How Many were ready to sell their Explorers after using it for a little while?

[ED-NH]

[quote guy named joe]hi guy's new to your forum , I'm going to give my exp 2 one more chance for the 101th time. Ith was ready to trade for dfx but reading your post's helped give it a reprieve ,i do have an occasional split screen problem might call minelab. thanks joe[/quote]

Hi Joe and welcome, Don't give up on the Minelab. It is a top quality machine with a ton of 'gadgets'. Just use it with the default settings and get used to what you hear. I go 80% by the sounds I hear. The sounds mean a lot on the Minelabs. I used mine for about 8 months before I made any changes to it. Now I have a program that I use for everything only needing to adjust sensitivity as necessary. I think if you get another brand you will go through another learning curve again and may get discouraged. Ask questions lots of folks here will help you out like they did for me

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

Joe,

I had the split screen thing on mine too. Sent it in and the fixed it right up - haven't seen the problem since.

 

[rex]

Ive had my explorer 1 for several years now and i still want to shoot it with my 44 magnum.I find more with my old whites coinmaster than with this explorer.Im thinking about finding a fisher cz70.We have lots of old coins in the ground here and LOTS of trash which seems to be the problem.Any comments,,,thank you

 

[Steve(MS)]

Maybe you should try different varioius settings to find if something other than the default setting will fit your needs or get with somebody that can help you with it. For sure it will beat the Coinmaster as far as depth, ID and discrimination but if it isn't working for you then by all means sell it and get whatever you prefer. I use mine in modern trash with sites loaded with pulltabs and other alum and old house places that are loaded with all kinds of iron and it works great for me, better than anything else I've tried but I understand the Explorer may not be for everyone, good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[GaryL]

If anyone is ready to sell theirs do to the learning curve I'm looking for one!!

HH

GaryL ....

 

[Pete in MI]

I had used Garretts most of my detecting life...Minelab sounds are NOT the Belltones I had been used to. With the old BFOs I had pretty much 2 sounds - higher for 'alleged' good items and lower for 'alleged' trash and that motorboat sound. (Dates me back to the 70s).

I got a used Explorer II and had problems with it...not sound problems but one of mechanical. The lower stem kept sliding up - wouldn't lock. Found out a metal piece fell out of the locking device and once re-installed it locked and the stem stayed in place. Multiple sounds and not understanding the 'Ferrous' and "Conduct' confused me. Even now I am not sure if I should or shouldn't be in Iron Mask mode but I am getting some good finds so must be learning something.

I was going to sell it but it wasn't because I wanted to go back to Garretts or anything else. At the time it was a matter of more bills than income...which happily reversed itself allowing me to keep the Explorer II. Would I sell it now? No way. I'd sell the other detectors before selling the Exp II - even if it meant no more water detecting.

Can't wait for the snow to depart so I can get some swinging in. Glad you brought up the subject, Rick.

 

[Pete in MI]

n/t

 

[Steve(MS)]

Pete, iron mask and the program screen do the same thing in that whatever area you have blacked out doesn't give an audio sound. The iron mask screen only allows for the left side of the screen to be blacked out in vertical increments while the program screen can be modified anyway you choose, same with the programs under "select", like the nail icon will blackout the probable nail category in that these "programs" will cause the detector to either accept or reject an area on the screen. As far as the multiple sounds, time with the detector will help. One thing I do since I use conduct sounds is I always have either the iron mask screen or program screen totally cleared so I can toggle between the 2 screens if I run into a signal that is iffy or a signal I don't quite know what is going on while using some measure of discrimination, doing this and with some practice will help you understand the signals better while scanning with a cleared screen. Some measure of disc is necessary for most users who stay with conduct sounds. Since I have used the Explorer a good number of years, I generally run the iron mask screen with a low level of disc, say at -14 to -15 but I generally have the program screen wide open so I can double check some signals that are iffy. If you choose ferrous sounds, you can either choose to run the detector with no disc or use the programs or iron mask just like you would with conduct sounds, some ferrous sound users elect to use some disc as well. Both ferrous and conduct sounds will give the same info, just in a different way to the user so it is mostly a matter of preference in which to use. Many use ferrous sounds in iron trash because it is easier to ID nails but even with conduct sounds, one can learn the difference. Glad to see the Explorer is working out for you,
HH.

 

[Pete in MI]

Thanks for the tips Steve. Will give that a try. Like you say - more time with the detector will help.

 

[Ray]

I'm one of them.
Haven't touched it for two years now.
Same for my XLT.
Got an Explorer 2 with 3 Coils.
With this job I don't have the time.
Ray

 

[dljones54]

Would someone please tell me the best way to set up my Explorer SE? I'm CONFUSED!!!! I bought mine a few weeks ago from Kellyco. I owned a Compass Relic Magnum 7 and a White's 6000 DiPro, which is my favorite. I had thought about buying a White's DFX. But, when I talked to the Kellyco rep, he recommended the SE over the DFX, so I bought it. I'm so used to the DiPro's sounds that the SE's sounds are pretty confusing. When I first did a field test, almost all of my coins gave broken-up sounds. The only time the machine gave a solid sound was when I was almost on top of the coin. Then, several days ago, I took the SE to a friend's house, to search for his lost class ring. I didn't find it, but found a lot of junk and one modern penny. The sounds the SE gave were too confusing and the targets jumped all over the screen. I didn't know whether what I was looking at was supposed to be a good target or a bad one. With my DiPro, I almost always knew what I was about to dig up. I have used the DiPro in the U.S. and in Europe and it never let me down. I've come away with some GREAT finds with the DiPro. But, after being told that the SE was such a GREAT machine, I'm beginning to wonder just what is wrong with - the operator! How in the world do you tell a good target from a bad one, using this machine? And, what is the best way for a SE beginner to set up his new machine, so he can make some more GREAT finds. To say I'm disappointed in my new machine would be an understatement. But, I paid way too much money for it to give up on it this early in the game. I'm hoping, as others on this forum have stated, that I will soon be making some progress and digging up those items everyone would love to find. Also, are there any detectorists in South Arkansas who could help me better understand my new Explorer SE? Any help in getting me unconfused will be greatly appreciated!!!! Danny Jones

 

[Steve(MS)]

First, I think you will do better at getting some responses by starting a new thread, not on this well-worn one here. Second, the XL-Pro is a very good detector, I had a 6000 Di Pro SL which was an earlier version of the Pro. The XL-Pro is a turn on and go, single tone detector and all you have to do is listen for a beep and see what the meter reads. With the Explorer series, you will need to put in some time learning it. Without writing a book here, if you haven't read the manual really good then take some time to do so. Next, gather up coins, pulltabs, etc and scan them with your SE. Note the tone changes and meter readings it makes on different items. Take the SE to a easy place to detect, something that has shallow coins, maybe some pulltabs and not much iron and do some digging. Keep an eye on the screen when you get a signal you want to dig, making note of the depth meter indication. Think of making this a longer term learning process and make changes to the settings such as sensitivity. You may also want to play with other settings to see if you like some over others, don't be afraid to change the settings, you can always reset it to default. Hope this helps. HH

 

[jbow]

Everyone seem's to have something to say in this thread...

I guess it means we need to hang in there because it is across the board... everyone is frustrated with the Explorer to begin with and really, for quite some time.

J

 

[Steve(MS)]

I think this goes for any detector, you will have some that like it and some that don't. The learning curve is easier for some and not for others also. My advice is to try out the different settings such as conduct/ferrous sounds, normal/audio 1, and the different speed settings, fast/ normal/deep. If one doesn't like ID detectors, there are plenty of beep/ dig detectors out there to try out, most of these are lightweight also which is a plus. Every detector has its strengths as well as quirks to deal with, there is no perfect detector and sometimes it has more to do with confidence, some seem to click with you and others just don't. I personally like the Explorer because it has a very good ID system and is about as deep as any on the market but once again, it is a personal thing, what works for me may not work for someone else, their ground, conditions and what they use it for may differ from mine. I see every brand/model up for sale often so that fairly well proves the point. If you have someone within driving distance that really knows the Explorer then that could be some help. I like to get people to use the Explorer to do some easy hunting, like some clad hunting at first, where there is not an abundance of iron trash so they can get familar with how it reacts and learn the tones. You may want to get Andy's book on the Explorers as it could be helpful. I hope you success in "hanging in there".
HH

 

[BlackX]

[quote jbow]... everyone is frustrated with the Explorer to begin with and really, for quite some time.[/quote]

I haven't been frustrated--other than a few minor (how-can-it-be-improved) gripes here and there--but much of that may have been from moving up from a Sovereign. I think there are enough similarities between how the machines are operated that it made it a pretty smooth transition. (Though, at this point, ideally I think I'd like a bit of a blend between the two.)

 

[jbow]

I have a T2, F75, Tejon, and a Sovereign. The SE has the very best ID ever and the tones are soothing compared to the T2/F75. For the last year the F75 has been ny "go to" machine but after making myself use the SE, (and getting an 8" coil), the SE is now the one I pick up first. I am still learning it and will continue with it. I have a feeling that it may have an edge over the F75 if I spend enough time with it. The F75 may have an edge in heavy iron but maybe not. Time will tell.
I can tell a pulltab from a nickel with the SE but not with the F75.

Se... a great detector.

 

[Southwind]

As someone that has always used a "beep and dig" detector I also found the SE to be very confusing at first. I also have a Whites DFX and I can say they are nothing alike. First swing of my SE in my front yard was like listening to a 2 year old on a flute. All I could think was WTH? I took it to our local park and got the same results. With every swing the SE played 10 different tones. I later realized each tone of each swing was the indication of a lot of different targets. I knew the SE needed to be swung slow, but I didn't realize how slow until then. Now when I swing it slow I can pick out each target and listen for the right tone. The SE does very well at finding good targets next to junk, but until you learn to recognize the indications, it all sounds like a flute.

For those totally new to metal detecting learning the sounds may not be such an issue, but for some of us that have gotten used to using a good "beep and dig" detector, the SE can be very challenging to say the least. For me the learning process was helped a lot by understanding all those meaningless musical notes was trying to tell me to go elsewhere to learn. Once I found a fairly clean area, which was a trick all by itself, and was able to go one on one with a single target, things were much easier even in a heavy target environment.

 

[king-ghidorah]

My number one complaint with the Explorer is the screen. I have such a hard time seeing it clearly. The best time for me to view it is on night hunts when I can have the backlight on and the screen is illuminated. I like the Xterra screen better.
Neil

The screen display in my opinion is poorly designed and when you have a cover over it this flaw becomes even more apparent. I have heard great things about displays on Xterra series and the White's models as well. I can't see why Minelab goes through the trouble of developing a great machine and then you have to struggle to see what's on the screen. The word "Dilbert" comes to mind :.)

 

[king-ghidorah]

I think mine is set to 5. The key is in sunlight, the sinlight will saturate the screen if the screen contrast setting is too high, you need to go to a lower number. Also, I cut a piece of that very thin plastic notebook folder material a little less than the width of the top of the control housing. Then I used sticky backed velcro piece across the top of the control housing, then used the other mating velcro piece over it with the plastic material between it. Then you can slide the plastic piece back or forward as required to block the sun. These 2 little fixes really will help you see the screen in sunlight.

Could you show a photo of this setup. Sounds like a great idea and maybe a solution to the one thing that irritates me about the display problems.

 

[jbow]

I just ordered the new Pro coil. I am hoping it will be more stable for me. I am thinking that I may switch to the smartfind screen too. I have used the digital screen almost exclusively. I have had a real problem with all the noises it makes, it's hard for me to figure out what is good and what is chatter. I am going to keep trying... I really haven't had time to hunt much this summer but I am going to start making more time.

Gotta keep on, won't give up...

J