Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
Any Explorer users purchased a CTX? If so can you do a quick comparison for me?
- Thread starter BigTony
- Start date
IDXMonster
Well-known member
Tony,I had the opportunity to meet one of the most experienced CTX users out there and while he said the depth is comparable with all the FBS/FBS2 units the CTX is faster,gives more info,waterproof,etc.....so there is an upside. The downside is price but if ya got it,spend it. I know when I get the chance I will,it's what I enjoy and as long as it doesn't cause me to neglect my obligations then I'm good to go. It'll take a bit to find enough to pay for it but quite honestly even that doesn't bother me,I have one life and detecting is a large part of it,along with my kids,job,band,etc. I don't think you would regret getting one,but do what's right for YOU.
On a side note....I just bought a second Explorer2 cuz I like it so much and don't want to be without one. So now I have twin detectors. I also have twin 11 year old boys....
On a side note....I just bought a second Explorer2 cuz I like it so much and don't want to be without one. So now I have twin detectors. I also have twin 11 year old boys....
BigTony
Well-known member
IDX man, I understand that totally. I purchased my second backup Exp II last October.
Used CTX's have come down in price but the reason I am asking is about it's use in parks not water. I have the Excal II for that when I go.
I should have made that clear because I am wondering if it is faster and more accurate then the Exp II in trashy parks.
Thanks and get out there if you can the weather in NJ is great.
Used CTX's have come down in price but the reason I am asking is about it's use in parks not water. I have the Excal II for that when I go.
I should have made that clear because I am wondering if it is faster and more accurate then the Exp II in trashy parks.
Thanks and get out there if you can the weather in NJ is great.
Chris(SoCenWI)
Well-known member
I'm don't think it is any deeper than the earlier explorer's, and not sure if it is faster. It has a lot of neat features.
My big beef is display, this was recently discussed on a thread on this forum about target ID bounce. I really like the original XS, or at least pre-Etac FBS series. Those earlier models used the whole display for target identification, on the CTX almost anything of interest lands on the 12 ferrous line, which pretty much defeats the purpose of a two dimensional screen. On the explorer a nickel hits lower middle, fat indian slightly above, regular indian up towards the upper right, silver farther over, etc, etc. On the CTX the ID basically jumps a few pixels left or right, and you are relying on only one number for identification. It may be more accurate than the older models on the conductive number (not positive on this) but again trash will throw this off and you end up having to dig more stuff.
I know of many explorer users that share this opinion, and see no reason Minelab couldn't offer the non 12 mapped set up as a menu option. I still have my CTX, but my original XS remains my go to detector.
Chris
My big beef is display, this was recently discussed on a thread on this forum about target ID bounce. I really like the original XS, or at least pre-Etac FBS series. Those earlier models used the whole display for target identification, on the CTX almost anything of interest lands on the 12 ferrous line, which pretty much defeats the purpose of a two dimensional screen. On the explorer a nickel hits lower middle, fat indian slightly above, regular indian up towards the upper right, silver farther over, etc, etc. On the CTX the ID basically jumps a few pixels left or right, and you are relying on only one number for identification. It may be more accurate than the older models on the conductive number (not positive on this) but again trash will throw this off and you end up having to dig more stuff.
I know of many explorer users that share this opinion, and see no reason Minelab couldn't offer the non 12 mapped set up as a menu option. I still have my CTX, but my original XS remains my go to detector.
Chris
BigTony
Well-known member
Chris, thanks for your comments. Yeah too bad they didn't offer an option to switch from the 12 line to normal display.
How about tones? The Exp II has a distinct tones that really help when display and digital are off - which in trash hard compacted park soils are the norm for me.
How about tones? The Exp II has a distinct tones that really help when display and digital are off - which in trash hard compacted park soils are the norm for me.
Dighistory
New member
Tony,
I really got hung up on tones when I first moved to the CTX even wondered if I had made a mistake. Too eager to be up running with the CTX as if it were just a souped up explorer II. In focusing on how it might be like the explorer I missed out on much of what the CTX does.
In short the tone experience you were used to with the explorer is gone. But that's ok, before you "learned" them they had No value. The CTX is a different machine. As a former Explorer II user I was able to recover good targets with the CTX right out of the box, however it was not until I stopped trying to make it an explorer, and slowed myself down, to truly begin learning the CTX as a CTX that I have been able to perform with the CTX. It consistently amazes me what I can see/hear and recover with this machine. I am embarrassed to say it took me a year to figure this out.
I will always have a special relationship with the Explorer II because it gave me my first old silvers and many other great finds. It's what I was used to... I had to remind myself I used that machine for YEARS.
Best advice I can give is stop comparing the CTX to the Explorer series. If you have bought the CTX commit to it like you are learning detecting technology for the first time. Go through each setting and comprehend its purpose. Dig experiment and ask CTX questions. You won't regret it.
Best regards and happy hunting!!!
I really got hung up on tones when I first moved to the CTX even wondered if I had made a mistake. Too eager to be up running with the CTX as if it were just a souped up explorer II. In focusing on how it might be like the explorer I missed out on much of what the CTX does.
In short the tone experience you were used to with the explorer is gone. But that's ok, before you "learned" them they had No value. The CTX is a different machine. As a former Explorer II user I was able to recover good targets with the CTX right out of the box, however it was not until I stopped trying to make it an explorer, and slowed myself down, to truly begin learning the CTX as a CTX that I have been able to perform with the CTX. It consistently amazes me what I can see/hear and recover with this machine. I am embarrassed to say it took me a year to figure this out.
I will always have a special relationship with the Explorer II because it gave me my first old silvers and many other great finds. It's what I was used to... I had to remind myself I used that machine for YEARS.
Best advice I can give is stop comparing the CTX to the Explorer series. If you have bought the CTX commit to it like you are learning detecting technology for the first time. Go through each setting and comprehend its purpose. Dig experiment and ask CTX questions. You won't regret it.
Best regards and happy hunting!!!
Tony,
I firmly believe that the Explorer II is the best of the Minelab machines, with the Etrac being 2nd. I have used the CTX many times and from a purely detecting position don't think it offers anything that you don't already get in either the Explorer II or Etrac. Minelab blundered with the CTX when they messed with the tones and elminated the highest, sweet silver tone we all know. Really dumb. I use my Explorer II on the beach and the Etrac inland and I don't there is a better combo anywhere.
Bill (S. CA)
I firmly believe that the Explorer II is the best of the Minelab machines, with the Etrac being 2nd. I have used the CTX many times and from a purely detecting position don't think it offers anything that you don't already get in either the Explorer II or Etrac. Minelab blundered with the CTX when they messed with the tones and elminated the highest, sweet silver tone we all know. Really dumb. I use my Explorer II on the beach and the Etrac inland and I don't there is a better combo anywhere.
Bill (S. CA)
BigTony
Well-known member
Thanks Bill, I love the EXP II, that sweet sound is something else. I also used it on the beach but now that it is old I purchased the EXCAL II.
I don't understand why a manufacturer makes changes when a product is so successful. Or when folks just ask for upgrades to a certain model and they never respond.
I don't understand why a manufacturer makes changes when a product is so successful. Or when folks just ask for upgrades to a certain model and they never respond.
Great Republic
Active member
I have owned the EXPII, SE, and Etrac. I prefer the EXPII and the SE. I now own just the SE. Love the Minelab tones.