Having read some crazy posts the last few days, I have to put my two cents in(zincolns BTW). Truth is, is it the machine or the person who uses it. The CTX won't find a darn bit of silver, if the operator decides not to dig. ANY machine provides information only, not decisions. Here is where it gets tricky. The info given by the machine helps make the decision to dig. Will a novice with a CTX find more silver than an expert with a radio shack special? Probably not. I started out with a tesoro(great machine found the most rings with that, and the depth was amazing) however, it did not provide me with enough info. I stepped up to a whites spectrum xlt when they just come out. I found more but never found V's or barbers. I actually quit at that point thinking everything was gone from these sites. 10 years later, because of youtube, I bought an etrac, found a few Vs and barbers at those sites. I had the etrac for 2 years and traded up to the CTX and found more at these sites. Was it the machine, or my experience, that helped me find the stuff i missed? It was both. The machine gave me more info, and my experience told me what it was.
My last time out, I hit an area that was noiseless, until I removed all discrimination. I found an 1886 indian that hit at 5-29. I would never have dug that. The info the CTX gave me told me to. My next signal was a 12-15, 1936 buffalo nickel. 10-09 turned out to be a silver war nickel. and a 12-11 another silver war nickel. I missed these the first 10 times out, because my discrimination blocked them. My experience told me to to change things up, not the machine. Would I have found these with any other machine? I think I would have. My father with a safari found a morgan, a peace, 2 bens, a walker and a few other goodies in virgin ground. He doesn't even know what hes doing. So luck and where u hunt are big factors too. Those without that kind of luck, have to rely on our experience like myself.
In closing, the machines are only as good as the operator who uses it. I will say, that yes I am etrac/ctx expert. I know my skill will find anything, if I hunt long enough, and I don't get lazy lol.
Peace out cub scouts!
Bey
My last time out, I hit an area that was noiseless, until I removed all discrimination. I found an 1886 indian that hit at 5-29. I would never have dug that. The info the CTX gave me told me to. My next signal was a 12-15, 1936 buffalo nickel. 10-09 turned out to be a silver war nickel. and a 12-11 another silver war nickel. I missed these the first 10 times out, because my discrimination blocked them. My experience told me to to change things up, not the machine. Would I have found these with any other machine? I think I would have. My father with a safari found a morgan, a peace, 2 bens, a walker and a few other goodies in virgin ground. He doesn't even know what hes doing. So luck and where u hunt are big factors too. Those without that kind of luck, have to rely on our experience like myself.
In closing, the machines are only as good as the operator who uses it. I will say, that yes I am etrac/ctx expert. I know my skill will find anything, if I hunt long enough, and I don't get lazy lol.
Peace out cub scouts!
Bey
