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Considering a switch to Minelab...but need help on choosing machine...

sgoss66

Well-known member
Hi everyone. I'm sure this question has been asked a million times, so please forgive that.

I've been detecting for some time now, and have always used First Texas machines. I'm primarily a coin hunter, and like to focus on finding silver, and other old coins. I also would like to be able to find gold and silver rings/jewelry.

I've recently started hunting with some guys using Minelabs (Etracs mainly). Watching them continually fly past the all the trash and consistently find the silver, while I'm mired in the machine-gun barrage of tones at the trashy parks we often hunt, has gotten me intrigued. They rarely if ever find a silver coin that, after checking out their target before they dig, I wouldn't have also dug. It's more that I have less information at my disposal to make dig/no dig decisions, and thus I dig way more trash, and spend way more time interrogating a high VDI target that could be flat iron, could be a bottle cap, etc. When we try a new spot, and begin looking for the "productive" parts of the area, they simply get to the good stuff, and start digging, long before I ever get there.

I have read a bit, and asked enough questions, to understand that the Explorer/Etrac machines use multiple frequencies, and from that -- obtain both a ferrous and a conductivity number; whereas, with my Fisher machines it's just "conductivity." A flat rusty piece of iron sounds like a coin in many ways to my machine and ears (VDI numbers can be identical), but an Etrac guy will pass right by that target.

I've always looked at the Etracs as complex, indimidating machiens. However, today, one of my friends was kind enough to let me use his Etrac for a couple of hours. It's alot heavier than my Fisher machines, but that was really the only negative. He showed me enough to at least understand how to work the thing. I enjoyed it -- it still seems very complex and intimidating, but he set a program for me to run, showed me how to pinpoint, showed me how to switch from auto to manual sensitivity, and showed me how to noise cancel, and then with some basic understanding of what "good" numbers are, he sent me on my way.

No major finds, but I got the hang of it. Here's the issue -- I can't afford $1500. Period. And I rarely see a used Etrac for under about $1200. So, my question is (without knowing much of anything about these machines), if I'm going the used route, and if I have about $600 to spend (or could wait a few months, and push it to about $800), which used Explorer machine might give me most of the benefits of the Etrac? I don't know enough about the different Explorer models, and what was changed with/added to the Etrac, to know how they compare. I know one of the guys I hunt with uses an SE Pro, and likes it...but I don't know how similar or dissimilar it is to an Etrac. I guess I'd like to know what machine would get me closest, while staying more affordable. I would like that ability to plow past the trash and find the silver, and those Etracs are simply silver killers. Is this true of most of the Explorer machines, or is the Etrac in a class all its own, for that type of hunting?

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Steve
 
Steve Etrac and explorer are the same technology or Etrac is explorer with a bit faster processor, they both works very similar and both very good identify iron. programs its not important you can use explorers without discrimination in ferrous and hear all the iron low good targets high and still say what is under coil looking at screen. ,or use it with little discrimination in all metal in conductive. what I can say about explorers they are all the same in basic S,XS,2,SE,SE pro. prices from 300 -700$. some say explorer 2 or se is the best. I use XS and dont have any problem, but can add old coils 1000 or 1050 is the best, other can disagree with my strange love to 1050. you can take cheapest old explorer S or XS and be the same or better then others in finding coins. without discrimination etrac and all explorers are the same detectors. good luck Stasys
 
I have owned an Explorer II for years and just upgraded to the Explorer SE Pro. I sold my used Explorer II for $600. The Explorer II is an excellent machine and will serve your purposes well. You should be able to find a good used one in your price range.

The discrimination on the Etac is supposed to be more improved vs the Explorers. I personally have not used an Etrac and cannot verify.

Good luck and happy hunting!!
 
Explorer II, eh raweppler?

Interesting. Can anyone tell me if the "flutey" audio on the Etrac is the same as is on the Explorer II (and the other Explorers?)

Also, raweppler, what were the "upgrades" on the SE Pro over the II that convinced you to buy?

Steve
 
Steve, You could probably get a decent machine for 800. Check out Findmall's classified forum. If you see one you like you'll have to act fast, they usually don't stay on the block for long. Kellyco has used and refurbished sections on their site too but I don't see Explorers on there often. Of course, there's always on line auction sites but I wouldn't recommend that route. I've only used the SE but from what I understand the one, but perhaps not the only, common upgrade through all generations of the explorer has been a faster processor. Good luck

Steve in PA
 
Steve --

Where are you in PA -- I grew up in the Pittsburgh area.

I see an "Explorer II Pro" (not sure what the "pro" means) for $675. What you are saying about the faster processor being one of the upgrades through the series of machines, do you know how "old" an Explorer II is (and an Explorer II Pro, if that's a different unit).

I can probably sell my machine for $550-$600 -- so I could possibly make an almost even trade for one of these...I just have a hard time knowing if I'm upgrading over what I have. I KNOW I would be with an Etrac...but having never used one of these others, it's hard for me to tell which is why I'm relying on some advice from the forum. Like I say, I like the machine I have, and don't want to change just for the sake of change...

Steve
 
Hey Steve, I have uses an etrac for 6 months May to November last year and just got an explorer 2 with a sunray probe a couple of weeks ago, bought for 600 from backwoods detectors(very good dealer). found my first barber last week with the exp 2 and found 4 other silver in a span of 1 and 1/2 week. I hunted this same area with the etrac so I know the explorer is a good machine. it is not hard to set up and I didn''t read the manual really. Though looking at an etrac manual and reading the sabisch book last year gave me a heads up. I am using the ferrous sounds on explorer and didn;t use that too much with etrac so that may be the difference but I am very happy with my exp 2. I see another exp2 for sale now for 650 with the probe or 550 without probe. thats a pretty good deal from buckeyebrad. Craig
 
sgoss66 said:
Explorer II, eh raweppler?

Interesting. Can anyone tell me if the "flutey" audio on the Etrac is the same as is on the Explorer II (and the other Explorers?)

Also, raweppler, what were the "upgrades" on the SE Pro over the II that convinced you to buy?

Steve

Yes the "flutey" sound is the same I believe. My best friend has an Etrac and we are getting together (he just bought as well) tomorrow. I will check out the sounds.
 
sgoss66 said:
stasys --

Can you tell me what you mean when you say "without discrimination etrac and all explorers are the same detectors?"

Steve
without discrimination is when you hear all the targets under coil, iron and everything ells, this is how explorers works the same fast like etrac. with all explorers, even first11years old you can do the same what etrac can do. good luck Stasys
 
I understand that discrimination "eliminates" the audio report of certain targets. But it seems that the implication is that you can't use discrimination on other Explorer models. Is this what is being implied? Is this because the nulling is too extreme when using discrimination with earlier Exlorers due to a slower processor?

Steve
 
sgoss66 said:
I understand that discrimination "eliminates" the audio report of certain targets. But it seems that the implication is that you can't use discrimination on other Explorer models. Is this what is being implied? Is this because the nulling is too extreme when using discrimination with earlier Exlorers due to a slower processor?

Steve
Hello Steve, S and xs with discrimination on the screen slower with discrimination, but for audio is absolutely the same like newer. I use exceptionally only without discrimination, hate long pauses and humming threshold. and screen start to respond fast like audio. i think on new explorers like on explorer 2 they improved some programing, but this is just for screen but not for targets under the coil. buy cheapest s or xs and compare with 2 and se, you will see. its always possible to sell an by new. If I would see anything on SE what I miss on my XS and would not hesitate for buying newer, with etrac the same story, for now I dont see any point to buy it, they work very similar, at least for me when I dig all targets. Plus I use 1050coil but not Pro even if I have two or sef. Stasys
 
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