From CTX back to Etrac

[tiftaaft]

I hit a Silver Quarter last week that hit so hard it sent a text message to my phone ....

HAAHAA!!!! Brilliant Daddyflea!!

 

[tiftaaft]

The only STUPID question is one not asked.

A trash Null is where you sweep along and suddenly your Threshold goes completely silent or away. As you clear the target your Threshold comes right back. This is good and expected.

When you are too hot, everytime you wiggle your Coil regardless of direction your Threshold goes completely silent or away. In short they are the same but caused by different things. The Trash null allows Threshold to return as soon as you clear the target. The other stays as long as you swing your coil. I hunt old houses so you may get this in one area but a few feet over it is fine. In my area red clay fill dirt is bad.

In bad dirt Auto +3 is too hot and will cause you to lose Threshold and ID. I often have places I must hunt Auto+0. You lose a ton of targets when this happens because you are losing your ID.

That being said running in Manual at 17 Sensativity is deeper than 20 in Auto+3. I find that running in Manual at the Suggested sensitivity is just about as hot as you can run.

Please dont take my word for it. Get a dime silver or clad and run in Auto. Measure your depth. Now switch to Manual and look at the result. You will normally gain two inches. Now turn this same dime on end. This is why I find so many Coins behind other Detectors Etrac or not.

Some say ID is better in auto but I can see no difference myself.

Thanks for clarifying Daddyflea... I follow your comments on the difference in threshold drops, just wanted to be sure I wasn't overlooking something obvious... I have also found what you are saying to be true... a manual setting is deeper than the same setting in Auto+3 (this is the same on the CTX as well). Heading out to my test garden to play with the manual sens on some deep dimes.

Tim.

 

[kgramlich]

What do you run your threshold at 15??? If it's windy do you run it higher or just turn up the volume????

 

[tiftaaft]

What do you run your threshold at 15??? If it's windy do you run it higher or just turn up the volume????

I adjust the thresh level to be audible under the conditions at the time.

 

[daddyflea]

What do you run your threshold at 15??? If it's windy do you run it higher or just turn up the volume????

I adjust the thresh level to be audible under the conditions at the time.

What he said is right on.

 

[Daniel Tn]

Just like Bryan, the lack of coils for the CTX has brought me back to an eTrac. As soon as I bought one, I went ahead and ordered an 8x6 SEF coil for it, and the Ultimate coil. This has me with most bases covered for situations I might run into. What I didn't realize, was how much I would like the eTrac. I have had a few in the past, but this latest one is the hottest one I have ever had. With the stock coil it is capable of hitting a 10 inch dime in my soil, which the CTX struggles to do that with the same size coil, and the signal is much clearer on the eTrac. When I put the Ultimate coil on it...it is lights out on that dime. I've never seen anything quite like that. Extremely happy with that.

But where the fun started was this weekend. I took both machines to a park near my home that dates to the 1950s. It's not old but I have dug a lot of silver coins there. I had been hunting it since about October with the CTX and have cherry picked most of the higher conductive signals out of there with it. I wasn't expecting much with the eTrac but I did go in there with the Ultimate coil on it hoping for a deeper signal. Within a half hour, I had two silver dimes, a few wheats, and a 14k wedding band. The eTrac just has a better sound to it to me. I went back today after charging my battery all last night. The other day, I didn't charge the battery long and it went out fast. I think I may have a bad battery, because even after charging all night, it went down to half way within just a couple hours of hunting today. No worries...I already ordered a RnB battery for it anyway. Anyway I had a pocketful of clad and one wheatie with the eTrac. I swapped over to the CTX and put it to running the same basic pattern I had been running on the eTrac, and tone profile to match it. And didn't add anymore goodies to the pouch. If it wasn't for the water proof side of the CTX and taking several trips to the beach each year, I would just sell the CTX and be quite content with the eTrac.

 

[Bryan V]

I had the same experience Daniel..
I have had my E-Trac for a month now and had big plans to do a buch of in field testing of both detectors.
After my 4th hunt with the E-Trac my CTX went up for sale and is now gone.
I can't remember how many times I have read how the CTX was deeper then the E-Trac.
Not so between my two detectors. This was a very easy decision for me.
The E-Trac Audio and coil options are a BIG deal.. It doesn't hurt that I have been doing very well with the E-Trac.
It's my opinion that the E-Trac is a better park detector and that's what I do most.
Another thing. Im either on a coin spill streak or this Etrac just loves them. My copper count is way up too..
I'm nailing silvers but the number of wheats I come home with are way up.
Bryan

 

[tiftaaft]

I had the same experience Daniel..
I have had my E-Trac for a month now and had big plans to do a buch of in field testing of both detectors.
After my 4th hunt with the E-Trac my CTX went up for sale and is now gone.
I can't remember how many times I have read how the CTX was deeper then the E-Trac.
Not so between my two detectors. This was a very easy decision for me.
The E-Trac Audio and coil options are a BIG deal.. It doesn't hurt that I have been doing very well with the E-Trac.
It's my opinion that the E-Trac is a better park detector and that's what I do most.
Another thing. Im either on a coin spill streak or this Etrac just loves them. My copper count is way up too..
I'm nailing silvers but the number of wheats I come home with are way up.
Bryan

 

[metalpopper]

I'm glad you brought this up and I will be watching this thread.
Unlike a lot of CTX users, I did not own an Etrac before the CTX.. I have been running a CTX for a year and a half,
and out of pure lack of coil frustration I just bought a used Etrac to try out.
I went out for the first time yesterday for a few hours and I'm not sure what to think yet.
I miss the Combined mode from the CTX already and the Etrac screen is beyond terrible. It does have very nice tones though,
and I like how you can switch between Auto and manual sensitivity with one click.
I am an Audio hunter so after I get used to the Etrac I can probably live with the screen.
I could use some input on where to run my ferrous line though. I'm used to running an almost open screen with the combined mode.

Bryan

Run Ferrous open from 0 to 23. From 24 on down close it up. Coins can come in up to 25 but it is very rare in my dirt and you will dig a ton of iron. If there is a doubt check it with Quick Mask running open. Also run from 32 to 49 open on Conductive. Nickles 12 to 14 conductive. Also never depend on a 4 way hit. If it sounds good two ways dig it. I never even check 4 ways after doing a nail test.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^​

Hi Daddy.....

With your Smart Screen discing out 24 to 32 Ferrous....How are you digging up 'Tons of Iron' ?????

I have a feeling that there is something wrong with your assessment...not the detector's functionality.

Can you describe why you dig ... and only recover iron?

What were your reasons to dig such a signal?....not audio, because you've silenced that by your mask (unless it's very big)..and pinpointing in 'Sizing' will easily expose its size compared to a coin sized target...(Check depth relationship)

What do you deduce when you switch to 'open' and see iron?......?

I know it hard to give the full picture...but what you have said, doesn't add-up.

............................................​

As for functionality etc.....The E-trac is good....but surely, not comparable to the refined CTX....no way.

I E-Trac and x-check my mate's CTX's finds.....the operator is the weakness..not the CTX...even so..his machine ends up finding more goodies than I.

Coin/ ground separation etc rules.....NO QUESTIONING ON THAT FACT

Respectfully....matt

 

[amberjack]

dig it all find it all.

AJ

 

[jd88047]

I even dig null signals on some areas. I really hate discrimination but some places you need to use it. just the bottom right of my screen is blocked out. You can watch numbers on nulls also and see if its something you want to dig. But has anyone had a null that just hanged on them, even after you moved away from the null area?

 

[Elmy]

Daddyflea said from 25 on down, you will dig a bunch of Iron.....nothing wrong with that assessment...plenty of iron from 25 to 35 !

 

[daddyflea]

I'm glad you brought this up and I will be watching this thread.
Unlike a lot of CTX users, I did not own an Etrac before the CTX.. I have been running a CTX for a year and a half,
and out of pure lack of coil frustration I just bought a used Etrac to try out.
I went out for the first time yesterday for a few hours and I'm not sure what to think yet.
I miss the Combined mode from the CTX already and the Etrac screen is beyond terrible. It does have very nice tones though,
and I like how you can switch between Auto and manual sensitivity with one click.
I am an Audio hunter so after I get used to the Etrac I can probably live with the screen.
I could use some input on where to run my ferrous line though. I'm used to running an almost open screen with the combined mode.

Bryan

Run Ferrous open from 0 to 23. From 24 on down close it up. Coins can come in up to 25 but it is very rare in my dirt and you will dig a ton of iron. If there is a doubt check it with Quick Mask running open. Also run from 32 to 49 open on Conductive. Nickles 12 to 14 conductive. Also never depend on a 4 way hit. If it sounds good two ways dig it. I never even check 4 ways after doing a nail test.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^​

Hi Daddy.....

With your Smart Screen discing out 24 to 32 Ferrous....How are you digging up 'Tons of Iron' ?????

I have a feeling that there is something wrong with your assessment...not the detector's functionality.

Can you describe why you dig ... and only recover iron?

What were your reasons to dig such a signal?....not audio, because you've silenced that by your mask (unless it's very big)..and pinpointing in 'Sizing' will easily expose its size compared to a coin sized target...(Check depth relationship)

What do you deduce when you switch to 'open' and see iron?......?

I know it hard to give the full picture...but what you have said, doesn't add-up.

............................................​

As for functionality etc.....The E-trac is good....but surely, not comparable to the refined CTX....no way.

I E-Trac and x-check my mate's CTX's finds.....the operator is the weakness..not the CTX...even so..his machine ends up finding more goodies than I.

Coin/ ground separation etc rules.....NO QUESTIONING ON THAT FACT

Respectfully....matt

Sorry I have not been on here in a while.

"You said With your Smart Screen discing out 24 to 32 Ferrous....How are you digging up 'Tons of Iron' ?????"

I run my Quick mask almost open but I Discriminate out 24 to 32 Ferrous. This keeps me from digging a lot of Junk.

 

[daddyflea]

Guys I think you will find that most of the good Detectorists use some form of Discrimination. I think this is a must. If not you spend all your time digging junk. Those guys that run open screens are reading numbers or listening to sounds to keep from digging junk. Etrac does not seem to be bothered much by tight discrimination. When I say tight I mean 24 to 32 Ferrous blanked out. from 32 to 48 Conductive accepted. Everyone must maximize your time detecting otherwise it will stop being fun and digging Junk constantly is not fun.

 

[mcb613]

I have an CTX since the first week it was out. I sold my Etrac to my hunting buddy and we hint side by side. Often he asks me to check a target, due to being somewhat inexperienced, as low and behold, alot of times the CTX doesnt even see it.
I know his silver count is going up and many days his is more than mine.
That along with the x1 availability, makes the Etrac equal or even better that the CTX.

Im often troubled by my decision to move from the etrac to the CTX. Im still waiting for that magical SW update to make this CTX worth the investment.

 

[daddyflea]

If you mean the Sunray Pinpointer, I agree I just wish I had one. I just refuse to pay double for a used one.

 

[mcb613]

Is worth any price it carries. To have target ID and extra depth from a pinpointer is invalueable. Most times an iffy signal prior to dig , is clearly defined with a quick hole and the probe. Saves alot of time.

 

[tiftaaft]

McB, Good information there... I recently purchased the X-1, and have it on my etrac... so I am still fairly new to it. The thing I'm trying to get my hands around is the proximity notification I'm used to with the Carrot pinpointer. I guess I need to be better about watching the screen with the X-1 as it gives me depth, but sometimes (and I admit this is a failure in my target pinpointing technique) I get a target in the side of the hole that is very obvious with the Carrot, but less obvious with the X-1. I just need more practice with it. What I love about it is the fact it uses the pattern and tones in the etrac (or explorer) for target id as you are chasing the target... where the Carrot can lead you toward disc'd iron.

Re: the etrac vs. CTX - I have been recently swinging the etrac and explorer more than the ctx, and I am about 50/50 (or 33/33/33 as the case may be). I have found targets with each that I would have walked over with the others. More "wild" testing to do this spring and summer. Thanks for your post.

Tim.

 

[mcb613]

Initial x1 is for clarity in the signal, mostly aidio wise. Switch to pinpoint for location. It is not a carrot, but a coil with connection to processor. Use the force Luke!!!

 

[tiftaaft]

Initial x1 is for clarity in the signal, mostly aidio wise. Switch to pinpoint for location. It is not a carrot, but a coil with connection to processor. Use the force Luke!!![/quote]

Haha! Well said McB.