E-Trac

[Jason in TN]

OK after several months with my new Etrack and selling my SE and DFX and F75 I can now say that I am really happy with minelab's new detector. To start off it is one of the most stable detectors that I have ever used even at high sensitivity it will run with a good steady threshold. The old Explorer had a problem keeping a steady threshold if any at all at higher sensitivity.

I have been hunting mostly relics with the 12X15 Sef coil and have dug targets deeper than any other detector I have ever used. Civil war bullets and 44 Henry cartridges at a foot or better are not uncommon. Hunting areas I have hunted many times with other detectors.

It also works well in Iron and trashy areas with a smaller coil.

The conductive #s are very close even on deep targets the Ferrous scale #s vary with depth, soil composition, and close by iron targets.

The E Trac is by far my favorite detector so far. I hope that something better will come out as I like to try out new stuff and there is always room for improvement. Hear of new things to come from whites but not released yet.

The only thing I do not like about the E- Trac is the plastic arm cup and fastening system for the strap. Works so far but I have had these wear out or break on the old explorers. May have to go with a aftermarket one some time soon.

Hope this info helps if you are thinking of buying one. Will be glad to answer questions too.

 

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[lasttoknow (Tim)]

About another month and I'll have mine. I have a link to an after market arm cuff.


http://www.hdwt.net/minelab.html

 

[Jason in TN]

May have to try one of these. Looks Like they are sold out right now.

 

[DD-777]

Might want to check one of these out too - I just got mine and I really like it. Fits very well and cost a lot less.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Padded-S-S-arm-cuff-for-Minelab-Explorer-metal-detector_W0QQitemZ320342265964QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMetal_Detectors?hash=item320342265964&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

 

[Butler]

Hope this info helps if you are thinking of buying one. Will be glad to answer questions too.

Why yes it does help. And yes if you don't mind, I do have a question. I got an E-Trac coming in the mail as I write this. Man, that UPS guy is killing me! Anyway, I expect a learning curve so won't be changing much in the way of coils and such just yet. But here is my question.... How is pinpointing with the 12x15 SEF compared to the stock coil? Do you use Normal or Sizing, or for that matter do you even use Pinpoint?

Thanks,

 

[revdrlon]

if i were to go for a minelab at this point i would grab the e-trac, but the one thing i would like to find is a website that has all kinds of patterns on it, it would be nice to be able to try out other peoples patterns and a forum type system would be great for that.

 

[steve from ohio]

I really like my aftermarket arm cup. It has made the E-trac very comfortable and it fits me like a glove.

The plastic one is way too cheap for such a great detector. I actually developed a blister from the plastic one.

I do mostly coin and jewelry hunting and found the E-trac to be very stable in the tough ground conditions.

 

[gibsondan]

I do mostly coin and jewelry hunting and found the E-trac to be very stable in the tough ground conditions.

Steve, does the E-trac get good depth in the ground on coins? Have you figured out about how deep it will detect, say, a dime (or any other coin)?

 

[tmanfromtexas]

I do mostly coin and jewelry hunting and found the E-trac to be very stable in the tough ground conditions.

Steve, does the E-trac get good depth in the ground on coins? Have you figured out about how deep it will detect, say, a dime (or any other coin)?

I am not Steve but I have dug pennies and dimes at 9 inches deep measured. Two of my hunting buddies on Tnet have done that too. I have also dug silver dimes, quarters and halves at 3 inches using the etrac. It will definitely ping on silver. SMAN...

 

[steve from ohio]

I do mostly coin and jewelry hunting and found the E-trac to be very stable in the tough ground conditions.

Steve, does the E-trac get good depth in the ground on coins? Have you figured out about how deep it will detect, say, a dime (or any other coin)?

I have dug silver dimes at over 10 inches. Quarters at 14 inches and one silver Morgan dollar at 16 inches. I did hit a wheat penny (1919) at over 15 inches. It had a very pronounced green halo around it and I found it after a couple of days of a good soaking rain.

I run with manual sensitivity and adjust it so that it is just barely under being unstable. I then listen to the threshold and if there is just a peep of change, I investigate by stopping and hitting the area hard by multiple swings at several angles over the possible target. I run the standard coin mode with some slight modifications to the pattern to allow for silver dollars and a few other slight changes. I think the one big reason why the Minelabs have a reputation for having to swing them slower is because they find the real deep stuff and that requires a slightly different mode of swing.

I also dig quite a bit. I am still getting to know the E-trac and found that if I dig, then I know for sure. Sometimes the numbers are just a tad off due to depth and surrounding items such as iron or minerals. So I often take the time to dig when a questionable target is detected.
A good shovel and trowel is needed for the E-trac in order to dig as fast and deep as possible. along with a good pin pointer ( I use a Pistol Probe).

I have owned several of the top of the line detectors and so far the E-trac is the most stable and deepest of them all. I would even say that it has a slight edge over the Explorer SE ( I had one for over a year and a half) in depth due to the E-trac being more stable in highly mineralized ground.

 

[72cheyenne]

I too have found barber dimes in the 8-10" range. Sounded like they were a few inches deep. So the advice on the good digger is a must. I have also found coins right next to iron targets...where you could only get a signal from one sweep direction. Pinpointing a coin next to iron is a little tricky though. I found that you mainly just have to watch the ground in the spot that the detector gives you the signal...then when you switch to pinpoint, watch the target bullseye indicator. Most generally if you pinpoint at the same spot the detector gave you the signal in disc. mode, the little target indicator will show in the non-iron range. This don't happen all the time but most of the time it does. I agree with the above post about when you get the slightest blip or null, back up and sweep that spot hard, especially if there is deeeeep stuff there. The coin by itself gives usually a good signal down deep, but throw in a little iron trash around it and you really have to work it.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

GET THE E-TRAC!!! I have hunted with White's, Tesoro, Nauti IIba, Explorer XS & II. I have had my E-Trac since November 2008 and it is the best detector I have ever used. It is a true pleasure hunting with this detector. I relic hunt and I will say the my button finds have increased by 70% since I have been using the E-Trac. I do run into the occassional coin every now and again and it sounds real pretty on them silver coins!

Once you switch, you will sell all your other detectors! Good luck!

Wes

 

[Jason in TN]

Hope this info helps if you are thinking of buying one. Will be glad to answer questions too.

Why yes it does help. And yes if you don't mind, I do have a question. I got an E-Trac coming in the mail as I write this. Man, that UPS guy is killing me! Anyway, I expect a learning curve so won't be changing much in the way of coils and such just yet. But here is my question.... How is pinpointing with the 12x15 SEF compared to the stock coil? Do you use Normal or Sizing, or for that matter do you even use Pinpoint?

Thanks,

Pinpoints the same way right in the center. Have dug many targets over 10" with the 12x15 Sef. If you take the time you can pin point right on with it.

 

[Butler]

Thanks Jason! Been using the E-trac for a couple of weeks now and it is NICE!! I got my first silver (ring) with it in a trashy park I thought had been hunted to death! Does take some getting used to and I am still trying to "tweak" it to my liking but I expected that as with any new MD one gets. So... I think I will hold off the 12x15 SEF for awhile until I get more comfortable with the E-trac. What do you think, 1 - 2 more days?

 

[LilloEsquilo]

May have to try one of these. Looks Like they are sold out right now.

I bought both arm cuffs. I made the mistake of buying the stainless steel one first that is advertised on eBay. What I got had rough edges that would cut your hands and scratches in the paint, it looked like something cobbled together just to make a buck with, and was so rough that I wouldn't have used it on my SE Pro. (I can post pics of it proving what I am saying if called on this no BS here).

I bought the black one, made by Jeff Herke, that is a work of art, EXACTLY what I was looking for. I bought a second, which I'm going to put on the Etrac I'm buying. His stuff is good and you won't be disappointed by it.

I tell it like I see it, good or bad, and I can recommend what Jeff makes.

 

[Jason in TN]

May have to try one of these. Looks Like they are sold out right now.

I bought both arm cuffs. I made the mistake of buying the stainless steel one first that is advertised on eBay. What I got had rough edges that would cut your hands and scratches in the paint, it looked like something cobbled together just to make a buck with, and was so rough that I wouldn't have used it on my SE Pro. (I can post pics of it proving what I am saying if called on this no BS here).

I bought the black one, made by Jeff Herke, that is a work of art, EXACTLY what I was looking for. I bought a second, which I'm going to put on the Etrac I'm buying. His stuff is good and you won't be disappointed by it.

I tell it like I see it, good or bad, and I can recommend what Jeff makes.

Thanks For the review. I will order one of Jeff's soon.

Jason

 

[steve from ohio]

Thanks For the review. I will order one of Jeff's soon.

Jason
[/quote]I would highly recommend Jeff's arm cuff. It is very comfortable and is easy to install.

 

[Marchas45]

Thanks For the review. I will order one of Jeff's soon.

Jason

I would highly recommend Jeff's arm cuff. It is very comfortable and is easy to install.
[/quote]


Steve, where did you get the grip from? My e-trac foam grip is ripping apart and I have duck tape around it and I have only had it a month, thanks, Charlie

 

[steve from ohio]

Thanks For the review. I will order one of Jeff's soon.

Jason

I would highly recommend Jeff's arm cuff. It is very comfortable and is easy to install.

Steve, where did you get the grip from? My e-trac foam grip is ripping apart and I have duck tape around it and I have only had it a month, thanks, Charlie

Go to Wal Mart. They have them in the sporting goods section. About 4 bucks.

One of the best modifications you can do for the E-trac is the Tennis Racket wrap on the foam grip. Easy to clean and lasts and lasts. Makes for a very comfortable grip.

 

[Marchas45]

Thanks For the review. I will order one of Jeff's soon.

Jason

I would highly recommend Jeff's arm cuff. It is very comfortable and is easy to install.

Steve, where did you get the grip from? My e-trac foam grip is ripping apart and I have duck tape around it and I have only had it a month, thanks, Charlie

Go to Wal Mart. They have them in the sporting goods section. About 4 bucks.

One of the best modifications you can do for the E-trac is the Tennis Racket wrap on the foam grip. Easy to clean and lasts and lasts. Makes for a very comfortable grip.

Thanks Steve will check out wal mart, thanks again, Charlie