New used detector pays off

[Yenges Khan]

Purchased a used blank and did around old farm house that I hunted numerous times with my blank. Never dug a silver there until my second target today. The barber first and hour later the merc. The nickel, 4 quarters and dollar were found in same hole.

 

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[Cool Hand Fluke]

Mercs are great! But Barbers are even better! Way to go! Nice finds!

 

[shawninNY]

What are your thoughts on the AT now? You hunted the same spot numerous times with the AT and missed them , how deep where they ? Nice job on the finds good luck with your new machine

 

[Yenges Khan]

What are your thoughts on the Blank now? You hunted the same spot numerous times with the Blank and missed them , how deep where they ? Nice job on the finds good luck with your new machine

Some people aren't going to agree with me, some will, but I just don't think it has the depth it claims to have. I have tried everything, I have used the machine a lot in the past year or so. I even had blank send me a new coil because I called to say I wasn't getting the depth and it didn't help any. I hunted in blank mode changing both sensitivity and iron disc up and down. Almost every coin is either right on top to 3-4". I try digging those iffy signals and it's never a coin. I'm keeping it. It has found me many coins and it's fast. The blank isn't close to swinging speed and recovery speed. The two spots I found the silver I have been over numerous times with the blank. I've spent 4-5 hours on many Sundays since last fall and it's not that big of an area. Those coins should of made my blank sing and they didn't. I didn't pull any other targets out of the holes. One coin was probably 5" and other was 5-6". This place is pre civil war. I was convinced there was silver here and knew my machine wasn't picking it up. And in regards to the Blank blank, it's confusing. I had no idea what I was doing and was able to find those coins. I really didn't dig much junk either. So if someone was to say I just don't know my blank even though I have used it solely for a year, then how could I get these coins being completely clueless with my new one?

 

[shawninNY]

5-6 " isn't crazy deep I don't have an AT but basically any machine on the market can get silver at 5-6"s generally you'll get a 1/4 size target at 8-9" with a 10" coil , deeper with the right moisture conditions damp ground is always better. Sounds like something's up with your AT. Switching brands takes a lil adjustment I was a longtime whites user switched to minelab myself dig everything until you learn your explorer! Than continue to dig everything I can't tell you how many buttons and foreign coins I've found that sounded like total crap and a few pieces of jewelry that I would have bet was a bottle cap or pull tab! The At will still have it's place for scoping new sites and really trashy areas , you need to go slow with the minelab it needs a few fractions of seconds longer to process the signal , that's been my biggest adjustment with whites machines if you repeatedly swing fast over a target it will clear up the signal . Congrats on your finds again and go and pound that place now!

 

[Yenges Khan]

I am trying to slow down. It's tough being used to the blank. But read up on the blank. There are many of users that are having the same problem I am. I can't be positive on my depth figures today. I really wasn't worried about depth today. I was just concerned with trying to learn some. Did I? Not much. I read the book but it confuses me more than it helps. All I know is that my blank should of picked them up. It may have but it wasn't giving me the signals to alert me to dig the targets. My soil in PA isn't so great either. Highly mineralized so maybe that is part of the problem.

 

[WHADIFIND]

I love your Barber. It is one that I enjoy a lot.

On the subject of machines. After all my years of playing, I have to giggle a bit. There may be a few tests that can give a decent average as to a particular brand's abilities. BUT, when it comes right down to it, there are just too many variables to either pin it to a machine's prowess or lack thereof.

A person tries a new machine, they're admittedly a little confused by the newness so they are also a little more careful about letting a target get by. So, what happens? They find, more. Eureka, hallelujah and praise be! I FINALLY have the holy grail of detectors! I know because I've been over and over and over this very spot! I can even see the signature I put on every hole I dig! AND , here, with this glorious new machine, I've found this coin! All problems are solved!

The moisture, the minerals, the atmosphere, over head wire interference, radio waves, microwaves, angles of the detector's head, headphone to machine reactions, human ear differences on frequencies, grass height, near by garbage(which can be below, above, alongside), reaction time of the processors, battery strength/type, possible micro shift of the batteries in their chamber, attack and speed of the swing, targets on edge, hearing a very loud signal just before hearing a softer one(human ear recovery time) and the biggest one of all! Assumption by the user.

Catch my drift?

My best suggestion to any dectectorist trying to increase their skills, work on the one thing that is constant between all machines, you. The rest will fall in place.

I have hunted with a very early Radio Shack Kit model. It was sooooo bad I had to swing with my thumb on the tuning knob so I could tune it as I was swinging! AND, I out hunted a couple "experts" with their high highfalutin machines. On their own ground! Could I do that consistently? Of course not! LOL But, that I could and did says something about equipment.

This is not just for the original OP or anyone else who posted. It's also not a defense of my AT or a poo poo-ing of anyone else's machine. It's just some information about detecting that I don't see people considering when trying to decide. Use what you want and just throw the rest away!

 

[TNGUNS]

WHADIFIND,
For the most part I agree that the vast majority of the targets we find are in reach of most modern machines. The key is many hours of swinging the machine and paying attention to the sound and VDI of every target. Take the time to intentionally make a few extra passes and make a mental note before you dig. Especially the iffy signals. With that being said I changed from a G2 to a T2 Teknetics and have no doubt that the increased depth yielded many targets that I had missed in one CW camp in particular due to the depth of the targets. This particular camp is in a field that has been turned countless times over the last century and left some unusually deep bullets. On the other hand, I have hunted over two decades and personally seen well experienced hunters with older machines spank guys using the latest and the greatest. ........ BUT, I also believe that some machines have a distinct advantage in certain types of hunting and in certain soil conditions. I literally have been putting off getting a backup/loaner machine for the simple reason that I think switching back and forth actually hurts my productivity, and I know I would want to switch back and forth just to play with my new toy. For the first time since I started hunting I am perfectly satisfied with what I have. I don't just think the T2 is the ultimate answer, I just think time has taught me that passing the coil over the target is more important than which coil I use. The biggest reason I can think of that would justify another machine for me is to hunt the water that surrounds so many of my sites. Sorry for the rambling...... Happy Hunting.

Congrats on that Barber Yenges Kahn

 

[Yenges Khan]

I love your Barber. It is one that I enjoy a lot. On the subject of machines. After all my years of playing, I have to giggle a bit. There may be a few tests that can give a decent average as to a particular brand's abilities. BUT, when it comes right down to it, there are just too many variables to either pin it to a machine's prowess or lack thereof. A person tries a new machine, they're admittedly a little confused by the newness so they are also a little more careful about letting a target get by. So, what happens? They find, more. Eureka, hallelujah and praise be! I FINALLY have the holy grail of detectors! I know because I've been over and over and over this very spot! I can even see the signature I put on every hole I dig! AND , here, with this glorious new machine, I've found this coin! All problems are solved! The moisture, the minerals, the atmosphere, over head wire interference, radio waves, microwaves, angles of the detector's head, headphone to machine reactions, human ear differences on frequencies, grass height, near by garbage(which can be below, above, alongside), reaction time of the processors, battery strength/type, possible micro shift of the batteries in their chamber, attack and speed of the swing, targets on edge, hearing a very loud signal just before hearing a softer one(human ear recovery time) and the biggest one of all! Assumption by the user. Catch my drift? My best suggestion to any dectectorist trying to increase their skills, work on the one thing that is constant between all machines, you. The rest will fall in place. I have hunted with a very early Radio Shack Kit model. It was sooooo bad I had to swing with my thumb on the tuning knob so I could tune it as I was swinging! AND, I out hunted a couple "experts" with their high highfalutin machines. On their own ground! Could I do that consistently? Of course not! LOL But, that I could and did says something about equipment. This is not just for the original OP or anyone else who posted. It's also not a defense of my AT or a poo poo-ing of anyone else's machine. It's just some information about detecting that I don't see people considering when trying to decide. Use what you want and just throw the rest away!

I understand your point but in terms of ur variables listed, let me provide my perspective. I have dug this lot under every weather condition. Rain, snow, and shine. I've dug this property with the ground frozen and I have dug it thawed. I have almost given up on this property many times due to my lack of finds. I barely even get good signals anymore, my signals that I choose to dig with the pro. I have dug about 20 wheats, 2 buff nickels, dimes quarters, crap rings, shell casings and a ton of junk. Batteries, always fully charged. No overhead wires, the closest house is 300 yards away. I, not knowing my new machine, had a piece of paper in my hand with vdi numbers that was given to me by the previous owner for coin signals to dig much as I have done with my pro and by ear prior. There's two different number readings on the minicab which makes it a lil more confusing. I dug very few targets. I just didn't get many solid hits and with the amount of junk at this location, I choose not to dig the iffy signals. The signals that I dug and found the dimes were coin signals interpreted by the machine, the same as the coin signals I dig with my pro. The reason I bought this different machine was because I have questioned the depth I was getting with it. After digging up many different varieties of coins in the past year at depths no deeper than 5-6 inches I knew something wasn't right. I have dug large cents, a half dime, IH's and mercurys, barbers and even a capped bust dime with the pro. It has done me well. So is it a coincidence that this lot, that I have put in over 20 hours detecting and never produced a silver with my pro, and in the first twenty minutes with the explorer I find a barber?Maybe but not likely. The previous owner also owned a pro and a F2 and said he found coins that both of those machines passed over in his yard with the explorer. I'm keeping both detectors but I wanted to go deeper and in my first impression with the explorer, it does.

 

[penzfan]

nice finds dude

 

[Beepin Husker]

Some people aren't going to agree with me, some will, but I just don't think it has the depth it claims to have. I have tried everything, I have used the machine a lot in the past year or so. I even had garrett send me a new coil because I called to say I wasn't getting the depth and it didn't help any. I hunted in pro zero changing both sensitivity and iron disc up and down. Almost every coin is either right on top to 3-4". I try digging those iffy signals and it's never a coin. I'm keeping it. It has found me many coins and it's fast. The Minelab isn't close to swinging speed and recovery speed. The two spots I found the silver I have been over numerous times with the pro. I've spent 4-5 hours on many Sundays since last fall and it's not that big of an area. Those coins should of made my pro sing and they didn't. I didn't pull any other targets out of the holes. One coin was probably 5" and other was 5-6". This place is pre civil war. I was convinced there was silver here and knew my machine wasn't picking it up. And in regards to the Minelab explorer, it's confusing. I had no idea what I was doing and was able to find those coins. I really didn't dig much junk either. So if someone was to say I just don't know my pro even though I have used it solely for a year, then how could I get these coins being completely clueless with my new one?

Just a question here, so don't beat me up, but what coil were you using on your ATP when you were missing your newly found barber?

 

[Yenges Khan]

Thanks everyone for the compliments. Shame the pens lost pens fan. Also in my review of the Minelab, It sucks. Lol. But it does. It's complicated and confusing. The pro is so much quicker. Recovery time is also better with the pro. I have to slow down my swing speed with the explorer and it has too many options to play with. I'll get used to it but it's definitely not the easiest MD out there. Is it my dream detector, not hardly. But it's one that I can comb over areas I've already dug with my pro and I just may find something I missed.

 

[Yenges Khan]

Just a question here, so don't beat me up, but what coil were you using on your ATP when you were missing your newly found barber?

Stock and 5X8. I used both. Mostly stock

 

[Tampa Steve]

Thanks everyone for the compliments. Shame the pens lost pens fan. Also in my review of the Minelab, It sucks. Lol. But it does. It's complicated and confusing. The pro is so much quicker. Recovery time is also better with the pro. I have to slow down my swing speed with the explorer and it has too many options to play with. I'll get used to it but it's definitely not the easiest MD out there. Is it my dream detector, not hardly. But it's one that I can comb over areas I've already dug with my pro and I just may find something I missed.

Why don't you do a test put silver 9 inches down see if the at pro is picking it up....

 

[neworder]

Do you still have the AT Pro? What would be interesting is find a good signal with the minelab explorer and then go over the same spot with the AT Pro, see how it responds and then dig up your target to see what it is.

 

[Yenges Khan]

Why don't you do a test put silver 9 inches down see if the at pro is picking it up....

I put quarters 6 and 7" down at this site and it couldn't find them. I ended up finding the one at at 6" by changing settings and turning my sensitivity down to half. But no tones at 7". Nothing

 

[Yenges Khan]

Do you still have the AT Pro? What would be interesting is find a good signal with the minelab explorer and then go over the same spot with the AT Pro, see how it responds and then dig up your target to see what it is.

Yes I'm keeping it. It's submersible for one and u can never have enough MD's.

 

[shawninNY]

Good job again yenges, you did do the test you hunted that site numerous times , I wasn't speaking bad about garrets product ( I believe your AT is #1 not set properly or#2 not working properly) and from what you said I think #2 because you've used this machine for awhile and you had doubts about its depth capability, no one was promoting or knocking brands, I clearly stated Any machine will find silver @5" Your AT doesn't so something's wrong !

 

[jewelerguy]

I love Barbers. congrats!

 

[WHADIFIND]

I understand your point but in terms of ur variables listed, let me provide my perspective. I have dug this lot under every weather condition. Rain, snow, and shine. .......I'm keeping both detectors but I wanted to go deeper and in my first impression with the explorer, it does.

I pretty much said everything I felt about the pitfalls. But, since you're the OP and I feel like I've hijacked your thread a bit, I'll try to add just this bit.

I hope that in all I said up there I didn't give the impression that I am any such expert on anything! I hope also, that I didn't say anywhere that some machines aren't better than others. After all, one doesn't usually buy a VW Beetle if their intention is to race.

Pretty much, one gets what they pay for nowadays. Some, would buy a detector if it's only promise was that it found ONLY gold coins. But it would only find ones that are 15 feet down. LOL

I know, a bit of a stretch. Just making a point.

Because of all the variables involved in finding things with a detector, (and I didn't cover even a tenth of them in my statement above). It takes many things to find things that we are looking for consistently. And, like any good mechanic, he's only as good as his toolbox. Sure, there are different situations where one detector will do the job better than another. If a person can justify paying for a Golf bag full of "shootin' irons". Then, more power to them.

As I said, I'm not trying to sell anyone on any brand. But, the reason behind you getting another detector was because the AT wasn't getting the depth you felt you should be getting. But, you made a leap of faith by saying it's the detector and another one might do better. Ok, so be it.

But, then, how does one explain that I have found my share of wonderful old coins. Some of them, like a particular barber dime I got at a full 9 and a half inches down. (I know this because occasionally I will dig a target with sort of an archeological method. Removing layer after layer until I can find the target as it laid in that hole for all those years). Then, I make some very specific measurements. I've also uncovered a silver quarter at 12 inches and an indian head cent at a full 11 inches down. I even found a metal toy truck that was about 4 inches across at 2 feet down!

Conditions are different across a field from one foot to another. Let alone across states. But, all the above were ground balanced at about 90. That should indicate the type of ground. The AT, or at least, mine, was able to get more depth than I feel comfortable digging. So, I'm thinking that it's not any brand in particular that had a problem getting depth where you are, just the conditions.

Of course, I could be dead wrong and I am glad to see that you are having success.