Just too much fun yesterday left me too tired last night to get to 'Part 2' of my field evaluation process.
Let me sort of pick up where I left off with Part #1. In my earlier post I stated that one thing I wanted to do was be honest with myself with regard to the differences in features and the field performance of these new X-Terra models. Well, I made sure I included about five or six models from other manufacturers which I like a good deal in order to pick-apart both of the new Minelabs, especially the X-Terra 30. I mean, why would I want to have a "turn-on-and-go" X-Terra 30 when I already have the more-featured X-Terra 50? I was able to reach that conclusion rather easily by simply comparing it with a few of the low-to-mid priced models that are also quick to get into action. These are the Garrett Ace 250, and White's Classic ID, Classic 5-ID, and my favorite, the IDX Pro.
To get an idea of the differences I saw/see and and to better understand the X-Terra's, please allow me to walk through their features, explain some of the control functions, and give you my impressions of them.
Control Housing: Perhaps the first place to start this out would be with the control housing's design. When the thin and light Minelab box arrives in your hands it might be puzzling to figure how such a thin box could hold the large-view display housing. Simple. It is not attached to the rod like many models are, making them wide left-to-right, nor is the display in a cumbersome and big box or housing that take up a lot of room. Instead, the control housing is unattached from the handgrip and laying flat in the box making this a very compact 'packaged' detector.
During assembly the owner has the option of just inserting the control housing's shaft into the handgrip until is snaps into place and leaving it that way. If they prefer, Minelab includes a small screw that can be used to anchor the housing's shaft in the foam grip.
To accomplish this in a neat fashion, Minelab has a circular pre-cut spot on the right side of the foam grip aligned with a hole. There's also a small hole in the housing's shaft. If you want to secure the housing, just gently pry the pre-cut foam piece out and insert the small screw. You're done!
When I first received my X-Terra 50 I wondered about how secure the housing will stay if the owner doesn't secure it with the screw. Now, I am not one for flying, and I am not too partial to bags and such to break-down my detectors. Instead, they travel on the back seat of our vehicles covered with a lightweight white blanket. The white blank keeps them out of eyesight, and also keeps the summer sun off of them. I don't have that worry right now. Anyway, I always have my detectors assembled and ready to grab and get into action.
Since I don't usually break my detectors down I knew that I wouldn't be putting a lot of wear-and-tear on the plastic snap-in parts of the housing's shaft and in the handgrip. Then it dawned on me that I knew when the X-Terra 30 came out I would want to give it a try, and the best way to try it might be to just use my X-Terra 50's rod & coil and just switch out the control pods!
So, for the first 2
Let me sort of pick up where I left off with Part #1. In my earlier post I stated that one thing I wanted to do was be honest with myself with regard to the differences in features and the field performance of these new X-Terra models. Well, I made sure I included about five or six models from other manufacturers which I like a good deal in order to pick-apart both of the new Minelabs, especially the X-Terra 30. I mean, why would I want to have a "turn-on-and-go" X-Terra 30 when I already have the more-featured X-Terra 50? I was able to reach that conclusion rather easily by simply comparing it with a few of the low-to-mid priced models that are also quick to get into action. These are the Garrett Ace 250, and White's Classic ID, Classic 5-ID, and my favorite, the IDX Pro.
To get an idea of the differences I saw/see and and to better understand the X-Terra's, please allow me to walk through their features, explain some of the control functions, and give you my impressions of them.
Control Housing: Perhaps the first place to start this out would be with the control housing's design. When the thin and light Minelab box arrives in your hands it might be puzzling to figure how such a thin box could hold the large-view display housing. Simple. It is not attached to the rod like many models are, making them wide left-to-right, nor is the display in a cumbersome and big box or housing that take up a lot of room. Instead, the control housing is unattached from the handgrip and laying flat in the box making this a very compact 'packaged' detector.
During assembly the owner has the option of just inserting the control housing's shaft into the handgrip until is snaps into place and leaving it that way. If they prefer, Minelab includes a small screw that can be used to anchor the housing's shaft in the foam grip.
To accomplish this in a neat fashion, Minelab has a circular pre-cut spot on the right side of the foam grip aligned with a hole. There's also a small hole in the housing's shaft. If you want to secure the housing, just gently pry the pre-cut foam piece out and insert the small screw. You're done!
When I first received my X-Terra 50 I wondered about how secure the housing will stay if the owner doesn't secure it with the screw. Now, I am not one for flying, and I am not too partial to bags and such to break-down my detectors. Instead, they travel on the back seat of our vehicles covered with a lightweight white blanket. The white blank keeps them out of eyesight, and also keeps the summer sun off of them. I don't have that worry right now. Anyway, I always have my detectors assembled and ready to grab and get into action.
Since I don't usually break my detectors down I knew that I wouldn't be putting a lot of wear-and-tear on the plastic snap-in parts of the housing's shaft and in the handgrip. Then it dawned on me that I knew when the X-Terra 30 came out I would want to give it a try, and the best way to try it might be to just use my X-Terra 50's rod & coil and just switch out the control pods!
So, for the first 2