Minelab Explorer Classroom Forum

Hey Guys been away from coin and relic hunting for a couple years last machine was a whites DFX which with the help of the DFX classroom I found it was a great machinewhen properly tweeked.So today when I stopped in the local treasure shop I decided to go with the explorer se pro and FBS 800 coil, So naturally I have showed up here for class,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, wonder what the teachers gonna look like this year

Hello cashmoney and welcome to the classroom. Although my Avatar shows the Safari, I also own the SE Pro. I've only had it a couple months and most of what I've learned (other than experience in the field) has come from these classrooms - of course youknow taht already having used the DFX and attending the DFX classrooms. Anyway, hang out here and also in the Explorer Forum pages and you will get a wealth of information. If you havent done so I also highly recommend Andy Sabisch's book "The Minelab - Explorer & E-Trac Handbook."

Out of curiosity, I would be interested in knowing why you chose the SE Pro over any of the other products available by Minelab or any other detector company? Also I am wondering if you also got the standard Pro Coil as well as the FBS 800?

Don from Virginia

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CTX-3030, SE Pro, ProPointer

I opted on the explorer mainly due to the fact I have grid hunted my parents 1851 victorian home with 4 mowed acres with the dfx and now I want to do same grid with the explorerand see what if anything i left.!!! i got the pro coil on the machine and bought the 8 also
thanks on the book tip

Ah, sounds like a great place to hunt. Well, if you didnt find many coins with the DFX, I'd be willing to bet you will with the Explorer. I have also found that the 800 coil nails quarters & dimes (and wheats), especially those hiding in trash but mine is especially good on quarters, both silver and clad and I almost always know it's a quarter before I dig and you will too once you get used to that sweet sound and the placement of the crosshair. This machine loves silver in any denominations though. I have done well with the stock coil too, it is real good in those not-so-trashy areas but I'd think areas in close proximity to the Victorian home and outdoor shop areas where there will be more iron, the 800 will do well. Don't over look the cellar entrance and the areas where there were out-door toilets on the property.

Good luck and HH,
Don

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CTX-3030, SE Pro, ProPointer

I hope you have the patience of a good fisherman. They have a long learning curve before it REALLY clicks. You will find a lot of deep targets that will surprise you but once you pay your dues thats when the real hunting begins. My moto...... never sell a machine until its paid for its self. If you do you can never say you learned it. Lot of very sharp people on here with a lot of skilled information that can help you hunt about any area. I used the DFX for a few years when they first came out and id say learned it pretty well before choosing on the SE as an old coin and relic machine. No disappointment what so ever. The Exp is a pretty forgiving machine and there are several ways to hunt it and produce some good finds. Enjoy.

Dew

thanks dew patience isnt a problem as a hardcore bowhunter I know patience. Machine wont be in till Friday so im still a little intimidated due to the fact I really got comfortable with the dfx and know NOTHING of the explorer but hey learning a new machine if half the fun isnt it. Plus back when I had my DFX a buddy had a explorer and was hitting targets i walked over SO..........

IF you do not expect too much and do not try too much...too fast.

The Explorer is more than capable of hitting an 8" coin directly out of the box in the factory presets.

If you want to save yourself a lot of frustration...AND cut the learning curve by 50%....LEAVE it in the factory presets for at least a few weeks.

DON'T mess or tinker with any setting whatsoever...no matter what you hear or read....just leave it alone and begin to learn the unique language it speaks.

After a few weeks in the factory presets...then you can start to tinker and piddle with settings.

A ton of different ways to set it up from conductive sounds/iron mask....to ferrous sounds/all metal...but for a few weeks....leave it alone.

If you take the time to learn it and don't try different settings for a few weeks....you will be justly rewarded with some nice finds.

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Here's the link to my field test post containing over 60 different hunts of various coil tests...comparisons...nicer finds...etc..:
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1055627,1055627#msg-1055627

Been swingin' the coil since 1972
Started out in 1972 with a Jetco Detector...then the late 70's with a Whites 6000....then in 1981 went to a Bounty Hunter VLF TR 840...then in the early 1980's I went to a Whites 6000 Di Pro...mid 80's I went to a Whites Eagle II SL...Late 80's/Early 90's I went to the Whites XLT...1990's I used the Fisher CZ5, CZ6, CZ7, 7aPro, and CZ70Pro...Started using Minelabs in 1999
with a brief stint on the Musketeer while also using the CZ's...then in 2002 I switched to the Minelab Explorers and currently use an Explorer 2, SE, SEPro, and E-trac with an arsenal of coils

Here's the story of my BEST FIND EVER.:
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,876944,876944#msg-876944

"Metal detecting is an escape for me and allows me to find some much needed peace and solace.
Being able to clear my head...even if only for that short while...is much more meaningful than any amount of finds that end up in my pouch" "Quote ME"

Planned on running in presets at least until freeze out and early spring to get a solid feel of what the machine is communicating then Ill hit you up for those settings I hear so much about LOL

Having used digital reading machine like the DFX it might be a little hard to break the habit.... but try using the Smartscreen out of the box there is just more information even with the cursor jump.

Dew

cashmoney --

You have the right mindset. You are going to do well with this machine. All the advice here is spot-on. I am willing to elaborate for you if you are interested, but hard to do with a keyboard. One other tip -- SLOW SLOW SLOW sweeps, ESPECIALLY in trash. Work an "iffy" target in the trash SLOW -- WAY slower than some other units (particularly White's machines -- I haven't used one in years, but have heard of White's users in particular having to REALLY adjust to the slower sweep speed). If interested, PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number and we can chat. I am not an "expert" like some others, but have been using mine heavily since April of this year and have just begun to get to that point that dewcon talked about above, where it REALLY clicks. You WILL find goodies very soon after you turn it on (assuming of course you are on a spot that holds some good targets). However, REALLY learning how it speaks to you takes some time...and obviously requires digging many targets from a wide range of ID's. But, you know this already...being only an "Explorer newb" and not an overall "detecting newb!"

Take care, and with your "bowhunter's" patience, you will find this to be an outstanding machine, in time...

Steve

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Minelab Explorer SE Pro, Fisher Gold Bug Pro (DP)
Garrett ProPointer
Lesche 38D "King of Spades"

Norman, OK

Forget you even owned a DFX .......... Start out like you have never detected before. Go back over all the spots you detected. DON'T GET FRUSTRATED..It will take you a little time swinging the Se Pro to start the understanding process....... Use Presets for 100 hours at least.............. Their are some real Pro's here........... They can help you a lot.. and the nice thing is "They Will"

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thanks guys for all the advice I hope the weather hear hold ( warm ) as I have fornd an old home stead from the early 1800s where the original log barn was just removed and dozed out flat hoping to hit a few old one sat am while running the presets.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2011 01:27AM by cashmoney.

sgoos66-

I will take you up on that offer after i get some time behind the machine .that way I will atleast have an educated vocabulary BTW how do you seen a PM on this sight I clicked your user name but all I got was all of your previous posts

Cash

Hey Cash -- see my username in the post above? Look beside it -- see where it says "send a message?" That's how you send a PM (or, you can click the user name like you did, and along with the "show posts" option, there should be a "send a message" option). If you can't see that option, or can, but can't send a message, it may be because you don't yet have enough posts on the forum. I'm thinking that there may be some minimum number of posts (10? 25?) that you need to have before you can send a PM to a member. OR, it may be based on time...you may have to be a member of the forum for some period of time (a week? two weeks? a month?) I can't remember for sure, but I'm thinking that may be the case for new users -- either a minimum number of posts, or a minimum amount of time as a member. before you can send a PM.

Once you are able, PM me any time, and I'll get you a number where you can call me if you need some help.

Good luck -- sounds like you have a GREAT site...

Steve

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Minelab Explorer SE Pro, Fisher Gold Bug Pro (DP)
Garrett ProPointer
Lesche 38D "King of Spades"

Norman, OK

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