TM MAX AT MAX Owner’s Manual Push your limits to the 1881 W. State Street Garland, Texas 75042 Tel: 1.972.494.6151 Email: sales@garrett.com Fax: 1.972.494.1881 © 2017 Garrett Electronics, Inc. PN 1534400.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS AT Max User Controls................................................................................................2 AT Max Display Information......................................................................................3 Quick Start Guide.....................................................................................................4 Components.............................................................................................................5 AT Max Contents......
AT Max Display Information AT Max User Controls Notch Discrimination: Press Shift Button, use (+) or (-) keys to select pixels, then switch on or off with ELIM button (pg. 18). Iron Discrimination: Direct press (+) or (-) keys to adjust Iron Discrim level (pg. 26). Hold 1 second to switch power on/off. Tap to select detection mode. Hold 5 seconds to restore factory settings. 2 Volume Adjust: Press Shift Button, then use (+) or (-) keys to change volume (pg. 11).
Components Quick Start Guide 1. Power ON. Press the ON / OFF Power button for 1 second. The AT Max powers on in the last mode used and is ready to search. The detector operates with four (4) AA batteries which are already installed by Garrett. 2.0 Select Mode. Use the Mode button to select a different detection mode, when desired. (Factory default mode is Coins.) 3.0 Adjust settings. Adjust Sensitivity, Threshold, Volume, or Discrimination settings, if desired.
AT Max Contents Batteries installed Control housing with S-shaped stem Detector Assembly Loosen lower camlock by turning it right (clockwise) while holding the upper and lower stem assembly in front of you as shown below. Extend lower stem, and press mounting washers firmly into place. Upper, lower stem (connected) Searchcoil (with coil cover installed) Connect searchcoil to stem as shown, and hand-tighten wing nut.
Powering ON / Basic Controls Adjust lower stem to comfortable length, and hand-tighten the camlocks. Wrap cable snugly around the stem with the first turn of the cable over the stem. Insert coil connector into the 4-pin connector of the control box by lining up connector pins. Press firmly, yet carefully, until the O-ring is felt to be inserted, and hand-tighten.
Target Information Gold nuggets, silver, copper bronze, larger jewelry Thin Target ID Legend Discrimination Pattern (Lower Scale) Tiny gold, small jewelry Target ID Cursor (Upper Scale) Pulltabs Foil Thick 10¢ 5¢ 1¢ Silver 25¢ $1 Lead Projectiles Iron, Steel 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 99 DIGITAL TARGET ID Digital Target ID Depth Indicator Target ID Legend—Works with the Target ID Cursor to indicate a target's probable identity, with Ferrous (iron) targets at the left, non-ferr
Selecting Modes (Discrimination Patterns) Example: this is the preset notch discrimination pattern for COINS Mode. The AT Max includes four detection modes: a true All Metal Mode and three Discrimination Modes. Press the MODE button to scroll through the four modes: • ALL METAL Mode–Provides the greatest detection depth and sensitivity. The All Metal mode offers a continuous audio response to allow the operator to hear the subtle detection signals produced by faint targets.
All Metal Mode Audio Characteristics While in the ALL METAL Mode, the AT Max will respond to the entire range of conductive and magnetic properties encountered, including ground responses. The user is continuously hearing what the searchcoil is "seeing" in the ground. Therefore, it is essential to be properly ground balanced while operating in the ALL METAL Mode.
Tone ID in Discrimination Modes In either Custom, Coins, or Zero Mode, the Tone ID feature produces up to three distinct audible tones based on a target’s metal type and conductivity. Low-Tone: Ferrous targets (Digital ID < 35) such as nails, iron, steel, etc. Mid-Tone: Non-ferrous targets (Digital ID of 35–75) with low to medium conductivity, including small jewelry, small coins, foil, thin targets, etc., and ferrous targets that ID above the Iron Disc setting.
Notch Discrimination Example: Manual Modification of Notch Discrimination Pattern (Discrim Modes Only) The AT Max has 12 pixels or "notches" of discrimination, shown on the lower scale. Any combination of these pixels can be switched on or off based upon your preference. There are two primary methods for modifying the Notch Discrimination Pattern to reject a specific type of trash or unwanted item.
Sensitivity Use the (+) or (–) SENSITIVITY buttons to step through the eight (8) levels. Use increased sensitivity when searching for very small or very deep targets. Use lower sensitivity levels when the detector is behaving erratically (due to excessive metallic trash, highly mineralized soils, electrical interference or the presence of other metal detectors) and the erratic operation cannot be resolved with ground balance, discrimination or by changing frequency.
Ground Balance Ground Balance Window Setting Fractional Ground Balance Setting (Setting = 93.5) GND BAL Setting (only displays while in Ground Balance Mode) GND BAL Indicator (only displays when in use) MAN. GND BAL (must press SHIFT first) GND BAL Button GND BAL Button—Hold the SHIFT button for Automatic Ground Balance or, for Manual Ground Balance, press and release SHIFT and then use the (+) and (-) MAN. GND BAL buttons. Detector performance can be negatively affected by ground mineralization.
Note: If the Ground Balance setting does not change during the auto ground balancing process, the detector is either sufficiently ground balanced already or the current ground exhibits such neutral mineralization that the settings will not change. Manual Ground Balance: Press and release the SHIFT button, then press either the (+) or (-) MAN. GND BAL button, and continually bounce (pump) the searchcoil from 1 to 8 inches (2 to 20 cm) above the ground.
Iron Discrimination Detecting Targets in Trash with High-Res Iron Discrim IRON DISC Buttons—The AT Max features a high-resolution iron discrimination adjustment. This additional resolution allows more precise control of how much iron discrimination can be applied. The level can be adjusted from 0 (no iron discrimination) to 44 (maximum iron discrimination). Iron Discrimination setting Illustration 1 In Illustration 1, the AT Max is operating in Zero Mode with an IRON DISC setting of 20.
Iron Audio Iron Audio is ON produces several fast low tones as the searchcoil passes over, while a bottle cap or steel washer produces a very distinctive LowHigh-Low response. Refer to the illustrations below regarding the use of the Iron Audio feature while in either Custom, Coins, or Zero Mode: IRON AUDIO Button IRON AUDIO OFF: Normal division of low, mid and high tones in a Discrim Mode. Press and release the IRON AUDIO button to switch the Iron Audio feature ON/OFF.
Tip for using Iron Audio: In areas with high concentrations of iron, it is recommended to switch off Iron Audio. Otherwise, it may produce far too many signals. Then, if a target is detected that has a questionable or inconsistent response, switch on Iron Audio to check if it is iron. To fully appreciate the additional information offered by the Iron Audio feature, conduct the following experiment using a bottle cap and a coin. Start with the AT Max in Zero Mode, with Iron Disc set to 35 and Iron Audio off.
Z-Lynk Wireless Operation Z-Lynk Wireless—The AT Max features a built-in Z-Lynk wireless transmitter which can be used with the Garrett MS-3 headphones. It will also connect to most any other headphones using a separate Z-Lynk receiver. A Z-Lynk Wireless headphone icon (see illustration) on the LCD indicates the current status of your wireless connection. A steady icon indicates the detector is paired with an operating Z-Lynk receiver that is within range.
Bench Tests You should conduct bench tests to become more familiar with the AT Max’s operation in both ALL METAL and Discrimination Modes. In addition, the use of the Iron Audio feature should be tested in each mode. Suggested test items should include: • Coins • Iron nail • Bottle cap or steel washer To conduct a bench test, place the searchcoil on a flat, nonmetallic surface that is several feet from other metallic objects. Begin by testing in the ALL METAL Mode.
a Garrett exclusive feature that helps make the AT Max such a powerful detector. Next, switch to the COINS Mode, set IRON DISC to 35 and switch off the Iron Audio feature. Pass the bottle cap across the coil again and notice the subtle breaks and inconsistencies of the target response, indicating it might be good or made of iron. Pass a non-ferrous target such as a coin or gold ring across the coil and note its clean tone in comparison to that of the bottle cap.
In order to fully search an area, overlap the swings of your searchcoil by half the length of the coil (about 5.5 inches). Sweep the searchcoil in a straight line or with a slight arc at a sweep speed of about 3 ft/sec. • Isolating adjacent targets: The narrow detection field of the AT Max's DD searchcoil allows better separation of adjacent targets versus a similar size concentric searchcoil. Use narrow swings of the searchcoil in trashy areas to isolate good targets amongst the trash.
• Tips for locating targets covered by terra cotta/hot rocks: Magnetic minerals such as hot rocks and terra cotta can mask the presence of good targets. In order to detect a good target, first ground balance the AT Max to the terra cotta or hot rocks that are present. Be aware, however, that the combined Target ID might be very low (e.g. a bronze coin and terra cotta together may register between 10 and 15 on the Digital Target ID).
Upper Scale indicates signal strength Coin Depth Indicator • Alternative pinpointing technique: DD-tip or tail. In the standard pinpointing method described on pages 41, the target is pinpointed beneath the center of the searchcoil. Some detectorists using DD coils prefer to pinpoint off the tip or tail of the searchcoil.
• Alternative pinpointing technique: DD-wiggle. Quickly locate targets without using the Pinpoint button as follows. Continuously swing the searchcoil side-to-side using fast, narrow swings of 2 to 4 inches (i.e. wiggle). While continuing this sideto-side wiggle, slowly move the searchcoil sideways toward the target's suspected position until the audio response produces a consistent, symmetric beat. This indicates the lateral left-to-right position of the target.
Battery Replacement Troubleshooting Guide SYMPTOM SOLUTION No power 1. Ensure batteries are installed in the correct orientation. 2. Replace all old batteries with all new batteries. Erratic sounds or target ID cursor movement 1. Ensure your searchcoil is securely connected and the coil cable is snugly wound around the stem. 2. If using the detector indoors, be aware that excessive amounts of electrical interference exists, plus excessive amounts of metal can be found in floors and walls. 3.
Metal Detecting Code of Ethics Cautions The following is a Code of Ethics that many treasure hunters and clubs follow to preserve our exciting sport of metal detecting. We encourage you to do the same: When searching for treasure with your Garrett detector, observe these precautions: • I will respect private and public property, all historical and archaeological sites and will do no metal detecting on these lands without proper permission.
AT Max Warranty and Service AT Max ACCESSORIES Your AT Max detector is warranted for 24 months, limited parts and labor, but does not cover damage caused by alteration, modification, neglect, accident or misuse. In the event you encounter problems with your AT Max detector please read through this Owner’s Manual carefully to ensure the detector is not inoperable due to manual adjustments. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to return to the recommended factory settings.
