new ACE 300 working like crap

[Celticsun33]

HI everyone. New guy here. both to the forum, and the hobby. I started with a bounty hunter tracker 4 I bought used for $30. This last Christmas my wonderful wife purchased an ACE 300 for me. Living in Northeast Ohio, and having 2 sons heavily involved in basketball I was unable to get out until yesterday. I gave the tracker to my youngest son, and he and I hit the grass. I couldn't find anything but he was racking up the clad. I decided to really test the ACE by going over a hole he had already dug. We put the coin (clad dime)about 6" deep back in the hole. the tracker picked it up no problem. The ACE barely registered. I had it at zero discrimination. and adjusted the sensitivity all around.
Long story short (too late) is it a bad machine, or do I not have it set up correctly?
Please help

 

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[CoinFetcher]

I would maybe try a different target at a different depth...

I'm not sure what kind of depth that machine goes to, but I had fun w my ace 150

 

[DeepseekerADS]

My Ace250 would have sounded off on that coin. Me thinks settings or factory defect - though they are tested at the factory.

 

[Andy Nunez]

Sounds messed up to me. I have heard midwest soil conditions can affect ACE series depth since its auto ground balance. Out east here, I can get up to 8 inches on a silver quarter, six inches easily on coin sized objects. I've also seen a fellow with a 300 clean up field hunting at an old 1800s school site. He got silver, buttons, all kinds of stuff. I am using the 400 and had the 350 before that and have dug British colonial coins, a Spanish cob, a capped bust dime, all kinds of things with the ACE, but I have heard that Bounty Hunters do well in mineralized soil. If you have that ground grab feature on your BH, it might just out find an ACE. Now, mind you the stock on both of those is 8 x 11, but that fellow with the 300 cleaned up on me that day.

 

[John-Edmonton]

My ACE's have more then paid for themselves throughout the years. If you are new to the hobby, may I suggest you hunt with less sensitivity, in coins mode and try again. In some areas, running the ACE with full sensitivity will just react too much to the mineralization in the soil. Which coil are you using buy the way? The fact that a freshly dropped clad dime was at least giving you a signal at least shows that it is working. Keep at it, try different areas, and I bet your finds will increase.

 

[Celticsun33]

Thanks guys. I'm hoping to get out again this week and try some more settings. I hate returning things on Amazon, and would love to avoid it if at all possible. I'll let you know.

 

[Keppy]

When you put the coin back in the hole did your son try to detect it and it sounded off or did you only try your Ace that did not sound off ?

 

[Xraywolf]

Personally I think any signal at all on a dime at 6" with an Ace is not bad, doubt if my 400 would do that.
In fact I think my 250 was a little deeper, have no idea why and can't confirm since I sold it once I got the 400.

I've adapted, and the signals I look for are erratic and broken up, which any coin over 3-6" deep will be with this thing.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/531199-4-silva-dimes.html

 

[Celticsun33]

When you put the coin back in the hole did your son try to detect it and it sounded off or did you only try your Ace that did not sound off ?

yeah, I hit it again with the tracker just to make sure. it sounded off loud as can be

 

[bowwinkles]

I also went through the same fight as you, both with the 300 and 400. Big disappointment with both. For your type of soil the next Garret in line would be the ATPro (more money) if you can wangle a change with your dealer. The next thought is look at the First Texas machines in that price range which several have ground balance and would give favorable results in your soil. The Bounty Hunter LRP was my choice and I have never looked back. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Keppy]

yeah, I hit it again with the tracker just to make sure. it sounded off loud as can be

Well i have used Garrett detectors for many years and never did find them to have a lot of depth . That could be all you will get out of your 300.