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CTX Overall performance

W

WildOutdoorAddict

New member
I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on overall performance on your CTX 3030 over your last machine. What was is/was your previous detector, and how much does the CTX out perform the previous if at all? I currently swing an AT Pro and am planning on buying a CTX before next spring.. How much of a learning curve is there. I've been reading a lot of threads on here and seem impressed. but I'd like some first hand views from owners/operators...
Thank you in advance!
 
I have the E Trac. So the learning curve just wasn't that much. Learning the menu system is taking some time. But to actually hunt with the detector is not that much different.
Minelab included some features that E Trac users always wanted. Tone adjustment. Break point adjustment. Clock. Waterproof. Quicker recovery

I am really new to the CTX, It took me a while to come up with the funds. I noticed right away that the CTX is better in trash and iron than the E Trac. The recovery speed is a big one for me. Depth is pretty good. That will depend on your soil. I dug two eight inch Mercs with ease my first two hunts.

I really got the CTX to reduce my detector collection. I like to beach hunt also. The latest update by Minelab has given the CTX better stability in salt water. That was enough for me to take the plunge. So now I plan to sell the Excal. Getting down to two detectors would be a major accomplishment in my arsenal. My E Trac is going to my son to use.

The CTX is a big investment. You need to have a love for the FBS technology to swallow the price. I have that love. It gives you control of things that make your hunt better to each individual. It is no magic wand and to be honest in certain soils other detectors are probably deeper. But over all it kicks some butt on hunts.
 
I have had the CTX a little over two months (close to three). I was using the SE Pro previous to that and a Minelab Safari prior to the SE Pro. At first I complained that the CTX would not go as deep as the SE but now I realize I was wrong, it will go as deep as the SE. Which machine is best I cannot say except now when I go out to hunt I take only the CTX. I have had a greater degree of success with the CTX and deep silver coins. I cannot say that is because it is a CTX but maybe because I have been hunting places with more silver now then before. All-n-all, I can not say this machine is better than the other but I am enjoying it a lot and that's what really matters. Concerning the learning curve, to me it was much easier than the SE Pro but having the SE made the curve much easier and much faster I am sure. So go ahead and make the plunge, you will enjoy the CTX, about that I am certain.

HH, Don.....
 
I have the CTX and an E-trac and to me the CTX just gives me a lot more information. I honestly do not know if tone is better than the other but there is a lot more information available on the screen to make a dig decision. I hunt with a fellow the uses an ATPro, a F75, and the CTX and he is a lot faster with the ATPro. In the last three months he has consistently out performed (more silver) me with the Pro. I think is is because I am a bit slower and there is more information banging around in my head. The CTX might be a bit more 'deep' and a bit more discrimination available than the Pro, but IMHO it is a toss-up.
 
Jas415 and I hunt together and we both have CTX machines. Before getting my CTX I had not even held a Minelab detector so getting a CTX was a very big change for me. I had been using an AT Pro and a F75ltd. The learning curve was steep for me. Fe/Co numbers, various tones, menus options..OMG I thought. But as I become more familiar with the machine it all changed. Now which machine is better? Depends on your hunting style and where you like to hunt. Sites that Jas415 and I hunt are often virgin being that no one has ever had a detector on it. This is where you have to decide your methold of approach. The CTX is much better at picking through the trash (especially with the 6" coil) than the AT Pro. The AT Pro with a smaller DD coil (not the stock coil) will let you cherry pick coins quicker. But after all of the easy stuff is gone the CTX will get the harder to find targets; ones mixed with trash and iron. I can run my AT Pro and Jas415 with the CTX will always find stuff behind me. If I have my CTX running and Jas415 comes behind me with his, not many targets will remain. Bottom line is both are good machines. Both are different machines. They are "tools in the tool box".
 
markincypress said:
Jas415 and I hunt together and we both have CTX machines. Before getting my CTX I had not even held a Minelab detector so getting a CTX was a very big change for me. I had been using an AT Pro and a F75ltd. The learning curve was steep for me. Fe/Co numbers, various tones, menus options..OMG I thought. But as I become more familiar with the machine it all changed. Now which machine is better? Depends on your hunting style and where you like to hunt. Sites that Jas415 and I hunt are often virgin being that no one has ever had a detector on it. This is where you have to decide your methold of approach. The CTX is much better at picking through the trash (especially with the 6" coil) than the AT Pro. The AT Pro with a smaller DD coil (not the stock coil) will let you cherry pick coins quicker. But after all of the easy stuff is gone the CTX will get the harder to find targets; ones mixed with trash and iron. I can run my AT Pro and Jas415 with the CTX will always find stuff behind me. If I have my CTX running and Jas415 comes behind me with his, not many targets will remain. Bottom line is both are good machines. Both are different machines. They are "tools in the tool box".
Click to expand...
This is what I was expecting to hear..I'm in the same boat you was in, I never held a minelab, but my buddy has a 705 and it works well for him. I love my AT Pro and the 5x8 coil is killer in trashy areas to an extent. But, I am looking for that differnt tool to sort out the trash even better and hopefully deeper. I expect the learning process to be long for me, but I can handle that. A lot of areas we hunt has been "hunted out" areas we still find silver in. Thank you for such a good answer..Now I have just one more question maybe you can answer...how much deeper does the CTX go compared to the AT Pro? Thank you!
 
The difference in depth will depend on the soil conditions and coils used. I can honestly tell you I flagged a token 12-45 for my buddy and his AT Pro. I started him out in the hobby. In fact the AT Pro was mine at one time. I thought it was going to be a silver dime. And we were at a site where the targets are getting few and far between. He came over with the AT Pro. The AT Pro never made a signal that would stop you to dig. The token was 8 inches. I was running 25 manual out of 30. We were both using stock coils. The AT Pro is a great detector. For the money it can't be beat. But like the post says above when it is time to find what is left at a site the CTX is a great detector.

The price is always the debate with the CTX. In today's economy it should be. Only you can decide what a detector is worth to you.
Having a powerful detector is not cheap. With the added features I think the CTX is a heck of a detector. I can't wait to hit the beach with it.
 
[size=large][/size] I used an E-TRAC before I got my CTX 3030. I used the CTX one day and sold my E-TRAC the next day. I did exceptionally well with the E-TRAC but am finding good targets that the E-TRAC missed. IMHO, the CTX "sees" targets that the E-TRAC couldn't, especially in trashy areas. Thanks Richard
 
WildOutdoorAddict said:
I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on overall performance on your CTX 3030 over your last machine. What was is/was your previous detector, and how much does the CTX out perform the previous if at all? I currently swing an AT Pro and am planning on buying a CTX before next spring.. How much of a learning curve is there. I've been reading a lot of threads on here and seem impressed. but I'd like some first hand views from owners/operators...
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

It is a outstanding machine for sure! Holler with questions or for a great setup right out of the box. I have many hours on it and can get you finding sliver quick! I am going out again today to play with mine! :clap:
 
I have a CTX 3030 and cannot compare it to the AT Pro-I would love to do a side by side. I can say in comparison to the E-trac it is slightly deeper and has a faster recovery especially in trashy areas.
I think for the money the CTX is a huge expense for perhaps not that huge of gain. Too bad you are not close I would take you for a hunt and let you decide if you think it warrants the extra expense. If you have a dealer that will let you take one for the weekend or an evening some time do it. Then you can decide for yourself if its performance justifies its price. We all know it has features your not going to find on other units. I believe the CTX is Minelabs answer to the AT, too bad the price is so much higher.

The Koss headphones are a joke, be prepared to spend another two hundred dollars for a decent set-I chose the GG.

The learning curve going from the Etrac to the CTX was minimal, I would think the learning curve would be large coming from the AT.

I found a lot of the people that post here are either dealers or reps- I am neither and have nothing to gain one way or the other, I know the ML's have larger mark up than the others therefor your dealers are going to try and steer you towards ML's.

My final comment is I really miss my Sunray pinpointer I was so comfortable with it! hard to beat the Sunray, I now use the Garret but it does not compare



Good luck on your decision, keep us posted if you purchase one and why you felt it was worth the investment, my gut tells me the CTX is slightly deeper with a slower recovery speed.

Just my twenty five hundred dollar opinion
 
you paid full MSRP????
 
That price is $3250 MSRP and MAP is $2499
 
I'm new to the hobby, started in July. So my thoughts might not carry much weight. I'll just let the results speak for themselves.

3 months with the AT Pro starting in July.
1 war nickel
7 Wheat pennies
$30+ in clad
3 junk rings
4 junk watches
tootsie roll car
name badge dated late 1800's
and a bunch of other stuff/junk

2 months with the CTX starting in October
7 silvers =2 mercs, 2 rosies 3 washingtons
13 wheats
$23+ in clad
one junk ring
heart pin with fake stones
remnants of an old pocket watch
2 hotweheels

Those are my results. I'm able to hunt 1-2 days a week, about 4-8 hours each outing. I have doubled over a few locations that I first hunted using the AT Pro with better results using the CTX. One spot I that pulled my first 90% silver was hit several times with the AT Pro in the exact spot. Somehow the AT Pro was not able to see the Merc that was hiding just a few inches in the ground? My AT Pro was finding coins down to about 4". With the CTX finds are down to 6" with a few found around 8".

I'm still using the stock settings. I haven't taken the time to mess around with all the options. I'm not a windows PC user and I don't want to set up my Mac up to run duel operating systems so for the meanwhile the stock set up is working for me. Coming from the light weight of the AT Pro it took a few days to adjust to the weight of the CTX. Now I don't even think about it. The only concern that I have at the moment with the CTX is the lower rod. It does not want to slide out easily for adjustment. I have learned a trick from a user here that works for a nice and easy slide. But overal the lower rod adjustment process is not smooth and I'm affraid it's wearing on something.

As far as the price, yeah it is a bit pricey. But if you shop around, I'll Bet you will be Happy, when you find the right dealer.

Good Luck
Dirty Digs
 
I didn't pay full retail for my unit, but, by the time I paid taxes and purchased the GG underwater headphones I am into it for about twenty five. I opted for the wireless headphone option which I find is nice in heavily wooded regions where the headphones tend to snag tree limbs-too bad the Koss headphones are part of this package.

Good luck on your decision-I can say my find rates have increased with this unit. Still, the price is the largest deterent. If you like I can refer you to the dealer I purchased my unit from which was the cheapest I found, since I live in the state I purchased my unit from the sales tax was the killer.

He will send it to you at no extra charge-again, I have nothing to gain one way or the other.

Good luck with your purchase
 
OK, I had an Etrac for about 3 years, I also picked up the ATPro when it came out as I wanted a good backup and to be able to hunt in the rain and snow. So I used the ATPro and Etrac and the same spots for a few months. Each had their advantages, the ATPro seemed hotter on rings and nickels. The Etrac would pick through the trash and Iron and seemed to me a little deeper. So after the CTX3030 came out my hunting buddy got one, I saw his results and I also saw the reports on here from the folks that had upgraded from the ETrac and decided it was a true improvement so I got the CTX. It is awesome, it has a faster processor than the Etrac, and that results in quicker recovery and better target separation in the real world. So since getting the CTX in July and starting to hunt with it in August. I have gotten more Silver coins than with the Etrac or the ATPro for the year, more rings from the ground in the last 6 months than the last 3 years with the Etrac, a silver half dollar, which I had not gotten with the Etrac, a silver pop out coin and 2 silver quaters found in a small yard that I had hunted numerous times with the Etrac, several foreign coins and tokens such as a 102 year old boy scout token. So my quantity and quality of good finds have improved drastically from the Etrac/AtPro combination. The learning curve from the Etrac was basically nill, now if you have not owned an FBS Minelab detector, yes it will take a little getting used to but it is a pretty user friendly system and with the resources available from here and other forums it will not be a problem. Watch all the videos on the use of it and people hunting with it that you can on here and Youtube and you will be fine. I have to say it is the best detector I have ever used and I am glad that I upgraded which at first I was very leary if I had done the right thing because I truly loved my Etrac, but after just a couple of hunts I was finding things I had missed with my Etrac and better and better finds. One thing I have learned for sure is that Minelab doesn't just put out detectors to be putting them out. Every time they have come out with a new High End detector, it has been a true improvement in function and form over the one before. The ergonomics alone are so much better than the Etrac even without the better performance. Hope this helps. If you get it I don't think you will be dissapointed.

Oh let me say this also, I am by no means running down the Etrac or the AtPro, I think they are both fine machines and if they are what you have, you will find great things with both, I just think the CTX is the best out there right now. And specifically for the AtPro, I am very impressed with how that $600 machine was a very very very close 2nd to my $1600 Etrac. FOR THE MONEY, the AtPro can not be beat!! But if you can afford it, the CTX is an improvement.
 
I am bootyhunter's hunting buddy and let me say this I have owned and still do an ACE250 an ATPRO. I also owned a GTI2500 and sold it for an SE PRO which I hunted almost exculsively for 3 years. I was starting to find good finds but bootyhunter often one uped me. I purchased the AT PRO to be able to hunt in all weather and do some lake hunting and It did well for me and it is now my backup and what I reccommend to anyone who cannot afford the CTX. Now as for the SE PRO coming from the Garrett line the learning curve was HUGE but with time, I got it, I was like I said happy but often getting beat on hunts by bootyhunter with his Etrac. The final straw came when we hunted this late 1800's house and my SE would just not settle down and I was unable to hunt that yard. Bootyhunter and his Etrac could I decided that day I was getting an Etrac. Well as fate would have it bootyhunter got an email from minelab annoucing the launch of the CTX. So I took a chance and preordered it. Well I knew as soon as I swung it this was much more balanced then the SE and even with difference in the numbers between the SE and the CTX I was finding good targets. The CTX is an amazing machine and my finds have been unreal since. I have more silver coins and more rings on land then any other machine. It is hotter on nickels as well. I know it is faster as deep and has way better trash and iron seperation it will find what others miss. With that said the AT PRO is very dependable and soild detector especially at the price. I say buy the CTX take the time to really learn it and in time you would be very glad you did and keep the AT PRO as someone posted as another tool in the tool box. Bart can hook you up Good Luck and HH
 
The secret with minelab is to not let all the adjustments and features intimidate you.
Just start out with the factory defaults and the canned programs and learn what the detector is telling you
I have always said that any detector speaks a foreign language that you have to learn.
I have had my ctx for 3 days now and have found 2 rings and 45 coins including a 46 rosy and a 37 buffalo
working sites that my brother in law and I have worked for years. He uses a white's xlt and I had been using an explorer and
together we have dug over 4000 coins for this one school yard. The last ring was a 14 k rgp at 7 inches in an area that I had pounded for years getting wheaties

Rick
.
 
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