<img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
when i was looking for a back-up machine, Ray put the thought of an explorer xs into my mind.
here's what i did.
they were blowing out explorer xs's because of a few changes in the new model xs2.
so, i bought a brand new explorer xs with warranty from david@dixie at a blowout price.
then, i did a side by side comparison using silver dimes and quarters, and the explorer xs got lot's more depth.
now, maybe it's just my soil here, i don't know and don't really care.
while the mxt air-tested at 9-10" stock coil, in the ground i could only get 5-6".
now, the explorer xs gets 8-9-10" in my soil no problem, stock coil.
while my brother and i were out in december, he asked me to check a signal for him. this was the first time i had the explorer xs out. his needle was jumping all around on the 5900 pro, he couldn't tell what was going on. i checked the signal with my machine and told him it was a silver dime at about 7".
he said, "nah, i think it's a quarter."
i said, "dig it up."
it was silver dime at about 5". lol.
each detector has it's good points and bad points though.
the whites can be used fast, and a big piece of ground can be covered in a short period of time.
the explorer has to be used slow, as it seems to process signals slower.
some people say the explorer is heavier. it doesn't feel any heavier than other machines to me.
let's see....mxt is 4.3 lbs. with batteries - explorer xs is 3.5 lbs shipping weight without batteries. hmmm.
maybe if people stopped putting probes and stuff all over their machines, it wouldn't be so heavy. lol.
the white's pretty much won't break. look at all of the old working goldmasters and coinmasters on ebay. these things are like 30 years old.
as soon as i started swinging the explorer, i noticed this plastic piece hanging off down by the coil. the yoke cover was falling off, it wouldn't snap in right.
then, after my first time out with the explorer, the backlight button wouldn't work anymore. and, the menu button now started turning my backlight on and off, and i couldn't access the menu. lol.
so, i sent it in to get repaired, and they fixed it asap, had it back in two weeks.
now, if i can just keep the explorer xs from falling apart, i'll be happy.
some people may not like this post, but i'm just trying to be helpful and share information based on my real life experiences.
i'm thinking about getting a back-up detector again though, thinking about a fisher.
<img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
