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Minelab Are You Listening

but based on Minelabs reply to my e-mail asking them about these things, they don't think there is anything wrong with the current Explorer...and don't feel the need to upgrade anything as they are still enjoying good sales.

They did however suggest I e-mail them with suggestions, as it does go to their research dept.

Wess
 
Yes the weight is a problem for me also. My explorer with pinpointer is on the local market for that reason. Its killing my back and elbows.
 
A lot of people swear by their in-line probe; however, several that I hunt with have gone to removing it when hunting for extended periods of time as even the 12 ounces or so that it weighs will add to the fatique factor over time. That;s why using a coil that weighs but a few ounces less than the stock FEELS so much lighter . . . . . when you add a little weight at the end of a 3-4 foot shaft, the weight is exagerated.

Have you tried a lighter coil and removing your probe? The performance trade off is a hard one to swallow in selling your current Explorer . . . .

Andy
 
I got one from Kellyco. But the cable went bad and the company that made them went belly up. Seems they ran into a batch of bad cables and could not change them. I know mine was great until the coiled cable got tugged on a few times. It developed an intermittent open. Drove me nuts. But then I got a coil extension cord from a known company and changed the plugs myself.
Once again I don't leave home without it. Its great. Fatigue is now a thing of the past.

Mike
 
For a person that promotes using a very heavy large coil such as the Wot coil its surpising that you think removing the in-line probe is going to make the Explorer more balanced. Since the total probe weight is 11 oz., if the probe is mounted along side the control housing (like we recommend) you have now taken 5 oz. and put it under your arm behind your hand. That leaves only 1 oz. in front out of balance. Most customers tell me they hardly notice the extra weight of the probe and the benefits far outweigh the little bit of extra weight they feel. Larger, heavier coils at the end of the rod are where the extra weight really comes into play. I know you said to try a smaller coil and if he does that, there will be little need, if any, to remove his in-line probe.

Ralph (Sun Ray)
 
Not only do we hunt a lot down here, we hunt for extended periods of time. There were a couple guys down here hunting this weekend without them. We felt genuinely sorry for them. If you really are running out of energy swinging that coil all day Doc sells that "Swingy Thingy" which I can tell you will make swinging anything absolutely a joke.

I am always mad when I want to go out all day with the WOT and can't figure out where I laid it.

As far as the inline probe, I couldn't get Golddigger, Mike Moutray or anyone else that was on the Michigan trip to use the new Explorer II when it came out since it didn't have a probe on it's maiden voyage. The Explorer finds so many targets that are on edge, next to junk, etc. I can't believe the time you'd be eating up without one using anything that can't discriminate.

Just my take on your take Andy... Since I've never seen anyone take off the probe. Not once. Anyone out there that has done this and kept it off?

Any deals out there on your old Sun Ray probe? :D

Oh yea... Saw Golddiggers gold coin today. He was carrying it around in the ghetto parks today... Amazing...

Guvner..
 
It's called Back Weight. I'll put a spin on this. In golf they use what they term as Swing Weight and Back Weight. The weight of a Dollar bill is equivalent to one swing weight in golf. You can feel the difference on the end of a shaft. The weight is more pronounced the further you are away from the end of the shaft. So consequently a person using a longer shaft will feel the weight more, because that person is further away from the end of the shaft. The swing weight is greater because of this. If you add weight to where the handle is, the lighter the swing weight becomes. Hence Back weight. It has what I call a teeter tauter effect. Still the over all weight of the machine increases. If you add more weight to the handle part of the shaft, you will be able to swing it faster but in a vertical position on your arm the weight will increase. ""Doc with the swingy thing"" can answerer this the best. Thats why it works so good. It's all physics. Hope this sheds some light on this issue.

Tom
 
Take out the batteries and leave them at home!!! That way you will not have to carry around all the coins you are NOT going to find!LESS WEIGHT!!!!COME ON GET REAL!!!!!
IF YOU ARE HUNTING WITHOUT A PROBE YOU ARE WAISTING TIME!LOT'S OF IT!!!
JUST MY TAKE!
H.H.(GOLDDIGGER) J.W.
 
Good post. Yes I have removed the inline probe and have went to a smaller coil. I think I like the smaller coil better. I can't see much difference in the depth. Actually I'm learning to pinpoint fairly well without the probe. I have thought about a still even lighter coil but am not convinced they will work as well. John R
 
agreed taking off the probe will make it lighter...BUT...why should we have too!? The machine is heavy..period...with or without the probe. They should be working on making a lighter version. This complaint is heard all the time, from all kinds of people. I personally believe they are losing sales because of it. Look how many people sell or won't buy due to it's weight...and poor construction. The explorer is the best all around machine out there, and many people don't care to get one...for the reasons mentioned above. That says something.
 
I don't know of anyone who took their probe off...on the other side of the coin, I don't know of anyone who has used one, that ever wanted to part with it. I would not go without my inline probe...and think it is pretty ridiculous to suggest we should have to remove them to make the machine lighter.

Personally I think Minelab should be listening to folks, and working on a lighter version of the explorer...which...I think could possibly be in the works sometime down the road.
 
I'm working on a Modified Explorer. Trying to save weight and add strength. The two big offenders are the coil and the batteries. A lighter coil would help, Sun Ray coils help a little or a remote battery pack but I don't want a second cable back to the detector. Here is my version of what an Explorer III should look like.

S and lower shaft is from a Sov. Made some changes, added a 1/4 turn shaft clamp between the two metal shafts to make it stiffer and get rid of the wobble. Internal tube comes out of the S shaft since the clip would have been under where the control housing is now.

My own metal arm cuff, battery holder, headphone adapter, stand combo.

Jeff
 
I'm on both sides of this one. On one hand there's no way I'd hunt without my X1 probe and I won't repeat all the good reasons why. But the Explorer is heavy and 11 oz is a lot more weight to add whether you position it under the arm or not. Get this load moving left then at the end of your swing you gota reverse course and get it moving in the opposite direction e.g. an object in motion tends to stay in motion. I did enough beach hunting last year without my probe to notice the difference when I put the probe back on for land hunting.

I prefer to take a saws all to my Explorer and shed weight elsewhere but here's a $2 solution. Install 4 pin male panel mount connector in the X1 switch box where the probe enters and a 4 pin female cable connector on the probe cable. Now when you finish using the probe you can just unplug it and stuff it in your pouch, clip it to your belt, etc.

Alternatively you could buy two X1 probes, tie the cables together and you have Bruce Lee like nun-chucks to fend off the getto-ites. Wha-PAHH Wha-PAHH Wha-PAHH!!! Uh...okay maybe cabin fever has set in.
 
I personally have a Joey Coil and love it. I use it more than my 8" Minelab Coil that I have and wouldn't trade this coil for the world. It has exceptional depth and can really get between the trash to locate the hidden finds that you are looking for.
 
OK, here is my take, I agree with Mike and Guv that not to use the probe if you have one is foolish, especially since they hunt in Parks, I do not hunt parks, I hunt in the woods most of the time, but I will add several caveats to that. I stopped using my probe for several reasons.
1. I am not in a hurry to find my finds, I am retired and take it easy and don't worry about "wasting" time finding the coin.
2.. The probe mounted where Ray suggests was in the way of my swinging since I switch swinging arms continuously while pingin.
3. I then mounted the probe on the upper shaft which worked good for dual arm swinging but made the nose heavy XS more nose heavy.
4. The Swingy Thingy, hurt my back, and I do have severe cervical problems, so that is in the closet forever.
5. Don't get me wrong, I love the probe, but with my hunting conditions and health problems I had to take it off.

WEIGHT - Actually I think the Explorer is light, but the Stock coil is murder, but that is one of the main reasons the Explorer is so good, the Double D Coil, and I have never had a stock coil last over 5 years without developing a problem and this one is the first one I have had stay working perfectly for that long. Solidly built, but heavy.
SMALLER COIL - I love the Minelab 8 inch coil, I am a strong advocate of using it if the weight bothers the individual too much, then put the probe back on and see if you can handle that combination.
The 8 inch coil does not lose that much depth in normal hunting areas, you can always go back and mop up the place with the stock coil. :)

HIP MOUNT - Not a good idea for a thick woods hunter like myself, so I will pass on that one, except to say, You still have the nose heavy coil no matter what you do with the rest of the detector!!!!

I never went to the XSII, just did not have the money to spend on something that was not much different than the original XS. My finds with the Explorer since Dec 2000 have been outstanding and have no regrets ever getting one, despite it faults, just like any of the other detectors have also to one degree or another......

Don in SJ
 
Being fairly new to this forum and a less than a year EXII owner. I would like to see a wireless headphone setup. Some might say well how do you work it when your around other detectors. The same way a cordless phone can jump channels. If it is all ready in production some one let me know. Thanks.
And I couldnt waite for the frost to leave so I have been out with the hammer and chisel. Low and behold I got a hit at about 12" The same signal as a silver dollar made with test runs. I pounded down to 10 inched and still did not have anything but then the pinpointer started to beep. After another 2 inches up poped a "Coast to Coast" 12 foot tape measure. Woo pee. About then I also wanted the heated hand grips.
jimb
 
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