Going to destroy the ATPRO

[MD-Mainiac]

The ATP is much more intricate then my BHP.
It has many more options and does take time to learn.
I have only spent around 20 hours with it, but I am still just beginning to figure out what settings and modes work best for different conditions.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

No offense intended but an "average" of about 100 hours with any detector is required to fully learn it , even more if you are only an occasional hunter. After that there is still usually a lot you learn about it as time goes on. As often as I hunt I probably have thousands of hours on mine and I still find out more things it can do or better ways to use its functions quite often. There are too many variables involved to wrap this up quick. Could be anything from the experience and patience level of the operator to a possible but less likely problem with the detector itself. Everyone learns at a different pace , a pace that is comfortable for them , the only thing we can do is offer suggestions based on our own experiences. The rest is just part of learning the detectors language.

The ATP isnt difficult , but those who dont like them usually just never gave them enough time to learn them. There are a couple people on this forum who got one and then got rid of it because they didnt like it , only to get another one later and now they really like it , now wishing they didnt get rid of the first one. That says a lot. The ATP may be an average detector except for its waterproof feature , but that still puts it in the same league as any other mid range detector out there.

Some good info you posted..

It could take less or more, who knows.
I can say this. To learn the minelab etrac for example, I didn't go to a target rich environment, rather where nonferrous targets were sparse and the nails/iron a nightmare.

I feel this can apply to anyone trying to learn what I call the "fringes" of what a detector can tell you and do for you.

Granted for beginners, this needs to be done later as opposed to sooner.

But for an experienced detectorist, hunting in places where mostly shallow clad is all that exist, this IMO won't make you a great/good coin hunter with Detector model X brand Y.

 

[MD-Mainiac]

I have been 'practicing' with my atp and BHP in my front yard. there are lots of nails and pieces of tin and aluminum buried deep in the dirt. (the house was built in the 50's).

I am doing this to learn the tones so it will help me determine whether a signal indicates a good target or not.

Unless you have an extraordinary memory, it takes hours of repeated hearing the tones to memorize what sounds good and what doesn't.
I am lucky that I have an incredible sense of hearing, and can differentiate even the slightest changes in the sounds.
(I have been a musician and singer all my life, and have developed a very keen ear for sound. I can walk in a house and hear if a TV is on, with the sound off, In the old days I could hear a computer monitor)
'My wife says I have the ears of a Ferengi.

 

[Zippo]

So you don't have the minimum 100 hours on the at pro to come to the conclusion that it sucks and all the other negatives you say about it.

Your opinion might hold more weight if you knew what you were talking about, apparenlty you don't because you didn't use it long enough to formulate an educated opinion.

I asked that question because I already knew the answer.

 

[Get N Dirty]

No one here was giving excuses for the ATP. No one learns a detector in 2 hours or learns how to metal detect in that time. People were trying to help the original poster figure out why they were pulling the iron they did. Many good tips were given. Not sure how many hours the OP has been metal detecting, but it seems some of the tips mentioned above could help to eliminate some of the problems experienced. Some people will gel with one machine over others although there is no magical detector in the type of environment being hunted in this thread. All detectors will have some problems here.

 

[Pennypacker]

You joined this site in May of this year. Do you mind telling me what your detecting experience is? what metal detectors do you own?

I swung my first detector in 1985, took a long break then started again around 2006.

I still have the Fisher 1210X from 1985 for sentimental reasons.

Tesoro Lobo for prospecting or specialty hunts, Etrac for general purpose and the Excalibur 2 for water hunting.

I also have ~3 years experience using the Xterra.

While it takes time to master anything including detectors, the good detectors will still work well from the very start.

 

[ohiochris]

I swung my first detector in 1985, took a long break then started again around 2006.

I still have the Fisher 1210X from 1985 for sentimental reasons.

Tesoro Lobo for prospecting or specialty hunts, Etrac for general purpose and the Excalibur 2 for water hunting.

I also have ~3 years experience using the Xterra.

While it takes time to master anything including detectors, the good detectors will still work well from the very start.

Technically all detectors will still work well from the start , they find metal and will point out simple targets with ease. What takes the time an experience are the trouble sites with lots of iron , etc. They are a headache even for those with many years of experience and the best detector money can buy. With time though you learn all the subtle differences in quality of the tone , how to read what the detector is or isnt saying , how to use the various settings on the machine to full potential , and the little tricks of the trade that can help identify objects. The true potential of the machine and even its limitations cant be realized until you put in some serious time with it.

 

[MD-Mainiac]

I swung my first detector in 1985, took a long break then started again around 2006.

I still have the Fisher 1210X from 1985 for sentimental reasons.

Tesoro Lobo for prospecting or specialty hunts, Etrac for general purpose and the Excalibur 2 for water hunting.

I also have ~3 years experience using the Xterra.

While it takes time to master anything including detectors, the good detectors will still work well from the very start.

The reason I asked was, you keep saying how much the ATP "sucks". From your info above, it doesn't appear that you have used an ATP. So I wonder why you dislike it so much?

 

[ohiochris]

Mottz , I cant be certain but I think the root of your problem is assuming the sweet sounding high tone means there could be a coin there as well. Sometimes there is , but about 99% of the time there is not. Those irony trashy conditions actually level the playing field between detector types , it can be slow going and difficult for any detector. I have a local site that is so bad I had to completely give up on it , with so much iron and scrap I could spend a lifetime digging without ever finding anything worth actually digging. Thats sad because its the original county fairground site and there has to be plenty of good stuff down under that impenetrable iron curtain. Assuming your site is in much better condition that the one I was just talking about , the best way to proceed is probably to just remove as much of that scrap as you can and then the better targets if they exist will start showing up since they are no longer masked by the junk. But assume those high tones are just trash and then when they arent you will be happily surprised. Keep experimenting on the distance you lift the coil to check a targets size and using the pinpoint button over a target to judge size as well. You will see a difference between these larger than coin sized targets and the coin sized ones. Many times even when iron gives a good high tone there is also a crackle or "off" sound with it that is also an indicator.

 

[NectarDetector]

Mottz , I cant be certain but I think the root of your problem is assuming the sweet sounding high tone means there could be a coin there as well. Sometimes there is , but about 99% of the time there is not. Those irony trashy conditions actually level the playing field between detector types , it can be slow going and difficult for any detector. I have a local site that is so bad I had to completely give up on it , with so much iron and scrap I could spend a lifetime digging without ever finding anything worth actually digging. Thats sad because its the original county fairground site and there has to be plenty of good stuff down under that impenetrable iron curtain. Assuming your site is in much better condition that the one I was just talking about , the best way to proceed is probably to just remove as much of that scrap as you can and then the better targets if they exist will start showing up since they are no longer masked by the junk. But assume those high tones are just trash and then when they arent you will be happily surprised. Keep experimenting on the distance you lift the coil to check a targets size and using the pinpoint button over a target to judge size as well. You will see a difference between these larger than coin sized targets and the coin sized ones. Many times even when iron gives a good high tone there is also a crackle or "off" sound with it that is also an indicator.

Good info

 

[Pennypacker]

The reason I asked was, you keep saying how much the ATP "sucks". From your info above, it doesn't appear that you have used an ATP. So I wonder why you dislike it so much?

Let me flip this around,

,you keep saying how much the ATP "rocks". From your info above, it doesn't appear that you have used anything other then ATP. So I wonder why you like it so much?

 

[NectarDetector]

Let me flip this around,

,you keep saying how much the ATP "rocks". From your info above, it doesn't appear that you have used anything other then ATP. So I wonder why you like it so much?

So you turn over a new leaf n stop bashing the Racer so you could pick up where you left off bashing the ATPRO.

its become evident that you're a troll so on ignore list you go.

 

[MD-Mainiac]

Let me flip this around,

,you keep saying how much the ATP "rocks". From your info above, it doesn't appear that you have used anything other then ATP. So I wonder why you like it so much?

I am using the ATP and BHP.... I think it rocks from my experience with it.
I wouldn't knock a machine I have never used. And that is the salient point to all this.

You are knocking a machine you have no experience with. That sounds to me like you are trolling.

 

[Pennypacker]

So you turn over a new leaf n stop bashing the Racer so you could pick up where you left off bashing the ATPRO.

its become evident that you're a troll so on ignore list you go.

You trolled yourself by being an ATPro fanatic.

Buh-bye.

I am using the ATP and BHP.... I think it rocks from my experience with it.
I wouldn't knock a machine I have never used. And that is the salient point to all this.

You are knocking a machine you have no experience with. That sounds to me like you are trolling.

Bounty hunters don't count. Try out some real detectors then you will have something to compare against.

You are doing the exact thing you accuse me of, you are discounting other machines having never tried them.
I have at least used the ATPro and based upon experience from other machines quickly realized the ATPro doesn't warrant the time or the hype.

 

[MD-Mainiac]

You trolled yourself by being an ATPro fanatic.

Buh-bye.




Bounty hunters don't count. Try out some real detectors then you will have something to compare against.

You are doing the exact thing you accuse me of, you are discounting other machines having never tried them.
I have at least used the ATPro and based upon experience from other machines quickly realized the ATPro doesn't warrant the time or the hype.

I have never said one machine was better then another...find a post of me saying so.....

Don't discount the BH Platinum Pro, it is a capable machine. If you haven't used it then you have nothing to say about it.
Again you are trolling. When I asked what machines you used you never mentioned using the AT Pro. I have used it, I own it. and I like it.

Your "Bounty Hunters don't count" comment just annoyed every Bounty Hunter owner on this website. All metal detectors count...

I can't say what I think of you as that might garner me a "vacation". But suffice to say, I will just ignore any future posts from you.

 

[NectarDetector]

I have never said one machine was better then another...find a post of me saying so.....

Don't discount the BH Platinum Pro, it is a capable machine. If you haven't used it then you have nothing to say about it.
Again you are trolling. When I asked what machines you used you never mentioned using the AT Pro. I have used it, I own it. and I like it.

Your "Bounty Hunters don't count" comment just annoyed every Bounty Hunter owner on this website. All metal detectors count...

I can't say what I think of you as that might garner me a "vacation". But suffice to say, I will just ignore any future posts from you.

I am happy I figured the troll out quickly, you did too, and I am sure many others will too, then he can bash everyone else while no one listens.

 

[Cfmct]

You trolled yourself by being an ATPro fanatic.

Buh-bye.




Bounty hunters don't count. Try out some real detectors then you will have something to compare against.

You are doing the exact thing you accuse me of, you are discounting other machines having never tried them.
I have at least used the ATPro and based upon experience from other machines quickly realized the ATPro doesn't warrant the time or the hype.

Excuse me... I started detecting with a Bounty Hunter/ Radioshack detector...

Please read this below...

- Constructive dialog about dealers and/or detectors is allowed, but the bashing of either is not permitted.


Sometimes it s just better to skip a response if you have nothing to add to the conversation... I have deleted a number of your posts over the last days because they crossed several lines...

 

[Porsche914]

Wide open in a trashy site will yield those results and yes some of them sound really good. I am hunting a site right now that is about that trashy and the M6 hears some really good iron. It has been in the ground a long time and leached into the surrounding soil.
How many of those when popped out of the ground still produce a high tone?

 

[Pennypacker]

Excuse me... I started detecting with a Bounty Hunter/ Radioshack detector...

Please read this below...

- Constructive dialog about dealers and/or detectors is allowed, but the bashing of either is not permitted.


Sometimes it s just better to skip a response if you have nothing to add to the conversation... I have deleted a number of your posts over the last days because they crossed several lines...

That is constructive.

OK we will all live in a fantasy world where Bounty Hunters are really good because CFMT started out with one. Happy?

I understand that you wouldn't want to offend a company that could potentially give the site money. Integrity move.

FYI first day out with the Etrac at a mineral infested park, 25 coins, Silver dime, Silver antique ring ring and a large cent with bullet damage.
Half full pouch of trash, essentially no iron, just one half nail that was in the hole wity a good target.

Best of all it didn't take 100 hours to figure it out.

 

[stinger]

That is constructive.

OK we will all live in a fantasy world where Bounty Hunters are really good because CFMT started out with one. Happy?

I understand that you wouldn't want to offend a company that could potentially give the site money. Integrity move.

FYI first day out with the Etrac at a mineral infested park, 25 coins, Silver dime, Silver antique ring ring and a large cent with bullet damage.
Half full pouch of trash, essentially no iron, just one half nail that was in the hole wity a good target.

Best of all it didn't take 100 hours to figure it out.

think I know what your talkin about own a a/t and your wright had that ba$tard for three months took a loss sold for $475