I am unsatisfied with Garrett

Shaohao

Newbie
Jul 27, 2020
1
2
France
Detector(s) used
Midas
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hello!

About a year or so ago, I was using Midas detector - I was generally pleased with this equipment.
But then I bought Garrett 250 (based on good reviews). It was supposed to serve me only for small things (coins, rings).
I'm sorry to say but this equipment didn't work. The good thing is, you can sell it pretty quickly.
Even for coins or rings Midas was so much better! Mainly by larger range and the gold-red lamp indicator.

Garrett's vices:
It wasn't even able to reach to small things like coins. I even checked it on the beach and the distinction was very poor. It could be a good equipment for a beginner. If you set up a high sensitivity it squeaked almost all the time, but with a low sensitivity the range was very low.

Perhaps these problems were caused by a poor model choice or maybe it was me.

PS. I'm looking for something good searching for coins, gold (up to half a meter deep with good differentiation)
 

Upvote 0
Hello!

About a year or so ago, I was using Midas detector - I was generally pleased with this equipment.
But then I bought Garrett 250 (based on good reviews). It was supposed to serve me only for small things (coins, rings).
I'm sorry to say but this equipment didn't work. The good thing is, you can sell it pretty quickly.
Even for coins or rings Midas was so much better! Mainly by larger range and the gold-red lamp indicator.

Garrett's vices:
It wasn't even able to reach to small things like coins. I even checked it on the beach and the distinction was very poor. It could be a good equipment for a beginner. If you set up a high sensitivity it squeaked almost all the time, but with a low sensitivity the range was very low.


Perhaps these problems were caused by a poor model choice or maybe it was me.

PS. I'm looking for something good searching for coins, gold (up to half a meter deep with good differentiation)

I agree i used a Garrett ace 200 and 300 and they had awful depth and disc circuit. Then I upgraded to the Nokta Makro simplex+ which is waterproof to 10 feet with excellent depth and discrimination and many other features for only 250$! Look up the simplex and you’ll see what a great machine it is!
 

Hello!

About a year or so ago, I was using Midas detector - I was generally pleased with this equipment.
But then I bought Garrett 250 (based on good reviews). It was supposed to serve me only for small things (coins, rings).
I'm sorry to say but this equipment didn't work. The good thing is, you can sell it pretty quickly.
Even for coins or rings Midas was so much better! Mainly by larger range and the gold-red lamp indicator.

Garrett's vices:
It wasn't even able to reach to small things like coins. I even checked it on the beach and the distinction was very poor. It could be a good equipment for a beginner. If you set up a high sensitivity it squeaked almost all the time, but with a low sensitivity the range was very low.

Perhaps these problems were caused by a poor model choice or maybe it was me.

PS. I'm looking for something good searching for coins, gold (up to half a meter deep with good differentiation)

Welcome to the forum from New York, USA! The Garrett Ace 250 is a "New User," or "Beginner's" machine. It is a single frequency VLF, which means it is useless on wet, saltwater sand, or in saltwater. To hunt both saltwater beach and land, you need a multi-frequency machine like the Garrett Apex, or a Minelab Vanquish. Best of luck to you!:icon_thumleft:
 

What Terry said...

Ace 250 is a basic entry level detector, single frequency, salt is made up of metal minerals, ace 250 because it is single frequency will think there is metal everywhere when used below the high tide line on salt beaches causing it to constantly false, 250 was never designed to work in wet salt environments.
 

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I had an Ace 250 and quickly found that in wet grass the detector would false like crazy but on dry ground it did pretty well. Nevertheless, I sold it and now use the Garrett AT Models which work great and have an Ace 400 as a backup unit and it gives me no problems. All three detectors get excellent depth.
 

What you are describing with the 250, I had basically the same results with the 400.
 

Good luck find a detector with good discrimination at half a meter deep.
 

my first machine was an ace 250 back in 1990. I found plenty of school yard coins and civil war relics with it.
being my first machine I don't even know if it sucked. max depth was about 6'' on a dime though.
used that thing so much I wore a hole in the coil and traded it in on a silver Saber.
 

Welcome! “differentiation” at over 19” may be tough :)..
You may want to investigate a PI detector. Good luck!
 

PS. I'm looking for something good searching for coins, gold (up to half a meter deep with good differentiation)

Most of commercial detectors are not even able to detect the average size coin at 1/2m. Look at Lorenz Z1 or similar professional system. Sit down firmly before looking at the price tag.
 

PS. I'm looking for something good searching for coins, gold (up to half a meter deep with good differentiation)

me too, but unless it is a buried volkswagen, that ain't gonna happen with any metal detector. You need a deep seeking box dectector with huge square coils that you strap on.
 

Digging coins at half a meter? Well, not really. Modern consumer machines are not built for that. The only things you are likely to find at that depth are cannon balls, septic systems and car hoods. And yes, as has been said the machine you bought is a beginner's machine. Even a machine that costs $2000 US probably won't get a single small coin at 19".
 

For a turn on and generally works with little knowledge the Minelab Vanquish 540 is a good choice.

In general, no machine is going to find a coin at more than twice or three times the depth
of the coil diameter. Especially if it is on its side. Moisture and mineralization, and the technology
the machine uses will also influence its performance.

For a bigger target like an iron sewer pipe at 3' you might be in luck with a small coil.

If you are looking for a buried tank one of the Russian PI kits with a one meter on a side coil
of the correct electrical characteristics would work.

Good luck.
 

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