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I don't get it.

R

Relco

New member
About ready to sell my Etrac, had it almost 2 years. Probably 30 plus hours of use. Something must be wrong with it or perhaps the way I'm using it. Depth indicator and pin pointing are laughable. I end up digging a big hole to find my target. 1/2 way down the depth indicator usually means my Garret pointer can find it on near the surface. Yesterday, in a 5" test hole Etrac (stock coin mode) couldn't pick up a silver dime, my Ace 250 with 5x8 dd coil hit perfectly. I just don't get it.

Been detecting since 1972 and the Etrac is my 5th or 6th machine. Need to put batteries in my Relco Pace Setter, Bounty and Compass Yukon to see how they would fair.

Frustrated.
 
First off...I've only got 1 yr with mine and 4.5 months of that was waiting for winter to get over with. I also still have trouble at times PPing with the larger double D coils. I use a combination of the "wiggle back method", x-ing, and also the PP button. Shallow coins near other targets along with junk can be a bitch at times. Before you sell you might try the small 6" eq2 coil? I love the thing, it's great in trash, PP's super easy and is fairly deep with 7-8" dimes not a problem. Only thing negative is you can't cover any ground so to speak? As far as depth meter goes, imo, after about 5" mark I find it pretty damned accurate on the deepies?

Don't sell it...it's an amazing machine. Try the 6" for now and maybe go to the top of the Forum and use G4E's settings for starters. Give the Trac another chance and let it prove itself.......

jmo
 
30 hours in 2 years I'd say there is some still newbie errors or either you have the sens. turned down. I get almost 30 hours in a good week
 
Relco said:
About ready to sell my Etrac, had it almost 2 years. Probably 30 plus hours of use. Something must be wrong with it or perhaps the way I'm using it. Depth indicator and pin pointing are laughable. I end up digging a big hole to find my target. 1/2 way down the depth indicator usually means my Garret pointer can find it on near the surface. Yesterday, in a 5" test hole Etrac (stock coin mode) couldn't pick up a silver dime, my Ace 250 with 5x8 dd coil hit perfectly. I just don't get it.

Been detecting since 1972 and the Etrac is my 5th or 6th machine. Need to put batteries in my Relco Pace Setter, Bounty and Compass Yukon to see how they would fair.

Frustrated.
Click to expand...

Do a Master Reset in case you might have messed something up!.. Pinpointing with the 11 coil for me is easier using the front of the coil while walking around the target
 
I've only had mine for less than 6 months and love it, Have hunted some trashy areas in the stock coin program with manual sens-30 and still runs quiet. I now have the Ultimate 13'' coil and it pinpoints fine. If you cant pick-up a 5'' dime and there's no other target close you need some service. Good luck
 
If I were you ,I"d sell it.
If you only detect with it 15 hours a year you're not going to get your investment out of it.
Stick with the 250
 
I would sell it also...you do not need that much detector for the time you put into the hobby.
Take up checkers...

HH,
 
Now to be serious...do a master reset of the detector and try hunting in the stock coins mode...
If you learn how to use the exchange program, then use Andy S. or Trashy Park pattern found on the E-Trac Classroom forum, or some other pattern of your choice...
It took me almost 6 months of hunting 2-3 times a week for 5 hours at a time to really learn the E-Trac...
Pinpointing takes some time to learn and is different with each type and size of coil... Practice burying a target at about 5 inches, then try pin pointing it when you KNOW where it is...see where your coil is when the pinpoint function on the detector says you are on the target... If you are not using headphones, then GET a pair...You are losing out on vital audio cues from the detector if you are not using them. If you have another hunter nearby who uses a Minelab, then try to arrange a hunt with them. If you have a club near you, JOIN it... It is a great place to learn and ask questions.

HH,
 
Your depth meter will lie to you. It based off of average coin size. A 3 inch deep birdshot will show deeper usually on your meter than a 3 inch deep dime, In heavy iron using pinpointer on etrac is waste of time IMO, Just study the spot where your coil is hitting and rotate around target and if you can still detect possible target watch the spot of detection. Start digging, you may pull a nail or 2 out but don't be fooled. Most times your treasure is in the hole, Handheld pinpointer is a must. Taking dirt off the top of target and a lot of times you will not be able to detect anymore with detector. The side of the hole should be watched as well. I very seldom ever look at the depth meter unless maybe I'm detecting in a manicured yard. The best coins aren't always the deepest.
 
As other said, try a reset. Something wrong if it isn't hitting a dime at 5 inches. I have not experienced the problems pinpointing that you mentioned with mine. There are videos on Youtube about how to use the front of the coil for pinpointing. That method might work better for you. Good luck!
 
30 hours in 2 years? You haven't had nearly enough time on the E-Trac. If had mine a month, and have about 20 hours on it. I need another 80 to feel comfortable.

As the others have said... Master reset, coin program and try again. As for PP and depth, it's the machines guess based on how it was calibrated (on US coins). Smaller will show up deeper, larger will show up closer. If it's a coin, it should be very close to as shown. How you PP is a separate issue. I trust the machine to do its job for the most part. When in doubt, I X it out. The target is usually right where it should be.

Truth be told, you might be happier with a simpler, less complicated machine... AT Pro perhaps. That's your call.

Hh
 
I don't get the PPing thing. My PPs are dead-nuts-on even for deep targets with the exception of on-edge coins, long nails or other wierd shaped targets.
In my experience the depth readings while not perfect are almost always in the ballpark for coins.

What i'd do if reseting don't help is to find someone locally with eTRAC experience and let him try it out before you dump it.

Since the thing has been sitting for a while, check the coil connector making sure its tight. Might want to unscrew the coil connector and then re-screw it back on just in case there's some corrosion build up on the connector contacts. Worth a try.

I've dug up dimes a foot deep with a few a little deeper. But it took a while with the eTRAC before i was digging up those deep coins.
Where did you do the testing? What settings?
eTRACs are sensitive detectors which are more vulnerable to EMI than some other detectors. Noise cancelling in these areas is a must or you'll be spinning your wheels.
In extremely high EMI sites my eTRAC struggles to detect deeper targets....in those areas a nebie would likely walk right over them.
 
Nice Black Kansas dirt. And thanks to all for commenting. I'll the master reset. Probably the most frustrating thing I've experienced with the Etrac is pinpointing. I've had years and years of detector experience, so I'm well aware of the X method. With a DD coil this method is fantastic. Still I end up cutting a 8 inch plug only to find it in next door. Wish there was an experience user nearby. Thanks again folks.
 
One more thing. What would my slightly used Etrac be worth? I refuse to sell it on Ebay! Original box, Original never used headphones (used different set). Unit is very clean with no abrasions and always stored inside. I bought it from Bart.
 
Relco said:
One more thing. What would my slightly used Etrac be worth? I refuse to sell it on Ebay! Original box, Original never used headphones (used different set). Unit is very clean with no abrasions and always stored inside. I bought it from Bart.
Click to expand...
Without a warranty you might get 850. I bought one 2 months old with an x1 probe for 1000. They are easy to find used.
 
Relco said:
Wow! I think I paid $1300 or so.
Click to expand...

The problem with Minelabs is that between shipping and repair if needed , it quickly surpasses the value of the machine.
There is an ad in the classifieds from one of the sponsors who's looking for good clean used machines--might send him a pm.
I think 850 is a little high myself.
 
Call Minelab and tell them your problem. They will probably ask a few questions and if your machine needs to go in Minelab will give you a repair number and send you a shipping label. Sounds like you could have a bad coil. If a wire is broken or separated the coil may pin-point anywhere. Give Minelab a call first. Do not dump your problem detector onto to someone else without calling Minelab first. If you have anyone close that owns a Minelab FBS machine try their coil. HH :minelab:
 
I just bought mine for 400.00 with original everything including box and a year warranty left. I paid 500.00 but I got a Garrett Pro Pointer also.
 
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