First impressions Radio Shack 3300

[montyburns]

Got my 3300 yesterday and just took it out of the box and read the manual. I promised to compare it with my ACE 250 so.....First impression is that it is harder to operate than my ACE. The Ace you just turn on and go. 3300 requires some tuning and especially ground balancing before you go. I like the multi-tones of the 3300. Neither detector has volume control on the sound. Radio Shack light weight stereo headset with a volume control is almost mandatory. Overall fit and finish is inferior to the ACE 250. Battery box on the 3300 needs to be shimmed to keep the batteries held tight against the contacts as per the manual. (I used a piece of clear plastic I cut out of a battery pack). Shaft is slightly wobbly and I don't like the idea of sticking duct tape on it! I do like the light weight, that is just slightly less than the ACE. Would like to know what accessoris ( coil cover, other coils, etc) are available for the 3300. It may state in the manual but I don't recall reading it, perhaps I just missed it? Looks like the 3300 has to be manually ground balanced every time you take it out. I like the manual ground balance feature but would prefer that it be automatic unless you opt to reset it. Out of the box without using it that is about all I am able to report at this time. I am taking it out for a trial run this AM and will report back on the results good or bad. MB

[JoAnne]

I appreciate you doing this. I have a BH Tracker IV and am thinking of purchasing an ACE 250 so this info is very helpful. JoAnne

[Stainless Steel Rat]

I have only been using my 3300 for a few months like a lot of people who got them at RS and a lot of us have been fussing with ground balance. Most of users I am in contact turn the knob to preset and turn on the unit because we are not 100% sure how to ground balance it. In pinpoint mode it will auto balance everytime I hit the button and the tone just depends on how far I have the coil from the ground when I hit the button. I know when I get 199s targets that I am way off but there are some places I get a lot of iron 1 depth 10 is that when I need to ground balance it?

[montyburns]

I have had a chance to compare the 3300 and the ACE250. No contest , the ACE wins hands down. But I will say the 3300 is a very good entry level detector. I have 5 detectors and I still can't get the 3300 to ground balance like the manual says. I just put it in the preset mode and go and so far no trouble. It should be ground balanced every time you take it out, but it's a mystery as to how to do it! The AACE has a factory preset Ground Balance and what you see is what you get. It soes not do well around salt water and ovean beaches because of that fact. As far as the search ability the ACE has all the latest circutry and will discriminate much better and pinpointing is never a problem at least for me. It does use an all metal mode to pinpoint, one that does not require movement. Just this evening I was trying to find some coins in my coin garden and could not find them with the 3300, or at least it was hard to find them, while I chased it with the ACE and went right to them. I already have a couple of coils one a 13" and the other a 4 1/2 inch that I use on another BH detector. They seem to work ok on the 3300. But I also have several coils for my ACE that will do the same thing but just a little better. Neither does well under overhead electric utility lines giving off false readings. The 3300 is a lot of fun to operate and I wouldn't mind loaning it or using it to help a child learn to detect. As a backup it would be fine. Monty

[JoAnne]

Thank you very much for this information. I would be interested in any update as you continue to get to know these detectors. So fra looks like the Ace 250 is the one for me. JoAnne

[lil al]

monty in referring to your ace you said you have several coils for it may i ask what kinds do you have and how is your liking to them.

[montyburns]

I have the 10" and the 4 1/2". I seldom use the big coil but use the small coil quite a bit. It helps seperate out the trash from coins in really junkie areas. It also quietens things down around fences and metal bleachers, etc. I also have all 3 coils for the 3300, and they work ok, the large coil being a little harder to pinpoint. MontyB`

[lil al]

thanks monty for which i am trying to decide which one i will get for myself, does your bigger ones have better noticeable depth.

[TheDiggerOne]

Originally Posted by montyburns

I have the 10" and the 4 1/2". I seldom use the big coil but use the small coil quite a bit. It helps seperate out the trash from coins in really junkie areas. It also quietens things down around fences and metal bleachers, etc. I also have all 3 coils for the 3300, and they work ok, the large coil being a little harder to pinpoint. MontyB`

Were did you find your coils? Cause I wanted to buy a few some day. So far the big one seems to work though.

[montyburns]

I have the extra coils for my Land Ranger and a BH tech advised they were interchangeable, so I already had coils on hand. Monty