silvereagle
Member
I thought it was time to offer the start of the e-trac program share exchange page,we need one here for the US,so what do you guys think? yes or no and who wants to go first?OK
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ETRAC-PROGRAM/SHARE/EXCHANGE/PAGE?
- Thread starter silvereagle
- Start date
Yes, I don't find much value in this feature either. In the next E-trac model I hope Minelab will open up the USB port to allow the ability for software updates. I'm sure there are bugs in the firmware and tweeks to the algorithms that they've discovered that we would have benefited from if they had fully implemented this feature. I understand the concern that this would expose the firmware to piracy, but there are ways to prevent/discourage that without eliminating the feature all together. There's also the strong possibility of increased service support calls for folks that failed to update the firmware properly. But this feature was recently introduced in the Deus from XP, so let's hope that they and others provide sufficient back pressure on Minelab to enable it next time around.
-Alex
-Alex
NiagracountyNY
New member
I think the reason they dont allow software updates via USB is to avoid software hacking issues.Im not 100% on that tho.Anyone Know?
silvereagle
Member
OK,just thought it might be cool sharing how we all run,how about we post are custom settings then for are neck of the woods?or post your personal program if you like i tried copying a few prog.from the minelab site but i cant copy them,man i am pc dumb.lol
NiagracountyNY
New member
If you come up with any programs or modes you wanna share i'm always interested in trying new set ups.I posted a few awhile back.This winter I'd Like to scan my friends extensive Button colletion and see if its worth making a patern for them.I hope you are able to get that Hunt organized you mentioned on the other forum 
I think alot of guys would show up. HH
I think alot of guys would show up. HHsilvereagle
Member
OK heres one.
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Turn the E Trac on and go to the Quick mask screen.
With the Navigation buttons toggle the ferrous reading up to say 33 ( full open is 35) and the Conduct reading on the left at zero, or alternatively to start with at 1 or 2 ( any higher runs the risk of losing small hammered cuts or whole)
I have now combined the quick mask screen with a simple nails reject pattern in the bottom right hand corner of the screen (see photo below)
Hit the detect button and the screen will ask wether you want to load this screen into the smartfind one, press yes.
Go into menu next and scroll through the headings to Sensitivity. mines set as
Sensitivity.......Manual
Manual level.... 27 (set this to suit conditions)
Auto level..... +3 (incase you use auto)
Go along to next stage in menu which is Audio.
Threshold level... Just Audible
Volume limit......30
Volume gain......24 (or less. No higher)
Response.......Pitch hold. (or one of the others if you prefer).
Go into the Tone ID settings and choose to suit
No Tones........multi
Sounds...........conduct (ferrous if you prefer)
Variability....... 30
Limits............ 30
Threshold pitch...1
Go along to next stage which is Expert.
Recovery deep...on
Recovery fast.....off
Trash density....Low (or high to suit conditions)
Ground.......Difficult (or neutral )
Noise cancel......2 or choose 1-10
Go along to next stage which is Preferences.
Contrast........15
Pinpoint mode...Normal (or sizing)
Show sensitivity...On
Show mode info...On
Display timeout...Off or On to suit.
My choice of response is Pitch hold because I love the way it grabs signals and holds them until you go over something else. It also gives a nice two way signal same as Normal. I do use smooth response but only if the ground is good. I'm not into too much noise. Have never personally used the Long setting so can't comment.
I am finding the above settings suit most of the field types I detect on. The only setting I alter is sensitivity to keep things quiet and stable.
The main Quickmask screen can be easily altered in the field to suit the amount of ferrous and conduct you want to knock out.
Conduct line on the screen is the only one I havent settled on yet. Im still digging an annoying amount of silver paper / foil which I would like to reject but I dont want to risk losing cut qtrs & halves of hammered which come in very close by.
Up to now Ive dug little or no iron with these settings. With the new dual screen showing either digital or smart screen top or bottom and the smallness of the crosshairs Im finding Im using the variable tones more and watching the digital numbers & cross hair less. I am digging every good stable two way signal.
The digital readout can be a bit confusing especially for a new owner. Most coins and artefacts are coming in at a ferrous value of 12 out of the ground with the E trac but a lot of signals where the target is still in the ground are showing at totally different values to start with. This is all determined by the way the target is laying in the soil or wether its sat near some Iron or trash. Approaching the signal from a different angle or even sweeping fast or slow can change the digital values totally.
If in doubt and its a good two way signal, Dig It. Hope this helps some of the confused newcomers.
For anybody more experienced and can detect through the noise barrier Keep all the settings above but use Smooth response and maybe max out sensitivity, this will put you into Slow & Lows set up. The only thing you will need to use the last set up is a good pair of headphones with volume control on them to turn the background noise right down.
Its early days yet and we might alter things a bit, later on
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turn the E Trac on and go to the Quick mask screen.
With the Navigation buttons toggle the ferrous reading up to say 33 ( full open is 35) and the Conduct reading on the left at zero, or alternatively to start with at 1 or 2 ( any higher runs the risk of losing small hammered cuts or whole)
I have now combined the quick mask screen with a simple nails reject pattern in the bottom right hand corner of the screen (see photo below)
Hit the detect button and the screen will ask wether you want to load this screen into the smartfind one, press yes.
Go into menu next and scroll through the headings to Sensitivity. mines set as
Sensitivity.......Manual
Manual level.... 27 (set this to suit conditions)
Auto level..... +3 (incase you use auto)
Go along to next stage in menu which is Audio.
Threshold level... Just Audible
Volume limit......30
Volume gain......24 (or less. No higher)
Response.......Pitch hold. (or one of the others if you prefer).
Go into the Tone ID settings and choose to suit
No Tones........multi
Sounds...........conduct (ferrous if you prefer)
Variability....... 30
Limits............ 30
Threshold pitch...1
Go along to next stage which is Expert.
Recovery deep...on
Recovery fast.....off
Trash density....Low (or high to suit conditions)
Ground.......Difficult (or neutral )
Noise cancel......2 or choose 1-10
Go along to next stage which is Preferences.
Contrast........15
Pinpoint mode...Normal (or sizing)
Show sensitivity...On
Show mode info...On
Display timeout...Off or On to suit.
My choice of response is Pitch hold because I love the way it grabs signals and holds them until you go over something else. It also gives a nice two way signal same as Normal. I do use smooth response but only if the ground is good. I'm not into too much noise. Have never personally used the Long setting so can't comment.
I am finding the above settings suit most of the field types I detect on. The only setting I alter is sensitivity to keep things quiet and stable.
The main Quickmask screen can be easily altered in the field to suit the amount of ferrous and conduct you want to knock out.
Conduct line on the screen is the only one I havent settled on yet. Im still digging an annoying amount of silver paper / foil which I would like to reject but I dont want to risk losing cut qtrs & halves of hammered which come in very close by.
Up to now Ive dug little or no iron with these settings. With the new dual screen showing either digital or smart screen top or bottom and the smallness of the crosshairs Im finding Im using the variable tones more and watching the digital numbers & cross hair less. I am digging every good stable two way signal.
The digital readout can be a bit confusing especially for a new owner. Most coins and artefacts are coming in at a ferrous value of 12 out of the ground with the E trac but a lot of signals where the target is still in the ground are showing at totally different values to start with. This is all determined by the way the target is laying in the soil or wether its sat near some Iron or trash. Approaching the signal from a different angle or even sweeping fast or slow can change the digital values totally.
If in doubt and its a good two way signal, Dig It. Hope this helps some of the confused newcomers.
For anybody more experienced and can detect through the noise barrier Keep all the settings above but use Smooth response and maybe max out sensitivity, this will put you into Slow & Lows set up. The only thing you will need to use the last set up is a good pair of headphones with volume control on them to turn the background noise right down.
Its early days yet and we might alter things a bit, later on
NiagracountyNY
New member
Thats an excellent job !I will deff try your set -up.I didnt see the pic you mentioned tho.How well does this work in Iron Heavy sites?Im Hunting some sites that are drenched with iron from years gone by.Im looking for some New set-ups to try on these sites.Thx for sharing your Info with us.HH
silvereagle
Member
here is the pic.
silvereagle
Member
HOPE THIS HELPS
richard moore
New member
HI, WONDERING BEING NEW TO THE ETRAC DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY GOOD PROGRAMMES FOR HAMMERED COINS. IM USE TO SOVEREIGN GT,AND WAS WONDERING HOW THE ETRAC COULD BE PROGRAMMED TO GIVE AS GOOD DEPTH. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECITED. CHEERS RICK
To be honest. I too at first didn't see the need. But now many seasons later. I find myself using the exchange all the time now. I have a folder on my desktop named ETrac files. Inside it there are two folders. One named Modes and the other Patterns. I put the corresponding pattern or mode into the correct folder. Couple this with the fine work "Thebeepgoson" has done with the Excel program. And you will find yourself with some nice patterns. There is even a way to import your patterns into the Emulator. I have and use 6 patterns that i custom made for the areas i hunt. Parks,beach and relic. I have wanted a sticky up top for patterns only, with a brief description. The only problem with that is people will post comments and questions on other peoples posted patterns. If that makes sense.
silvereagle
Member
HEY,way to go!I was trying to post some photos of my programs. might be a little easy'er on some folks trying to see what works for who and where.HH
The Beep Goes On
New member
This is my take on it... http://www.thebeepgoeson.com/display.asp?page=E-Trac_Files
AT first when you get the Etrac there is enough to try and have to learn and the programs seem 'rediculius and there could be better options'.... BUT!... but!... when you learn the Etrac and how to take advantage of the programs and the quick-mask ... Minelab came thru... BIG TIME! It's so nice to load programs on to where you want to hunt....
Idprospector
New member
I believe the ability to upload and download patterns and modes is absolutely a must have for other detectors of this type that follow the etrac. I know how some say it is so easy just to make programs as needed but it is awesome to hunt with someone and they say, Try this pattern out, just plug into a laptop and seconds later you are sharing patterns. I wish everyone would share their patterns more. I hope Minelab keeps this feature alive for a long time. Idigid