anyone here ever have an e trac and not like it?

[chillyhiker]

I have heard alot of good thing about the etrac but was curious to see the other side before I buy ..or not.thanks chuck

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Its heavy and poor ergonomics with a learning period( learning period time varies and going out with an experienced user really shortens it.)

Surely has the best guts of any unit on the planet especially for deep silver coins..Heard some good things about the swingy thing to shift weight to large back muscles from the smaller arm muscles..

Certainly not for everyone but those that learn it well excell...on the other side of the coin might look into Whites new V3 as it offers a lot including excellent ergonomics..

 

[nw1886]

Good machines a good machines a good machine. You can hear so many different opinions on all the top machines and ALWAYS it boils down to user preference and how far they have patience to take it to higher proficiency. People can call them complicated but once you learn the basics,growth happens fast. Fisher,Whites, or Minelab are top for good reasons... all. Pick your poison. I chose the V3i (and love it) but would have liked the E-trac or F-75 too.... I bet.

 

[gmanlight]

nw1886 i agree to a point , but there are many manufactures out there for a reason.
What i did not like was the weight which i could handle but not enjoy,the swing speed,
the LCD screen and battery drain
If it was repackaged into something else i might try it again.
Hell it might be better than what i use now but if you cant enjoy it whats the point.

 

[nw1886]

Your right. (Guess my post reflected just good performance to be the primary need.) Every machine has their strong and weak points. Things like personal ergonomics and adjustability to hearing and eyesight can be a deal buster. (I thought that I had a torn rotator cuff and would have to give up the heavier,feature packed boxes....healed and fine now!) Weight can be offset by better balance but for sight and hearing preferences...and adjusting your box to hunt other extreme situations, choices are few.

 

[synthnut]

There is something to be said about the detectos that have more power and more items to adjust , and there is something to be said for the turn it on and go machines ....... I chose the E Trac because it can go to the beach one day and find Gold and clad , and the next day hit the park and find deep Silver and clad and just about anything else ..... If you don't like the weight , spend a few dollars and get a Swingy Thingy and you won't feel any weight at all ..... Once you learn the machine, you will be glad that you have the extra features at your disposal .... The lightness of the beep and dig machines are great too ....They are a lot of fun, but you are digging EVERYTHING !!...It's your choice ....Jim

 

[dm]

My wife and i both have etracs and love them This Dan guy from where evers says there to heavy must be out of his mind or a plain wimp.. Where both in our 60s and go all day hunting the trac is a e-z machine to run just my opinion > if you like picking up nails go fisher torso had 1 never again whites you have to adjust to much in the field where ur hunting go etrac you wont be disappointed.

 

[gmanlight]

dm good job of insulting Dan-Pa, with 5 years and all most three thousand posts and will give his honest opinion to anybody that asks.
I don't not how strong Dan is But i agree it on the heavy side and that's not a opinion that's a fact.
I was using my CZ70 at the beach last night with a 12inch coil,[ all by myself ].Felt like the E trac .
Half my hunting is in the woods and its a drag when your bumping sticks and twigs creeping along nulling through all the iron.

This thread started [Ever have a E Trac and not like it] Yes and Yes i was disappointed.
If you like it great. I still owen 3 of the 4 major brands of machines 1 water machine.The E Trac did not fit my hunting style that's all.

PS my other land machine only digs nails when i want it to. HH Mike ,
.

 

[Southwind]

I found the FE to be practically useless especially on deep targets.
It is heavy and not well balanced compared to other detectors I use.

Other than that it's a great detector.

 

[UK Brian]

I use some heavy machines like the Nautilus in its original configeration and don't suffer from much in the way of physical problems but I have to say that using an E-Trac over the weekend did cause elbow and wrist pain. Forgot a bungy cord first day and am still regreting it.

When you look at some of the mainly U.S. conversion jobs on the various models of the Explorer you have to wonder why Minelab didn't "borrow" the conversion ideas.

As for performance the deepest Explorer I ever used was a Mk II with a S.E.F. coil. If I was a beginer with Explorers I think the E-Trac is an easier starting machine and has the better balance though for some reason it tweaks my wrist a bit. Doesn't mean there's not lots of capable detectors from other manufacturers that might not suit your needs better and I don't agree that Minelab has a monopoly on iron rejection.

The advantage of club membership or even just going to a rally is you would be able to try a few different models and hear differing points of view. If spending the cost of any of the flagship machines I would want to try before I bought.

 

[jabbo]

I always enjoy reading posts by Dan-Pa. This man knows his stuff.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Elton]

You have insulted one of the finest most honest persons you could know. Dan knows detectors..Dan knows weight..and Dan tells things like they are.

Minelabs are heavy in the EXP models..Like it or not !!.. There was no reason to make any type of statement reflecting Dans abilities, or his mind set..

I'm glad you and your wife like the Minelabs..I'm 6'3" weigh 227 lbs and in excellent condition.."Their Heavy" !!!

Now type up an apology.............You owe Dan one.

 

[Larry (IL)]

Dm, you must be the one who is out of his mind. I am happy you and your wife like the E-Trac, many users do, but many also do not for many reasons and you imply anyone who does not like the E-Trac is a wimp or out of their mind..... I love the SE Pro and don't like the E-Trac. You also imply Fisher and Tesoro finds nails....... all detectors finds nails...........even E-Trac's, but there are adjustments to minimize that issue on all of them. As far as adjusting White's in the field...........that is a users choice. My V3i is as close to a turn on and go hunting detector there is. The only adjustments I make is the recovery speed when I hunt in trash or offset the frequency in an EMI zone. All other adjustments I set up to my liking, ground conditions and hunting style and leave them there, just like you do with your E-Trac. Just because you can adjust everything doesn't mean you have to do that every time you go hunting.

 

[dirtmaster]

Awwww come on guys its personal preference. My personal preference is the Teknetics Omega 8000 but doesnt mean I wouldn't use an Etrac if available. As for insulting Dan I agree Dan knows his stuff. He is sertainly not a wimp because he like me doesnt like to cope with an uncomfortable detector, The Omega is just about the most comfortable detector you can use and its plenty deep for me with the 11" DD. There again personal preference. I had a Fisher CZ70 Pro that was a hot hot detector but after a few deep digs you get tired lol.

 

[slingshot]

In my opinion, Dan is just plain wise and strong enough to ignore the post-his record speaks for itself-and he in no way put the detector down-told it's strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Furious T]

I once considered buying an E Trac, but when I saw the weight of them, I decided not to buy one. That was a considered decision and I view it as neither mindless or wimpish. The fact that there are many active and interesting forums in addition to the E Trac forum would tend to indicate that there are many poeple who have also decided, for whatever reasons, to use detectors in addition to, or instead of an E Trac. I would imagine there are countless reasons why this is so. Clearly there are detectorists who like to use E Tracs, but, like any other detector, it doesn't mean that they're for everyone. The initial question was "anyone here ever have an e trac and not like it?" and I dont see why anyone who answers "yes" to the question asked should be abused and criticized.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Everyone has there opinions and glad you and your wife enjoy an Explorer as I consider it arguably the best detector on the planet with too much weight and above all poor ergonomics.
Actually only reason I am back to an Explorer a gentleman modded an XS so now I can enjoy a comfortable hunt with a lightweight Explorer with good ergonomics.
I wanted to thank the gentleman who stated their opinions which are similiar to mine and gave me a thumbs up. As far as my opinion of you I am too much of a gentleman to go any further.
In addendum Minelab I know it is cost inefficient to retool and costs would have to be passed onto the consumer but am sure many just might elect to pay a little more for a unit that produces and above all provides the comfort for enjoyment of the hobby. Although not life threatening an injured arm or back depending on the length of your lower rod may make one leave the hobby.
God bless and what goes round comes round...

 

[oldcoon]

This thread is still around?

Sheesh!

Maybe we could say "E Tracs .... their not for everybody," and let it go at that?

 

[goodmore]

I like to read user reviews. I don't need this detector vs that one. But I do like hearing things like weight, battery performance and stuff like that.b Some of these reads have saved me $$$.