Independently researched Settings Guide
Garrett AT Max Settings for coins
AT Max coin hunting is strongest in Zero or Coins discrimination modes after accurate ground balance. True All-Metal adds depth evidence but is not the easiest trash-park search mode.
Bottom line
Start Coins for modern parks; use Zero when preservation of target context matters
FastTrack ground balance, set high stable sensitivity, begin in Coins for familiar modern targets or Zero for older mixed sites, and use Iron Audio only to inspect. Test every Custom notch against local coins.
Field setup
Starting points—not universal presets
| Situation | Baseline | Action | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern park coins | Coins | Factory discrimination | May reject jewelry/odd coins |
| Historic mixed site | Zero | Low Iron Disc | Dig repeatable mid conductors |
| Sparse deep targets | True All-Metal | Faint threshold | Use ID/Iron Audio to inspect |
| Dense iron | Custom or Zero | Measured Iron Disc | Small coil can help more than notching |
Method
Use a controlled workflow
Balance the ground
FastTrack, then refine manually if pumping still produces response.
Choose the target policy
Coins for selective parks; Zero for broad historic recovery.
Set stable sensitivity
Use the highest of eight levels that remains usable.
Cross-check targets
Compare Digital ID, tone width and Iron Audio from two directions.
Decision analysis
What actually changes the result
Coins mode is a filter, not extra depth. It speeds decisions by rejecting common ranges and can also reject desirable objects outside the expected coin set.
True All-Metal provides threshold information. It is useful on sparse ground but reports every metal target, increasing workload in parks.
Target ID is conductivity evidence. Alloy, orientation, depth and nearby metal shift readings; use repeatability and audio shape.
FAQ
Seven questions specific to this page
Which AT Max mode is best for modern coins?
Coins is the convenient selective baseline; Zero preserves more target context and nonstandard coins.
When should I use True All-Metal?
In sparse ground where threshold depth information matters more than trash rejection.
What sensitivity should I use?
The highest of eight levels that remains stable after ground balance and EMI checks.
Should I use maximum Iron Discrimination?
No. High rejection can clip desirable targets near iron and removes useful site context.
Does ground balance change Target ID?
Poor balance can destabilize responses; accurate balance improves consistency but cannot guarantee an ID.
Can I create a silver-only Custom pattern?
Yes, but it will deliberately miss lower-conductive coins and jewelry.
What coil helps in a trashy park?
A compatible smaller DD coil narrows the footprint and can improve separation, at the cost of coverage.
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Use evidence, not copied numbers
Record the conditions and keep only repeatable results.