E-Trac or Explorer

[stasys]

Keppy I know this forum and ask many questions where, problem only -no one can answer this not complicated question, because not much people use etracs without discrim intions, or never used before explorer without discrimination! about etrac just know that they did change a bit program and this is by some people not very good, but this is still for me a bit mystic? best would be to pay IP gold coin to make angry test on etrac because not much people know how best to use explorer and etrac and they are not capable to make judgment. sorry for pessimistic end

 

[Keppy]

Keppy I know this forum and ask many questions where, problem only -no one can answer this not complicated question, because not much people use etracs without discrim intions, or never used before explorer without discrimination! about etrac just know that they did change a bit program and this is by some people not very good, but this is still for me a bit mystic? best would be to pay IP gold coin to make angry test on etrac because not much people know how best to use explorer and etrac and they are not capable to make judgment. sorry for pessimistic end

Stasy i sent you a PM..

 

[nforest]

My self i think that the Sovereign is as deep as the E-Trak..... It just don't have all the bell's & whistles ...Me i am not big on a lot of bells & whistles........... Some say that the E-Trac is the best detector out there................ But you see that is to them ................. But to me no it is not the best ...........I have used the Explorers & E-Trak....AND to me it has to be the Sovereign as the best or equal to the higher priced Minelab coin detectors...........And Minelab don't even want to sell the Sovereign for all there ad's in the treasure mag's you never see the Sovereign........... Why are they going to quit makeing it ?

I am experiencing quite the opposite. I live in the Pac NW with horribly mineralized soil. Last night 2 explorers and an etrac kicked by butt. Not only did I contend with the horrible soil, but EMI which I couldn't resolve, and electrical interference from the etrac. I am beginning to think I should have saved for an etrac instead. The stupid vclip mount, necessity to hipmount and all of the above have driven me there.....

I think that the reason that you were having issues was due to a few reasons:

1) EMI was an issue, thats why i run an etrac and got rid of my V3i.
2)you have to use your head to dicriminate out the tones, I use the etrac for a rough disc, then my ears, and then my eyes for the final disc.

That night we went out, where you felt like you got your butt kicked, I only dug about 40 holes in 8 hours, I covered more ground than you or the other two explorers. I spent more time with the coil on the ground, and less time digging, and that allowed me to have better odds of finding the good stuff.

don't feel bad, we just need to get a test bed set up for you so that you can remember what a good silver tone sounds like. I think that would make the most difference.

I often forget what silver sounds like, right up until my coil passes over it.

 

[King-John]

Wow, 42 replies, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, I didn't mean to start a debate, I would like to let everyone here know I did go with the E-Trac, learning curve not what I thought it would be, it was pretty easy after the first couple of hunts to know what the machine is telling you and with all machines the more you use it the better you get with it, so far I love the machine I have recovered a couple of silvers from the school park I have hammered for a couple of years, Post Two Silvers I'm still doing some research on the person of the bracelet, I have only found one Birth by that name in 1935, it looks like from checking the Assessor's office that the home might have been handed down to family, next will be a call to property owner.
Thanks, John

 

[sniffer]

I wouldn't part with my ETRAC for anything

 

[Keppy]

Wow, 42 replies, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, I didn't mean to start a debate, I would like to let everyone here know I did go with the E-Trac, learning curve not what I thought it would be, it was pretty easy after the first couple of hunts to know what the machine is telling you and with all machines the more you use it the better you get with it, so far I love the machine I have recovered a couple of silvers from the school park I have hammered for a couple of years, Post Two Silvers I'm still doing some research on the person of the bracelet, I have only found one Birth by that name in 1935, it looks like from checking the Assessor's office that the home might have been handed down to family, next will be a call to property owner.
Thanks, John

A lot of people don't buy the E-Trak .. The reason is the ones that come on these fourms and tell every one how hard it is to learn to use one....How it will take them a year or longer to learn ..... these are the ones that scare buyers away from high end detectors..... I don't know if they think by saying this it builds up there ego or what the idea is behind this type of talk................. But to me it is not right you can use that detector right out of the box.............you don't have to mess with all those programs to use the detector...............Every time i see that crap i get so P.. off... .................................. Thank you KING JOHN for telling that the learning curve on the E Trak is not that hard.....................Every thing is what you make it......... If you want it to be hard it will be............. If you want it to be easy it will be............King John you are all right in my book................You did not come on and give a bunch of bull crap on the learning curve.........

 

[Willee]

Wow, 42 replies, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, I didn't mean to start a debate, I would like to let everyone here know I did go with the E-Trac, learning curve not what I thought it would be, it was pretty easy after the first couple of hunts to know what the machine is telling you and with all machines the more you use it the better you get with it, so far I love the machine I have recovered a couple of silvers from the school park I have hammered for a couple of years, Post Two Silvers I'm still doing some research on the person of the bracelet, I have only found one Birth by that name in 1935, it looks like from checking the Assessor's office that the home might have been handed down to family, next will be a call to property owner.
Thanks, John

A lot of people don't buy the E-Trak .. The reason is the ones that come on these fourms and tell every one how hard it is to learn to use one....How it will take them a year or longer to learn ..... these are the ones that scare buyers away from high end detectors..... I don't know if they think by saying this it builds up there ego or what the idea is behind this type of talk................. But to me it is not right you can use that detector right out of the box.............you don't have to mess with all those programs to use the detector...............Every time i see that crap i get so P.. off... .................................. Thank you KING JOHN for telling that the learning curve on the E Trak is not that hard.....................Every thing is what you make it......... If you want it to be hard it will be............. If you want it to be easy it will be............King John you are all right in my book................You did not come on and give a bunch of bull crap on the learning curve.........

Actualy, we dont want a lot of other people using such a fine detector and cleaning out the hunting grounds.

It is very hard to master, takes a collage degree to understand and properly set up, and a three year mortage to buy one.
It is big, heavy, and makes sounds like 21 cats howling under a washtub.
The initial price of the detector is just a down payment as you will most likely spend twice that amount on accessory's for it plus all the books and videos teaching you to use it.
Should it ever need service you will be too old to use it when and if you ever get Minelab to fix it.

 

[Iron Patch]

Wow, 42 replies, I would like to thank everyone for their comments, I didn't mean to start a debate, I would like to let everyone here know I did go with the E-Trac, learning curve not what I thought it would be, it was pretty easy after the first couple of hunts to know what the machine is telling you and with all machines the more you use it the better you get with it, so far I love the machine I have recovered a couple of silvers from the school park I have hammered for a couple of years, Post Two Silvers I'm still doing some research on the person of the bracelet, I have only found one Birth by that name in 1935, it looks like from checking the Assessor's office that the home might have been handed down to family, next will be a call to property owner.
Thanks, John

A lot of people don't buy the E-Trak .. The reason is the ones that come on these fourms and tell every one how hard it is to learn to use one....How it will take them a year or longer to learn ..... these are the ones that scare buyers away from high end detectors..... I don't know if they think by saying this it builds up there ego or what the idea is behind this type of talk................. But to me it is not right you can use that detector right out of the box.............you don't have to mess with all those programs to use the detector...............Every time i see that crap i get so P.. off... .................................. Thank you KING JOHN for telling that the learning curve on the E Trak is not that hard.....................Every thing is what you make it......... If you want it to be hard it will be............. If you want it to be easy it will be............King John you are all right in my book................You did not come on and give a bunch of bull crap on the learning curve.........

Actualy, we dont want a lot of other people using such a fine detector and cleaning out the hunting grounds.

It is very hard to master, takes a collage degree to understand and properly set up, and a three year mortage to buy one.
It is big, heavy, and makes sounds like 21 cats howling under a washtub.
The initial price of the detector is just a down payment as you will most likely spend twice that amount on accessory's for it plus all the books and videos teaching you to use it.
Should it ever need service you will be too old to use it when and if you ever get Minelab to fix it.

Don't forget Minelab doesn't let you keep your finds!

 

[Shambler]

stasys ... go to www.findmall.com and you will find out every thing you want to knowabout the E-Trak.... Click to the minelab forum when you get there.. They even have a E-Trac class forum there.. they post more there than here....

EXCEPT - only positive posts stay so it's a skewed (at best) view of ANY detector on that site.

It's all about the mighty dollar there. Don't waste your time.

 

[dbsmokey]

stasys ... go to www.findmall.com and you will find out every thing you want to knowabout the E-Trak.... Click to the minelab forum when you get there.. They even have a E-Trac class forum there.. they post more there than here....

EXCEPT - only positive posts stay so it's a skewed (at best) view of ANY detector on that site.

It's all about the mighty dollar there. Don't waste your time.

It is? How do you know that only positive posts stay?

 

[Shambler]

I've had well over 5 of my posts deleted off the Fisher forum until they got tired of the truth, and banned me from the category. Mike Scott himself has made it clear that "negative posts" aren't allowed in the Fisher forum. I wonder why honest discoveries and testing of their flagship detector would be considered negative? Wouldn't it seem easy to marginalize those posts with their testing if there wasn't actually problems?

Three posts recently on the Minelab forum deleted by Bryce because of a disagreement over his "recommendations".

There are no machine comparisons allowed on the White's forum. Several people wanted to see E-Trac V. V3 comparisons... they were removed.

I encourage you to believe what you want to believe - I mean Santa will be here in 19 days for goodness sakes - we should be happy.

 

[dbsmokey]

I've had well over 5 of my posts deleted off the Fisher forum until they got tired of the truth, and banned me from the category. Mike Scott himself has made it clear that "negative posts" aren't allowed in the Fisher forum. I wonder why honest discoveries and testing of their flagship detector would be considered negative? Wouldn't it seem easy to marginalize those posts with their testing if there wasn't actually problems?

Three posts recently on the Minelab forum deleted by Bryce because of a disagreement over his "recommendations".

There are no machine comparisons allowed on the White's forum. Several people wanted to see E-Trac V. V3 comparisons... they were removed.

I encourage you to believe what you want to believe - I mean Santa will be here in 19 days for goodness sakes - we should be happy.

Wow, that sucks. I didn't know that. I actually like the "bickering" because everybody is entitled to their opinion and I would rather see heartfelt opinions than robots who toe the line.

 

[Shambler]

I agree. Controversy sells

Doesn't it make you wonder why you can't find any poor reviews of any of the flagship detectors? We know the Explorer is heavy and the F75 is chattery - but how do they really stack up? I've not found any decent reviews except reports from someone who is in love (or stands to gain something) with the detector they are using. They all detect metal - so what nuances will help those new to detecting pick the right detector or veteran change his brand-loyal ways? If you're automatically inclined to like one or the other and you go to the vendor specific forums at findmall, you'll pick the one that you already planned to because you won't find any food for thought.

You won't find one disagreement with a recommendation there that doesn't start with "in my soil" pshhh.

Coincidentally after my last post, I can't log on Findmall at all now. There's a surprise.

 

[dbsmokey]

I agree. Controversy sells

Doesn't it make you wonder why you can't find any poor reviews of any of the flagship detectors? We know the Explorer is heavy and the F75 is chattery - but how do they really stack up? I've not found any decent reviews except reports from someone who is in love (or stands to gain something) with the detector they are using. They all detect metal - so what nuances will help those new to detecting pick the right detector or veteran change his brand-loyal ways? If you're automatically inclined to like one or the other and you go to the vendor specific forums at findmall, you'll pick the one that you already planned to because you won't find any food for thought.

You won't find one disagreement with a recommendation there that doesn't start with "in my soil" pshhh.

Coincidentally after my last post, I can't log on Findmall at all now. There's a surprise.

It is not just about selling, in my opinion. We US citizens have been conditioned to act like sheep in almost every way. It is refreshing, to me, to get a well formed opinion, even if I disagree. Besides, I think conditions, skills, brands and even specific md vary enough that even off-the-wall opinions might have merit.

 

[stasys]

<<<We US citizens have been conditioned to act like sheep in almost every way>>>. I suspect Shambler its have name in US---THINK POSITIVE! But I can ashur you in other world people act similar, i am personally from Lithuania former USSR country member and have traveled allot and everywhere you have brainless... and if we talk about very interesting hobby metal detecting we have just to spend money and do not ask any question! imagine this situation in the world with PC? so if we go back etrac or explorer, better explorer because its cheaper and the same heavy..good luck all Stasys

 

[Shambler]

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1355025

haha! They fail colossally at administering that site.

 

[Shambler]

there's a surprise - deleted.

 

[Smudge]

If depth is the ONLY factor you are looking for get a PI.
Many relic hunters are realizing that and the White's DTI and the Garrett Infinuim are starting to dominate the civil war battelfields.

The E-Trac has several improvements over the Explorer SE.
For one the display and the numbers have been changed.
The software has been revised to straighten out the "S" curve and make the conductivity more useful in ID'ing targets.
Most good targets will be somewhere around the "12" line verticaly (Fe) and spread out better along the horizontal line (conductivity).
A big improvement if you use that display to ID targets.
No big circuit changes so I really dont understand Minelab's contention that it is not a continuation of the Explorer line.
Expect the next one to have a color screen.

Hard to beat an Explorer II for coin shooting parks and school yards ... but if you are into all that target analyzing eye candy ... you will go for the E-Trac.

The Sovereign was produced as the first true multi-frequency detector and that concept has really paid off.
The Explorer series took that a bit farther utilizing a broader band of frequency's and analyzing more of them.
Yes ... the Sovereign is about as deep detecting as the E-Trac but it will not discriminate as well as it only has tone ID with no display to show FE and CO.
However, get some experience with those tones and a Sovereign is a very deep detector as many already know.

Dont forget ... the Minelab Excalibur is a reconfigured Sovereign curcuit (BBS not FBS) and it is highly rated.

The BBS and the FBS technoligy are about the best discriminating detectors you can use in and around salt water (no ground adjustment needed).
White's even has started down this road with the three frequency Spectrum V3 detector.

Willee You just said what i have said time & time Again.....If you want depth quit crying and useing a VLF...GO get a PI detector.....

Of course, if depth is the name of the game, I wonder why more people don't go with White's Sierra Madre? That sucker goes over 2 feet deep I am told.

 

[Erik in NJ]

If you're in the market now check out this best deal by far that I just found:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,365926.0.html

 

[kai_gold]

I've not found any decent reviews except reports from someone who is in love (or stands to gain something) with the detector they are using.

That's the problem with getting something for free or at a great discount from manufacturers. It really costs you your freedom to share what you truly think of things. That's why the published field tests are always good. Try and pin down one of these so called expert testers on a specific comparison or opinion and they try and dodge the question.

They have put them selves in a tight spot. Share negative aspects of a metal detector and they lose sponsorships or exaggerate the positive to get the freebies and then never be able to tell the truth again without looking like a hypocrite and a liar.

For this reason, I would not want any free handouts from a manufacturer. Don't want to feel obligated to any of them.