cost, would have said cheep, but some people think other things besides a low cost.
Before you buy a detector you need to decide what type of hunting you want to do. Then choose a machine that fits you and your pocket book.

 

[Ammoman]

Short answer is yes. I don't own one because the ergonomics suck. Its like swinging a led log around and kills the elbow.

 

[diggerfab]

I like to hunt old yards for old coins. Not much into woods hunting or hunted out parks for clad. my CZ is similar in design as the AT and yes its getting hard on the old elbow and shoulder. I don't like noisy machines like the newer fishers and the like. The Minelabs seem to be pretty popular but I cant seem to get with the way they sound, that humming is disturbing to me. I like the Deus machines but not the price.

 

[Steve Ia]

Why not try hip mounting the CZ. The CZ is a great machine. I dug lots of silver with mine and wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of it.

 

[Loco-Digger]

I have bought most of my detectors used and have never had an issue. I recommend you get a detector that has multiple coil options. I am a huge fan of the DD coil over the concentric. Many people swear by their AT Pro, I'm just not into the bell tones. I have a 1280X for freshwater hunting. I can honestly say that a majority of my good finds could have been found by a cheaper machine since they were between 5" and 7" deep. I mainly run a nel sharpshooter coil in yards and will use the 5" DD in super trashy areas. I use the Stock DD in the woods and my 12" x 15" Nel butterfly coil mainly in the fields.

 

[SultansOfSwing]

I have bought most of my detectors used and have never had an issue. I recommend you get a detector that has multiple coil options. I am a huge fan of the DD coil over the concentric. Many people swear by their AT Pro, I'm just not into the bell tones. I have a 1280X for freshwater hunting. I can honestly say that a majority of my good finds could have been found by a cheaper machine since they were between 5" and 7" deep. I mainly run a nel sharpshooter coil in yards and will use the 5" DD in super trashy areas. I use the Stock DD in the woods and my 12" x 15" Nel butterfly coil mainly in the fields.

I have had mt at pro for a little over a year and have found ev÷ything from a half real to a colonial shoe buckle to a rosey dime. It works. Plain and simple. But location trumps the machine. You cant find what isnt there. The at pro is a turn on and go machine unlike the deus and ctx 3030 which you can make multiple programs. The at pro with stock coil can hit targets 12 inches deep but the deeper you go the lower the vdi. Dig everything and learn the machine and youll find stuff. Bout all i have to say about it.

 

[TerryC]

I like to hunt old yards for old coins. Not much into woods hunting or hunted out parks for clad. my CZ is similar in design as the AT and yes its getting hard on the old elbow and shoulder. I don't like noisy machines like the newer fishers and the like. The Minelabs seem to be pretty popular but I cant seem to get with the way they sound, that humming is disturbing to me. I like the Deus machines but not the price.

If you were a "PI" guy, you would better appreciate the "hum". A null in the hum can be as important as the "beep". ╦╦Ç

 

[RustyGold]

I liked my 3 AT Pros especially with the 5x8" coil. But the nose heavy design was a pain in the wrist and since the ergonomics weren't there they were all sold.
Now for me, the Deus is perfect.

 

[digger460]

Just my opinion:

I started seriously detecting 2 years ago. As a newbie, (which I still consider myself), I had the same question about the AT. At the time, I wanted to upgrade to a more serious detector in the 6 to 7 hundred dollar range, which at the time was the AT. I was using a Titan 3000XD, basically a Radio Shack type machine that was nothing but a bell tone detector. But it was enough to get me hooked on the hobby.

So I bought the AT PRO, and a 5 x 8 coil after the AT user's recommended it, especially in trashy area's which is mostly where I detect in my area.

I knew there was going to be a learning curve, seeing that the technology had changed over the 10 yrs. from when I bought the Titan, but really I went into it not thinking that I even knew how a detector worked, so I just got it out there and started swinging away, remembering the tips and tricks from T-net user's, and youtube vid's.

So, probably like most newbie's I went out thinking that the old coins, and gold, were going to be flying out of the ground and into my pouch. Well that didn't happen, but it really didn't bother me, because where I hunt, I usually recover relic's from the past, and soon I was more interested in that then the coins and gold that were more valuable, or could be stated, "the happy dance moments".

After 2 years of using the AT, here's my take:

You have to take the time to learn it. The number's on the VDI are number's, but more importantly the sounds are the key. That was the first thing I noticed, was that other then one solid tone from the Titan, the AT actually changed in volume and sound when you passed over a target. Like a bottle top versus coin. The bottle top would sound great until you got to the edge of it, and instead of the sound dropping off a cliff, you get a slight fading, followed by a little grunt. Where a coin, the sound would drop off the edge. Just a whole lot more info coming from the new technology then the old. And I'm clueless what a more expensive machine can do that has multiple frequencies.

I haven't had any physical problems with it, maybe because 99% of the time I'm swinging the 5x8 coil, which is far lighter then the stock coil. I'm 60 yrs. old, 5'8" and 145 lbs. dripping wet, which I don't know if that make's a difference. Seem's to be well balanced for me, but just my opinion. I know the Titan was alot lighter but not sure if that's because it's a straight shaft. Hell, I have more pain from the constant up and down of digging! Just I side note, I'm only able to get in maybe 300 hrs. a year detecting, not like some that do it every spare moment.

Sorry, looks like I'm rambling.

"Is the AT pro really that good?"

Finding targets? Excellent! But then so was my Titan.
Giving me a better understanding of what may be in the ground? Excellent, but had to put my time in learning what it's telling me.
Has enough bell's and whistle's? Plenty for the hunter that know's the difference between what the machine know's and what the digger know's about the machine.

IMO, location is the key obviously. Case in point from yesterday.

I have a couple of farms where I've spent most of my time. Certainly not coin factories. I alway's pass an abandoned baseball field on the way there. I've never hunted a park, and decided on the way back from the farm, to stop and spend a couple of hours. 13 clad in about an hour and a half. It was just yesterday, that with out knowing it, I had learned alot from the AT. There was no question it was a coin other then once (pulltab). 3 clad and a 1835 LG from the farms over 2 yrs. and honestly that was probably by accident because alot of old iron will ring up as coins. Is it that good? Only if the stuff is there.

And finally, I have no doubt that there are other machine's in the price range, that are just as good, but that's the nature of the beast. You know, .

AT's been a great teaching tool for me anyway. Put your time in.

Good Luck!!

 

[Loco-Digger]

Just my opinion:

I started seriously detecting 2 years ago. As a newbie, (which I still consider myself), I had the same question about the AT. At the time, I wanted to upgrade to a more serious detector in the 6 to 7 hundred dollar range, which at the time was the AT. I was using a Titan 3000XD, basically a Radio Shack type machine that was nothing but a bell tone detector. But it was enough to get me hooked on the hobby.

So I bought the AT PRO, and a 5 x 8 coil after the AT user's recommended it, especially in trashy area's which is mostly where I detect in my area.

I knew there was going to be a learning curve, seeing that the technology had changed over the 10 yrs. from when I bought the Titan, but really I went into it not thinking that I even knew how a detector worked, so I just got it out there and started swinging away, remembering the tips and tricks from T-net user's, and youtube vid's.

So, probably like most newbie's I went out thinking that the old coins, and gold, were going to be flying out of the ground and into my pouch. Well that didn't happen, but it really didn't bother me, because where I hunt, I usually recover relic's from the past, and soon I was more interested in that then the coins and gold that were more valuable, or could be stated, "the happy dance moments".

After 2 years of using the AT, here's my take:

You have to take the time to learn it. The number's on the VDI are number's, but more importantly the sounds are the key. That was the first thing I noticed, was that other then one solid tone from the Titan, the AT actually changed in volume and sound when you passed over a target. Like a bottle top versus coin. The bottle top would sound great until you got to the edge of it, and instead of the sound dropping off a cliff, you get a slight fading, followed by a little grunt. Where a coin, the sound would drop off the edge. Just a whole lot more info coming from the new technology then the old. And I'm clueless what a more expensive machine can do that has multiple frequencies.

I haven't had any physical problems with it, maybe because 99% of the time I'm swinging the 5x8 coil, which is far lighter then the stock coil. I'm 60 yrs. old, 5'8" and 145 lbs. dripping wet, which I don't know if that make's a difference. Seem's to be well balanced for me, but just my opinion. I know the Titan was alot lighter but not sure if that's because it's a straight shaft. Hell, I have more pain from the constant up and down of digging! Just I side note, I'm only able to get in maybe 300 hrs. a year detecting, not like some that do it every spare moment.

Sorry, looks like I'm rambling.

"Is the AT pro really that good?"

Finding targets? Excellent! But then so was my Titan.
Giving me a better understanding of what may be in the ground? Excellent, but had to put my time in learning what it's telling me.
Has enough bell's and whistle's? Plenty for the hunter that know's the difference between what the machine know's and what the digger know's about the machine.

IMO, location is the key obviously. Case in point from yesterday.

I have a couple of farms where I've spent most of my time. Certainly not coin factories. I alway's pass an abandoned baseball field on the way there. I've never hunted a park, and decided on the way back from the farm, to stop and spend a couple of hours. 13 clad in about an hour and a half. It was just yesterday, that with out knowing it, I had learned alot from the AT. There was no question it was a coin other then once (pulltab). 3 clad and a 1835 LG from the farms over 2 yrs. and honestly that was probably by accident because alot of old iron will ring up as coins. Is it that good? Only if the stuff is there.

And finally, I have no doubt that there are other machine's in the price range, that are just as good, but that's the nature of the beast. You know,View attachment 1502127.

AT's been a great teaching tool for me anyway. Put your time in.

Good Luck!!

Great post Digger460

 

[dts52]

Just my opinion:

I started seriously detecting 2 years ago. As a newbie, (which I still consider myself), I had the same question about the AT. At the time, I wanted to upgrade to a more serious detector in the 6 to 7 hundred dollar range, which at the time was the AT. I was using a Titan 3000XD, basically a Radio Shack type machine that was nothing but a bell tone detector. But it was enough to get me hooked on the hobby.

So I bought the AT PRO, and a 5 x 8 coil after the AT user's recommended it, especially in trashy area's which is mostly where I detect in my area.

I knew there was going to be a learning curve, seeing that the technology had changed over the 10 yrs. from when I bought the Titan, but really I went into it not thinking that I even knew how a detector worked, so I just got it out there and started swinging away, remembering the tips and tricks from T-net user's, and youtube vid's.

So, probably like most newbie's I went out thinking that the old coins, and gold, were going to be flying out of the ground and into my pouch. Well that didn't happen, but it really didn't bother me, because where I hunt, I usually recover relic's from the past, and soon I was more interested in that then the coins and gold that were more valuable, or could be stated, "the happy dance moments".

After 2 years of using the AT, here's my take:

You have to take the time to learn it. The number's on the VDI are number's, but more importantly the sounds are the key. That was the first thing I noticed, was that other then one solid tone from the Titan, the AT actually changed in volume and sound when you passed over a target. Like a bottle top versus coin. The bottle top would sound great until you got to the edge of it, and instead of the sound dropping off a cliff, you get a slight fading, followed by a little grunt. Where a coin, the sound would drop off the edge. Just a whole lot more info coming from the new technology then the old. And I'm clueless what a more expensive machine can do that has multiple frequencies.

I haven't had any physical problems with it, maybe because 99% of the time I'm swinging the 5x8 coil, which is far lighter then the stock coil. I'm 60 yrs. old, 5'8" and 145 lbs. dripping wet, which I don't know if that make's a difference. Seem's to be well balanced for me, but just my opinion. I know the Titan was alot lighter but not sure if that's because it's a straight shaft. Hell, I have more pain from the constant up and down of digging! Just I side note, I'm only able to get in maybe 300 hrs. a year detecting, not like some that do it every spare moment.

Sorry, looks like I'm rambling.

"Is the AT pro really that good?"

Finding targets? Excellent! But then so was my Titan.
Giving me a better understanding of what may be in the ground? Excellent, but had to put my time in learning what it's telling me.
Has enough bell's and whistle's? Plenty for the hunter that know's the difference between what the machine know's and what the digger know's about the machine.

IMO, location is the key obviously. Case in point from yesterday.

I have a couple of farms where I've spent most of my time. Certainly not coin factories. I alway's pass an abandoned baseball field on the way there. I've never hunted a park, and decided on the way back from the farm, to stop and spend a couple of hours. 13 clad in about an hour and a half. It was just yesterday, that with out knowing it, I had learned alot from the AT. There was no question it was a coin other then once (pulltab). 3 clad and a 1835 LG from the farms over 2 yrs. and honestly that was probably by accident because alot of old iron will ring up as coins. Is it that good? Only if the stuff is there.

And finally, I have no doubt that there are other machine's in the price range, that are just as good, but that's the nature of the beast. You know,View attachment 1502127.

AT's been a great teaching tool for me anyway. Put your time in.

Good Luck!!

I totally agree with digger 460. The AT Pro IMO is a reliable, affordable machine. It has taken me a long while (I'm a VERY slow learner) to really learn the Pro. I hunt mostly woods and cornfields, sometimes parks or lawns, freshwater and the dry sand at saltwater beaches. FORGET saltwater with the Pro. Until I retire, I'm more than satisfied with the Pro. Maybe I'll get an Excal when I have a lot more time to hunt saltwater... if I live that long.
HH
dts

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Great post...the ATP is a good machine...affordable...I think it's one of the few machines you can buy that does not break the bank...however...it's not perfect...it is nose heavy and if I find myself swinging a while and not digging a target (fields), I have to switch arms or simply rest. I am seriously considering upgrading to a Minelab product...but I'm concerned with the new learning curve. I don't have lots of spare time and do not want to use it learning a new machine. I do know I am giving up a bit of depth with my ATP, but a $200 Nel coil seems to have solved that issue. Good? ABSOLUTELY...I'd go far as to say that it's the best machine for the money, it just depends what you're looking for and where you're looking. Ddf

 

[Rawhide]

Bunch of non swinging amateurs lol. If you think the AT Pro is heavy, you have to be disabled like me. I dont find it heavy at all, but I am numb most of the time due to nerve damage. The 5x8 coil makes the AT Pro very good for relic recovery here in the desert. I works well in heavy trash and nails. In contrast, I have yet to find anything but my F75 that can work through a old rusted tin roof. Not to be outdone the AT Pro is great in the city parks. I was a hater for many years as I hate merchandising hype. Now you can find the AT Pro is selling used for about $300.00 bucks right now. I paid over****.** for mine lol. You guys can fill in the blanks, you know what you have in your detectors.

Owning the F75 and the Minelab Etrac as comparisons, sowhen I say the AT Pro is easy to set up and hunt with is a understatement. I have one complaint, the supplied head phones that come with the AT Pro are too short. Now I could list questionable or shortcomings on all three detectors mentioned here. But this is a AT Pro post, and I give the AT Pro very high marks.

One time in the desert I was forced to use one when I sent my F75 off to be upgraded. It was love at first sight. I have seen the AT Pro with the 5x8 coil out hunt a entire club one day. I like the way Garret set up the settings so I dont have to.

So why is this detector so great, cause I find stuff with it. I switch between my etrac and AT Pro and hunt equally with them. My F75 is just too much of a detector to hunt city parks and new digs. I do a lot of crawling and hunting around large metal also. Not going to drag my F75 or Etrac in those places like I do my AT Pro.

With the New AT Max and the NOX and others. I would say you could buy one of those also. But for me I will stick with the AT Pro for now. Oh and my other detectors.

 

[smokeythecat]

I have used most brands of detectors and have owned, actually, two AT Pros in the past. I didn't keep either very long. The are overall good machines. They are heavy. If you are doing general detecting, it will work fine. If you are in a nail patch, forget it. I now use a Deus and a Tesoro Cibola. Tesoro does well overall and the Deus likes to suck gold out of the ground and eats buttons and coins out of nail patches. Nuff said.

 

[sawmill man]

Well im new to the at pro, but other than it sounds like a video game on overdrive, the weight dont bother me ,i think my shovel is heavier. but i do pack around a Husquavarna 395 around all day, makes my detector seem light weight.

 

[TerryC]

Bunch of non swinging amateurs lol. If you think the AT Pro is heavy, you have to be disabled like me. I dont find it heavy at all, but I am numb most of the time due to nerve damage. The 5x8 coil makes the AT Pro very good for relic recovery here in the desert. I works well in heavy trash and nails. In contrast, I have yet to find anything but my F75 that can work through a old rusted tin roof. Not to be outdone the AT Pro is great in the city parks. I was a hater for many years as I hate merchandising hype. Now you can find the AT Pro is selling used for about $300.00 bucks right now. I paid over****.** for mine lol. You guys can fill in the blanks, you know what you have in your detectors.

Owning the F75 and the Minelab Etrac as comparisons, sowhen I say the AT Pro is easy to set up and hunt with is a understatement. I have one complaint, the supplied head phones that come with the AT Pro are too short. Now I could list questionable or shortcomings on all three detectors mentioned here. But this is a AT Pro post, and I give the AT Pro very high marks.

One time in the desert I was forced to use one when I sent my F75 off to be upgraded. It was love at first sight. I have seen the AT Pro with the 5x8 coil out hunt a entire club one day. I like the way Garret set up the settings so I dont have to.

So why is this detector so great, cause I find stuff with it. I switch between my etrac and AT Pro and hunt equally with them. My F75 is just too much of a detector to hunt city parks and new digs. I do a lot of crawling and hunting around large metal also. Not going to drag my F75 or Etrac in those places like I do my AT Pro.

With the New AT Max and the NOX and others. I would say you could buy one of those also. But for me I will stick with the AT Pro for now. Oh and my other detectors.

Very nice post, Casca. Allow me to add one other thing most "newbies" may not think of. The earphones that come with a manufacturer's machine are not always the best. That is to say, most of the money spent by the builders is on their machine, not the headset (unless permanently attached). They are "thrown in" as an extra. The added headset is usually meant to be upgraded. Buy the best you can afford to go with the detector. That way, you get better performance from a machine that would be lost using mediocre headsets. Incidentally, I gave up a Garrett 2500 ( a really nice machine!) years ago simply because it was too heavy for my back problems. ╦╦Ç

 

[Rawhide]

I agree with Terry. Weight is one of the factors of getting any detector. There are many other things you may want after you buy your first detector. There is so much you can add to help with your finds. I use grey ghost head phones, you just can not believe the difference. There are several brands out there, but I get a lot of wind so I went with the backwoods option to cut out all the noise. I keep stepping on rattle snakes though lol. You should see this fat man move.

 

[TerryC]

I agree with Terry. Weight is one of the factors of getting any detector. There are many other things you may want after you buy your first detector. There is so much you can add to help with your finds. I use grey ghost head phones, you just can not believe the difference. There are several brands out there, but I get a lot of wind so I went with the backwoods option to cut out all the noise. I keep stepping on rattle snakes though lol. You should see this fat man move.

I didn't realize how bad my hearing was until I lived in AZ (starting 8 years ago?). I got my hearing aids then and could HEAR the rattlers before I could SEE them after that! ╦╦Ç