Let's slide some hints to Minelab...What improvements or features would you like to see in an Explorer 4:clapping:

[Hotcz70]

What features would you like to see on a new explorer?...or what improvements do you feel could be made to make it even better at deep silver than it already is?

I truly feel the Explorers are the BEST deep silver machines on the market...but you can always improve on the best...right?

I know this has been hashed out before...but let's keep ticklin' their ears with what WE would like to see added as features OR improved upon.

After all...it US who will be buying it...using it...and providing feedback on it if and when a new machine would ever hit the market.

 

[weston]

i have a few things i think we all would think would be nice.

1. the hand grip...i wish is was just as comfortable, but kind of slick instead like a sponge. because the sites i hunt are muddy sometimes, so if it was slick i could just wipe it down instead of having to scrub it for 10 minutes cause the water and mud has soaked into it!

2. color screen...if they could make certain parts of the screen different colors like the red zone be the silver zone. yellow zone for nickels. green zone be Indians. something like that would be cool!

3. digital and smart screen in same screen like the Etrac...i like that on the Etrac wish my SE had it. that way we can get a idea of whats there with two different ways.

those are my 3 things...they prolly wont matter but those are the 3 things i'd like to see most!

Weston

 

[dwayne sueno]

1) how about the capability to turn off the ratchet pinpointing?

2) recovery speed the same or better than the etrac

3) keep the explorer's x/y axis, with ferrous on the left and non-ferrous on the right

4) ability to reduce number of tones to 2 or 4 (like etrac), and also ability to expand the range of tones when detecting in ferrous,
to closer match the "flutey" tones one gets when detecting in conductive sounds

they could call it the FEtrac, FE for ferrous, of course...

dwayne

 

[Derrelld]

How about one that guarantees you wont dig any nails HAHA The machines are great.. I really cant think of much to change.. The hand grip as Weston pointed out would be nice.. One thing I never understood is why in America would you need all 28 frequency's? It would be cool too be able to change the number the machine is cranking out.. I know I miss hunting with my old SE.. Am am thinking of picking up another just to play with. You posted the topic Bryce, what would you like to see different on the next Explorer?

 

[Hotcz70]

you can't see the screen at all during certain times of the day...certain cloud cover...certain sunlight...etc.

In fact it's horrible. You know those days...when you stand there all ticked off...trying to turn your head just right...twist the machine just right...adjust the contrast...switch the backlight on and off...hold it just right...turn it to the perfect angle...etc. All just to try and see something besides a shadow on the screen

I hunt mostly by sound alone...BUT it is nice to utilize the ratcheting all metal ID'ing pinpoint feature of the SE and watch the cursor movement or flutter.

That cursor movement and flutter doesn't mean much if you can't see the screen anyway

On a lesser note...I would also like to have the OPTION to see both numbers AND smartscreen at the same time on the SE...BUT...not with the same tiny screen as on the E-Trac.

Again...we are back to the fact that IF the SE DID had the option to display both numbers AND smartscreen...it wouldn't matter ....if you couldn't see the screen at many times throughout the day anyway.

It is MUCH worse if you use one of the rain covers...and who doesn't???? Heck we want to protect our investment.

 

[captn_se]

1. Make it more ergonomic so it is easier on the joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the body. Improve balance and make it as light as possible without sacrificing structure integrity.

2. I'd like to see the addition of a trigger switch underneath the display, within reach of your index finger while swinging your machine. The trigger switch would engage pinpoint mode without having to change the position of your hand. I would also like the ability to lock the trigger switch, so when we're using the inline probe, we can simply flip the switch into a locked pinpoint mode without having to constantly push the Pinpoint button on the front display.

3. All the basic screen/menu improvements like on the E-Trac, accompanied with a super fast, state of the art microprocessor. The faster the processor, the more complex analyzing properties/algorithms , in addition to improved recovery times.

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[wildherre]

Dual Trac
Dual boot, either boots in Explorer mode or Etrac mode
The Etrac handle angle
An improved easier to view, more durable screen, bright & colorful like a V3... adjustable angle. user replaceable face
Lighter weight, 4 AA batteries instead of 8
More useful USB, up-datable firmware
Built in probe switch & extra connector for accessory probe.
programmable tone points, any tone for any target like V3
A clock

 

[weston]

Dual Trac
Dual boot, either boots in Explorer mode or Etrac mode
The Etrac handle angle
An improved easier to view, more durable screen, bright & colorful like a V3... adjustable angle. user replaceable face
Lighter weight, 4 AA batteries instead of 8
More useful USB, up-datable firmware
Built in probe switch & extra connector for accessory probe.
programmable tone points, any tone for any target like V3
A clock

yes, a clock would be nice! cause we all know we get so focused on our detecting that we dont look at our watches to check the time!

Weston

 

[thebeatmachine]

Since Minelab has technology that other Manufacturers don't have, They should draw heavily from the positive features that other companies do have in their detectors.


A four battery set up, even if its only four hour life span would be great. have it operate on 4 or six rechargeables.

Ergonomic handle.

Cut way down on the weight while improving durability.

Maybe add a surface blanker.

The fisher / Technic models are the ones to copy as far as the way they look and feel.

Better screen with out using much power.

Quicker response, with out a quirky cursor.

Thin every thing down and make it lighter and faster

Keep options but make them work better.

 

[onemore]

Make the box detachable, so I can chest-mount.

Add the dual sensitivity display feature that ETrac has, so you can see the auto as well as the manual.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Down and dirty just gives us a lighter and more ergonomic unit...Moving the batteries to the rear ala Whites and a lighter 10 inch coil would help right from the get go..

I like the idea of the trigger to pinpoint and even though the Fisher 1266 is 4lbs. its ergonomics are superb and Minelab might do well to try to duplicate to a degree as patents surely have run out 20 years or so later.

As far as depth current models go as deep as I want to dig and trying to accomplish such might be labeled why fix what ain't broke.

Don't even think about 2 or 4 tones in Conduct as I like the flute guy following me around and to me is one of the secrets to excelling with an Explorer of course hearing and personal preferences differ and if Ferrous works for you be my guest...

 

[born2hunt]

The ability to switch from ferrous sounds to conduct and back without having to scroll through the menu.

A glare free screen would also be nice.

 

[dewcon4414]

I like the idea of a pinpoint switch, had it on the DFX and its great.

Color screen with say small digital in the upper left when in smartscreen or smartscreen in the upper left if using digital.

Id like to have a faster processor.... come on guys.

straight shaft and lighten it up some.

Id like to know what the auto sensitivity is doing as well.

Lets get a better handle on all that TID screen bounce. Which means improvement on wrap-a-round on deep targets.

Spread out the tones a bit around the nickel range to help id gold and nickels. You have silver down pretty good... now lets work on jewelry.

Improve VCO like on a concentric coil for pinpointing and sizing a target.

Improve the ability to work in iron rich areas.

wireless headphones

 

[LabradorBob]

One of my favorite things on the e trac is the ability to see what the sensitivity is .
it tells me whether i can stay in auto,or if i need to go to manual.
Second is the trash density setting.
I would like the screen to have a white background,with the discrimination , and cursor in black.
I would like for them to improve quality control,and actually run each detector through a series of tests
for a pre determined amount of time.
and the same for their coils.

LabradorBob

 

[dewcon4414]

What might be interesting would be a color smartscreen that showed all the targets under the coil.... say the bad in red and the good in blue.

 

[Bayrat76]

Plus a system to hip mount it, and get the wieght off the arm.

 

[Dancin' Dave]

I'd like to see a better design for the arm cuff. The current one is more durable than the XS but still has a tendency to break. I've gone through three of them so far. Also, it would be nice to have a single button to toggle between two different set ups. I like to run open screen with higher sensitivity when using my probe then switch back to my normal settings when detecting.

Just my 2 cents
DD

 

[dewcon4414]

That hand grip problem is easily fixed by going to wally world and buying some of that wrap around tennis grip. Its durable, cleans easily, comfortable, and is replaceable. Darrelld.... actually there are 11 channels EACH having 28 random harmonics. The Patton seems to say it only takes the 3 stronger of those harmonics for an average reading. Those harmonics come in handy if you travel all over the US since it helps adjust to those different locations better than most machines.

Dew

 

[detectorguy]

I have an Explorer XS and have only held my buddy's SE (it was off) so I'm limited in knowing what is on the new models now. I may download the SE simulator some day so I can play with it a little, but here are the few things I would like to see:

a clock - I use my cell phone to get the time, but I would rather just look down along the bottom edge of the screen. swapping dead batteries out for fresh batteries a keep alive battery (such as a watch battery) would be needed on the system board to keep the time current.

Laptops are getting lighter so why not the control unit of a detector - put all of the electronics on one board with a faster processor inside a thin control unit with a six inch video screen. Color would be cool, but not really needed.

The ability to switch between two modes easier.

USB port to connect it to a computer and updatable firmware. The little port like what's on a phone would be just fine.

Using an XS with an X1 probe and then holding an SE - it has been lightened considerably. Sun could probably lighten the probe a bit to help out.

 

[Dave-IL]

I havn't been hunting long enough to know but so far I really like the explorer se.
Let me learn this one before I worry about a 4th generation detector...ha-ha.