I have an Etrac ...love it ...does the CTX get a significant amount of depth compared to Etrac? Programming is anything similar ? Has anyone regretted going to the CTX from the Etrac? Please let me know your hands on input. I love the fact the CTX is water proof..... thanks in advance .... I am contemplating getting one. Can the same coils for Etrac work on the CTX?
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Etrac /CTX 3030. pros and cons please
- Thread starter Sonny1965
- Start date
sprchng
Well-known member
1000's of hours on the etrac , 6 months on the CTX. Manning/Brady , Ali/Frazier , Affirmed/Alydar -------
Don't pay retail for the CTX when lightly used ones are available for $1500 or less. Coil selection for the CTX sucks which is why I find myself still using the etrac as much as I do. CTX actually swings easier. I see little difference in depth but the CTX does "see" better. Keep them both and see which becomes the backup.
Don't pay retail for the CTX when lightly used ones are available for $1500 or less. Coil selection for the CTX sucks which is why I find myself still using the etrac as much as I do. CTX actually swings easier. I see little difference in depth but the CTX does "see" better. Keep them both and see which becomes the backup.
Johnnyanglo
Active member
coils aren't interchangeable.
E-Trac and CTX get equivalent depth (in my testing)
CTX is better due to waterproofness, target trace, better balance, and combined mode. For most park hunting the difference is probably slight - but the lure of something new is the greater temptation.
And yes, buy used.
E-Trac and CTX get equivalent depth (in my testing)
CTX is better due to waterproofness, target trace, better balance, and combined mode. For most park hunting the difference is probably slight - but the lure of something new is the greater temptation.
And yes, buy used.
I had the same dilemma as yourself, so I asked a popular forum member on here and he had a great reply.....I stayed with my Etrac...
Hey bill, the etrac is a great machine. The CTX does have a faster processor and is is able to separate targets better in trash. There are certain perks to each. The etrac has an abundance of aftermarket coils and has the ability to use an inline probe like the sun ray which is worth it's weight in gold. On the other hand the CTX has a few more bells and whistles that you might not need but when you get them you'll wonder how you ever went without them. Like, the integrated GPS which gives you the ability to track your finds and then see an overlay of your targets on a google earth like platform. It also records the TID and depth. The ability to be fully submersible is awesome too. You might not be a water hunter per say but it's nice being able to hunt in the rain or in places were there's lots of dew. Plus you can just hose the thing down when you're done. Also it has the ability to be updated via the internet. So improvements can constantly be made. Ultimately it's up to you. They are both great machines. If you're doing great with the etrac then I'd stick with it. If you plan on hunting SUPER trash places then I'd recommend the CTX. For the most part though I'd say that the etrac will hit 90% of the targets the CTX will hit. It's just those trashy parts where the CTX shines. Hope that helps
Hey bill, the etrac is a great machine. The CTX does have a faster processor and is is able to separate targets better in trash. There are certain perks to each. The etrac has an abundance of aftermarket coils and has the ability to use an inline probe like the sun ray which is worth it's weight in gold. On the other hand the CTX has a few more bells and whistles that you might not need but when you get them you'll wonder how you ever went without them. Like, the integrated GPS which gives you the ability to track your finds and then see an overlay of your targets on a google earth like platform. It also records the TID and depth. The ability to be fully submersible is awesome too. You might not be a water hunter per say but it's nice being able to hunt in the rain or in places were there's lots of dew. Plus you can just hose the thing down when you're done. Also it has the ability to be updated via the internet. So improvements can constantly be made. Ultimately it's up to you. They are both great machines. If you're doing great with the etrac then I'd stick with it. If you plan on hunting SUPER trash places then I'd recommend the CTX. For the most part though I'd say that the etrac will hit 90% of the targets the CTX will hit. It's just those trashy parts where the CTX shines. Hope that helps
devildog2345
New member
I don't know about the Etrac but it sure knocks the socks off my old Ace 250! bahahahaha 
The CTX and E-Trac are comparable in depth on finding silver coins. The E-Trac, in my opinion, has better tone identification and when working in conjunction with the X1 probe available only to the E-Trac, It is extraordinary in the field. The CTX is however waterproof and can be submerged supposedly with no leaks or issues ( leaks unfortunately have happened). The most outstanding difference is in the cost of the two products -- $1500 versus $2500 for FBS machines that are very comparable in all their abilities to find Silver coins. We each must make our own choice, or better yet have both and decide which works best for the application intended. Happy hunting !!!
thE-TRACker
Member
With the E-Trac more than a few times the hunt was either rained out on a cloudy day or while looking ended up running back to my truck trying to keep the control box covered with whatever I had on .I don't mind getting wet but not my E- Trac. For me the CTX is a waterproof E-Trac and I love them both but my faithful E-Trac is now back-up .
Guess it would help to write something before hitting the post button!
I've done a lot of park hunting with both detectors. I disagree that there is only a slight difference. Depth wise they are similar; but the 3030 is far superior in target separation and response time, which will allow you to find a lot of coins that the E-Trac missed.
I've done a lot of park hunting with both detectors. I disagree that there is only a slight difference. Depth wise they are similar; but the 3030 is far superior in target separation and response time, which will allow you to find a lot of coins that the E-Trac missed.
Jason in Enid
Active member
Agseeker said:
At least for me, the CTX is a little deeper than my E-Trac. It does have a MUCH better TID, faster response and more sensitivity. I can swing as fast as I want, if I swing over a target (even mixed with iron) I'm going to get AT LEAST a blip of a high tone. It's enough that I know to stop and scan that spot a little more carefully. Sometimes it's an iron false (which disappears with a slower swing), sometimes it's that seated dime!
Johnnyanglo
Active member
Did a large writeup awhile back on the ability of these two detectors to separate non-ferrous from ferrous.
Nail Board Test - CTX vs. E-Trac
Johnnyanglo
Nail Board Test - CTX vs. E-Trac
Johnnyanglo
Chris(SoCenWI)
Well-known member
Great write up on your link. I've done the same sort of testing, albeit a little less controlled and with out the great graphics.
I also found my original 13 year old XS and the CTX were very closely matched. And the perpendicular vs parallel is the whole key to understanding iron masking. Basically either detector can see a coin under a nail only if it is perfectly aligned with the center web of the coil, you will get a diggable hit at zero degrees or 180 degrees, anything else a null. Which explains why no site is worked out until it has been detected from every angle.
I did find the CTX can show a perpendicular coin under nail in target trace only, no audio signal. I tried to use this feature but trying to stare at the screen constantly was impossible, and that there were also WAY too many false positives that showed some coin signal but turned out to be only ferrous when dug. I'm assuming these are signals that give iron falsing on my XS.
I still think Minelab made a huge mistake stuffing all the targets on the FE 12 line. With my older detector I can tell at a quick glance at the screen to see whether a target is worth digging. With the Etrac and CTX all that happens is the target moves a few pixels left or right.
Thanks for writing up your findings,
Chris
I also found my original 13 year old XS and the CTX were very closely matched. And the perpendicular vs parallel is the whole key to understanding iron masking. Basically either detector can see a coin under a nail only if it is perfectly aligned with the center web of the coil, you will get a diggable hit at zero degrees or 180 degrees, anything else a null. Which explains why no site is worked out until it has been detected from every angle.
I did find the CTX can show a perpendicular coin under nail in target trace only, no audio signal. I tried to use this feature but trying to stare at the screen constantly was impossible, and that there were also WAY too many false positives that showed some coin signal but turned out to be only ferrous when dug. I'm assuming these are signals that give iron falsing on my XS.
I still think Minelab made a huge mistake stuffing all the targets on the FE 12 line. With my older detector I can tell at a quick glance at the screen to see whether a target is worth digging. With the Etrac and CTX all that happens is the target moves a few pixels left or right.
Thanks for writing up your findings,
Chris
had both sold etrac.
cant run an open screen on etrac can on ctx.
can set tones on ctx.
ctx is water proof and works better on the wet salt beach.
coils for ctx cost to much and only 4 to choose from but really only need 2 anyway, but other band coils would be nice but no one has cracked the code yet so minelab want all our cash
is it worth the extra cash depends on where you are and what you want it for.
they both work well but when you have both in the car and keep picking up the ctx then well that's the answer right
AJ
cant run an open screen on etrac can on ctx.
can set tones on ctx.
ctx is water proof and works better on the wet salt beach.
coils for ctx cost to much and only 4 to choose from but really only need 2 anyway, but other band coils would be nice but no one has cracked the code yet so minelab want all our cash
is it worth the extra cash depends on where you are and what you want it for.
they both work well but when you have both in the car and keep picking up the ctx then well that's the answer right
AJ