Another Etrac question.:ausflag:

[keithygeorge]

Being a newbie to MD would i benefit form the Etrac? or should i go for the Ace250 with some coils? mainly detecting parks and some older homesteads..i live in Australia if that makes much of a difference to soil quality I'm not sure..Thanks

 

[Hungry]

Good day Keith, I am told the Ace250 is a good machine. I have been Detecting for 5 years, and only used Minelab. The E-Trac is the top of the line for all coin and relic Detectors, however it is a heavy beast. The Sovereign GT goes about as deep as the E-Trac, but you can take the control box off and mount it on your belt, and this makes it a very light unit that you can swing for hours. It can also be fitted with the Coiltek 15" coil that goes a little deeper and you also get more coverage per sweep of the coil. In Australia we do not have as much trouble with Rubbish as our American friends have, my 15" coil has never been off since i bought my E-trac. You can also fit the S-1 Probe to the Sovereign, and this is the best thing you can do when you buy a new minelab. If i had known at the time that i could get the Probe and large coil for my Sovereign Elite, i would never have traded it in for the Explorer at the time. I don't know about bigger coils for the Ace, but they sure cover a lot more area in the time available. This is a very interesting hobby, but be careful, once hooked it is very difficult to break the addiction. Lol Anyway.Buy Australian, Minelab.

 

[keithygeorge]

Thanks for the reply HUNGRY, mate as for the addiction i think it has started!! It will be ten X worse when i actually find something.. had a look at the sovereign today at all the reviews, some you-tube vids, and i think Etrac is still the way to go..i could be wrong..I think i will buy one and scrap the ace 250 idea..appreciate the help..you wouldn't be in the Brisbane area buy any chance

 

[In2Deep]

The E-Trac is the top of the line for all coin and relic Detectors, however it is a heavy beast.

You really think the Etrac is heavy? I am a 35 year old crippled guy and I can swing that 18" SEF for a couple before my arm hurts. I honestly thought it was light from the carbon shaft. I will admit that I have nothing to compare it to. I am in love with my etrac, me and her have a passionate relationship that my wife has not really warmed up to yet

 

[NiagracountyNY]

If you really like detecting...And it were me..Id go the E-trac right from the start..Save yourself the constant desire to upgrade.Just get the Trac right away then u have the best.I started small when i got into the hobby.Spent to much money upgrading and Finnaly have an E-trac on the way myself.If i had to do it over,id start with the best right off the Get go.Just my 2 cents.Hope you enjoy Detecting No matter what your choice.Take care

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

G'day Kieth.
Given that you are new to detecting, I'd recommend the E-trac over the Sovereign. It will be a much easier detector to understand.
I had an Ace 250 for a couple of years and they are a pretty good machine for the money. About the only thing I didn't like about it, was it's hard loud tones. you can reduce the volume by putting tape over the speaker, but it's tones can be a bit wearing sometimes. I wrote an article in the Gem and Treasure mag back in Feb this year that lets you know how to get the best out of it, but I think that you will enjoy the E-Trac.
You are lucky if you live in Brisbane, as the dealer there has the cheapest prices going.
Good luck with which ever you choose.
Mick Evans.

 

[Hungry]

Good Day Keith, I live on the Central Coast NSW, near Toukley

 

[Jack Flynn]

As far as heavy goes I really cannot tell any difference between the ET and the X 705. The 705 is light as a feather but not well balanced especially with the DD coils. The smaller CC coils balance it pretty well. The ET is well balanced and that's obvious from the moment you pick it up. The extra pound and some change is not anything of any concern IMO, well to me anyway. After all you won't be slow dancing with it much, you'll be digging a LOT! The digging is not what I'm used too. The ET ought to come with a backhoe optionalI've definately got to get used to digging bigger plugs as to be able to get my arm down in the hole it a more comfortable fashion. Deeper detector=bigger holes=more work, don't get one if you're not up to it..........................................

 

[gibsondan]

I say buy the best machine you can afford. If you believe that is the E-trac and you can afford it, then get it. Even if you change your mind later on, you can sell it and get most of your money back with no problem. The few hundred bucks you lose is well worth the amount of time you've had to hunt with the detector. It would cost a [size=medium]lot[/size] more to rent an E-trac for the amount of time you owned it. But if you want to play it safe and start out with a less expensive detector, the Ace 250 would also be a good choice. You can always sell it later and buy an E-trac!

 

[fantomv]

i live in aus and use the xterra 70 for $900 u cant go past it, the e trac goes a little deeper but i always come home with some oldies when i go out

 

[SNOWY]

Thanks for the reply HUNGRY, mate as for the addiction i think it has started!! It will be ten X worse when i actually find something.. had a look at the sovereign today at all the reviews, some you-tube vids, and i think Etrac is still the way to go..i could be wrong..I think i will buy one and scrap the ace 250 idea..appreciate the help..you wouldn't be in the Brisbane area buy any chance

G'day Kieth, I have sent you a message __ if you are still interested in the E-Trac...

Look at the top of the Finds page if you aren't familiar with checking messages...

Good luck to you mate with whatever detector you choose!

Snowy.