Theres been several users asking for a Minelab E-Trac Classroom type forum and this is it. Ray (MO) will be handling the forum initially. Ask away and find out what youve been missing.http://www.findmall.com/list.php?71Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:55:43 -0500 Phorum 5.2.18 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1915241,1915241#msg-1915241 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1915241,1915241#msg-1915241 Nock Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSat, 25 May 2013 17:18:43 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1914240,1914240#msg-1914240 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1914240,1914240#msg-1914240 capecrazy Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumMon, 27 May 2013 15:01:09 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1913491,1913491#msg-1913491 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1913491,1913491#msg-1913491
However I sold the SE Pro a year or so ago.

Now I have picked up another E-trac...yes I had one for a short amount of time until something serious came up that forced me to sell it.

Anyway, I have several colonial era hay fields that are just LOADED with aluminum cans...not so much slaw but more so larger sections and usually whole or half cans. So I am not dealing with a lot of cut little bits...a little but not much.

On a standard VLF cans are too much of a pain to differentiate especially when they are 11" deep. They ID the same as say a shallow large frock button. Now this is on the Teknetics and Fisher machines..

So I picked up an E-Trac for fields like this.

Question is....first off is there already a pattern loaded up here somewhere for this type of issue or does someone have some setting suggestions.

The iron here is not too bad in the fields just mainly 35 years of the guys tossing their cans in the ground......!!!

scott]]> azsh07 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 22 May 2013 16:13:38 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1912093,1912093#msg-1912093 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1912093,1912093#msg-1912093 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumMon, 17 Jun 2013 20:39:15 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1910834,1910834#msg-1910834 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1910834,1910834#msg-1910834 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 15 May 2013 20:09:18 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1904688,1904688#msg-1904688 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1904688,1904688#msg-1904688 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 22 May 2013 15:05:01 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1904623,1904623#msg-1904623 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1904623,1904623#msg-1904623 gfatizzi Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumThu, 09 May 2013 21:17:41 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900793,1900793#msg-1900793 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900793,1900793#msg-1900793(This message does not contain any text.)
]]> LittleJohn Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumMon, 13 May 2013 08:31:18 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900669,1900669#msg-1900669 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900669,1900669#msg-1900669 t8474kj1 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSat, 27 Apr 2013 05:37:38 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900299,1900299#msg-1900299 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1900299,1900299#msg-1900299 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumTue, 21 May 2013 11:17:24 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899846,1899846#msg-1899846 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899846,1899846#msg-1899846 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumMon, 13 May 2013 12:50:08 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899258,1899258#msg-1899258 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899258,1899258#msg-1899258I know that the WOT coil costs more, but that doesn't always mean it's better.
Is there anyone that has experience with both? or just one or the other?
Thanks
Travis]]> tjn63 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSun, 28 Apr 2013 08:40:55 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899195,1899195#msg-1899195 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1899195,1899195#msg-1899195 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 01 May 2013 01:46:06 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1897346,1897346#msg-1897346 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1897346,1897346#msg-1897346but I have a quick question guys.
I totally understand the (go slow) method for for maximum separation and to really pick out
the targets among the trash but do you actually have to start the hunt with this slow 3-4 sec
sweep or ONLY when you find something and then want to analyze it?

Thanks guys!
Pete

OH! Been reading about TTF a lot too BUT what does TTF actually stand for?]]> knightsquad Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSat, 20 Apr 2013 23:39:21 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1892340,1892340#msg-1892340 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1892340,1892340#msg-1892340
Things I like about it...

It goes deeper than the pro coil
Identifies deeper targets more accurately than the procoil
Target seperation is excellent...and I would have to say more crisp than the procoil

Things I dislike...

After 4-5 hours of swinging it...rigormortise sets into right arm
not a fan of the color...white


I think this coil will stay on the etrac unless I have a need to put on the x-5 for really trashy sites. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it or not because in the area I was hunting I coudln't run it at +3 in auto or it would be falsing on iron...dug plenty of it to prove the theory...then backed it down to A or -1 and it was smooth and deep with no falsing again. Cant wait to get into some good ground and see what this monster will do.

Overall I think it was a good move to go with this coil, definitely an improvement over the stock coil and was seeing targets that a CTX with stock coil struggled with. I had better ID at depth than he did...we both agreed on that. Now to swing it over some old silver coins and quit digging all this darn clad!

LittleJohn]]> LittleJohn Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumMon, 03 Jun 2013 21:45:29 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1891803,1891803#msg-1891803 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1891803,1891803#msg-1891803 Ohio Digger Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumTue, 07 May 2013 21:03:43 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1881345,1881345#msg-1881345 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1881345,1881345#msg-1881345
The display is divided into two or four audio zones, each with their corresponding color. Suggested discrimination areas (DISC) are in lined dark red shading. The light-grey hatched areas represent non-ferrous target rich areas, zones where a target response is likely to be something of value.

The horizontal grey stripe at 12Fe is the "Ideal Non-Ferrous Zone". That is, it is where the majority of good non-ferrous targets would lay if not for down averaging by mineralized soil, iron contamination, and the conduction loss via oxidation/decomposition in targets buried for long periods. The grey stripe is just for reference.

The orange and green stripes are visual examples tied to the narrative explaning how that Audio Tone ID would respond along that vertical stripe. In other words, if a real target bounced up-down along the Fe scale in the orange or green stripe area, what would you expect to hear in the audio tone. This is done so you can think about how each Audio Tone setup affects the target audio.

There are narrative overviews of how the tones can be used or altered with judicial use of DISC to give more intelligent meaning to the audio. Everyone will have different setups for their particular hunting style and sought targets, so these are only suggestions.

Four-Tone Conduct Setup

Two-Tone Conduct Setup

Four-Tone Ferrous Setup

Two-Tone Ferrous Setup

]]> Johnnyanglo Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumFri, 10 May 2013 22:50:52 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1874627,1874627#msg-1874627 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1874627,1874627#msg-1874627
On the second day I tried Goes4evers TTF setup and i did a lot of digging...found several 22 casings deep and pieces of brass, copper etc.

Here's the problem. Many times i struggle to separate the good target from the iron, because there are so many targets in the ground...and what should be a moderate size relic plug starts looking like an excavation to put in a new foundation. In TTF i don't always get the higher tone all the way around the target because there is so much iron grunting going on but when I do get the higher tone with a slow smooth sweep, I waggle it back and pinpoint and start digging. Seems like even then the pinpoint is off to one side or another.

I'm thinking about an 8x6 SEF coil to be able to separate targets better and have less targets under the coil at the same time. I have been following Goes4ever's videos on youtube and it seems to be working well for him.

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to what coils you like for trashy areas? I am new to the etrac, but I intend to keep at it with this detector for quite a while. I don't want to run out and buy a bunch of coils but if there is a better coil than stock for the place I am hunting...I'd like to hear any suggestions that are out there.

Thanks

LittleJohn]]> LittleJohn Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 13 Mar 2013 21:21:31 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1870768,1870768#msg-1870768 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1870768,1870768#msg-18707681.What is your favorite DD coil and why?

2.Does the coils shape mean anything other than pinpointing and greater coverage?(round Vs. elliptical)

3.Does i.e. the 6x8 detect as deep as an 8" or 6" round DD coil or somewhere in between?
(I have heard it said that an elliptical generally has better separation and coverage but has less depth than it's size would indicate)

4.If you mostly use the stock Procoil, how long did it take you to get the pinpointing technique down?
I have found with the elliptical SEF the targets seem to pinpoint in the center like a concentric coil(instead of the front tip or back tip as I have read pinpointing with a DD described) Does that make sense or is it my imagination?:confused:

5. Can someone with TTF experience give me there take on using that searching mode? Is it worth using in a non-ferrous trash laden site or only when there are lots of ferrous junk targets?

6. Someone told me they go over a site with their Sovereign GT after using their Etrac and find lots of stuff the Etrac missed: does that sound likely? The only thing I could see that makes sense about that is if they are digging more targets because there is either no visual ID (meter) or that even with a Sov meter you only have the one digital number to go by.

Of course no one has to answer all of those questions but any tips and/or info would be appreciated. I am really enjoying the Etrac!]]> RetiredVeteranTH Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSun, 10 Mar 2013 03:07:17 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1869275,1869275#msg-1869275 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1869275,1869275#msg-1869275I have a question about the tones on the TTF program, What is consider a iron tone or better to said from what number line is the diference on the tone?
please let me know, Ive been hunting on TTF for the last month and I have dig good targets wile they sound mix of tone, a good example are wheat pennies and nickles.
please let me know. I've been using a 14" coil on my local parks and been able to get a nice silver dime and a quarter too.
thx.
HH.
Elki.]]> elki1052 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 13 Mar 2013 21:47:58 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1864850,1864850#msg-1864850 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1864850,1864850#msg-1864850 jyblood Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumThu, 14 Mar 2013 10:39:09 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1863912,1863912#msg-1863912 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1863912,1863912#msg-1863912 Jeff63 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSat, 02 Mar 2013 14:51:57 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1862971,1862971#msg-1862971 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1862971,1862971#msg-1862971
The 0/0 to around 10/25.

Thanks
Bill]]> FordGalaxy Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumWed, 13 Mar 2013 22:25:50 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1862452,1862452#msg-1862452 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1862452,1862452#msg-1862452 WBR Relic Hunter Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumThu, 21 Feb 2013 09:09:53 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1858326,1858326#msg-1858326 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1858326,1858326#msg-1858326
TYPES OF QUESTIONABLE TARGET RESPONSES

When you receive a questionable signal of the Coin+Nail type, you are likely to hear either of these two almost repeatable audio responses:

1) initially a "broken" and "one-way" signal of a high-pitched tone AND nulling of Threshold if the iron nails or iron objects of a similar size are REJECTED in the Discrimination pattern;
As soon as you isolate the high-tone signal by approaching the spot with a search coil from different directions and using very short spans of coil passes, the signal becomes "two-way" repeatable.

2) a "broken" and "one-way" signal of a high or high-pitched tone AND a low-tone iron response to a nail if nails are ACCEPTED;
Like in the first case, as soon as you isolate the high-tone signal by approaching the spot with a search coil from different directions, the signal becomes "two-way" repeatable.

NOTE: In many cases, rusty wrought nails with large heads and square nails (cast iron) can cause the two-way repeatable audio responses of the Coin+Nail type due to their characteristic ability to exhibit both ferrous and conductive properties. They can be identified using accurate pinpointing: if the actual center (highest tone pitch and maximum volume) of the pinpoint audio response to the target is not where the center of the isolated high-tone signal was located during detection, the target is a rusty nail.

It is best to dig up these questionable signals to be sure before you master this technique. Just keep in mind that there are many variables "in the equation", and a number of possible "coin+nail" positions in the ground is infinite.

How To Recognize Ambiguous Responses To Coins Close to Nails with Minelab E-TRAC

With Minelab's FBS technologies, a signal is analyzed from a wide range of responses - 28 in total. This allows the E-Trac metal detector to analyze 28 times more target information than a single-frequency detector is allowed to process, and, therefore, the target identification is not only considerably more accurate but also remains that way under adverse metal detecting conditions.

Superiority of the Minelab FBS detectors to other brands' metal detectors also manifests itself in situations related to QUESTIONABLE responses to coins lying in close proximity to iron nails. Metal detectors of other brands do not have such effective means for dealing with ambiguous signals. The E-Trac's Smartfind system along with the FBS technology make it fast and simple for an operator to distinguish responses to good targets from iron false signals.

Upon hearing a questionable response of the Coin+Nail type (described on previous page), you should employ the following E-Trac features for signal analysis:

1) QuickMask's Smartfind window which shows the Target Crosshair position and the target's FE-CO properties on the screen - a 2-Dimensional Phase-Shift Scale;

2) "SIZING" option of the Pinpoint mode (activated by pressing the Pinpoint button on a Control Panel);

3) Depth Gauge with its range of 0-30cm (0-12 inches) from top to bottom.


To analyze an ambiguous target signal, you should follow these steps:

1) Switch to the QuickMask screen (an example of the QuickMask Discrimination pattern is shown here) by pressing the QuickMask button to open the Detect Screen Quick Menu);

2) Sweep a search coil, with extremely narrow and slow coil movements, over the signal spot. Make sure you get the most stable FE-CO reading by approaching the spot with a search coil from different directions or simply TURN 90° on it.

3) As soon as you start getting the most repeatable response, keep moving the coil over that point without changing direction or raising the coil, and look where the Target Crosshair is located in the Smartfind window:
If it is in the lower right corner, you have less chances to dig up a coin.
If the cursor is somewhere between the FE-17 and FE-28 lines, your chances to dig up a coin are a little better.
If it is "hovering" over one of the "coin spots" inside the Conductivity area located above the FE-17 line, it is time to start thinking about calling your detecting buddies over to look at your cool coin find. :)

4) Now you need to keep an eye on the FE-CO readings - this is the most important part of the process. Do not pay much attention to a Fe number as its values will be fluctuating vigorously with every pass of the coil.

This occurs only to the Fe numbers, especially of targets buried deeper than 4 inches, because the Fe numbers represent the target's magnetic properties, and if the coin's response gets affected by nearby iron junk, the coin's Fe reading will be influenced and distorted by close presence of magnetic material. This is why the Fe values are not considered reliable and should not be used for identifying coins, especially deep ones.

The Conductivity readings are usually more stable in cases like this, and, therefore, they play a KEY ROLE in analyzing the target properties, especially of those targets that are lying deeper than 4 inches underground. If you notice that the Co value changes only by 1-4 units with every sweep of the coil, or has the same reading upon every third, or even fourth, sweep, you start calling your buddies over.

5) After you are done with that, make sure that your target is not just a large steel bolt or anything else of a large size. Press the Pinpoint button and pinpoint the target. Do not activate pinpoint when a search coil positioned directly over the target, or the target will be masked out by autotuning feature (for Pinpointing procedure, refer to pages 33 and 77 of the Manual).

While pinpointing, determine the "size" of an audio response and observe the Depth Gauge. Keep in mind that this gauge is factory-calibrated only for coin-size objects. And make sure that you are not pinpointing a rejected target near the potential coin-find because 1) the depth gauge is updated for rejected targets as well, and 2) Discrimination patterns of Smartfind and QuickMask are temporarily disengaged during pinpointing, and you may confuse a coin's depth indication with indication for a junk target. If the gauge indicates large depth, and the audio response is also "large", or the depth gauge shows no depth, and the size of the "screaming" response is larger than your search coil, you better drop your "project" and start running away from fast approaching buddies.

Here is another tip for pinpointing a questionable target: if, during pinpointing, the most strong audio indication of the target is slightly off to the side from where the coin-like signal was initially "picked up" in normal mode of searching, the target is most likely a wrought iron nail with a large nail-head.

But if pinpointing indicates a coin-like object right on the spot, there still will be some time left for you to recover the coin before you hear "Lemme see that!" from your buddies standing by. It usually takes an experienced detectorist a couple of minutes to complete all five steps of this procedure, and less than 30 seconds to recover a coin with use of an electronic pinpointer, probe or inline probe.

This procedure is very easy to do and will become your second nature after some practice. And you will sure develop your own technique and come up with some tricks for analyzing the dubious responses of coins. The major rule in dealing with questionable signals is simple: if you notice any consistency in the target's CO readings, and you hear the high-pitched tone, dig the target!]]> huntindog1 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumThu, 25 Apr 2013 22:41:52 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1851619,1851619#msg-1851619 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1851619,1851619#msg-1851619 lawnminer Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumTue, 26 Mar 2013 11:32:07 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1850942,1850942#msg-1850942 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1850942,1850942#msg-1850942What are your recomendations? Does anyone know of any good videos to watch?
I just have the stock coil. What other coils do you guys recommend, and why?
I use a 10x12 SEF on my DFX and it's gets me the extra depth that I want. I was kind of thinking of going the same route with the E-trac. What do you think?]]> tjn63 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumSun, 03 Feb 2013 01:48:25 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1834312,1834312#msg-1834312 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1834312,1834312#msg-1834312
Chatter is normal at sensitivity 30... you have to get used to it. It can cause signal fatigue and even headache for some.

But if you turn the audio-gain down, between 18-20, you will also make the chatter quieter. Deeper signals will also be "quieter" but still very clear and stand out from the chatter. Below 18 and you might start missing stuff...

I have found this to be very, very helpful in field hunting with the normal coil.

happy new year...

and GL/HH!]]> pocketspill Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumFri, 18 Jan 2013 22:38:24 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1834132,1834132#msg-1834132 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1834132,1834132#msg-1834132 Jeff63 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumTue, 01 Jan 2013 06:10:19 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1833113,1833113#msg-1833113 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?71,1833113,1833113#msg-1833113
Is it advisible?

Right now I have my gain cranked up as I know this will help push through the really deep targets...but at a lot of sites I detect there are a lot of shallow targets that I usually ignore... (things under 2 inches)]]> fsdigital12 Minelab E-Trac Classroom ForumFri, 08 Mar 2013 21:41:14 -0600