3030 or not ?

[leonard.bunn]

Want to buy the 3030, been using the f75 ltd for 2 yrs now before that minelab user since 1999 why i switched? i guess all the hype it is a deep machine but will i do better with the 3030 or a etrac. need opinions mostly relic hunt in Va. Richmond area thanks.

 

[tmanly]

Just based on your area, I would think the F75 would be a great relic machine, but the CTX and Etrac would handle the soil and be a better coin machine. Just depends on what type of hunting you do.
I have never tried relic hunting with the CTX but after a learning curve it too would be a great machine.

Just my thoughts
Tom in SC

 

[MarcM]

I think the E-trac would suit you well unless you wanted the extra bells and whistles on the CTX. Only reason I got it was because its completely waterproof. And the GPS is pretty cool.

Gimme a shout about either machine - I'll make sure you get the best deal should you decide to get one.

 

[parkgt]

After I bought mine I believed Minelab should have quit selling any more!

 

[GateKeeper]

After I bought mine I believed Minelab should have quit selling any more!

 

[nolanation]

Dont buy it! The CTX is a trap.

 

[chadwick]

Its the operator that makes the machine do great things no matter what it costs

 

[squirrel1]

First the CTX is weatherproof, not etrac or F75. The CTX will handle EMI better than F75. The CTX is heavier than the F75 or the etrac. The CTX does balance better than etrac though. The CTX will handle mineralized soil better than F75. The CTX gives more target information than the F75. The CTX is upgradeable via internet versus the etrac. The CTX handles iron for me better than etrac. Minelab offers the big coil for CTX. CTX has lithium battery etrac don't. CTX has the wireless box that acts as speaker. Could be beneficial in hot weather. The external speaker system on the etrac has major shortcomings (not very plain). If you decide on etrac consider a good used one versus new and save some bucks. CTX generally runs quieter when compared to etrac with same sensivity settings. The f75se with the 7x11 coil plus the 5dd coil in conjuction with CTX will be a nice combination. Don't overlook the deus either it's a superb relic hunter as well. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Mike Gresham]

I've been trying to stay informed with that invitational relic hunt Digging In Virginia, in the hopes of someday applying for the hunt. The fellows that attend that hunt regularly mostly say the soil around Culpepper, VA is so mineralized that the Etrac and/or CTX3030 are worthless there. Can anybody comment on this? I currently hunt with an Etrac but have been contemplating purchasing a 3030. Will the 3030 handle the high iron mineralization of Culpepper?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

A few comments on your pros and cons . . . .

First the CTX is weatherproof, not etrac or F75. - Yes but for relic hunting is that a deciding factor . . . . rain covers are available for either models that will protect it from all but the hardest of rain

The CTX will handle EMI better than F75. - The newer models do a much better job on handling the EMI . . . . older F-75's were notoriis for the chatter but the newer ones have queited down a great deal . . . is EMI an issue in your area?

The CTX is heavier than the F75 or the etrac. The CTX does balance better than etrac though. - Yup, 5.3 pounds is just that . . . balanced or not. If weight is an issue for all day hunting, make a trip to tru swinging one before buying. Weight is the number on reason people have opted for something other than a Minelab even at the expense of performance

The CTX will handle mineralized soil better than F75. - Yes, as a result of the FBS circuit in the same way the FBS circuit aids the E-Trac

The CTX gives more target information than the F75. - More information is not always the better option - depends on the sites and the type of targets you are looking for. A lot of relic hunters swear by the non-metered machines and find a heck of a lot of stuff.

The CTX is upgradeable via internet versus the etrac. - Yes here as well . . . . not sure if actual upgrades will be done this way or if it is only for patches . . . there's always the CTX 3040 for true upgrades

Minelab offers the big coil for CTX. - Yes, but there are several larger coils available for the E-Trac at considerably less money

CTX has lithium battery etrac don't. - But there is a LiON battery option for the E-Trac that not only provides 30+ hours of run time but weighs less as well . . . both are positives

CTX has the wireless box that acts as speaker. Could be beneficial in hot weather. The external speaker system on the etrac has major shortcomings (not very plain). - Not sure a serious relic hunter would opt to hunt without headphones and possibly miss the faint hits from deep targets . . . . there are always lightweight phones if hunting in the summer presents an issue

All three detectors have their pros and cons . . . . . you need to determine which are more important than others and how much each is worth in the big picture . . . . . I'm sure that if you post this question on the Fisher forum you woudl get completely different answers

You will find that the red soil in the Culpepper region will give both the E-Trac and the CTX 3030 fits . . . and this is both from personal experience and feedback from others attending the hunts there. That is some extremely bad soil period!

Andy

 

[Digger]

not sure if actual upgrades will be done this way or if it is only for patches . . . there's always the CTX 3040 for true upgrades

CTX 3030 users recognize that Minelab has already provided both updates and upgrades, online. As such, you can now be sure the internet can (and will) be used for both. With that said, there is no rational reason to continue your speculation about the need for a CTX 3040.
Randy

 

[wildherre]

I love my CTX , But, I'm pretty sure if you and I went relic hunting in your area, you and your F75 would kick my azz.. The weatherproofing and gps could be nice for you but I don't think you would gain any performance unless you are having emi problems like Andy mentioned.... Now if you were coin hunting in just about any other part of the country the CTX is impressive & in my opinion would be the machine to have....wildherre

 

[DaveV3i]

Hi just want say I think it's a great machine and worth the investment.

 

[GoVidGo]

I have HAMMERED my Etrac over almost 2 years putting on 1000+ hours and finding stuff I never though I would have. I have also put some hours on a CTX last year.

The Etrac and CTX are similar in FE/CO based detecting, weight, tones, almost cookie-cutter coil, etc... but are different in that the CTX has a faster processor, waterporoof, GPS, and a few other perks.

I have also had a detector which is pretty much cookie-cutter to the F75... I had a T2.

My T2 was basically... it beeps, you check the consistency of the XX-digit VDI, you dig... you dig DEEP!

I added a V3i to my arsenal in 2013. A customizers paradise! In my opinion.... and with the THIS-vs-THAT on so many of the top machines...and using them and trying to be unbiased...I would rate the ones I listed as follows:

#1 CTX3030
#2 TIED... Etrac & V3i
#3 F75/T2

If we were deciding on what car to get.... they would be....

-- the F75/T2 is like an old musclecar Camaro. Raw horsepower, no real bells or whistles, but it will throw you bakc in your seat when you hit the gas.
-- the ETrac is like a Porsche (or for the tuners... a WRX). Fast, tech-driven, and innovative.
--the CTX3030 is like a Lamborghini Gallardo. (right off the Lambo site) Exotic styling, tenacious all-wheel drive handling, ferocious power

Pick Your Poison!...

The key is knowing your machine, with any of them. I have smoked a few friends out with their top end machines, and not knowing how to set them up or what they were listening too, using my AT Pro and running it HOT HOT HOT in Pro Mode and Iron Audio=ON.... I SMOKED them because I knew what to listen for, from countless hours on it and what good targets sound like compared to garbage.