Explorer II vs. Etrac

[HIGH HO SILVER]

Greeting all,

Use to be on this forum about a decade ago, and I forgot my screen name etc. Anyway, decided to get back into it again and purchased a Minelab Etrac. Braved the cold and took it out for the first time today to play with it and check my preferences and programs I installed. I checked out and old falling down 125+ year old general store still barely standing I obtained permission from. So much trash and with the stock coil I had some difficulty and needed a smaller coil. I have a few different size coils left from my Minelab Explorer II still. Since both machines are FBS, I'm assuming those coils are interchangeable between the two? Thought I'd better ask so I don't smoke a brand new machine.

Side note: I retired and moved from the St. Louis, Missouri area down to Tennessee. I can't tell you the number of great finds and coins I got from up there in the old parks and other places. When I ordered my Etrac from Kellyco is was time to check the Tennessee and local laws on metal detecting. Wow, was I in for a surprise! They have this stupid 1906 law on removing relics and coins over 100 years old from the ground. So I'm going to be severely restricted on where I can go and what I can dig. Guess I'll have to take some road trips to more friendly states?

 

[IDXMonster]

You’re good to go,they interchange. Laws? Ouch! Plenty of people from TN here so they will chime in....great that you’re giving it another go! I just started about 8 years ago and it’s been just an astounding adventure,I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Still got the Explorer? I run a CTX mostly but also have an Explorer2 which I love very much like a brother. Well,actually MORE than my brother but that’s a different topic....welcome back Mr. Silver!

 

[cz70pro]

I'm in East Tennessee and have hunted here for the past sixteen years. I doubt anyone is enforcing that antiquated law. You should check to see what the laws are for public parks where you live. DO NOT and DON'T EVER hunt on any TVA land. They will prosecute and even confiscate your machine and vehicle if they so choose to do so. Detecting in TN is pretty easy except for water hunting due to the TVA. Just get permissions from private property owners and exercise metal detecting ethics.

All the best,
Greg

 

[HIGH HO SILVER]

I'm in East Tennessee and have hunted here for the past sixteen years. I doubt anyone is enforcing that antiquated law. You should check to see what the laws are for public parks where you live. DO NOT and DON'T EVER hunt on any TVA land. They will prosecute and even confiscate your machine and vehicle if they so choose to do so. Detecting in TN is pretty easy except for water hunting due to the TVA. Just get permissions from private property owners and exercise metal detecting ethics.

All the best,
Greg

Hey cz70pro...
No I sold my Explorer II equipped with a Sunray X-1 probe of which I can't find another one for the new Etrac. When I retired I thought I'd be too busy fishing, gardening, etc. then came down with a bunch of skin cancer, got it removed and a long boring story anyway.Yeah, I'm doing the usual trying to get permissions for old churches, parks and private old places people lived / visited, etc. I live in the opposite side of the state, NW Tennessee. I sure hate to start from scratch again in my posts because I can't remember old name or pass word. Oh well...

 

[HIGH HO SILVER]

You’re good to go,they interchange. Laws? Ouch! Plenty of people from TN here so they will chime in....great that you’re giving it another go! I just started about 8 years ago and it’s been just an astounding adventure,I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Still got the Explorer? I run a CTX mostly but also have an Explorer2 which I love very much like a brother. Well,actually MORE than my brother but that’s a different topic....welcome back Mr. Silver!

Thanks! I regret selling my Explorer 2 more than my 1964 Chevy Impala years ago if that says anything? Just getting caught up with everything that's changed since I last heard a beep. I'm hearing the only way to get a Sunray X-1 probe now is through Ebay since they stopped making them? Would you happen to know if they include the arm with the switch already installed on it?
Thanks,
Dennis

 

[IDXMonster]

You’re good to go,they interchange. Laws? Ouch! Plenty of people from TN here so they will chime in....great that you’re giving it another go! I just started about 8 years ago and it’s been just an astounding adventure,I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Still got the Explorer? I run a CTX mostly but also have an Explorer2 which I love very much like a brother. Well,actually MORE than my brother but that’s a different topic....welcome back Mr. Silver!

Thanks! I regret selling my Explorer 2 more than my 1964 Chevy Impala years ago if that says anything? Just getting caught up with everything that's changed since I last heard a beep. I'm hearing the only way to get a Sunray X-1 probe now is through @#$%& since they stopped making them? Would you happen to know if they include the arm with the switch already installed on it?
Thanks,
Dennis

Dennis,firstly...it’s great to hear you’ve got the “Big C” under control,that’s some nasty stuff that I hope we find a cure for very very soon!
Also...the probes normally come with the switch assembly mounted to the upper rod,exactly like your Explorer was. So,it would be a very easy thing to install,just swap out the upper rods and you’re fine. I have the X-1 on mine and absolutely LOVE it for hunting those sites where I KnOW there’s gonna be junk in the hole with coins. They are available used through some of the forums classifieds and even on eBay....just not the cheapest thing ever.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... They have this stupid 1906 law on removing relics and coins over 100 years old from the ground. ...

You must be referring to the older version of ARPA . Which first came out in 1906. If so, then that is federal. Has nothing to do with any other form of land. Eg.: state, county, city, or private.

And to be frank with you ... uh.... is only ever enforced @ if you were being a nuisance around obvious historic sensitive federal monuments. So: If you were the middle of nowhere @ BLM or NFS, .... there is no one following you around with a calculator, to do the math on the ages of coins that you find. Or ... just simply avoid federal land if this worries you.

And as far as other forms of public land (city, county, state), look up rules for yourself. Don't go asking bored desk clerks. If you see nothing that says "no metal detecting", then presto, it's not disallowed. Because if you go waltzing into city and county bureaucratic offices asking "Hi, can I metal detect?", you might find yourself the latest victim of "No one cared till you asked" psychology. Ie.: the "safe answer" to the "pressing question". Because perhaps they envision geeks with shovels. When in fact, no one cared or would ever have given it a moments thought .

I assure you: There are plenty of people md'ing in TN on public land who (gasp) find coins older than 100 yrs.