Garrett AT gold or Minelab Xterra 705 ?

[GoldseekerDan]

Looking to buy a decect VLF dector. Any opinions on different ones that people have used would be great prospecting in the Vic area!

 

[Colmaca]

I'm having trouble finding gold with my Xterra in mount isa area

 

[Goldpick]

If you are considering the AT Gold and 705, also have a look at the Whites GMT or Fisher Goldbug 2. They will have a better ability of finding small gold with their higher frequencies. These can be picked up second hand or near new from the US, at nearly half the price of a new unit in Australia, even with freight. The main reason why I think these would be better detectors, is that if you are working areas that the lastest Minelab PI detectors have been over, they would have picked up anything that the 705 or AT could have detected, whereas smaller gold that the PI machines wouldn't be able to detect would hopefully still be in the ground. Just a thought anyway.

 

[GoldseekerDan]

Thats no good Colmaca keep hunting

 

[GoldseekerDan]

Thanks Goldpick will do yep a gpx would be fantastic to own till then a nice Vlf will do

 

[Guest]

if buying a vlf i would only suggest a GMT or Gold Bug 2.

Why? The modded GP's and GPX are picking up the nuggets normally found by vlf detectors in the range of 18khz
which are the .15 or so nuggets.

The GMT and gold bug 2 have higher frequencies so you would be picking up tiny nuggets.

I have purchased and tested an AT Gold & G2 on a rich alluvial gold field in maryborough where I have found

Gold with a vlf a while back and this is my conclusion.

Personally after buying 2 and testing these I would not waste my money because after 10 trips and frustration
and selling your detector on ebay thats what can happen. If you want to buy a vlf get a 2nd hand unit so you don't
lose the $200 - $350 off your new price paid.

You also don't need a 5000 to find Gold.

You could buy a GP 3500 for around $2K. I bought mine cheaper with 3 coils and all you need

to do is watch the listing that is near where you live, wait till no one bids on it, wait for the item to end and be listed
again, wait a day or so then send your own offer pick up and pay cash.

The used Minelab GP detector market has falling in value and have seen GP 3500 selling for $2100 via ebay. Thats only a $1000 more than a VLF.

The 3500 is a great detector. Mine will be modded by Ismael for less than $300 who has a good reputation.

[video=480,360]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT4iFsa5BLM[/video]

GP 3500 target detection with and without Mod

[video=480,360]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZAOW5ZkweI[/video]

Modified GP Extreme finds lead shot

Hope this helps.

 

[treasureman]

Firstly ive been doing a lot of reading up on metal detectors is my price range.

Stand out detectors are garrett at gold and z terra 705 gold.

However i live by the beach and the ground is mainly sandy soil.

I want the at gold garrett because i plan on doing a lot of aearching in the bush and dunes, not in the wet sandy soil.
Is this garrett at gold suitable for this type of qork? Or ia there another detector in the same price range that would better auit me if i decides going closer to the wet sand?

Cheers

 

[Nugget]

I can't comment on the comparison between the 705 and AT Gold as I haven't used the 705 personally, but I've done over 50 hours beach detecting with the AT Gold before I moved further inland and found it to be a capable machine on dry sand. I've also had many successful coin and relic outings with this machine and prefer it over the AT Pro.

I've since sold the AT Gold but I'd written up a few posts when I had it, some may assist in your decision making.

My review on the AT Gold https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=13862#p13862
Target depths and ID's https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=237

Cheers,
Nugget

 

[Goldpick]

The AT Gold is apparently not too good when it comes to running on wet sand, it can be done, but with a lot of noise and chatter. More people have success with the ATPro with its lower frequency, the x-terra 705 with its beach setting and various coils to suit, or the Fisher Goldbug Pro or Teknetics G2, both of which can ground balanced all the way to salt, without compromising too much on the sensitivity side of things. People have also had success on the beach with the Whites MXT/MXT Pro, both in normal mode, or using the "salt" setting if conditions warrant it.

On most single frequency VLF's, it will usually take a combination of the right sensitivity setting, some discrimimation, ground balancing ability, and use of other features like the v/sat control on the whites detectors to operate acceptably.

So there are a few detectors that will be usable, albeit with some compromises, but will all come down to what features you would like, brand preference, budget, and local access to accessories and coils, and so on.

If you are not too fussed on the gold prospecting side of things, then a multi-frequency detector would be perfect for the mentioned areas - very quiet in the wet sand, and with excellent depth. You can still get the Minelab Explorer SE for under $1000, or the Safari for around $1300, so they would be within or close to your price range.

As many people have learnt on here, including myself, you are better off having a dedicated detector for beach environments, as having a detector with too many compromises, can lead to disappointment regarding its effectiveness for the $$$ spent.

 

[Nugget]

The AT Gold is apparently not too good when it comes to running on wet sand, it can be done, but with a lot of noise and chatter.

Yeah it doesn't handle wet beach sand very well at all, dry sand is no problem though.

As many people have learnt on here, including myself, you are better off having a dedicated detector for beach environments, as having a detector with too many compromises, can lead to disappointment regarding its effectiveness for the $$$ spent.

I totally agree.

 

[treasureman]

Thank you for the replies. I did end up gwtting the at gold. Its my first detector so i will have to get use to it on the dryer sand. And perhaps get a multi frequency once im use to it.
I went out briefly this afternoon and found a few dollars. A lot of cigerete packets and tin can crap. But after reading the manuel i will know which objects to disregard. I am happy with its performance so far and will only get better once im familar with it. Wiah it qorkes close to water though oh qell. Gotta search in the dry spots haha. Thanks again . Good forum too

 

[Goldpick]

That's fine, either way, you still have a very capable detector to start out on, wish I had something that good when I first started out - it is always a hard choice to make. Good luck with detecting.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Good Luck with your choice,

 

[treasureman]

Very hard choice but availability narrowed it down.

 

[webstertwin]

as per the heading , which one for 65% coin relics and 35% gold searching ? I cannot spend the dollars as yet for a PI detector ,so from these two any thoughts.
p.s. this will be our first detector.
cheers

 

[rocketaroo]

I like that you can get different frequency coils, for the minelab. The display is easier to read, annaconda regularly have the goldpack on sale for 660, and it is a good coin relic machine, with gold capability. The garret is 1100ish? Not sure about its capability for gold, but it certainly does relics, and coins.

 

[Ramjet]

I like that you can get different frequency coils, for the minelab. The display is easier to read, annaconda regularly have the goldpack on sale for 660, and it is a good coin relic machine, with gold capability. The garret is 1100ish? Not sure about its capability for gold, but it certainly does relics, and coins.

Webster twin said the At GOLD Rocket. Not the Pro.

Some topics on the At Gold

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=237

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5305

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2536

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3113

 

[rocketaroo]

I know the OP was asking about the prossie Gold