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Ctx 3030 vs.Etrac

S

Surfinsafari

New member
Has anyone who swings an Etrac been blown out of the water by a Ctx 3030? I finally got to see a 3030 in action yesterday by a few guys at a group hunt and after the day was over I thought those guys overpaid for their machines. I hunted with one guy with a 3030 who was slow and methodical and did good. I hunted with another guy with a 3030 who must have thought his machine was going to magnetically pull coins out of the ground and ran like he was on fire and didnt find squat. I think Ill forget about getting a 3030 and know that my E is every bit as capable but hates water and wont let me GPS my hunts. The E is the best and I think everyone knows it but wont admit it.
 
I use a e=trac and own a 3030...always grab e-trac...buddy has a 3030...and finds jjust as much as I do.....just depends on the day?
 
I have used an ETrac for over five years and have hunted around 3030's some since they came out.

From what I have seen the faster processor on the 3030 helps a little bit but not $1000 dollars worth.

The waterproof and GPS really give an advantage but only if you are hunting in the rain and large fields (England), otherwise, not a lot gained.

I hunted in a rainy paid hunt last weekend and would have loved to have a 3030 because I had to wrap my ETrac.

Both are good machines, but the selection depends on your needs.
 
It's just a matter of who gets their coil over the coin. I use both and find I like the CTX for most of my hunting. It just seems to find more goodies per hunt, it is easier to swing for long periods, unless I put on the 17", and I like the ability to see more than one target under the coil at a time. I can't begin to count the number of keeper coins I've pulled in the same hole as a rusted old piece of iron/nail.
 
This is a interesting thread as it makes one re-think do I really need a 3030 or just learn the E-Trac to it's true potential which seems to have the same locating abilities, other than GPS and swimming........? .Interesting ! :detecting:
 
seems to have the same locating abilities, other than GPS and swimming........?
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No! The CTX 3030 is much more than just an water proof E-Trac with GPS. I don't think anyone will call it that. Now, is it worth the $$$ more than an E-Trac? That is subject to location and personal needs/wants. Personally I have no doubt it is worth every bit more but then I'm just going by what it has done for me.

Is a Cadillac worth the $$$ more than a Volkswagen? They both can get you from point A to point B. The people who own a Volkswagen will more than likely say no while those who own a Cadillac will say yes. Who's right? Both!
 
I use the CTX 99% of the time now. I'm hunting areas that I used the ATP two yrs ago and the E-Trac last year, have not hit any new areas yet. The CTX is still finding silver in these areas and I would say that about 90 % are found with iron or foil. The last merc had foil wrap around half the coin and a rosie was next to a 1" piece of iron. I can't say if the CTX is worth the extra $ until the end of the year, I do know it has made hunting the same areas fun again. An example is a 100 foot square area gave me a two silver halfs, 3 silver quarters and 13 silver dimes with the ATP and E-trac. This year with the CTX has pulled a silver half, a quarter and 6 dimes from the same area and most were in the 7-10 " range. The silver half even has a rust mark on it where the iron was touching it. After reading Southwinds comments on the 17" coil, I'm thinking I may have to try one.
 
Bottom line is this both are minelab enough said! We all could be doing a lot worse we could be forced to use the machine that looks like dang bread box attached under the fore arm and instead of digging silver we could still be tweaking settings for the next two years. And unless mine was broke the mighty AT pro doesn't have threshold I really rely on that to tell me what my conditions under the coil are. But this is not about them. Im just learning the trac and think is amazing and thought the safari was too. The etrac is even more so and worth the extra money. Im sure this holds true for the comparision from the e to the ctx prob a good reason its more money. I feel minelab wouldn't charge more for same product given the type of users use their products. A gimmick would get ripped apart by these guys and I have only read great things so that's my two cents.
 
I think if they would have made the 3030...sounds the same as the e=trac....that would have been sweet.....they just sound to mechanical to me...they should have kept the sounds the same from the start......a silver on the 3030 sounds like a penny to me on the e=trac....I have had guys tell me you can ajust to sounds the same....no way.......Have had e-trac and 3030 since they came out......and still do.
 
I was sorry that I traded my Etrac for a CTX. The E-trac is a GREAT machine. The CTX can't distinguish pennies from dimes like the Etrac can. I always knew what I was digging with the E-trac not with the CTX. I also think the CTX will "Ground Balance" targets out and they will disappear if you swing the coil over it too long. It was hot and copper but not so much on silver. I'm looking forward to a properly thought out E-trac II or E-trac Pro, whatever they decide to call it. The CTX has a lot of flaws. If I had paid full price of it, I would have been very upset. Stick with the trac. You can't go wrong.
 
Sounds, readouts are different. I think it was a big mistake moving away from the package the Explorers and E-trac had (the battery compartment in the shaft, the shaft design itself, etc.) The coils on the CTX are a pain to change out.
 
See you guys are making me darn glad I haven't moved on the 3030 and stayed with the E-trac, as I already have one of the best out there !
 
As far as I'm concerned, the E-trac is Minelab's best machine.
 
I think if they would have made the 3030...sounds the same as the e=trac....that would have been sweet.....they just sound to mechanical to me...they should have kept the sounds the same from the start.
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Seems to me that just what was said about the Explorer SE over the Explorer II. Some are still saying it. It was also what was said about the E-Trac over the Explorer when it came out, and some still do. Now it is being said about the CTX over the E-Trac. Technology changes and not everyone adapts or likes it. Doesn't necessarily make it better or worse only different. That being said, it has been new technology that brought us where we are today over the old BFOs.

One thing us for sure. The technology of detectors will continue to change/improve/evolve and there will always be those who think technology is getting worse. Do you really believe that is the case? Like it or not, most of the time the changes have been an improvement. Like it or not.
 
But since I hunt in the water, in the suds, in the wet sand, all at salt water beaches, I sold my E-Trac and kept the CTX.

E-Trac is an AWESOME machine, and if only land hunted, would have never gotten a CTX. More coil options for the E-Trac. Depth is probably close to identical. Tones and a bit better on the E-Trac. Recovery speed a bit better on the CTX. Never used the GPS.

Did not see a reason to keep both, especially since most of my hunting is at the beach. I have the 6 inch coil for the CTX so I can land hunt trashy areas. Also, I bought mine used for a great price so that's always a plus.

Depends on the hunting one does. Most salt water beach guys, having to choose between the two, will obviously opt for a CTX over an E-Trac. I almost had my E-Trac swamped by a wave...never had it close to the water after that !

If I had to suggest one or the other, I would first ask where the person hunts the most. If it's mostly land, E-Trac by far. Mostly beaches and salt water environments (which includes dry sanding), CTX. There is no substitute for being able to give a detector a fresh water hose down after a day at a salt water beach.
 
I would never trust dunking my CTX. I have an Excalibur for that. I've heard of a few "swamped" CTXs and that was enough of a deterrent for me. It's not worth what the machine costs to take that risk.
 
therover said:
But since I hunt in the water, in the suds, in the wet sand, all at salt water beaches, I sold my E-Trac and kept the CTX.

E-Trac is an AWESOME machine, and if only land hunted, would have never gotten a CTX. More coil options for the E-Trac. Depth is probably close to identical. Tones and a bit better on the E-Trac. Recovery speed a bit better on the CTX. Never used the GPS.

Did not see a reason to keep both, especially since most of my hunting is at the beach. I have the 6 inch coil for the CTX so I can land hunt trashy areas. Also, I bought mine used for a great price so that's always a plus.

Depends on the hunting one does. Most salt water beach guys, having to choose between the two, will obviously opt for a CTX over an E-Trac. I almost had my E-Trac swamped by a wave...never had it close to the water after that !

If I had to suggest one or the other, I would first ask where the person hunts the most. If it's mostly land, E-Trac by far. Mostly beaches and salt water environments (which includes dry sanding), CTX. There is no substitute for being able to give a detector a fresh water hose down after a day at a salt water beach.
Click to expand...
Valid points !! Thank you, because you have provided the information I was looking for, as I only hunt dry land and your experience with both units clearly state that depth is comparable and tones are better on the E-Trac . I do have seven different coils for my E-Trac and it appears only a limited choice for the 3030. Thanks again, as I will stick and stay with the E until something new with much more improvements develops. ( if ever)
 
Guys stop talking about the etrac two! Took me three years to finally read enough and watch videos to make the move to the etrac. will be so pi@@#d if the make a new trac cause that means I will have to schedule myself for more overtime to by the dang thing and that means less time detecting with my new etrac. So lets not bring it up.
 
I think it is pretty much the same machine with a few new bells and whistles. I have the CTX and an XS. I was hoping the CTX would pull more coins from my hunted out spots, marginal at best. But you can use it in the water and find your way out of the woods with it.

Chris
 
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