Minelab E-TRAC Forum

I am having difficulty pin pointing my e-trac. Even when I use Goes4ever's method [Youtube video] I'm having trouble. Can anyone offer some advice?

Can you give some details as to your problem

I am not sure if you detected before with another Detector

But when you hit pin point and the item is below the middle of your coil it SCREAMS and the bulls eye is solid

Good Luck

I have tried G4E's pinpointing method and it doesn't work for me either, close but not close enough for my recovery method. I hit the pinpoint button and pass the coil over the target rather fast a few times. Every time you pass over the target the sound gets shorter watch and mark a line in the center of the coil where the sound peaks. Turn 90 degrees and repeat. I use the little white Minelab logo as center to put the line on. When the sound peaks the target should be under that logo. I go one step farther and turn 45 degrees, if center point moves you did it a bit off or the target is at an angle and nothing can determine which way so a bit of a shot in the dark on retrieval. Get better with practice.

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Detecting since 1962 all dimes were silver then!!

My location: Martin City, Montana

If you are in heavy iron the normal pinpoint mode on the E-Trac is the way to go then (It narrows down over the target). The sizing mode picks up too much from around the target but I still use it most of the time as I like "sizing" the target if possible.

Goes4Ever method works pretty well for me. If you get a 4 way signal it is pretty easy to find the center though, just takes more time than pinpoint.

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Detector - E-Trac
Pro-Pointer w/ Sidekick (supertuner)
Lesche Knife

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."
Yoda

Quote
kurtallen
I am having difficulty pin pointing my e-trac. Even when I use Goes4ever's method [Youtube video] I'm having trouble. Can anyone offer some advice?

If you have Andy's book, he explains several different ways (using the front of the coil, i.e, signal drops off, wiggle method, turning the coil on end, centering by using different angles, etc.) you can pinpoint with the E-Trac. If you don't, I can scan the pages for you and send them to you in a PM.

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HH

Steve - Northern Virginia

Detectors: Minelab Excalibur II w/ Plugger Two Piece Travel Shaft and Knob Guard
Minelab E-Trac w/ Sun Ray Probe, Pro-Tector Rain Jacket, Pro-Tector Padded E-Trac Cover, Swingy Thingy Harness
Garrett Infinium LS w/ Plugger Two Piece Travel Shaft

Accessories: Predator Tools Model 75 Digging Tool, Predator Tools Model 85 Digging Tool, Predator Tools Raven Model 25 Shovel, Sunspot Stealth 6.5 Classic Beach Scoop, RTG Beachmaster Water Scoop, Pro Beach & Water Hunting Pouch, Sun Ray Deluxe Treasure Pouch, Sun Ray Pro Gold Headphones, Garrett Waterproof Headphones, Garrett Pro-Pointer, Sun Ray Coin Popper, Minelab Detector Carry Bag

Excal II Coils: Stock 10"

E-Trac Coils: 6" DD EXcelerator EQ 2 Pro, Sun Ray Stealth X-8, 12x10" SEF (Butterfly), 15x12" SEF (Butterfly)

Infinium Coils: Garrett 10 x 14 DD, Garrett 8" Mono

Oldest Coins Found - 1816 Coronet Large One Cent (Matron Head), 1834 Bust Dime, 1847 Seated Half Dime

If you are having pinpointing issues, I have noticed a trick that helps me. If you lift your ET off the ground, away from any potential targets, before you push the pinpoint button it seems much better. I noticed this after a few instances where pinpointing was not perfect. I not always move the coil away from any potential targets before pushing pinpoint and that solved the problem. I rarely ever use pinpoint anymore though. I now swing in disc, turn 90 and swing again. Works every time. Just practice and you will have pinpointing nailed in no time. Good luck and let us know if you figure it out. HH -Marc

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XP Deus / Large Coil / Garrett Pro Pointer
Minelab E-Trac / Sun-Ray X-1
Minelab Excalibur II 1000 / Vibra-Quatic / Anderson CF "Shorty" Setup For Diving
Minelab Excalibur II 1000 / Anderson CF Straight Rod

I started metal Detecting in 1977 and stopped with the birth of my daughter [1986] I started with a Garretts-then White's, and finished with a Fisher. Don't ever remember having trouble pin pointing. Of course the coils were a lot smaller back then.

I hardly ever use the pin-point mode. I just wiggle over the target and watch the depth indicator. When I see it steady at it's shallowest depth, I'm on it. Works great.

Thanks guys, I try all your ideas today. I'll get back to you on how I do. Appreciate all your input.

I usually use pinpoint, locate the target, then come out of pinpoint and reswing the target. This often gives me a better picture (numbers wise) of the target. Then I go back into pinpoint and use the 4 signal method from different angles to get to center. Usually gets me right on top of the target.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2012 02:16PM by usafaviator.

Used a combination of everyone's idea. Successful for the most part. Only twice had a problem. Switched from Normal to Sizing [thanks earthmansurfer]. Most difficult find was a memorial that sounded like a dime in the roots of a dead tree.
6 clad quarters
8 clad dimes, 1 mercury 1945-D
1 nickel
10 memorials

I use sizing, helps to eliminate the cans and some can slaw. I listen for the short wrrp wrrp...coin, ring, or pull tab. if I hear wrrrrrrrrrp wrrrrrrrp I dig a can or aluminum/copper pipe or junk. Aluminum cans also bounce conductive 1-40s 12-40s 13-40s 6-40s 16-40s 18-40s...