xTerra 705 question

[greg755]

After much thought I decided to By an Xterra 705 over an XP Deus. Now that I am waiting or it to come in the mail I am wondering if I made the right choice.

In the past I have owned a Sovereign, and Explorer and an Excalibur. While they were all good at finding deeper targets I hated the weight and I couldn't stand all the sounds, feels like Im in a casino when using them.

Anyways about 4 years ago I sold all my detectors and decided to take a break after 40 or so years of hunting.

After my absence I see that most of the dealers really havent come up with anything that has better performance just more bells and whistles and the usual hype.

That is except for 2 models, the Xterra and the XP Dues.

I decided on the xterra because,

#1 It is supposedly lighter in weight than the explorer.
#2 It has the ability to be set a 4 tones so I can give my brain a rest.
#3 Minelab figured out that if you truly want to use different frequencies you have to have a separate matching coil tuned to that frequency.

The XP Deus is lighter but Im not quite sure about the chip in the coil actually being able to truly operate in different frequencies because the coil it self is only mechanically set up (wound/tuned) one way.

So I didnt want to take the chance, maybe I am wrong about this but that was my first impression.

Whith all that being said I have not been able to get any answers from minelab about response time. The XP Deus has a very fast response time and can process signals much quicker than most any detector I have ever seen, which really comes in handy in a high trash area. I could careless about all the bells and whistles but this feature is extremely important so now i am wondering if I made a mistake.

Now I know everyone is going to tell me the Xterra 705 is the best thing since sliced bread and I made the right choice, but I would really like to hear from some of you who have really spent a lot of time in trashy and or highly mineralized areas how good or bad the Xterra is on its response time.

Thanks
G.

 

[7centsworth]

Welcome to the forum first of all. I have not owned alot of detectors but have used several. I can tell you the xterra is really light . You can set it on 1, 2 , 3, 4, or 28 tones . It does real good in trash with the 6 inch dd coil 18.75khz. I hunt relics alot and it goes really . Honestly I did not like the xterra the first couple of weeks. Now since learning it I will never part with an xterra. It has found countless coins in so called hunted out spots and has found it's share of civil war bullets. Be sure to check out the stickies at top of page there is alot of good information there.

 

[Old Longhair]

I can't comment on the Deus, but compared to my Explorer SE the Xterra is much faster. Not as fast as a Fisher, but it operates much more stabily.

And to add to what 7centsworth said about the tones...
If I were you, I'd look at the basic TID chart, see what various target's values are, and then look at where the tone breaks are @ 2,3, and 4 tones to see which one will put most of the desired targets in ranges that you will easily disearn.

[attachment 246424 updatedxterra-705tidchartapr20110001-Copy.jpg]
[attachment 246425 XterraToneBreakChart.jpg]

 

[greg755]

Longhair.
I am glad to hear that. Part of my "remorse" was due to the fact that I did not like the response time at all when using my Explorer. I am glad to hear that the Xterra has improved in this area. As far as tones go I do go by ear but I just cant handle all the noise from the other minelabs, it sounds like I am walking into the Slot room at the casino. I have found that 3-4 tones are sufficient (in my case) and the trick for me is to listen for how sharp/pronounced they are and if they crackle or break up or even go null, that tells me all I need to know.

 

[Old Longhair]

Part of the difference in speed is due to the Xterra being the first "all digital" machine out there. And being all digital is part of the same reason that it's capable of accurately changing between frequencies while doing a pretty good job of maintaining consistant target IDs.

To help you recover from your fears of remorse, I would like to give you, as a new owner, the best possible advice. And that would be to go to the MineLab website, and sign up (it's free & commits you to nothing). Then go to the member's area and download Randy Hortons FREE e-book, "Understanding Your Xterra".

Now if you're anything like me, you'll find that there's far too much information packed into that book than you can assimilate by just reading it. So read it twice to start with. Then go play with your new machine and see what you remember as well as what new questions you might think of. Then go home and re-read the book again. I actually think that I would be more proficient if I stuck my nose in that book after each outing. And not that it's a hard read either, 'cause it's not. There's just soo much useful info there that it's tough to fully appreciate it and assemble it in your brain until you have experienced enough different scenerios to apply various aspects of the finer points. Again I can only speak for myself. But if you're anything like me........

I want to be sure that I'm not making the Xterra sound difficult. It can be a simple or as complicated as you choose.
That's part of it's beauty!
I can set up the machine on a given site, and with about five minutes of instruction, I canbe pretty confident that a novice can be finding good targets. To go out and hunt with the pro's takes a little more dedication, but it's all up to you. What you want, what you expect, and what you put into it.

If I were to tell you that the Xterra is the finest machine out ther, I'd be a liar. But to be able to renew an area for the cost of a coil over the cost of another machine makes it wonderfully unique. And for the price I don't believe that it can be beat.

 

[DirtAngler]

I have both the Deus and the Xterra 705. For the money and capabilities, the Xterra 705 can't be beat. It is a fairly lightweight and fast detector although like any detector, with the bigger coils, it can become a little nose heavy and unbalanced. In comparison to the Deus, the Deus feels much lighter with the stock coil and is much faster in target seperation and recovery but is also quite steeper in price but does allow more menu choices and operator fine tuning. With my physical impairments, I can swing the Deus longer without any soreness compared to the Xterra. You will not be disappointed in choosing the Xterra, it is probably one of the most under-rated detecors made and has just the right amount of menu options and features.

 

[EOS]

XP Deus is a super fast, feather light great detector!
But I just cant cope with the tones. It has maybe better target information.
But that is not all.

The XTerra 705 have great sound. I use multi tone 99% of the time. Sometimes 2 tones on fields.
It is not as fast as the XP or the Fisher . But with the right coil its fast enough. Slow down and you will see through the trash .
Its my field machine number.1 but for those trashy parks I go for the E-trac with 8x6 SEF coil, unbeatble in my words.

Good luck with your purchase you will not regret it.

Mike.

 

[greg755]

EOS, thanks for that tip on the XP Deus tones, I must have missed that when reading about it, I assumed that you could select tones.

Guys I appreciate all the suggestions and the feedback. I have read Diggers book a couple of times and he really did a nice job. I especially like the part of using a Disc program but deleting all the notches, that is probably something i would not have thought of, I would have just used all metal mode.

After buying/using detectors for over 40 years I always get a little squirrely when I get one through the mail and dont have a chance to try it out in person.

Every couple of years new models come out and they are always (according to the manufactures) Better/ Faster and Deeper. Buy now (if all the marketing were true) I should have a detector that can hit a silver dime at 3 feet deep surrounded by nails and pull tabs and told what year and condition it is in... Im really surprised that the dam things dont dig it up for you and serve lunch. LOL

Ok all kidding aside I am looking forward to the xterra.

Is there a forum anywhere that people have shared their programs? I am really interested in focusing in on older gold coins and jewelery

 

[Old Longhair]

Is there a forum anywhere that people have shared their programs? I am really interested in focusing in on older gold coins and jewelery

There really isn't. Mostly it's because there isn't much programming required. Most of it is either automatic (manual if you want, but the machine is faster and more accurate), or it's a determination of site conditions and targets sought that will dictate what will work best. Beyond that, it's pretty much a matter of personal preference and time in the field.

Coil selection is everything with this machine IMO. Understanding what each can do for you is imparitive to success in the field.
Check out the FAQ FAQ pinned thread, and pay peticular attention to the "Links to Minelab's Treasure Talk Blog posts ---- by Digger" post near the top of the page. Again Randy has provided easily readable/understandable information on coil selection and how targets, coil configurations, modes selected, and frequencies all interact, and it will give you an idea of the range of variations you might encounter. After reading these articles, you'll understand why your next coil purchase will likely be one of the HF coils available since you're interest is in low conductors. With digital programming involved, there's more to it than just the frequency. MineLab engineers have programmed attributes into the firmware to enhance responce to targets that correspond to the suitability of the coil selected.

This stuff is so cool!

 

[Nuke em]

I use my Terra on a shingle beach and look at my finds rate, i find coins in amongst ringpulls and other trash and also the Terra doesn't nul like the ET or Explorer.
I dont normally use mine on land but it is very heavily used on the beach so does its part.
The Deus may be a good machine and thats all i could say really as i apart from the design dont like them, they are aratic on some sites especially irony sites and some will say that they can be sorted but not only that i dont feel they are deep, i think they are for small targets in trashy sites and then i still think that you would have to go slow to search such sites as the tones are awful, if you have as a child ever watched a childrens programme on TV called Sooty and Sweep then the tones sound like Sweep and when i used mine on a Roman site nearly all targets gave an iron tone and the numbers were inacurate and for a

 

[Old Longhair]

I would like a machine with the tones of the E.trac , recovery of the Deus and the simplicity of the Terra then we would have the perfect machine.

Funny you should say that. I've been having fantasies about the possibilities with programming an all digital machine. What you want might be easily do-able, but if you want the depth and accuracy there may be transmit/receive limitations, and they may not be consistant between different frequencies. If those limitations don't exist,or are miniscule and it could be done.... it would still likely involve more processor speed to get the "recovery" speed.

My dream Xterra-1000 would be one that is waterproof, wireless capable, FE/CO display, Explorer tones, all in a package weighing under 4lbs, and costing an appropriate $1000. It doesn't even have to be any faster than the XT-705. I don't think that's unreasonable.....do you? It should be rather simple, and existing coils should remain compatable. If MineLab were to produce such a machine, they would own the mid and high range detecting market.

(sorry to steal your thread greg....I'll stop)

 

[Nuke em]

I would like a machine with the tones of the E.trac , recovery of the Deus and the simplicity of the Terra then we would have the perfect machine.

Funny you should say that. I've been having fantasies about the possibilities with programming an all digital machine. What you want might be easily do-able, but if you want the depth and accuracy there may be transmit/receive limitations, and they may not be consistant between different frequencies. If those limitations don't exist,or are miniscule and it could be done.... it would still likely involve more processor speed to get the "recovery" speed.

My dream Xterra-1000 would be one that is waterproof, wireless capable, FE/CO display, Explorer tones, all in a package weighing under 4lbs, and costing an appropriate $1000. It doesn't even have to be any faster than the XT-705. I don't think that's unreasonable.....do you? It should be rather simple, and existing coils should remain compatable. If MineLab were to produce such a machine, they would own the mid and high range detecting market.

(sorry to steal your thread greg....I'll stop)

Totally agree.
I would buy the first one out of the factory, in fact i would camp outside the factory waiting for it to fall out of the back of the truck and if it was cheap enough it would be a real steal

Think we are all in for a treat next year, Minelab is about to cancel out the Explorer SE and the Sovereign , i think they are making room on the factory floor for production of a new range of low medium and high range machines , though a lot cheaper than the CTX please.

 

[greg755]

Well since you all brought it up. The Xterra GL1000

Faster response time to rival the XP Deus and Fisher models.

Compatible with the same coils. Plus add one (see next)

Add one more frequency 19.5kHz or there abouts for a total of 4

Have the ability to pick your tones - in other words I can choose the sounds I hear best and assign them to match up to whatever TDI range I see fit. Many of us cant hear some tones and since they are preset by the factory we would miss out regardless of how good our skills are.

A usb port so I can change settings on my computer.

All coils waterproof

Not to weigh any more than it does now.

This should all be in a package that cost $1000 or less (extra coils optional) Or $1500 with all four coils

I don't need the wireless headphones or the GPS tracking and other things that are on the 3030 so this would fit in real nice between the existing price points.

Note to Minelab: Not only will I pay you up front for it, I will spend 400 hours and field test it for free.