Xterra Bummer

[Rainyday101]

There are no metal detector dealers near me. Today I was finishing a class early about three hours from home. Got out of class and used that extra time to travel about another 45 minutes out of the way to go visit a dealer that handled minelab and had a store front. What a bummer. I had about half an hour and when I got there the lady at the store didn't know a thing about the detectors. I had time to play with the Xterra 505 very shortly, and wanted to do some air testing, but didn't have time to fully read the manual and understand how to set it up. I know it's a breeze for you guys, but coming from analog knobs it was confusing for me in the little time I had. Looks like the display is no verbage and mostly icon driven. I wish there would have been somebody at the store that knew something about the detectors. I really had high hopes, what a Bummer!

 

[Old Longhair]

That is a bummer Rainy.
Maybe you could go to the Minelab site and print the manual to take with you next time? It would be a good idea to have it so you can do a factory reset before you start your tests, as well as having documentation of basic operations.

 

[BillF]

Rainy, you'll get it, its not very hard. Do as OLH says and take the manual with you. I also came from analog, no meter, etc. It came fairly easy.
Best of luck.

 

[Rainyday101]

I had the manual but was too short on time to figure anything out. It will be quite some time until I get over that way again. From my house it is a 3.5 hour drive. I just assumed a detector shop would have somebody there that knew something about detectors.

 

[atomicscott]

I had the manual but was too short on time to figure anything out. It will be quite some time until I get over that way again. From my house it is a 3.5 hour drive. I just assumed a detector shop would have somebody there that knew something about detectors.

Ya, why the hell would someone sell detectors and not know anything about them? The 505 is a trip when coming form the beep & dig. It's really a breeze to dial in once you play with it a bit though. It will be second nature in no time. The last settings you use will stay in memory the next time you turn it on, so that makes it great if you return to the same site on the next hunt. I usually don't need to play with the settings other than noise cancel and GB (and sensitivity if needed).

 

[Gerryk2]

Rainy where you located? See if anyone around you has an x terra they can let you handle.

 

[Rainyday101]

I am north of Green Bay WI., damn near in Upper Michigan. I really wanted to see the 505 set-up in All metal. The idea of getting max depth in all metal and having tones along with TID to making digging decisions interest me. I have also been looking at the Whites SST for this purpose. Won't be buying until next spring, but it doesn't hurt to look.

 

[Gerryk2]

I will be up north of minocqua in July so that wont help you. If i was coming up before then, i would let you run the 705 for a bit.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Feel free to call me. Be glad to help you!

 

[Gerryk2]

Rainy call Bart, he can and will answer your questions. He may even know someone near you that has a 705 you can try out.

Speaking of that Bart put me n your list if someone from my area is interested in buying one and wants to look one over or swing it a little. I am still learning this machine but I will help out if I can.

 

[C.J.M.]

better days ahead bro.

 

[Canewrap]

Looks like the display is no verbage and mostly icon driven. I wish there would have been somebody at the store that knew something about the detectors. I really had high hopes, what a Bummer!

Yeah, I understand completely. That international symbol interface they put on their machines was a big reason I kept my X-terra 70 and traded the 705 after I tried it. I hate this symbol S&^t. What is wrong with having
a button panel that could be swapped out, depending on who you're selling it to? If I ever get another Minelab I'll get labels made and paste them over the symbols, especially since some buttons are dual function and I'm sorry, the symbols they're using don't cut it.

 

[bik-il]

Agreed!
The xterras are great machines. For me, coming from another machine, the icons were the hardest part to get used to!
I had to stare at them for a while to get the hang of it,
And carry the manual with me!

It all came together after a few outings.

Have fun and good luck!