How Many Have Switched

[RLOH]

I have tried just about every detector made and have always returned to an Explorer version of some kind(EX11,SE Pro, or Etrac) I find them heavy, but as soon as I start using them again, my silver and older coin count goes up. They just plain like silver and deep silver.

Last Sunday, I hit my favorite park with the SE Pro. I was not expecting much as a couple of deep wheaties seem to be the norm for me. At the bottom of one steep hill, I found a 33 merc that was nearly ten inches deep. I made three 50 foot passes and found three wheats and one more 41 merc. I have been over this spot too many times to remember and was shocked at these finds.

I tire quickly because of rheumatoid arthritis, counted my blessings and headed back to the truck. Near where I had parked was a small (100 foot by 30 foot) area where I have found over a 100 wheat pennies and ten silver coins. I have hit this area from all angles and considered it to be clean. I got a deep signal and was shocked to find a deep wheat. I started gridding and was moving extremely slow. I found 9 more wheats and all were deeper than 8 inches. I was astounded to say the least. Years ago, I had a similar experience in this exact same spot when using an Etrac.

I have had this SE Pro for about two months and made some of my better finds ever from spots that have not produced a coin older that the 1940's. I found several Indian Heads that were deep and completely not expected because of the age of the area I was hunting.

I have read many posts from people using the Equinox that have said "the old Explorer or SE is now in the closet" I know the Explorer is slow and cumbersome, but it is the "real deal" in my neck of the woods. If the Equinox can get Explorer like depth on coins, I will just have to try one. I have watched countless videos showing the speed and unmasking abilities of the Nox, but if it can consistantly get 8 inch plus depth I need for older coins, it just might be for me.

I am not trying to open an issue that has been bantered about for years and that issue is depth. In my area, if I can't routinely have a detector find coins from the 8 inch plus depth range, I will be a clad hunter. I have had fast, deep detectors such as the F series, Racers, Kruzers, and such find the occasional silver coin that is shallower than the norm, but hardly ever the deeper coins I find with an Explorer series detector. I am not saying these detectors won't hear these deeper coins, but they have trouble being accurate with tones and numbers. The Explorer series are the absolute king of being accurate on deep coins. I will say that ground conditions play a large part in a detectors accuracy, but in my ground, I have not found a detector better.

From what I am reading, the Nox might be the "better" detector. I would love to hear from the people who have made the switch.

 

[Ted S]

I made the switch. I have the 600 and my SE is now the backup detector.I never fully understood the Explorer but I did hit a few good finds with it. I am also 62 with a few major medical issues and the Equinox is light where it expands my detecting time and my arm doesn't feel like mush after two hours. I have hit a couple of deep coins with the 600 but I have not owned it long enough to be good at it. Good luck with your decision and HH! Ted

 

[Southwind]

I made the switch to the 800 and never looked back. I've owned the SE Pro, E-Trac and the CTX. Had probably 7 years on the E-Trac.

Love my 800 to death. I am now a 1 detector owned and user. I can now concentrate on mastering 1 machine.

 

[BigTony]

I have not sold my EXP II but haven't used it since I won the Impact (Thanks to Find's Treasure contest) and of course got the NOX.

There might be some areas I might try this winter with the EXP II.

Tony

 

[Bigtom123]

Your gonna get a lot of different opinions..me personally,I didn’t see the nox as much better than what’s currently in its price range..And I’m definitely not alone,used equinox machines have been in the classifieds a few weeks after they hit the street.Ive heard some say it was for this or that reason,but I’m thinking they had the same results I had..The equinox is a good machine,no doubt.But for coins it’s not on the same playing field as fbs technology.Youll miss the great visual ID and the best tones going if you give up the explorer..Just my opinion here,like every one else’s.

 

[BigTony]

I do miss the display screen for a few reasons.

I like the NOX for coins and small jewelry items. I still haven't figured out gold rings yet but it will come. Dang - I ran my EXP II for 8 or 9 years and was still learning how to tweak it.

My hearing is not good in either ear so those silver tones of the EXP II evade me. I am learning to use VDI and sounds and I can take it to the beach and find small jewelry too.

Stick with what you like and know, you will find more, IMO.

 

[MINELABMIKE]

I also have went through many detectors but I have always went back to the explorer series by far the explorer has found me the most treasure, so after all these years I'm staying with the explorer

 

[jtalley007]

I have the Nox 800, finally got some help getting it to run on the beaches.

It’s better but LOVES bottle caps and nothing I’ve seen anyone post helps.

I distinctly remember my Explorer May give a high pitch signal on these newer caps, but the smart find screen would read lower or towards iron which was a dead give away.

I hope my shoulder can handle the SE pro, wish me luck

Hey, maybe the Nox will find small stuff the explorer won’t but to dig deep iron and caps, not sure it’s for me.

Wish the CTX 3030 would have maintained the smart find screen and for people that like digital target ID had that option too.

Loved the 3030 but never got used to the 12 line and ferrous turned on it’s head

 

[IDXMonster]

I have the Nox 800, finally got some help getting it to run on the beaches.

It’s better but LOVES bottle caps and nothing I’ve seen anyone post helps.

I distinctly remember my Explorer May give a high pitch signal on these newer caps, but the smart find screen would read lower or towards iron which was a dead give away.

I hope my shoulder can handle the SE pro, wish me luck

Hey, maybe the Nox will find small stuff the explorer won’t but to dig deep iron and caps, not sure it’s for me.

Wish the CTX 3030 would have maintained the smart find screen and for people that like digital target ID had that option too.

Loved the 3030 but never got used to the 12 line and ferrous turned on it’s head

The CTX DOES have the Smartfind screen...that’s the main screen that either has disc or doesn’t,where the numbers pop up and where the cursor(s) are placed. When running in anything BUT Ferrous Coin,the Ferrous numbers react much closer to what an Explorer would,meaning the Ferrous number can be used much more for interrogation purposes,unlike a solid “12” that occurs in Ferrous Coin much of the time. The CTX takes time....a lot of time. The Explorers also take time,and whichever machine gels with the operator is likely going to be the one that sees the most use. Are the Explorers still “in the game”? IMHO I can’t see a time when they will be rendered “obsolete”. They may be rendered “unsuccessful” due to a lack of operator knowledge,but that’s not a fault of machine or design. In order to remain successful at coin hunting with ever dwindling resources,one must learn EVERY time they go out. Good or bad,it must happen,otherwise you stagnate and don’t have any “new tricks” to employ on targets that are getting progressively more difficult to find.

 

[jtalley007]

I like the CTX better than Equinox

Some old explorer pros have taken a liking to the Nox, jury still out for me.

I need to hit the dirt with the Nox to get more perspective

Stand by

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

I still think the original XS smart screen is way ahead of the Etrac and later models. I never have any numbers displayed for target read out, just a quick glance at the screen bounce tells me when to dig. With the CTX I have to continually monitor the numbers, and pretty much everything besides iron lands on or close to the 12 line. Still a huge step back in my thinking.

 

[smithobx]

I still use my EXII almost exclusively. I have tried most of the latest and greatest detectors to come along in the last 12 years, but none of them could ID as well as the EX and none were any deeper or as versatile. I have not bought a Nox but did use a friends for a couple of hours. I realize that's not long enough to give the Nox a fair chance but first impression is that it did not offer any advantages that I deem important over the EX. I just had the controll housing replaced, now black instead of white since only SE housings are currently available, also replaced the screen cover which now says SE instead of EX as originals for the EX are not available. Also had the electronics checked and tested. I would like to see ML come out with a detector that works like the EX series using the latest hardware and fastest processors. I would buy that detector in a second.

 

[jtalley007]

Was wanting that for years, Sadly it never happened. I miss my old smartfind screen and type of target ID on the explorer

JMHO

Jerry

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

Was wanting that for years, Sadly it never happened. I miss my old smartfind screen and type of target ID on the explorer

JMHO

Jerry

I hear you Jerry. I don't know anything about what Minelab might be doing, but I would think they are working on doing just that. Something very similar to the Equinox, but with smartfind, quickmask and FECO digital would be a tough act to follow. I'm hoping they will announce it either this Spring, doubtful, or next Fall, more likely. We can hope...

 

[ltt5166]

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[JAN1]

I shall only change detectors when my 9 year old Explorer SE pro gives up the ghost. I like the idea that it's waterproof and much lighter.
Beach hunting the other day I found a George V Farthing 1922 and a George V 1921 silver sixepence, they make a distinct sound on the SE.
Both items were found close together where the sand dunes are about 100ft high and are now being washed down to the beach because of the storms.

 

[TXTim]

Hey all-

Good thread.
Haven't posted here in many years.

I have an explorer and love it along with my dfx.

I was given a little demo of the nox 800 at a shop today and really liked how light it was and the Bluetooth earmuffs are a real plus.
The fact that it is waterproof to 10' is also intriguing.

The screen looks easy to understand as well. I tend to run my explorer wide open with no discrimination and find a lot of deep targets.

If I can get similar performance, switching to the 800 is a no brainer.
Still researching. Convince me not to buy one.

 

[Kraemer]

I’m using a CTX and ETRAC and like the accuracy on deep targets. Don’t think I’d enjoy the compressed ID scale on the Nox.

 

[Xdigger]

I had the 800 the week they came out. Between the wiggle in the shaft, the erratic ID, and the screen going black I decided to stay with my Etrac and Deus. Just not worth it to me.

 

[Normx2]

My best finds have always come because of site choice. Detector choice was always secondary. A ton of You Tube videos will show that the vast majority of finds are made from eyeball level to 3-4 inches in depth so whatever machine I had with me for the day worked just fine.

This great hobby is only as difficult as one wants to make it. A nice day, some exercise, a good find here and there? Very rewarding.