Independently researched Settings Guide
Garrett AT Pro Settings for coins
AT Pro coin hunting works best when Pro audio, ground balance and moderate discrimination are used together. Coins mode is convenient, but Pro Zero preserves more unusual coins and target context.
Bottom line
Start Pro Coins in modern parks; use Pro Zero on older mixed sites
Ground balance over clean soil, run the highest stable sensitivity and compare every questionable target from two directions. Keep Iron Discrimination moderate and use Iron Audio as a diagnostic check—not a permanent substitute for listening.
Field guide
Starting points and hard limits
| Situation | Baseline | Action | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern park, familiar coins | Pro Coins | Factory pattern first | May reject jewelry and unusual coins |
| Old park or field | Pro Zero | Iron Disc about 20–30 | Dig repeatable mid conductors |
| Dense iron | Pro Zero | Moderate Iron Disc; Iron Audio checks | Small coil often helps more than rejection |
| Sparse deep targets | Pro Zero | Slow overlap; stable high sensitivity | Jumpy IDs need audio evidence |
Method
Use a controlled workflow
Balance clean ground
Fast balance, then manually refine if pumping still changes the audio.
Choose the recovery policy
Pro Coins for common modern targets; Pro Zero for broad recovery.
Set stable sensitivity
Reduce one step when EMI or ground noise masks faint signals.
Cross-check before digging
Compare ID, proportional audio width and Iron Audio at 90 degrees.
Decision analysis
What actually changes the result
Pro Coins is a rejection pattern, not a depth boost. It accelerates familiar coin decisions while deliberately hiding parts of the conductivity range.
Pro proportional audio carries shape and depth clues. A narrow repeatable response is stronger evidence than a single high ID flash.
Iron Disc tops out at 40, but maximum is rarely rational. Heavy rejection can clip coins beside iron and removes the grunts that explain a messy site.
FAQ
Seven questions specific to this guide
Which AT Pro mode is best for modern coins?
Pro Coins is convenient for familiar modern targets; Pro Zero preserves a wider range and more audio context.
What Iron Discrimination should I use?
Begin around 20–30 in ordinary iron and change only after testing local coins beside nails.
Should Iron Audio stay on?
Use it to inspect bottle caps and clipped responses; constant use in dense iron can create fatigue.
What sensitivity is best?
The highest setting that remains stable after ground balance and EMI checks.
Can Coins mode miss valuable targets?
Yes. Any rejected conductivity range can contain jewelry, tokens or unfamiliar coins.
Why does a deep coin ID jump?
Weak signal, angle, mineralization, corrosion and adjacent metal can spread the number.
Will a small coil improve a trashy park?
Often. Its narrower footprint reduces target blending, though it covers less ground.
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Use evidence, not shortcuts
Record the conditions, preserve context and keep only repeatable results.