Does anyone prefer there explorer's over the ctx ?

[Doctorcoinz]

I still use my explorer se now and again , could I part with it ? the answer is a definite no , no way it's a life long relationship. I know it too well to part with it . There is something about it I like . Now I know this is a ctx forum and I don't want to ramble on about
the explorer se and I don't want to bash the ctx either. The thing is though I am actually am in 2 minds as to wether or not the ctx really offers any thing other than a small improvement in finds rate over an explorer se. The wireless and water proofing are big plusses on the ctx
so is the better balance . I personally though can't see any noticeable improvements on depth and finds rate between the 2 detectors. I am trying hard to find noticeable improvements in performance on the ctx. over my old SE.

 

[D&P-OR]

The CTX has waaay better iron working capabilities.---Plus, the balance on the CTX is different (far better).----Those two reasons right there are enough for me to make the switch.-----I think the CTX is a detector that the more you use it, the more you see what an amazing detector it really is.----This is coming from an old Minelab guy that has come up thru the ranks having owned used them all (Explorers, Etrac & now CTX).-----(IMO), they all was/are an improvement over the last & worth the time and expense to move to the next one.------Having said all this---I'm like you are with your SE, only with me it's the Etrac.-----I would never get rid of my Etrac, I love that machine & know it like the back of my hand.-----However, these days it is collecting (considerable) dust as I use & learn my CTX.-----------Del

 

[GKMan]

[attachment 288006 popcorn.gif]

 

[Dirtbag Kevin]

I am a believer for sure.. I hunted my favorite (lots of history) park for about a year and a half, almost every day with my etrac.. I was convinced that the finds were completely gone.. Most days I would come home without anything... not even clad.. I finally got my ctx about a year ago and wow.. I have found over 20 coins that pre date the park over 75 years, back when this park was a rock quarry... It's not only the depth, it's the fantastic iron/trash separation capabilities that make the ctx the best (for me) I still go to my favorite park and I still come home with amazing finds..

 

[Doctorcoinz]

Ok thanks for your views. I think my ctx may have a depth problem. I am not sure but I might try a full reset to see if it makes any difference.

 

[Southwind]

You will get over the SE. I was the same with my DFX. Nothing else I tried, even when it was better, fit me as well as my good old DFX. Of course 10 years with a detector will do that. Now my poor old DFX just sits in the closet gathering dust.

 

[Larry (IL)]

I had the same kind of relationship with my SE, even prefered it over the E-Trac, but once learned, the CTX is head and shoulders over either of those detectors........... IMHO. I will not be going backwards.

 

[Dirtbag Kevin]

Just like Larry said... Once you learn this machine, you WILL NOT be going back to the others.. I have a solid year under my belt and I am not even half way close to knowing this machine. I would buy it again.

 

[CT Todd]

I've owned every model Explorer (not a 2) and a Etrac and I can say without any doubt the CTX is a better unit. You named almost all the reasons in your post.

 

["Dr.Tones"]

I have to agree with Todd. I actually was hunting with Dirt Digler about a year and a half ago when he was still swinging his Explorer. He hunted an easement and just for fun I went back and pulled and 1898 Barber dime from about 8 inches. I called him over to check the signal... nothin. I unplugged my phones so he could here it on my machine. Needless to say that very next weekend he was swinging a brand new CTX.

 

[Aaron]

How about it doesn't work in iron like the CTX, and it's a lot slower.

 

[Rick(ND)]

Del, Mine is the Sovereign GT I keep as it has really done well for me so it is hard to part with. Since I got the CTX my Sovereign just sits on the wall as I am still in the learning stage of the CTX and it has impressed me with the little I have used it. The Explorers are good too and I have a hunting Friend that has the XS and really does well with over 400 silver last year and really wants him to try the CTX and I hope I can this year as I know he will have one. I do like the E-Trac better than the Explorers, maybe because of the pitch hold for my bad hearing as it has helped a lot hearing those deeper signals. I really feel that the CTX will be probably be used by more people as more learn it and start posting amazing finds found with it, this is the way it was with the E-Trac as most didn't like them as they were different then the Explorers and run a little different with many trying to run them like a Explorer. Now those same people after seeing what the E-Trac can do have bought one back and like it, this is the way with the CTX too I feel and many that had them and sold them will be buying one back again.

Rick

 

[bigboar]

How about it doesn't work in iron like the CTX, and it's a lot slower.

 

[LandOLincoln]

I miss my etrac only beacuse I was so used to the sounds. As far as target ID, depth, response, weight, balance etc I prefer the ctx. I only wish it sounded more like the etrac in 50 conductive. Seeing as I use it in combine more than anything though I can live without the warble.

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

I bought a Fsher F-75 and a CTX in hopes that their faster speeds and enhanced capabilities would make some of my worked out areas come alive again. Didn't happen. I have found coins with both, but if I go back over the same areas with my XS I find about the same amount.

And I REALLY REALLY was hoping that after spending a few thousands of dollars that would not be the case.

I didn't like the F-75 because the the target ID on the explorer was so much better. I spent quite of bit of time swinging them over the same targets, both responded about the same to targets, both suffered equally around electrical noise, it basically came down to the Fisher having a single value for the target, while the explorer had the 2D screen. And that is my beef with the CTX, because of the 12 ferrous line 95% of the screen is not being used, the target ID is not much better than the fisher.

The CTX has some nice features, but I don't think as far as raw detecting ability it is any better than the older models. I was hoping that with off loading some of the electronics to the coil that it would do better electrically noisy environments but I am not finding that either.

It does have some intriguing possibilities with the target trace being able to see a coin under a nail that is perpendicular to the coil; sube has posted a bit about that, and that is something the XS definitely cannot do. I'm going to keep on playing with mine, and have to do more experimenting with the different ferrous/coin settings and etc. And hope to get out in the water for the first time.

My belief is when Minelab came up with multi frequency explorer series with DD coils they made a huge jump in detecting technology. Anybody who was reading the forums then remembers all the wonderful coins coming out of "worked out" sites. A lot of places seemed like they had never been detected before. And now you can swing a explorer/CTX at these sites and be lucky to find one or two diggable signals. I think they are pushing the limits of what information they can gleaned from a electronic signal and that the improvements over the past dozen years have been marginal at best.

I have been a open screen ferrous guy using manual sensitivity. I'm wondering if some of those seeing huge improvements with the CTX were using discrimination or auto sensitivity on their older units. Perhaps the newer machines do better in that regard.

Dug my oldest coin with my XS yesterday. 1828 large cent.

Chris

 

[sube]

I sure don't this detector runs circles around my explorer 2 in iron and trash given time I think people will be looking at this detector differently in the future , However must people have not used this machine to it's full potential yet because they don't have enough time behind it . We will see how this detector stacks up to the explorer down the road . As for me I bought it for depth and separation the fairgrounds I work with it has given me over a 100 silvers 60 plus Indians and 30 plus v nickles a area I pounded with the explorer 2 . The explore 2 would never keep up with this machine , I ran the explorer 2 in open screen iron mast all the time and it plain missed these coins . I could see a few coins I would have missed but not this many .I pity the person that has to hunt after me when I get done , I won't be going back to the explore anymore minelab diffently is going in the right direction on this machine . This is my take on it and 45 years swinging a detector . sube

 

[Dirtbag Kevin]

Hahaha.. I pity the person who detects behind me.. I love that.

 

[Doctorcoinz]

I personally have found that the explorer se gets most of it , it gets most of the good stuff , I hammered a field out of 800 coins with my SE and the finds were very sparse indeed after 2 years working every bit of junk and good stuff out.
I purchased the CTX 3030 to see if it can find any more targets missed by the explorer se , yes I found more coins but not that many , maybe a few dozen coins. I also think the ctx does miss stuff just like any other detector does.
The ctx does not get it all but it gets quite a lot in my opinion , many old coins still lay buried on many sites at depths of 10 to 24 inches so there is still plenty to be got if detectors can get more inches in depth in the future.

 

[sube]

I personally have found that the explorer se gets most of it , it gets most of the good stuff , I hammered a field out of 800 coins with my SE and the finds were very sparse indeed after 2 years working every bit of junk and good stuff out.
I purchased the CTX 3030 to see if it can find any more targets missed by the explorer se , yes I found more coins but not that many , maybe a few dozen coins. I also think the ctx does miss stuff just like any other detector does.
The ctx does not get it all but it gets quite a lot in my opinion , many old coins still lay buried on many sites at depths of 10 to 24 inches so there is still plenty to be got if detectors can get more inches in depth in the future.

This is very true statement however it depends on your soil and how deep coins sink in it . Coins in my soil well stop sinking as soon as they get through the topsoil witch is the black dirt when they hit the sand layer under it that's where they stop . If top soil is 12 inches deep coins will be at 12 inches deep if old enough if top soil is 3 inches deep they will be at 3 inches ever thing stops at the sand layer witch is to solid to let them pass deeper . My top soil on average is 4 to 6 inches deep some homes 12 inches deep not many . So it goes back to target separation for me because what I hunt that's left will be mixed with iron and trash . And yes I will not get them all but the ctx gets more targets that are mixed with trash then any other detector I have used to date . sube