Monkworks
Jr. Member
This review will be written in a shotgun style, all over the place, opinion piece. If youâre not interested in that kind of writing please move on. Previously I had reviewed the ATPro after 100 hours and now itâs time for the Etrac!
A little about myself:
This will be season three for me in my detecting career. The last two detectors I have owned were the Bountyhunter Pro, and the ATPro International. I have a Youtube channel with 30+ videos and I take this great hobby very seriously. I recently had the option of buying a good friendâs Etrac and jumped at the idea. I had been out on many hunts with him and seen the Etrac in action, so I know what itâs capable of. However, those of you that have read my previous reviews know I tend to try to give a balanced review, if not a little critical of the hardware in general. I âm 45 years old and work in IT, I am the proverbial technical person that enjoys scripting, and troubleshooting complex network issues. I live in Southern Ontario Canada and hunt almost every weekend during the hunting season. I am all about history specifically finding proof of the Euro-Canadian pioneers that tamed this land. Been out already this year and found an 1850 UpperCanada Bank token and 3 silver dimes. Enough about me. Letâs get into the hardwareâŚ
Price point
The Etrac is one of the most expensive detector in the world in its category, only CTX , Deus, others⌠are more expensive⌠But does the money reflect what youâre getting? Letâs exploreâŚThe ATP International was around 700 bucks here in a Canada. I have expressed my opinion in the review that this cost is about 200 bucks over priced in my mind. The ATP is a solid detector itâs the German shepherd of the metal detecting world. But it can feel cheep but performs well. Itâs tough, rugged and water proof and once you have it set up for your area and hunting style it can produce a lot of great finds. Itâs simple and very light.
Comparing apples to apples?
So why change up to the Etrac? A good question⌠Basically hunting alongside the Etrac with the ATP I found the ATP consistently under preformed. What we discovered is that when the ATP and the Etrac go head to head the ATP will always lose out. I have seen this time and time again. We figure the difference is ten to one. My buddy with his Etrac would consistently find ten more coins that I with my ATP⌠In terms of silver itâs three to one.
I think we all understand the Etrac is twice the detector that the ATP is. But we also understand the saying - the right tool for the right job - and maybe the ATP is the better detector considering what youâre using it for. Obviously working on water or the need for a light detector is where the ATP will shine. But for actual targeting ID, discrimination and depth hands down the Etrac is the solution. Some will protest that comparing the ATP and Etrac is not fair, so kindly understand I am using the atp as a baseline.
Hardware criticisms
The Etrac is a heavy and a cumbersome machine. After 4 hours of hunting you may need to get the harness on. It also feels a little bit slower than the ATP and you can feel the software as it process the targets. Youâre not going to find any iron relics unless you set it up for that, where as the ATP is an iron magnet unless you restrict the discrimination - good or badâŚ
The Etrac screen is small and just terrible out in the sun even on a gray days, I have trouble seeing the screen. Mix that in with having to water proof with a zip lock bag and you canât see much during your hunts. You canât tell if the back light is on or off in the day so thatâs not much helpâŚHowever, on the test bench the screen is fantastic and I will get into the screen a little later on in this review.
It could be my stock rechargeable battery needs replaced. But I am getting maybe 5 hours before I need to change, so I have to carry a backup Battery.., The pack is not small, 7â long and takes 8 AAsâŚI do get longer battery life with standard AAs than my stock rechargeable Etrac batteryâŚagain, could be I need to replace that..
The Etrac is not water proof or even heavy rain proof. If you do hunt in the rain youâre going to need to plastic bag the module or buy a cover kit â you can expect to spend another hundred bucks on thatâŚ
The hand grip is a lot wider than the ATP so you can expect to get hand cramps, clenching the grip over four hours. Because the ATP can be held with two fingers, itâs so lightâŚI am feeling the difference, but in time this will pass Iâm sure.
The shaft with the coil wired inside is great for hunting woods where as the ATP with the coil wire lose and outside the shaft can get bumped and damaged as you hit stumps and rocks.
Letâs get into performance
In a word itâs powerful. I found out I like to set the recovery deep -on, Manual sensitivity -21 and I am very restrictive on my custom mask, I am only interested in a tunnel shape starting from about halfway and it opens up like an L shape to the right- this will not make sense if you have never used the etrac, The screen on the etrac is represents targets visually like a graph. The target will appear in the graph and each position represents a TDI or target value. You can discriminate by masking or blocking out the positions youâre not interested in, itâs rather simple really. Your non ferrous targets show up on the right, your Ferrous on the left position. Conductivity is represented from top to bottom positions. This representation is really nice and enhances the target analysis you can perform. There is no comparing the ATP to the etrac on this⌠not fairâŚThis is where your money is at work on the etrac.
Ferrous & non ferrous, conductivity
You get more info about your target with two pairs of numbers. I am not sure how other non- Minelab detector measures the ferrous level of a target. But itâs the Etracs claim to fame! On the ATP you would just get one set of numbers. For example 84 (42 in etrac terms)â 84 â in the ATP worldâŚis a nice signal! But you never really know if youâre getting a twist-top, or a rust old nail⌠BUT the Etrac gives you the ferrous reading, the conductivity number 43 is a good ID, and the ferrous of 11 is very low meaning itâs not going to be a rusty nail, its likely going to be a non ferrous target! Where as a 24- 43 would likely be the rusty nail (the lower the first pair of numbers the better). The only way to do this on the ATP is to turn on the iron audio and see how she sounds⌠et number: 11-43 First pair of numbers is the ferrous level of the target, Second pair of numbers is the conductivity 43. This in its self should be a game changer for anyone out there that understands what I just wrote⌠your missing that ability entirely on the ATPâŚ
Depth
I conducted a number of bench tests on the ET and I will share that info with you. I was most interested in depth because I feel thatâs what youâre paying for. Testing with a Canadian 1901 dime at 30 cm the etrac could not hit the Dime, but at 23cm I was getting the dime at 10-43, 11-46 ids⌠Tested with a heavy 10k gold mans ring. At 30cm the gold ring was clearly a high tone and in the 10-42 range. This type of depth is impressive. The ATP is very average in depth testing. So right away if you share the same philosophy as I that yes coins will sink over time. The extra depth the ET provides is niceâŚ
Pin-Point mode
The etrac is very capable and accurate pin-point mode; it is just as good if not better at sizing a target as the ATP.
Etrac exchange & etrac emulator
The etrac comes with e USB to plug into your computer and you can store settings and masks you want to keep..Rather useless but nice to have. I understand the CTX has way more capability in that areaâŚ
The etrac emulator is a fantastic tool that virtualizes the etrac on your computer and itâs great for learning the interface and testing out target IDs. You can customize your target library. If anyone is interested. I have a Canadian etrac em target library I can share, if interested let me know.
Worth the price?
Is the etrac worth 1700 â 2000 bucks? Probably not. I do think itâs still overpriced. This is a $1200 detector in my mind. But itâs got the power and versatile you need as you progress to an experienced detectorist. Will I move up to the CTX? I may⌠I really like the Minelab min-controllers. I think they are probably the best in the world at programming complex min-controllers. I just think they need to make them faster like the DeusâŚ
I wanted to add the ATP is a perfectly fine detector to use for mostly anything. I have made some really great finds with atp. Itâs really about where you place your self and the work you did on the research.
At the end of the day the etrac is a nice advanced machine and probably the 3rd best detector in the market! No I do not work for minelab!
Thanks for reading. Should you have any questions please let me know. I will likely have a few more posts coming as I realize what I missed in this review.
please check me out on youtube " UPPERCANADA HUNTER"
*mini controller - Microcomputer
A little about myself:
This will be season three for me in my detecting career. The last two detectors I have owned were the Bountyhunter Pro, and the ATPro International. I have a Youtube channel with 30+ videos and I take this great hobby very seriously. I recently had the option of buying a good friendâs Etrac and jumped at the idea. I had been out on many hunts with him and seen the Etrac in action, so I know what itâs capable of. However, those of you that have read my previous reviews know I tend to try to give a balanced review, if not a little critical of the hardware in general. I âm 45 years old and work in IT, I am the proverbial technical person that enjoys scripting, and troubleshooting complex network issues. I live in Southern Ontario Canada and hunt almost every weekend during the hunting season. I am all about history specifically finding proof of the Euro-Canadian pioneers that tamed this land. Been out already this year and found an 1850 UpperCanada Bank token and 3 silver dimes. Enough about me. Letâs get into the hardwareâŚ
Price point
The Etrac is one of the most expensive detector in the world in its category, only CTX , Deus, others⌠are more expensive⌠But does the money reflect what youâre getting? Letâs exploreâŚThe ATP International was around 700 bucks here in a Canada. I have expressed my opinion in the review that this cost is about 200 bucks over priced in my mind. The ATP is a solid detector itâs the German shepherd of the metal detecting world. But it can feel cheep but performs well. Itâs tough, rugged and water proof and once you have it set up for your area and hunting style it can produce a lot of great finds. Itâs simple and very light.
Comparing apples to apples?
So why change up to the Etrac? A good question⌠Basically hunting alongside the Etrac with the ATP I found the ATP consistently under preformed. What we discovered is that when the ATP and the Etrac go head to head the ATP will always lose out. I have seen this time and time again. We figure the difference is ten to one. My buddy with his Etrac would consistently find ten more coins that I with my ATP⌠In terms of silver itâs three to one.
I think we all understand the Etrac is twice the detector that the ATP is. But we also understand the saying - the right tool for the right job - and maybe the ATP is the better detector considering what youâre using it for. Obviously working on water or the need for a light detector is where the ATP will shine. But for actual targeting ID, discrimination and depth hands down the Etrac is the solution. Some will protest that comparing the ATP and Etrac is not fair, so kindly understand I am using the atp as a baseline.
Hardware criticisms
The Etrac is a heavy and a cumbersome machine. After 4 hours of hunting you may need to get the harness on. It also feels a little bit slower than the ATP and you can feel the software as it process the targets. Youâre not going to find any iron relics unless you set it up for that, where as the ATP is an iron magnet unless you restrict the discrimination - good or badâŚ
The Etrac screen is small and just terrible out in the sun even on a gray days, I have trouble seeing the screen. Mix that in with having to water proof with a zip lock bag and you canât see much during your hunts. You canât tell if the back light is on or off in the day so thatâs not much helpâŚHowever, on the test bench the screen is fantastic and I will get into the screen a little later on in this review.
It could be my stock rechargeable battery needs replaced. But I am getting maybe 5 hours before I need to change, so I have to carry a backup Battery.., The pack is not small, 7â long and takes 8 AAsâŚI do get longer battery life with standard AAs than my stock rechargeable Etrac batteryâŚagain, could be I need to replace that..
The Etrac is not water proof or even heavy rain proof. If you do hunt in the rain youâre going to need to plastic bag the module or buy a cover kit â you can expect to spend another hundred bucks on thatâŚ
The hand grip is a lot wider than the ATP so you can expect to get hand cramps, clenching the grip over four hours. Because the ATP can be held with two fingers, itâs so lightâŚI am feeling the difference, but in time this will pass Iâm sure.
The shaft with the coil wired inside is great for hunting woods where as the ATP with the coil wire lose and outside the shaft can get bumped and damaged as you hit stumps and rocks.
Letâs get into performance
In a word itâs powerful. I found out I like to set the recovery deep -on, Manual sensitivity -21 and I am very restrictive on my custom mask, I am only interested in a tunnel shape starting from about halfway and it opens up like an L shape to the right- this will not make sense if you have never used the etrac, The screen on the etrac is represents targets visually like a graph. The target will appear in the graph and each position represents a TDI or target value. You can discriminate by masking or blocking out the positions youâre not interested in, itâs rather simple really. Your non ferrous targets show up on the right, your Ferrous on the left position. Conductivity is represented from top to bottom positions. This representation is really nice and enhances the target analysis you can perform. There is no comparing the ATP to the etrac on this⌠not fairâŚThis is where your money is at work on the etrac.
Ferrous & non ferrous, conductivity
You get more info about your target with two pairs of numbers. I am not sure how other non- Minelab detector measures the ferrous level of a target. But itâs the Etracs claim to fame! On the ATP you would just get one set of numbers. For example 84 (42 in etrac terms)â 84 â in the ATP worldâŚis a nice signal! But you never really know if youâre getting a twist-top, or a rust old nail⌠BUT the Etrac gives you the ferrous reading, the conductivity number 43 is a good ID, and the ferrous of 11 is very low meaning itâs not going to be a rusty nail, its likely going to be a non ferrous target! Where as a 24- 43 would likely be the rusty nail (the lower the first pair of numbers the better). The only way to do this on the ATP is to turn on the iron audio and see how she sounds⌠et number: 11-43 First pair of numbers is the ferrous level of the target, Second pair of numbers is the conductivity 43. This in its self should be a game changer for anyone out there that understands what I just wrote⌠your missing that ability entirely on the ATPâŚ
Depth
I conducted a number of bench tests on the ET and I will share that info with you. I was most interested in depth because I feel thatâs what youâre paying for. Testing with a Canadian 1901 dime at 30 cm the etrac could not hit the Dime, but at 23cm I was getting the dime at 10-43, 11-46 ids⌠Tested with a heavy 10k gold mans ring. At 30cm the gold ring was clearly a high tone and in the 10-42 range. This type of depth is impressive. The ATP is very average in depth testing. So right away if you share the same philosophy as I that yes coins will sink over time. The extra depth the ET provides is niceâŚ
Pin-Point mode
The etrac is very capable and accurate pin-point mode; it is just as good if not better at sizing a target as the ATP.
Etrac exchange & etrac emulator
The etrac comes with e USB to plug into your computer and you can store settings and masks you want to keep..Rather useless but nice to have. I understand the CTX has way more capability in that areaâŚ
The etrac emulator is a fantastic tool that virtualizes the etrac on your computer and itâs great for learning the interface and testing out target IDs. You can customize your target library. If anyone is interested. I have a Canadian etrac em target library I can share, if interested let me know.
Worth the price?
Is the etrac worth 1700 â 2000 bucks? Probably not. I do think itâs still overpriced. This is a $1200 detector in my mind. But itâs got the power and versatile you need as you progress to an experienced detectorist. Will I move up to the CTX? I may⌠I really like the Minelab min-controllers. I think they are probably the best in the world at programming complex min-controllers. I just think they need to make them faster like the DeusâŚ
I wanted to add the ATP is a perfectly fine detector to use for mostly anything. I have made some really great finds with atp. Itâs really about where you place your self and the work you did on the research.
At the end of the day the etrac is a nice advanced machine and probably the 3rd best detector in the market! No I do not work for minelab!
Thanks for reading. Should you have any questions please let me know. I will likely have a few more posts coming as I realize what I missed in this review.
please check me out on youtube " UPPERCANADA HUNTER"
*mini controller - Microcomputer
Last edited:
Gary from Oregon
I wouldn't say "expert" but I will admit to being "very well versed" in it's use.
