Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!



Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

A few points for Mr. Sabisch and everyone else for that matter...(really, really long...sorry)

christopher-ohio

Active member
I was very excited to see that Minelab may have taken the next step for the Explorer with the E-Trac...so I went and bought one the first day it was available since I happened to be on vacation that week. Instead of waiting and watching to see what other guys on here thought of the new machine before buying one(which I personally value very highly), I thought I'd take a chance since it appeared to be the new "King of the Hill" or possibly have that potential. I drove 3 hours round trip to get one with my wife in tow which was amazing to me (but we did have lunch at a favorite spot down the way of the dealer before going there :) )

After checking it out and admiring this beautiful new machine the next day since all that driving wore me out, I read the manual and gave it my first trial at a site that I've hunted to death to see if I could find anything I may have missed with the other machines or "unmasked" with this new one.
First hunt with the E-TRAC...
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: August 31, 2008 07:30PM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

Well, I went up the street to an old farmhouse site this afternoon for about 1 1/2 hours where the house was removed that I've hunted to death with many great machines. I didn't expect to find much but mainly wanted to see how the machine worked on ground that I'm very familiar with, including deep iron targets that false high tone on my CZ's, Explorer II, etc...First off, the machine starts up in just a couple of seconds...very nice. The ground balance shows the progression by number percentage and takes at long as previous Explorers. It does tell you what channel it selected. I first tried the coin discrimination pattern but I found that some signals were broken due to partial discrimination. I tried ferrous and conductive sounds. Iron sounds like a coin so I had to use ferrous. I then decided to just use all metal, ferrous sounds after trying conductive for a bit with 18 manual sensitivity. Nice stable, quiet machine....felt a bit lighter and better balanced than the Explorers but it does still have some weight to it...easy to swing. Now the great part...I experienced absolutely no falsing on iron unlike my Explorer II plus I could hunt much faster since the machine was much faster with tones and cursor/numerical ID which locked on targets nice without much bouncing more than a few numbers. Another nice thing, small bits of aluminum can chopped up with a mower came in super low like foil 12-02 to the far left...bigger pieces would ID higher like 12-13, 12-15, 12-17 up to 12-27 depending on how big the piece was. It did seem very sensitive to small items but with very nice separation with the new 11" coil. I only found one coin-a chewed up, only part of a corroded zinc and I was fine with that but I dug absolutely no trash. I'm going to go to a place loaded with clad tomorrow see how it hits coins compared to the EX II. I don't have a sunray probe but the depth guage was right on and the pinpoint was super accurate...do I even need it and add the extra weight?...probably but we'll see. After digging a hole, the target could still be clearly heard swinging the coil back over it unlike an Explorer II. I really, really like the machine so far without any complaints whatsoever. I also had no glare issues with the display. It seems much more powerful than any of the Explorers and I think we are all going to be surprised at it's depth. We'll see what tomorrow brings...HH

Then I went out a second time and posted the finds...
2nd time out with the E-TRAC nets 26 coins in 1 1/2 hours at the 60's resort site
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 01, 2008 04:20PM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

I just went up the street to a 60's resort that's now being bull-dozed where I found clad quarter after clad quarter before with the EX II. I hunted the front part that was untouched old mowed turf. I had been over this area before with a CZ-70 some and mostly an EX II. Dry ground conditions but somewhat soft with black dirt. There's alot of iron, pulltabs, and trash since this was a pool area. I first started in all-metal and ferrous then said screw it, I'll just try the second discrim coins program in the machine with conductive sounds. Sounded like the good old Explorer but super fast-would null in the iron but reset quickly. Dug 12 clad dimes, 10 copper pennies with one a 1957-D wheat, 1 chewed up zinker, and two clads quarters but NO TRASH-not one piece! You see in the pic what was in my pocket when I left. The dimes read 11or12/43, the copper pennies mainly 11or12/43or44, the quarters 11or12/46. At times I was digging three coins in one hole-2 dimes and a pennie more than once. I found a 1990 Canadian dime that read I think 6-37 and the other dime with it 11-43 but sound a little weird but I still dug it. I did get real short mid and high tone blips for targets that were discriminated out but no iron falsing that would make me dig. I could hear that there were multiple coins in the hole with the 11" Pro coil. There were no empty holes-always a coin in it. Most were 3-7 inches deep with a solid lock as long as the target was well centered. So all in all, not a bad 1 1/2 hours-the E-TRAC is starting to pay for itself. That blister on my left hand from all that digging feels good



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2008 04:24PM by christopher-ohio.

After going through all the settings on the machine and doing more testing after two days, I simply decided that the lack of full ferrous sounds in all-metal and the FE-12 thing was better for an Explorer newbie...I didn't need a Minelab Engineer trying to change how I like to hunt...I certainly found coins with it but I missed the full complement of sounds and true smartfind ID too much compared to an Explorer...I like to be able to almost tell what I'm digging before I do...that again is just me and my preferences for a machine. If you look over my posts since the E-Trac era(or saga)
began I found many things I really liked about it compared to the Explorers and posted so. I don't need weeks, months, or years to figure out if a machine works like I would like it to...I saw some major things I didn't like which were not discussed on the MLO TV videos or any posts that I could find anywhere.

So I posted about this and was concerned that Minelab simply wanted us to figure out what they did...nobody explained it buy I read that Andy Sabisch was apparently coming out with a new book...to possibly explain all this?...but was Minelab waiting for the book to publish for the full details on this...I and others didn't know. Here's my post:

But I also think that most of us will buy the book anyway so why make us wait until the end of the month...
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 05, 2008 06:05PM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

just to boost book sales?...If that's the case then just tell us so. Andy is a super knowledgeable guy who surely puts his time and effort into this hobby for everyone's benefit. We will support him and appreciate his efforts. I don't think some insight into our ferrous and ID questions about the E-TRAC will detract from book sales since I'm sure there is much more to learn in the book about the detector...HH

From carefully reading this post doesn't it clearly point to that I was concerned that Minelab as the one who might be "withholding" some info and not Andy? Forgive me for having my issues with Minelab but I truly think it would be better to let everyone know that a new detector is coming out and approximately when so we can make an inform decision as to which machine we want instead of the big surprise each time...first the SE Pro with the new coil and now the E-Trac...these machines are really expensive...I bought an SE Pro days before the E-trac introduction was first leaked!

After your pleasant post in response to mine...
Sorry but I do not live on this forum!
Posted by: Andy Sabisch [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 05, 2008 09:07PM

I tried to explain that what I posted was entirely taken wrong by you in a follow-up post:

Andy, if you read my post I couldn't have been more positive about you...
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 05, 2008 09:52PM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

and would have no other reason not to be but after all the secrecy with Minelab about everything, one never knows what they(Minelab) might have directed in regard to further information release particularly "proprietary" information maybe? My statement was directed towards Minelab and not you in regard to "withholding" info. After all these FE 12 and ferrous sounds questions can you post something about it for all of us and not just personal phonecalls or PM's to individuals? I personally would never ask you to call me or respond to a PM since I know you are busy and have a super busy life. We don't know anything about your relationship with Minelab and frankly that's your business but no one has come forth from Minelab or anyone else to give us some more insight into this. I am sincerely sorry if it "struck a nerve". I certainly don't expect you to live on the forums either...looking forward to the book...thank you and good night


Then I posted trying to explain my thoughts a bit more:

In iron with ferrous tones, the audio is what is the most accurate differentiation for targets not the cursor and especially the digital numbers...
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 10, 2008 07:35AM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

to me, that's the big deal about ferrous audio and tones more than anything else with an Explorer. I can hunt a site in all metal and ferrous sounds with an Explorer, just listening and watching the ground to make sure I'm overlapping my swings as perfect as I can and pretty much know what I'm digging without really ever looking at the smartfind cursor or icon, especially since there's such a lag in the update in the iron. That's what I like about my Fisher CZ-70 Pro too...I can just listen to the audio and pretty much know what I'm digging even if there's an audio bounce- a huge advantage just not having to watch the meter but it's still there if I need it. For me, if I can't use ferrous tones and have the full audio differentation in all metal to minimize the nulling in the iron that occurs with any discrimination, then the E-Trac just isn't ideal for me at the kind of sites I always hunt. I know the E-trac is a new machine in many aspects and one has to learn how to use it to best utilize it's capabilities, but for the life of me, I can't see how it's better to not have that capability even with it's apparent better iron "see-through" capabilities. My brain just got used to the noise and a "good" target really stands out...just my humble opinion and experience...granted there are MUCH more experienced Explorer users out there including a Master who has wrote a book or two on the subject...thanks Andy as well as some that have their own website to kindly explain their take on the machine as well as all the experienced users on this fine forum...HH


After that post you still proceeded to send me a nasty PM which I responded to you further explaining and apologizing that you mistook what I was trying to say. I was only trying to acknowledge your experience, be humble, and show my appreciation to you and others on this forum that take the time to post their finds and share their knowledge...that's all...there was no sarcasm meant in that post and I'm sorry you or anyone else may have taken it that way.

I'm sorry to see that you have decided to escalate matters with your post...even after I explained what I was trying to say in my PM to you and posts to others on this forum...I'm sure everyone would love to read your PM to me and my PM response to you yet you still post this?


In response to A.S.'s post:A few points for Mr. "Digitrich"

A few points for Mr. "Digitrich"
Posted by: Andy Sabisch [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 16, 2008 06:39AM

3) You mention Chris . . . . you mean the guy that sold the detector a few days after he bought it and still swears it does not work? Must have learned a lot in those 2 days since the guy that bought the detector said it looked brand spanking new! He has shared so much useful information on this forum about the E-Trac (not) . .. I'm sure others are waiting with baited breath for his every post with the insight he and you have garnered. He is another that has posted and PM'd me with more personal jabs trying to prove some point he has no idea about what he is talking about.

Andy, it's my perogative if I want to sell a machine after I give it my rundown and decide it's not for me...two days or two years after I buy it. As a physician and surgeon for the Cleveland Clinic, am I just not smart enough to quickly figure some things out like this? Did I ever say it "does not work" after posting the coins I found with it my second time out? I said it simply does not work in the way I need it to at the type of sites I hunt in the manner I prefer as some others have noted too. My E-trac that I sold looked brand new because I wrapped the coil and coil stand in Saran wrap and left the plastic on the face so it would still be in perfect shape if I decided to sell it after a short time. I sure did use it and posted so. I'm sorry if you found that anything I posted about the E-Trac was not useful on this forum...I was just trying to figure this one out and help others like they have helped me over the years. Andy, I'm sorry you took my posts the wrong way since there were really no personal jabs...I think you need to read them again to try to see what I was trying to say instead of "don't confuse me with the fact, my mind is already made up" approach. If I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about then what others have posted on here and taught me must just all be wrong? Please explain my errors for the benefit of others please.

Amen, Jim, give me an E-Trac like it is now but with full ferrous audio in all-metal and no FE-12 with full ID capability and...
Posted by: christopher-ohio [ Send a PM ]
Date: September 14, 2008 07:47AM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 594

I'd buy two and probably not need to use anything else These are the things that I saw early on that made me realize the machine wasn't for me but maybe for someone else who wasn't as familiar with an Explorer. I still think the E-Trac is a tremendous machine but not for me with the way I hunt with an Explorer in ferrous sounds in all-metal which I feel for me is the way to get the most out of the machine at all the old house, farm, and cellar hole sites I go to...I just never hunt parks. I think it's unfortunate that all the personal bashing occurs on the forum for those who are able to "see" the issues in their opinion and report them for the good of all yet still offend or infuriate others for doing so who take it all the wrong way unfortunately I have always sincerely appreciated much more experienced Explorer users such as yourself and others to the time to evaluate a new machine as objectively as possible to try to prove it is actually better...thank you and happy hunting!

Sorry, I have always had a love/hate relationship with the Explorers like many others out there but the E-Trac was the first of the series that I really,really liked until I learned more about it and it's engineering issues for me. I am sincerely happy that there are some that are estatic about the new E-Trac...I hope it is the best machine ever for them. If I am not posting in a postive enough manner for you and others...it is hurtful when things are taken entirely the wrong way...my apologies again...but frankly I am done with all of this so you will not see any more post from me at all which I'm sure will make you and some others happy...it's funny, the only metal detecting books I have in my home office in my book case have the same author...you...I have always appreciated your posts, books, reviews, field tests and just sharing your knowledge with us over the years...we have all chosen to be a part of this hobby and must try to take the high road for the good of all and give others the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise and not ASSUME(mild personal jab actually intended this time). If I am truly trying to make a personal jab, it's usually very obvious but I prefer to do it through a PM. I have had the pleasure of getting to know many on this forum over the years and even getting together to hunt on occasion...those who truly know me, understand me, and what was trying to say...sorry for all the troubles...happy hunting and thanks for your new book! :detecting:
 
The internet is unlike other relationships. You have to extend a lot more latitude. Words on a screen convey very little emotion and no nuance....

We know that you didn't mean any harm. Neither did anyone else....
I hope that you will continue to post. I too have had a love/hate relationship with the Explorer. I understood the SovereignGT right away....

I do think that you sold your ET too soon but that is entirely your decision and my opionion is simply that... my opinion, it does not invalidate yours, I have no problem with you and neither should anyone else, and truth be known they probably don't.

Anyway, it seem's that you got your feelings hurt. I have had my feelings hurt on forums before. Don't let it change things... don't leave. We all contribute and we all are of value. Hang around...

J
 
Chris,

Again, not knowing you or how you come across, all anyone has on the Internet is words on the screen. The "well meaning jabs" are often taken the wrong way which is why they say that E-mail is misconstrued 89% of the time. If this was not your intent as your post alludes to, then I apologize.

The perception that I have withheld information for any intentional purpose is about as far from the truth as one can get and I am not pointing this at Chris. I have tried to be allowed to post certain information on the forums but need to do it within the guidelines I was given when certain information was discussed with me and others during the development process. There are others that can just as easily step forward and answer some of the posts that have come up . . . . . luckily I am away from home for 2 weeks in training and am able to spend more time that I would normally have on the forums but that comes to an end Friday.

I think we all need to step back and remember what the purpose of the forums - any of them - really is. They are to exchange ideas and finds . . . . . and not to get into a rock throwing contest where no one comes out on top. As the old saying goes, "If you don't have anything positive to say about someone, don't say anything at all." If you do not see any value in someone's ideas or suggestions, ignore them and don't feel compelled to slam the person . . . . . . use what you can and ignore the rest. What works for one person may not work for the next one. If you have some CONSTRUCTIVE input post it but stop with the "you are wrong" line of attack.

The forums have taken on a far more adversarial image in recent years and that can explain why some of the "ol' timers" are no longer posting.

You are correct in that you can buy and sell a unit whenever you want and as I said, I do not know of any dealer holding a gun to a customer's head making them buy a specific detector. We all need to use what works for your style. To be honest, after my car accident a few years ago, I have found myself using detectors other than the Explorer due to the weight / balance issue. Did I miss some targets that I could have hit with the Explorer? Maybe, but if you come home in pain each time, the whole point of going out is lost.

Chris, I would like to offer you the olive branch and start on a clean slate moving forward . . . if I read something negative into a post, I'll either shrug it off or PM you if it sticks with me.

Hopefully this will start getting the discussions back on the right track.

Andy Sabisch
 
GOOD WORDS GUYS AND THAT'S A CUTE SKIT MIKE.----NOW WE CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE & GO FROM HERE---RIGHT????----RIGHT?????------I WANT TO LEARN SOME MORE FROM YOU GUYS!!!-------DEL
 
I am glad to see you stood up and protected your image. I could see you gave it a go and you know what you like and dislike. It's not for you and it doesn't take a few years to find that out. I on the other hand buy detectors to keep and will not let them go till I know I have squeezed all the juice out of them. I am just a hobbist and not a professional with tons of years experience with lots of different detectors. Nor is my income great enough to try any detector I want and resell if I am not happy. I have to wait and wait...and read and read....and decide if it is worth the purchase....cause once I do I know I will be less that much bill $$$$.....I am so lucky I made a good choice my first purchase on the Explorer XS.....and I agree that the Explorers are very versital and gives the best all around info on a target. I cannot afford an e-trac and am happy with what I have now...cause it is just a hobby and the guy next to me hunting along the same field could give a hoot what the other guy has.....it is all in fun and comrads with one mission..find the oldies...looking forward to meeting you this fall.....If you bring your cz-70....I would like to see how that works if you don't mind...I almost purchased one but didn't, due to lack of funds. Before I bought the XS I had 3 picked out....CZ-70, CZ-7aPro, or the Explorer XS. All the research was done from reading posts from this forum (Findmall). So buyers do read these forums and listen to people like us with our own opinions.....they need to remember it is just an opinion and what works for us.

Happy Hunting Chris.....:thumbup:
 
"Physician and Surgeon" $1500 is not much for you and you can easily turn it over to someone else. Some of us out here also have High levels of education. A matter of fact I repair Biomedical Equipment that some of you doctor screw up. My brother and Nephew are both surgeons and are also somewhat Narcissistic The ones out here who like this machine, are a little taken back by someone who claims he is an expert in 2 days and than puts it down.
 
Glad I read the above. I was about to totally abandon this forum after pretty severe comments directed towards me by the forum administrators. I made a honest mistake and they assumed it was blatant disregard for the forum and it's operating procedures. Nothing is farther from the truth. Guess I'll just read on and disregard things I don't like and read operating rules more closely. Thanks for above. Jim
 
I'm looking for a different detector and stop at the various forums to read abut new detectors.Very informative.Like to see how other detectors work in Ohio soil.
 
Having the moeny to buy and try anything is one's perogative . . . . . I have done the same with vehicles much to my wife's dismay (and mine in hindsight I guess).

If the frustration level got too much and the Explorer was the machine to use, then no one can fault him for taking that route - having the $$ or not.

As I said on another post, let's take the high road and keep the forums for what they are - an exchange of helpful, useful info on metal detecting

Andy
 
n/t
 
I appreciate all the people that have stepped forward and decided enough is enough. I have not posted in a while simply because I was tired of the fighting. Most of it is due to not being able to see or hear the way the posts are intended. It has stopped me from posting my experiences on the E trac. I have had issues with people here and feel it was frustration on all of our parts. To those I offended, my apologies. But we must be tolerant of others. The Internet is such a faceless entity. You can say anything you want without seeing the pain you may cause someone else. I will try and keep my posts constructive, even if it means that my view points are negative. If anyone is offended by my responses, please PM me and keep it off of the forum. It is probably a misunderstanding on our parts. I will try and post some finds soon, and what I've learned so far. Good luck and finally HH.
 
John,

I am actually a very down to earth simple guy who grew up in a very small town in Northern Ohio without a silver spoon. My parents started with nothing and worked their way up through the years as have I and became rather successful but still very unpretentious. Being a doc to me is just a degree with all the experience behind it no different than someone who is highly trained in biomedical equipment repair, computer programming or repair, plumbing, an electrician, or any other trade or specialty- I can't do any of those afore mentioned trades/jobs/careers or most others to any high degree since I haven't had the formal training so I am highly respectful of everyone and their abilities. I personally choose not to drive an expensive car or live in a really expensive house-moderation is my M.O....but I do like metal detectors to my wife's chagrin and our bank account. I chose to spend my discretionary (and some not) on metal detectors. I have used most high end detectors and know how to use them pretty well including the Explorers...the E-Trac is an extraordinary machine in it's own right and I loved it for the most part compared to the Explorers for many reasons. I was not an expert for sure after two days but I decided to simply stick with one machine that I've used for thousands of hours until hopefully the next version is introduced someday that has most everything I am looking for in a machine. I don't want to beat a dead horse but for me the nulling in all the heavy iron I usually hunt in was a problem plus I missed all the tones in ferrous sounds with the full smartfind without the Fe-12 too much and that's all. I didn't find hunting with the E-Trac frustrating or difficult at all...I just couldn't make it do what I wanted and it just bugged me...the Explorer spoiled me in that regard (call me a control freak I guess :) ) I liked the E-Trac so much initially that I sold an SE Pro I just bought a few days before the E-Trac was revealed because I didn't want to go back to an Explorer and still don't for my own personal reasons. I'm sincerely sorry if I offended you with my posts because it surely was not intended for anybody on here. I love this forum and have met so many super guys and gals over the years...made some good friends and detecting buddies too. I wish you the best and look forward to more of your posts and finds-surely you have a great area to detect with even lots more history than here in Ohio...happy hunting :detecting:
 
I think that the swipes at Chris from Ohio are unfair and certainly not called for. Here is a guy who is an open and honest communicator and for that he gets ripped? This is a hobby and forum enjoyed by individuals from all walks of life, some can barely afford a detector to take part with and others can afford multiples including the latest and greatest. Is that a big surprise, and, more importantly, does it matter? Out of curiosity I stopped by the X-Terra forum on this site and there I found individuals discussing detecting, finds, technique accessories, etc. None of the sniping found in the Explorer forum, but detectorists sharing experiences and enjoying the forum and hobby. It is a hobby after all, isn't it? I say come on in, but please leave your ego at the door.
 
...and to John, Andy, and anybody else that might think otherwise, let me say this:

A forum is a place where we run into ALL manner of people from ALL walks of life. And in the absence of face-to-face contact, it's sometimes hard to "read" what is really being said and HOW it's being said. And many for some reason seem to get their panties in a wad, unnecessarily, as we have seen HERE.

I used to be a busy poster here, having been very successful with both an Explorer II and an SE. I now own only an Excalibur, a Sovereign GT, and a CZ-70, so I don't post here much anymore. It's what I choose to hunt with NOW, because I like these machines better, for ME, and the way I like to hunt.

But let me say this...I've met Christopher from Ohio in person. He drove here from Ohio to meet me in Danville, Virginia and share a private property opportunity with me for two days. We had a great time and he is a great person, and VERY down to earth. We've been keeping in touch since meeting on the forums for years now and he and his lovely wife and family came down here again recently and came out of their way to come to Virginia Beach and meet my wife and I for dinner. We had a great time because Chris is great people. And every post he has ever made on any forum has been of the highest caliber and he goes to great lengths to help people whenever he can. To judge him any differently is a HUGE MISTAKE, a great injustice and is deserving of an apology.

My two LARGE CENTS.

EDIT: I wrote the above before noticing the post farther down from Andy with the "Olive branch". I didn't change anything though because there isn't enough good things than can be said about Christopher, and since I DID take the time to write it... :shrug:
 
Top