Did anyone see the link to the new Minelab E-Trac? It has been taken down

[Iron Patch]

From what I have read the processor is faster, it has some preset programs like Heavy Trash etc.

It is supposed to have better ergonomics.

Now I have a REAL delima because I am about to buy a NEW machine!! Yay!

I don't know if I should go for the SE Pro or cough up the extra $$ and get the ETrac.

I am sooooooooooooooooooooo confused. I doubt I would ever use the USB port and I don't know if the Sunray and the old coils would work on the ETRAC. So what to do, what to do?

Well, unless you are you going to buy the E-Trac, don't go buy a new SE Pro. If that is what you are after just go buy the 11" Pro Coil for your EXII. That's all I did with my XS and it has made a world of difference.

So you think there is that big a difference between the old 1050 coil and the pro coil? I could see it better than slimline, but I think the old 1050 is very good.

Yeah, the difference between the 1050 and the Pro is noticeable. I have only used the 1050 coil (and the WOT in farm fields on occasion). The target separation between the 1050 and the Pro is much improved. And there seem to be very bouncy signals. I've noticed that they lock on a LOT better than they did in the past. The depth has also been improved just a bit. I hit one spot where was I getting pennies/dimes in the 10.5" range. With the 1050 the deepest I had ever managed was about 9" on a handful of wheats. And the signals just locked on. I knew exactly what I was digging before I dug it. They were the kind of deep signals where you dig your deep plug, then dig another plug within your plug, then use the probe and MAYBE you can hear the coin then.

I've also used in some of the most pull tab / can slaw ridden spots I have ever seen and I can clearly hear coin signals mixed in there between the rubbish.

If you want to make your XS just a little bit better I would recommend the Pro coil.

I second what Bscofield6 just said. I was using a 1050 previously, and have gone back to the same areas with my new Pro coil, and have been finding deep, masked old coins in areas that I gridded and worked over heavily with my 1050. To an experienced Explorer user, the improvement is noticeable. It has amazing target separation for a coil of its size, and is a slightly deeper than the older coil. It's also more stable in areas prone to electrical interference/higher ground minerals than the 1050 was. The best performance improvement you could make on an XS, Exp.II, or older SE is to add this new coil. One unfortunate quality about this newer coil is that it's geometry/design creates more drag in the turf than the 1050 did, causing you to tire out a little faster. If you are prone to shoulder/muscle pain/stiffness you will feel it a little more with the newer coil. Performance-wise: A+.

As far as a USB port is concerned, I'm not so sure that could be very useful. Many Explorer users don't change their settings that often. Well, at least I don't. Plus, I heard that it may not be compatible for Apple/Mac users.

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan

I should have also mentioned my main concern... which is finding very small items. My 1050 does a very good job so it's hard to spend the money thinking something would be better. Almost every new detector or coil that comes on the scene always has the praise of a few, i bet there were even some saying how good the slimline was! The bottom line is i will probably try one, mostly for the reason if i don't think it's as good I want a stockpile of old ones.

PS... If you guys want to test you should take both coils along to compare. Sites have a funny way of giving up more targets on certain days and a few years ago my bud swore the Sun had something to do with it. lol oh yeah.. Early explorer was the "S" not SE.

 

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[bazinga]

From what I have read the processor is faster, it has some preset programs like Heavy Trash etc.

It is supposed to have better ergonomics.

Now I have a REAL delima because I am about to buy a NEW machine!! Yay!

I don't know if I should go for the SE Pro or cough up the extra $$ and get the ETrac.

I am sooooooooooooooooooooo confused. I doubt I would ever use the USB port and I don't know if the Sunray and the old coils would work on the ETRAC. So what to do, what to do?

Well, unless you are you going to buy the E-Trac, don't go buy a new SE Pro. If that is what you are after just go buy the 11" Pro Coil for your EXII. That's all I did with my XS and it has made a world of difference.

So you think there is that big a difference between the old 1050 coil and the pro coil? I could see it better than slimline, but I think the old 1050 is very good.

Yeah, the difference between the 1050 and the Pro is noticeable. I have only used the 1050 coil (and the WOT in farm fields on occasion). The target separation between the 1050 and the Pro is much improved. And there seem to be very bouncy signals. I've noticed that they lock on a LOT better than they did in the past. The depth has also been improved just a bit. I hit one spot where was I getting pennies/dimes in the 10.5" range. With the 1050 the deepest I had ever managed was about 9" on a handful of wheats. And the signals just locked on. I knew exactly what I was digging before I dug it. They were the kind of deep signals where you dig your deep plug, then dig another plug within your plug, then use the probe and MAYBE you can hear the coin then.

I've also used in some of the most pull tab / can slaw ridden spots I have ever seen and I can clearly hear coin signals mixed in there between the rubbish.

If you want to make your XS just a little bit better I would recommend the Pro coil.

I second what Bscofield6 just said. I was using a 1050 previously, and have gone back to the same areas with my new Pro coil, and have been finding deep, masked old coins in areas that I gridded and worked over heavily with my 1050. To an experienced Explorer user, the improvement is noticeable. It has amazing target separation for a coil of its size, and is a slightly deeper than the older coil. It's also more stable in areas prone to electrical interference/higher ground minerals than the 1050 was. The best performance improvement you could make on an XS, Exp.II, or older SE is to add this new coil. One unfortunate quality about this newer coil is that it's geometry/design creates more drag in the turf than the 1050 did, causing you to tire out a little faster. If you are prone to shoulder/muscle pain/stiffness you will feel it a little more with the newer coil. Performance-wise: A+.

As far as a USB port is concerned, I'm not so sure that could be very useful. Many Explorer users don't change their settings that often. Well, at least I don't. Plus, I heard that it may not be compatible for Apple/Mac users.

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan

I should have also mentioned my main concern... which is finding very small items. My 1050 does a very good job so it's hard to spend the money thinking something would be better. Almost every new detector or coil that comes on the scene always has the praise of a few, i bet there were even some saying how good the slimline was! The bottom line is i will probably try one, mostly for the reason if i don't think it's as good I want a stockpile of old ones.

PS... If you guys want to test you should take both coils along to compare. Sites have a funny way of giving up more targets on certain days and a few years ago my bud swore the Sun had something to do with it. lol oh yeah.. Early explorer was the "S" not SE.

I also was like you thinking that they couldn't really improve upon the 1050 without taking away some of what makes it so great. But after reading so many great reviews from experienced guys over on FM, I just had to give it a try.

CAPTN is right though, it does create a sorer shoulder than the 1050 ever did.

I hunt alongside another explorer user. He does alright on his finds, but I generally find 2-5 times more older coins that he does. Maybe it's the coil, maybe it's just the extra experience. But I can't argue with my finds.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Well,

The new Etrac just got in today. I just read through some of the posts, and found that people who have never seen it, and don't know anything about it, are so easily able to crap on it. I personally am not a Minelab Dealer (although a good friend is), but I know Minelab, and can tell you that this is what the Explorer should have been originally.

It is MUCH lighter. All the controls are MUCH more user friendly.

Best-Mike

Here are some pics:

Hey Mike, how is it in the field then? My main concerns where the price and recovery speed with the old explorers, without doubt the price will be no better but at least the recovery speed maybe.

If so I am seriously interested in one so there is now a dilemma, a XP Adventis II or a E-trac lol.
(although the XP Adventis II is way cheaper I think, and price is a major concern)

 

[Iron Patch]

Recovery speed is not as much of a factor in a field as you think because you adjust how you swing to the amout of iron. Even if the E-trac is faster all it would mean is you could run in the clean areas. You are still going to have to take your time in heavy trash. Anyone who swings an Explorer the same way in all conditions is missing targets.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Iron Patch of course you have to adjust to the trash amount also but being able to adjust the detector also helps, I think.

I am not the kind of bloke who runs over clean fields/areas as there are none of those here.

Recovery speed is very important in the field, ask any UK guy with a heavily trashed field of course they can go slow with the MD but if they add quick recovery speed to the machine and go slow is that not a good combo?

For us in Europe at least recovery speed IS important but that is my opinion.
I don't know how it is over in the US though.

 

[Iron Patch]

Iron Patch of course you have to adjust to the trash amount also but being able to adjust the detector also helps, I think.

I am not the kind of bloke who runs over clean fields/areas as there are none of those here.

Recovery speed is very important in the field, ask any UK guy with a heavily trashed field of course they can go slow with the MD but if they add quick recovery speed to the machine and go slow is that not a good combo?

For us in Europe at least recovery speed IS important but that is my opinion.
I don't know how it is over in the US though.

My opinion is about the Minelab Explorer, not detectors in general.

..and if you go fast with any detector in a very heavy trash concentration you will miss targets. Unless you use an Explorer a debate is useless between us because it's apples and oranges.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Iron Patch of course you have to adjust to the trash amount also but being able to adjust the detector also helps, I think.

I am not the kind of bloke who runs over clean fields/areas as there are none of those here.

Recovery speed is very important in the field, ask any UK guy with a heavily trashed field of course they can go slow with the MD but if they add quick recovery speed to the machine and go slow is that not a good combo?

For us in Europe at least recovery speed IS important but that is my opinion.
I don't know how it is over in the US though.

My opinion is about the Minelab Explorer, not detectors in general.

..and if you go fast with any detector in a very heavy trash concentration you will miss targets. Unless you use an Explorer a debate is useless between us because it's apples and oranges.

Ok I see, I thought that was detectors in general you where referring to.
Yes indeed apples and oranges.

 

[Iron Patch]

Iron Patch of course you have to adjust to the trash amount also but being able to adjust the detector also helps, I think.

I am not the kind of bloke who runs over clean fields/areas as there are none of those here.

Recovery speed is very important in the field, ask any UK guy with a heavily trashed field of course they can go slow with the MD but if they add quick recovery speed to the machine and go slow is that not a good combo?

For us in Europe at least recovery speed IS important but that is my opinion.
I don't know how it is over in the US though.

My opinion is about the Minelab Explorer, not detectors in general.

..and if you go fast with any detector in a very heavy trash concentration you will miss targets. Unless you use an Explorer a debate is useless between us because it's apples and oranges.

Ok I see, I thought that was detectors in general you where referring to.
Yes indeed apples and oranges.

Well a detector is a detector and my apples and oranges comment had more to do with getting into the specifics of the Explorer.... that's where I was going with the thread. I do think the principles of all detectors are generaly the same.... High sens. as you can stand, low disc., let your ears decide what to dig, and dig! (But again, depending on conditions, I believe how you swing with the Explorer matters)