A review of the Teknetics 2000 low cost Metal detector
In this review of the Teknetics Alpha 2000 Metal detector we discuss the main features of this digital, turn on and go low cost detector and compare it to others in its class and provide a link for a good purchase deal.
You can click on this link to read our review of the Garrett ACE 250 Metal Detector to read a review of another detector in the same class as this detector.
Must Know Summary
This is a high quality lower Price Range Metal Detector. It features a digital screen readout (for things Like Target Depth, etc) AND a 3 tone discrimination pattern so you can "Hear" when you have found a good target.
One thing we really like about this metal detector is that it is a true turn on and go Detector. No messing with ground balancing or setting of dials to thresholds.
This makes it great for the New Metal Detector enthusiast or young person on your gift list!
OK so HOW DEEP WILL IT GO?
The first thing anyone asks me about a given Metal Detector is actually 2 things – Will it detect Gold (and the answer is YES) and How deep will it detect. The Alpha 2000 Metal Detector is a very deep detecting metal detector, especially for the beginner price range (under $250). The manufacturer states that tit will detect a quarter, to a distance of about 9” from the search coil. I would expect it to be strong in the 4" to 6" range and that is really good for an inexpensive detector. Large items like a canon ball or antique cast iron clothes iron should be detectable down to 2 feet!
A bullet pointed features list of this Metal Treasure Detector
Ok here is a brief list of the main features of this Metal Detector that are worth noting
- As noted before it has very good depth capability for the price!
- It has an LCD driven (visual) Numerical Category Target ID System which is easier on many people that are new to the hobby then just a tone system.
- This Detector also has a Tone Discrimination that uses 3 different tones to identify a target.
- For Audio Signals it has 6 distinct Levels of Adjustable Discrimination.
- The Teknetics Alpha 2000 Metal Detector also has Discrimination by Categories which is also great for the new Metal Detector Users. (Even for experienced users it is fun to see a target identified by what it might be or what class it might fall in (like Silver) before starting to dig!
- It also features Single Notch Selection by Category
How it ID's a Target (treasure find)
The Teknetics Alpha 2000 Metal Detector uses both AUDIO and VISUAL TARGET IDENTIFICATION:
This identifies that it has detected finds in the ground both audibly and visually as follows:
1. As is typical on many detectors this one uses Different pitch tones for different types of metals
2. Also as is standard with most detectors with an LCD screen this Metal Detector also uses An illuminated icon within the target category best describing it.
Here it uses Tones to identify targets as follows:
1) A LOW TONE could be
Ferrous objects, such as iron and steel, like nails and tin cans.
Smallest-sized gold objects and steel bottle caps
2) A MEDIUM TONE is most likely one of the following:
Newer pennies (post-1982 are minted from zinc)
Larger gold pieces, small brass objects, and most bottle screw caps.
Foil, pull-tabs, nickels and most recent-vintage non-US coins.
3) A HIGH TONE indicates:
Silver and copper coins, large brass objects
Older pennies (pre-1982 were minted from copper)
Dimes, quarters, half-dollars, silver dollars
Susan B. Anthony and Sacajawea dollar coins
Flattened aluminum cans (with a stronger signal than a coin)
Audio Target Identification (ATI) classifies metals into three categories.
How the LCD display tells you what you have Found
OK I really like the fact that the Teknetics Alpha 2000 Metal Detector uses both the tone AND the visual ID:
1) The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shows the
- PROBABLE identification of the targeted metal, as well as the
- PROBABLE depth of the target in Inches
2) The detector will register a consistent target identification, upon each sweep of the coil,
when a buried target has been located and identified. So if you pass over the object in the ground 2 or 3 times and it says 25c then its a quarter.
3) If, upon repeated passes over the same spot, the target identification reads
inconsistently, the target is probably a trash item, or oxidized metal. With practice, you will
learn to unearth only the repeatable signals.
4) The segment identifications are highly accurate, when detecting the objects
described on the label. However, if an object registers in a given category for an unknown
buried object, you could be detecting a metallic object other than the object described
on the label, but with the same metallic signature.
5) Also, the greater the distance between the target and the coil, the less
accurate the target identification.
How the Treasure detectors LCD Identifies different targets for you:
1) GOLD TARGETS
- Gold objects will register on the left side of the LCD scale.
- Gold flakes will register under iron.
- Small gold items will register under foil
- or 5¢.
- Medium-sized gold items will
- register between 5¢ and Alum.
- Large gold items will register under
- Zinc.
2) SILVER TARGETS:
Silver objects will register to the right of the scale, under Dime,
Qts. or 50¢+.
3) IRON: All but the very largest iron objects will register on the far-left side of the scale. This
could indicate a worthless item such as a nail, or a more valuable historic iron relic.
4) FOIL: Aluminum foil, such as a gum wrapper, will register as foil. A small
broken piece of pull tab may also register here.
5) NICKEL: Most newer pull-tabs from beverage cans, the type intended to stay attached to the
can, will register here. Many gold rings will also register here.
6) PT: Older pull tabs, which always detached completely from the can, register here. Many medium size gold ring also register here.
7) ZINC: Newer US pennies (post-1982), and Canadian $1 and $2 coins register here. Many
non-US coins of recent vintage will also register here.
8) DIME: Dimes and older copper pennies (pre-
1982) register here.
9) 50¢+ Qts: Quarters register here, Silver Dollars, Half-Dollars and very large iron
objects, like a sewer lid, will register here.
Caution: The target indications are visual references. Many other types of metal can fall
under any one of these categories. While the detector will eliminate or indicate the presence
of most common trash items, it is impossible to accurately classify ALL buried objects.
DEPTH INDICATOR: The Depth Indicator is accurate for coin-sized objects. It indicates
the depth of the target, in inches. Large and irregularly-shaped objects will yield
less reliable depth readings
When passing over an object, the indicators will light up and stay illuminated for three
seconds. If the depth indication varies with each sweep, try sweeping at different angles;
there may be more than one target present.
With practice, you will learn the difference between accurate readings, multiple targets,
and highly erratic readings which evidence rash or irregularly shaped objects.
The Factories Bullet points of functionality
Numerical Category Target ID System
*
Tone Discrimination
*
Number of Tones: 3
*
Levels of Adjustable Discrimination: 6
*
Discrimination by Categories
*
Single Notch Selectable by Category
*
Adjustable Sensitivity
*
Battery Life Indicator
*
Intuitive Menu System
*
Numerical Depth Readout
*
1/8" and 1/4" Headphone Jacks
*
Rubber-Button Control Interface
*
1 Search Mode: Discrimination Mode
*
All Metals Motion Mode (2nd Derivative)
*
Transmit Frequency: 7.8 kHz
*
Preset Ground Balance
*
Concentric 8 Inch Open-Face Coil System
*
Locking Ring Coil Connector
*
Power Supply: V Alkaline Battery (not included)
Current Sale price: $199.99!
You can buy the Teknetics Alpha 2000 with confidence at Amazon.com. They have great customer service and terrific online package tracking!!
Finally you can click on this link to go to our main page and read more articles like this Teknetics Alpha 2000 Metal Detector Review!
OK thats it for this Review!
Mark, I have tried replying to you through Email from an inquiry you had of me but your Email kicks back so contact me thru this Email address
I went over to your site and left you a note.
Also note that you mispelled your website name on this comment so you won’t get the link back!
Great review Mark, I have a Delta 4000 that is a wonderful machine so expect nothing less from the Alpha