HELP WITH PURCHASING A METAL DETECTOR!!!

[diggincoins]

HELLO EVERYONE,
I AM NEW HERE AND HAVE ONLY POSTED ONCE. I HAVE A GARRETT ACE 250 AND I AM LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO A BETTER AND DEEPER SEEKING METAL DETECTOR. I AM LOOKING AT THE WHITES XLT. I AM VERY NEW TO THIS HOBBY AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW HARD IT'S GOING TO BE TO LEARN TO USE THIS DETECTOR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EVERYONE THINGS OF THIS DETECTOR OR IF THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD BE A BETTER CHOICE. ANY HELP WOULD BE NICE.
THANKS,
DIGGINCOINS

 

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[fishercz20]

I have an XLT and have used it for many years. Their are pre set programs already installed and with the visual Icons that pop up when you detect over an object, tells you right away what you are over. You cant go wrong. I have found so much coin and jewlry that Ive paid for the machine many times over. Good luck to you.

 

[MikeNLorna]

I grabbed an XLT off a guy on ebay about 2 weeks ago. I've never done any metal detecting before and I already know the XLT inside out. The preset programs work fine and there's other programs on the web you can look at as well. My fiance and I went out to her job (a pre school) last night for about an hour and left with about 2 bucks in clad...probably would have left with more but I forgot the bullseye pinpointer so we spent alot more time picking the goods out of the dirt!

I've got no complaints on the XLT at all and would highly recomend it.

I bought mine used, (but in new condition) with the bullseye, carrying case and a beach scoop for $500.
(He had it listed for $650 but had no pics, virtually no feedback and noone was bidding so I offered $500 and I went and picked it up from him the next day)

Look for good deals! (Unless money's of no issue...in which case buy new so you get a nice warranty.

Hope this helps.

-Mike

 

[tank]

and i'm looking for another ace 250 for my oldest daughter! so you can quote me a good price and i'll pick up your old machine!!
[email protected]

 

[Parangjim]

You can't go wrong with a machine from White's. I have had my DFX for only a few weeks but love it. That said, I just (today) ordered a Minelab Explorer. Better depth and discrimination but pricier. On ebay, you can usually get one of the XS machines for around 500.
jim

 

[wmas1960]

Will trade you my thoughts on the XLT for yours on the ACE 250.? ?? I have thought that the ACE 250 could be a good second machine, based on the popularity and recommendations I read here.? Especially if I can get my girlfriend interested in detecting a little.?

Seriously, the XLT can seem a little intimidating, at first glance, as you page through the instructions.? All kinds of things about settings that can be adjusted through the MENU and such.? First, you will have an advantage over me on that point as you probably know and understand what much of that stuff means.? If you are a little expereienced with detectors, some of those settings are probably, already understood.? To me it was all, totally, foriegn when I got my XLT and I was beginning to fear I was in over my head.? ?But, then, as I sorted it all out, I found that most of the manual, and entire other book that came with the detector, hasn't been relevent to me, thus far.? ? I have only used the preset programs to this point and with reading the first few pages of the manual, I have understood all that easilly.? The only things I needed to know, to get up and running, were the parts about assembly of the machine, battery info and checking the battery levels, backlight for searching as it is getting dark, the different presets and their uses use of the trigger switch and Ground Balancing. I have done just fine with those basic operations.? When I go out, all I have to do is turn on the machine.? A menu comes up to select how I want to use the machine, Ie., preset program etc.? I set "Preset Programs" and then select "Relic" or "Coin and Jewelry" depending on what I am searching.? Then it asks about "Ground Balancing".? Hold the detector at waist and hit enter.? Hold the detector at ground and hit enter.? Then you hear the threshold and you are good to go.? If you should hear a few repeated beeps, after ground balancing, then ground balance again.? ? ?If I want to change anything, I just hit MENU and go through the selections.? Maybe change from Coin and Jewelry to Jewelry Beach or Relic? ?Hit Preset Programs, Arrow down to Relic, hit ENTER and then do the ground balance thing again.? ?Done....? ? ?If you get stuck, one of the nice things about the XLT is that a lot of information is printed on the control box.? On the top is a scale of the VDI Numbers and what they might correspond to.? While detecting, if you get a solid bar on the "Signagraph" or a good VDI number, just look it up.? ?If you want a shortcut to a function like volume, backlight or another setting, many of them are printed on the bottom of the box.? Look it up.? For example, if you want the backlight, it will tell you to push MENU while pulling the trigger.? Then push UP arrow to increase illumination.? When set, hit ENTER.? ?

While I have had the detector for about 5 years, I have only been using it regularly for about 3 or 4 months.? I think it is a great detector and I have been very happy.? I wish I could find more good rings or jewelry, or older coins but I know, from the fact that I have found a few, that it is very possible with this machine.? I may just need the right sites to search and a little more experience.? Here are a few pictures of some of the stuff I have found so far.? Mostly in the last couple days.? The last picture is a compilation of the keeper finds from when I really started getting out, last April.? ? ?

 

[diggincoins]

THANKS FOR EVERYONES REPLY!! TO ANSWER THE ? ABOUT THE ACE 250. I THING THE ACE IS A GREAT METAL DETECTOR FOR THE MONEY. I HAVE DONE VERY WELL WITH IT ON FINDING CLAD. I HAVE FOUND ABOUT A DOZEN WHEATIES AND ONE MER. DIME 1944. IT IS VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND USE. JUST TURN IT ON AND GO. I AM JUST READY TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP TO A HIGHER GRADE METAL DETECTOR. I PLAN ON KEEPING THE ACE 250 SO THAT MY WIFE AND CHILD CAN GO WITH ME AT TIMES. I WOULD RECOMEND THE ACE 250 TO ANYONE JUST STARTING OUT. I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHEN I GET THE WHITES XLT (IT MAY BE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE WIFE WILL LET ME SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY) AND HOW I MAKE OUT WITH IT.
THANKS AGAIN,
DIGGINCOINS
P.S. ANYMORE REPLY'S ARE VERY WELCOMED TO LEAVE THEM