Considering Purchasing a CTX 3030 - thoughts?

[MNetrac]

Hi,

I am considering buying a CTX 3030. I currently have an eTrac and love the performance on land and am interesting in water hunting now too. Was on the fence about just buying an AT Pro for the water and keeping the eTrac or buying the 3030 and selling the etrac. The eTrac has been a great machine and the sunray probe setup will be missed. That said, I started to get serious about buying a 3030 and then started seeing all these posts about updates/patches/fixes and am getting a little worried - I just want a detector that is going to work all the time...like my etrac.

So, am I reading too much into all the threads about hardware/software issues or is this a high maintenance machine? If looking to buy one is there anything I should look for or ask about - upgrades it should have, fixes that should be in place, where it was made, etc.?


Thanks for the help here!

 

[roadapple]

If you're really serious about hunting in the water, then get a serious water machine such as the Minelab Excalibur II . Keep the E-Trac for land and use the Excalibur for water with no worry of leaks causing damage or restricted use limitations of only 10 feet deep. JMO.

 

[trojdor]

That said, I started to get serious about buying a 3030 and then started seeing all these posts about updates/patches/fixes and am getting a little worried - I just want a detector that is going to work all the time...like my etrac.
So, am I reading too much into all the threads about hardware/software issues or is this a high maintenance machine? If looking to buy one is there anything I should look for or ask about - upgrades it should have, fixes that should be in place, where it was made, etc.?

(Note the following is my opinion only...yours may vary considerably

Well, it sort of depends on whether your water hunting is wading or diving...

I've got 2, and in my opinion, it's a near zero maintenance machine. Most people only post when they have a problem or issue...not when everything is working smoothly.
So yes, you're probably being a little paranoid about hardware/software issues. In fact, as far as software ISSUES go...there have never been any substantial software issues...most are whinging because they wanted regular software updates with something new to play with. (which is understandable)

HOWEVER...Hardware wise...I personally would never take one underwater.
IMHO, it's not so much the hardware itself (read o-rings/ports/boots/connectors), as it is the basic design. It's just got too many places water under pressure can find it's way in.

I once counted 6 or 7 points of failure where pressurized water could enter and cause havoc. (More if you count the screen and each latch.)
My 1280x has one (1) point of failure at the battery gasket, and even then the battery compartment is isolated from the electronics.

Yes, I know there are guys out there who dive every week, and have great success with the CTX. I love reading about their finds...but I'm probably too chicken to ever be one of them.

Now, I do consider the CTX a wonderfully 'weather-proof' machine. I regularly hunt in the rain, and in fact, just last night I had a sprinkler system go off right behind me and soak me (and all my gear) from head to toe with cold water.
I was awfully glad it was the CTX that got soaked instead of one of my other "not-weather-proof" machines.

I just wiped it down, and it's dry and ready to rock today.

Whatever you choose to do, if you do go the CTX route, I'd recommend you either get a new one, or one that has considerable warranty left.

However, if I were in your shoes...I'd keep the ET (you already "love the performance" and would miss the sunray probe setup) and grab an ATPro.
That would give you a backup land detector, and/or a loaner for a friend or family member to join you out hunting.

But that's just me...
Good luck, and HH,
mike

 

[MNetrac]

Thanks.I am not considering diving but just wanted something that when I am wading in water I can put it down and not have to worry about whether the housing gets wet.

I really appreciate the thoughtful response and you sound like someone who treats the machine well so it will last - I am that way too. Having a backup might not be a bad idea.

 

[trojdor]

Thanks.I am not considering diving but just wanted something that when I am wading in water I can put it down and not have to worry about whether the housing gets wet.
I really appreciate the thoughtful response and you sound like someone who treats the machine well so it will last - I am that way too. Having a backup might not be a bad idea.

 

[MarcM]

You want to make sure you get one of the newer models that have the improved o-rings. It will say right on the box if its a newer model. The version I'm talking about also has a new arm cuff.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

I've used the CTX in the water with the machine underwater for hours and done so for years - without any problems. I don't use the new or old factory o-rings, I use 1 x 2mm X 80mm Metric Buna-N 70 O-ring (N2.00X080) at $1.43 each for the battery (from the O-ring Store).

I just make sure there is no sand around the periphery of the battery or compartment and apply a very thin layer of silicone to the edges. The actual battery end of the CTX is also covered in a cloth pouch that I had lying about. It just slips over the end and keeps the sand out. It takes five minutes or less to clean out the compartment with a cotton swab and wash off the o-ring occasionally.

Since the o-ring is a bit larger the latches close nice and tight - no water is going to get in. The latches aren't going to open accidentally either since the are firmly closed, but slipping the cloth sack over the end ensures nothing will catch them.

I've sprayed the CTX from a garden hose at full force directed at the battery seam - it doesn't leak. There is no way to make it leak.

The folks who had leaks were using the lousy red gasket or failed to remove sand grains before putting the battery back in. Personally I wouldn't use the ML gasket, new or old.

I also use a different gasket for the USB port, 3mm x 20mm Metric Buna-N 70 O-ring (N2.00x020), comes in a package of three from the same source, very cheap. Just slip one over the port, add a bit of silicone grease along the cap edge and tighten down. No water comes in - even under full pressure from the hose.

-Johnnyanglo