I was looking through old posts and it looks like people initially get their X-terra and are happy with it and then something turns them off and they move on to something else. Is it because of the few problems that have crept up (like turning itself on, or going bonkers because of a board problem etc.)? Or, is it because it just doesn't seem like a serious detector because of how light it is? I'm just curious because I've invested heavily in mine and have confidence in them, but like most others have started looking at other machines and wondered if I did the right thing by getting a couple of the X-terras. I'm determined to make a good go with the ones I have, but it got me wondering if anybody else has firmly committed to becoming an expert on this machine?
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Any longtime users of X-terra 50 or 70?
- Thread starter Canewrap
- Start date
That's really good to hear. Have you had to send it back for any repairs? How often do you hunt with it? Do you mainly coinshoot or do you do some relic hunting? Sorry for the survey, but it helps me to know others experiences. I am real glad to hear its been working out for you for the last two years.
As one of the original Field Testers for the X-Terra 30, X-50 and X-70, I suppose I am as much of a "longtime user" as anyone. And even though it has been around for several years now, the X-Terra is still my favorite detector. I currently use the 705 because I like the additional functionality that the software upgrade offered. Notice I did not say features, but functionality. The additional features were not a big deal to me as the 70 does about everything I need in a detector. But the faster response and a bit more depth is important to me. This is not to say I haven't tried other detectors along the way. I have. Since the X-Terra came out, I've bought quite a few "other" new detectors. However it was due to curiosity more than anything else. I bought them to make comparisons of their capabilities. We can all read how some other make and model is suppose to be the greatest thing to come around. And I appreciate those who are willing to share their experiences. But since I might not have the same criteria as someone else, or they haven't actually owned an X-Terra to make an honest evaluation, I choose to make those comparisons myself.
Among the new detectors I've bought (and sold) include several from FT, a couple from White's and even a couple other Minelab models. As I've mentioned in some of my other posts, I actually do "head to head" comparisons out in the field. I will hunt with one detector and mark the targets. Then I go back over the same turf, rechecking those that I've marked and marking any new ones that the first detector missed. Then I will recheck those new targets with the first detector, just to see if it was "human error" or if the detector just plain missed it. Of all the thousands of targets I've dug over the past few years, there is only one coin that I found with another detector, that the X-Terra couldn't find. That was a Standing quarter at 7 inches deep, surrounded by three old bent nails. The Etrac got it using a small aftermarket DD coil. The X-Terra hit all four targets but did not hit the quarter hard enough that it would have slowed me down enough to dig.
To be honest, I don't get wrapped up in what others have to say about a specific make or model. We all have different styles of hunting and seek different types of treasures. I am a coinshooter that hunts for old coins at old sites. To me, the best detector is the one that hunts deep, separates well, provides excellent TID information and offers the flexibility to tweak it for a particular site. I like the X-Terra because it is lightweight, well balanced, well built and fully capable of providing all of the functionality I need. I've been detecting for about 38 years. And I've found more small silver coins with the X-Terra than any other detector I've used. Opinions will vary. But I have proven to myself that the X-Terra is as good as any other detector currently on the market. And, much better than most. But again, that is just my opinion, based on having used it extensively and having developed a pretty good understanding of it's capabilities. JMHO HH Randy
Among the new detectors I've bought (and sold) include several from FT, a couple from White's and even a couple other Minelab models. As I've mentioned in some of my other posts, I actually do "head to head" comparisons out in the field. I will hunt with one detector and mark the targets. Then I go back over the same turf, rechecking those that I've marked and marking any new ones that the first detector missed. Then I will recheck those new targets with the first detector, just to see if it was "human error" or if the detector just plain missed it. Of all the thousands of targets I've dug over the past few years, there is only one coin that I found with another detector, that the X-Terra couldn't find. That was a Standing quarter at 7 inches deep, surrounded by three old bent nails. The Etrac got it using a small aftermarket DD coil. The X-Terra hit all four targets but did not hit the quarter hard enough that it would have slowed me down enough to dig.
To be honest, I don't get wrapped up in what others have to say about a specific make or model. We all have different styles of hunting and seek different types of treasures. I am a coinshooter that hunts for old coins at old sites. To me, the best detector is the one that hunts deep, separates well, provides excellent TID information and offers the flexibility to tweak it for a particular site. I like the X-Terra because it is lightweight, well balanced, well built and fully capable of providing all of the functionality I need. I've been detecting for about 38 years. And I've found more small silver coins with the X-Terra than any other detector I've used. Opinions will vary. But I have proven to myself that the X-Terra is as good as any other detector currently on the market. And, much better than most. But again, that is just my opinion, based on having used it extensively and having developed a pretty good understanding of it's capabilities. JMHO HH Randy
7centsworth
Well-known member
I had the 50 for about a year and a half and now I have had the 70 for a few months I had my 50 to turn off and My 70 was fixed before I bought it. I like them both as they have found lots of things . I think most people always wonder what another one would be like not just x- terra owners look at every forum they all change detectors alot. It is not an x -terra thing it is a metal detecting thing I have had one radio shack , two bounty hunters and now two minelabs . I would like to try others also , but will probably always have a minelab because they have proven themselfs to me . I have went over other sites hunted with other detctors and found coins. My cousin told me I would not find anything in one yard because alot of people had hunted it , in about 15 minutes I had three wheats one 1925. I have not hunted the back yard yet . X-terras are good as any I think we are just always curious if another detctor will find something we missed.
Canewrap said:
I had to send it back at the very beginning. It was the battery and spring issue. They basically gave me a whole new faceplate, and a re-engineered battery area. Since then no issues. I hunt every week at least 1 time sometimes 2 for about 3 hours each time.
I am a coin shooter. I wish i had areas to relic hunt at.Any how I hope this helps, Beale.
utmike
Well-known member
Not sure if I qualify as a "long time" Xterra guy, I'm into my 3rd year with mine I think...
That being said, I've thought about other machines off and on and might get the Explorer Se Pro someday if I can save up the money. However, that machine will likely be my backup to the X70. which I plan to hunt with well into the future.
I've hunted side by side with the Explorers and Sovereigns in the hands of guys that really know how to use them and have seen them hit deep targets my machine won't chirp on. But on the flip side, I've hunted behind these machines with my 6" HF and picked up some nice silvers missed by them. I guess my point is that the machine/user bond will probably always have more to do with quality finds than the bells, whistles, and price tag. A good friend of mine won't part with his Bounty Hunter and is constantly showing up to our club meetings with IH's, old silvers, and tokens.
I have had zero problems with my X70 and love using it. It is light and that means I'm still swinging it when the other guys are sitting down eating Tylenol and rubbing their sore elbows. It is reliable, easy to use,dead on accurate, and in most cases capable of hitting respectable depths. I really like the option of switching coils when the conditions merit it and think there are some benefits to staying with a single frequency.
Maybe one more testament to the Xterras might be the Findmall forum itself. I've lurked around and have seen a lot of names switching machines, asking questions, and moving on to the next latest/greatest product.
You don't see that so much here on the Xterra forum...
HH
Mike
That being said, I've thought about other machines off and on and might get the Explorer Se Pro someday if I can save up the money. However, that machine will likely be my backup to the X70. which I plan to hunt with well into the future.
I've hunted side by side with the Explorers and Sovereigns in the hands of guys that really know how to use them and have seen them hit deep targets my machine won't chirp on. But on the flip side, I've hunted behind these machines with my 6" HF and picked up some nice silvers missed by them. I guess my point is that the machine/user bond will probably always have more to do with quality finds than the bells, whistles, and price tag. A good friend of mine won't part with his Bounty Hunter and is constantly showing up to our club meetings with IH's, old silvers, and tokens.
I have had zero problems with my X70 and love using it. It is light and that means I'm still swinging it when the other guys are sitting down eating Tylenol and rubbing their sore elbows. It is reliable, easy to use,dead on accurate, and in most cases capable of hitting respectable depths. I really like the option of switching coils when the conditions merit it and think there are some benefits to staying with a single frequency.
Maybe one more testament to the Xterras might be the Findmall forum itself. I've lurked around and have seen a lot of names switching machines, asking questions, and moving on to the next latest/greatest product.
You don't see that so much here on the Xterra forum...
HH
Mike
Yep Beale, sure does help. Helps me to balance out any negative comments I've read. I've loved using my XT-70 for the last year, but now my son is using it and I'm using the 705. I engineered it so that he has my old machine, because it still has 3 years of warranty on it, however because I bought the 705 used, it doesn't. I committed to the 705 and even a spare 50 because of how much I loved using that 70 and when I started reading about all these "little" problems people were running into it worried me a litte, so I started reading some of the posts back to 2005/2006 looking for mention of the problems, didn't really see much on problems, but saw a lot of names that don't post anymore and when I clicked on them to look at history I noticed they were posting in other forums now. But, knowing there are some people that have stuck with their machines and haven't regretted it, really helps. -THANKS-
I've had my Xterra 70 about 2 years. I have the stock 9" MF coil. Then I bought the 6" HF DD coil, which is my favorite, because of the excellent separation in iron infested sites while still getting good depth. Earlier this summer I got the 9" LF coil because of the success Goes4ever and some others were/are getting with it --- I struggled some with it--- and often hunted with the 6" DD instead. However, I am convinced that the 3 kHz coil will produce for me if I just take more time to "learn its language" using the additional tips I got here on this forum. In fact, I took the 6" off the other day to put in some more time with the 3 kHZ, but one ear of the yoke on the 3 kHz broke off ---so it was back to the 6"DD for a while longer.
I have had no problems with the machine as far as the electronics go. Just the other day, the yoke broke on the 3 kHz coil and I'm getting ready to send it in for a replacement under warranty. That is the only problem I have had. I have been very happy with it. I can't say the same about the F75 I sold in order to buy the Xterra.... it had quality control/build issues that required several trips back to the factory. They had it more than I did at first and I got tired of that.
I have had no problems with the machine as far as the electronics go. Just the other day, the yoke broke on the 3 kHz coil and I'm getting ready to send it in for a replacement under warranty. That is the only problem I have had. I have been very happy with it. I can't say the same about the F75 I sold in order to buy the Xterra.... it had quality control/build issues that required several trips back to the factory. They had it more than I did at first and I got tired of that.
............that many of us can get caught up in. Unlike buying cars or clothes where we can just hop around trying to find the perect fit, most of us can't compare detectors side by side. So the trading starts while we experience the "grass is greener' syndrome. For years I stayed with my Tesoro Deleon, until I had trouble seeing the TID info. On a single toned detector, I needed a few hints to help me along, and started loosing them on the Deleon when I could no longer focus the smaller numbers. Hence, I traded for an F5 and a X70. Nice big numbers on both. I figured that almost all detectors get 6-8 inches in depth, and the more expensive ones get 8,10 and even 12 on depth. So far the F5 and X70 puts me right in between with deeper than normal but not as deep unless I want to lay out $1200. Deeper is not as important to me as ease of use and quality signal interpretation. Both of my units have that. I don't want the extra cost and the extra weight to get the extra 2-4 inches.
Mick in Dubbo
New member
You've made a good choice with the X-Terra's. I bought a 30 3 weeks after they were released. Although I went through a rough patch with it with a number of problems, in which I did loose some confidence with it, I got over it and enjoyed using it. I upgraded to the 70 just before the release of the 705. I find it to be an even better machine, mostly because of the prospecting mode and prefer to use it over my Explorer.
Although I haven't gotten out with it a lot lately ( I've been using other detectors) I consider it to be one of the better detectors on the market. It's light weight, good audio/visual and being able to check out targets in the prospecting mode are real highlights.
If you think that you are missing out by not using other detectors and you can afford it, splash out and enjoy the variety. At the end of the day, they all find what we are looking for, it just comes down to what features and sounds that you enjoy the most when swinging your detector.
Mick Evans.
Although I haven't gotten out with it a lot lately ( I've been using other detectors) I consider it to be one of the better detectors on the market. It's light weight, good audio/visual and being able to check out targets in the prospecting mode are real highlights.
If you think that you are missing out by not using other detectors and you can afford it, splash out and enjoy the variety. At the end of the day, they all find what we are looking for, it just comes down to what features and sounds that you enjoy the most when swinging your detector.
Mick Evans.
I have the X Terra 70, and love it (as I do all my detectors). I have had it almost 3 years and today passed the $2000 mark in coin finds (Australian money). I do use other machines and I find having a variety helps me to appreciate the different strengths (and weaknesses) of my machines. I had a small problem with the battery compartment (same problem as Beale) but sorted it out using a chrochet needle to gently expand the springs and be very careful how I insert new batteries...no more problems. I have found more gold rings with my 70 than I have with any other machine I've owned (but some might say that wouldn't be hard), and all but one have been found inland. Sometimes I think the X Terra 70 spoils me, and then I expect too much, or rather, dont concentrate as much as I should with it. If I could use my hunt today as an example...I was hunting round a football field..have not been there for a while, and the grass is thick and lush. There is a mixture of soils beneath the grass where the natural red clay has been top-dressed in varying thicknesses. I did not find a single coin in the grass (which did not surprise me, as I know other detectorists hit it as well), and almost all the signals I received were indistinct and varied in both tone and numerals on the VID, but many of these signals were coins wheich had been there for ages and I'm sure the signals were being played with by the varying mineralisation of the soils. Most coins took some time to extract, but I ended up with 30 coins for a value of $30.30, which for me, is a great haul for 2 hours hunting. I think the X Terra did a great job (I was using the standard coil) because the grass was about 4" deep, and all the coins were in the ground goind down to about 5" in the dirt. I think anyone who would complain about that is hard to please, considering the X Terra is a single frequency detector (I was using the standard 9" conc. coil). After using the X Terra for a couple of hours I got out my F4 with the standard 11" DD coil, to see if it could do any good. It did well too and again I was getting responses that were not usual for the coins that I was finding....my point thereis, that there was nothing wrong with the X Terra, and it was finding lots of coins others has passed over altogether or had thought not worth bothering about.
In summary, great machine and I cant see myself relegating it to the cupboard any time soon.
In summary, great machine and I cant see myself relegating it to the cupboard any time soon.
You will always find other machines that will do better in other detecting situations,some machines are better in parks or ghost towns ect.Ive been detecting over 20 years used alot of different machines seen alot of machines right now i have 9 detectors,but my x 70 goes with me alot.