Etrac proves her abilities again

[jeff & Maria]

I had an hour to kill so I went to a 1700's home site that I have been to countless times. I hunted an area close to the house which I had surgically hunted with my Explorer II and the 5 inch coil. This ground is loaded with nails and junk. Using the Etrac and Sunray 8 inch coil, hunting in auto sens. coin program, 4 tone. The dime squeaked amongst the nulls and gave me a quick 47 on the screen. The Indian head was a squeak and read 14-35 and was repeatable. I switched to all metal and forget it, I never would have heard it. No wonder I didn't find it with the Exp II. This machine shines it's brightest in the heavy trash, Minelab got it right when they built this to see through trash.

 

[christopher-ohio]

how do you discern between a high tone "squeek" and high tone iron falsing? Sure most of the time it's a low tone iron "blat" in 4 tone but the larger iron can cause that squeek too using your settings which is what I used too(stock coin program with auto sens). The problem was...do I dig all these "squeek" signals at the old sites which is alot of digging or pass them by since most are iron The practically constant null with the E-Trac at old sites like that really bugged me since I figured I had to be missing good targets...just part of the learning curve with the E-trac for sure. Personally I still prefer the EX II and XS I have since I like ferrous all metal and going slow with original smartfind and digital ID's with the full compliment of sounds plus each type of coin has it's specific smartfind and digital ID signature and sound. One thing for sure, depth is maximum with these machines compared to most anything out there. Surely, to each their own, I'm starting to think it would be best to own and use one of each to pull every good non-ferrous target at great, especially early sites, since you never know what might turn up...HH

 

[Neil]

Unless your doing a side by side comparison with both detectors set properly one cant say one is better than the other and even then its only better on that particuarl target.

next time your hunting in a trashy area and locate a good signal just start pivoting around the target and see how the tones and ID change or disappear even.
so different approaches seem to matter alot also.

HH
Neil

 

[jbow]

For me it is a combination of the "squeak" and the right conductive number, even if it does not lock on. The ferrous number don't mean a lot but if I were in that situation and heard that high tone come through and the cond number hit 46-47... i'd be digging. If it hit 48... I wouldn't.

I could be wrong but that is what I have learned so far.

The E-TRADC will pull targets out of areas that have been hard hunted. They may not always read solid but they will hit. I think, like with anything else, experience is the answer. One day it will 'click' and that will be that.

I hunt a lot in an old park that has been hunted regularly ever since detectors have been around. It is full of cinders and iron. I don't find a lot but what I do find is good... it is stuff that people disced out or passed by and stuff that was masked by iron to other machines. I posted this before but I was hunting there with a froend who was using an F75. We were comparing signals. I was getting a signal that was iffy but good enough to dig. IT was hitting in the bullet area. The F75 said it was junk and only hit it from one direction. It was a carved minnie at about 8".


Yeah... if it might be good... dig it. The ET will give more "maybe good' hits than other machines, I think...


Julien

 

[Ray-Mo.]

Unless your doing a side by side comparison with both detectors set properly one cant say one is better than the other and even then its only better on that particuarl target.

I have done several side by side test with Explorer Pro and Etrac and there were quite a few good targets the Etrac gave good signal and Explorer did not.So I for one can and will say the Etrac is better under some circumstances . Mostly in very very trashy sites for me while looking mainly for older deep coins.I know some will say the Explorer was not set up properly but I was running it in almost wide open screen and the Etrac was in factory coin mode with lots of discrimination.
I believe only those who have used both for 100 plus hours can say if one is better or worse than the other and then only for there sights and style of hunting. Just my oppinion based on real in-field testing of both machine and don't get me wrong. I am very fond of the Explorers and and won't be selling mine any time soon,Ray.

HH
Neil

 

[jeff & Maria]

and most hunting is in severely polluted colonial areas where you have to work hard for the good target that's hiding amongst the junk. The Explorer has rewarded me with many great items through the years I just think the Etrac is finding them in tough areas a lot easier without having to use the tiny coil and move at a slower than snails pace.

 

[jeff & Maria]

if a target is a good target, it sounds good 95 percent of the time. It repeats usually from more than one direction. AND the conductive number is going to confirm the quality of the target. I too, always hunted in all metal with my Exp II and it was a bit hard to get used to this new way to hunt. I will say I do no longer feel like I'm "missing something" because of the nulling since I have dug a large number of good targets laying right in the iron. Example: this large cent was laying 7 inches down, with a large piece of a pot belly stove a few inches below it. It's signal and numbers told me something good was there. When I switched to all metal, all I heard was the sound of the iron and I would have thought it was a piece of pipe if I first found it in all metal.

 

[etrackerman]

Jeff & Maria.

Thanks for another well reported sortie with the E-Trac, it's really appreciated.

MattR was banned for defending the qualities of this detector, against the 'knocker' with an axe to grind.

When they couldn't tolerate another's opinion regarding their particular criticisms, even by reasonable discussion, they then resorted to personal mud slinging.

Your success with the E-Trac, along with many others, exposes the weakness of those criticisms.

The E-Trac will go from strength to strength in the hands of good detectorists who are willing to learn its characteristics.

As Toddy said, " No detector is perfect".

I agree with that at least,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but then NEITHER ARE WE. So let's all just enjoy the success of the E-Trac .....Trackerman.

 

[JohnTN]

Jeff & Maria, congrats on your great finds. I feel like you are correct with the E-trac sorting through the trash extremely well. Today I dug a merc in the same hole with a 22 cal. short shell casing and a rusty square nail. The signal was a little warped sounding but still had that sweat silver tone in amongst the iron and low tone of the brass. I have worked with the the 4 tones alot and really like them in the coin mode but have found that the multi-tones are much sweeter with the UK style program, though it takes a bit of getting used too. I also have the X-8 Sun-ray coil but have not used it yet. Have you found that it seperates better than the larger Pro coil? I am amazed by the way the Pro coil seperates on the E-trac.

 

[christopher-ohio]

I'm sure that helps many others out there that already have and those who are thinking hard about an E-Trac. Andy's book also sounds like a must read too for all...HH

 

[etrackerman]

Chris.....Noticed how you are bothered by 'squeaky' iron.

Do you use Ferrous audio on your E-Trac, at these 'old' sites littered with iron?

If so, what is your disc pattern and usual gain settings?

Trackerman

 

[mike - in]

I'm not "completely" used to the high iron signals yet either. Another tip I heard that helps too is to check the depth indication of the target. If you are getting a large "squeaky" iron signal and it is deep it probably is a chunk of iron but if it's a small signal at depth it's worth digging to see. Of coarse, that large, squeaky signal could be that cache we have always dreamed of finding! When I'm in a field and holes don't matter I'll dig just about any repeatable signal. I've been pleasantly surprised many times with nice finds. HH Mike

 

[christopher-ohio]

Just using the stock coin program with no changes at all...auto sensitivity and conductive sounds of course per that program. The funny thing is I had one of the hot ones which seemed to do it whereas the first one did not with the same settings so maybe there are different performing E-Tracs out there??? I had used both at the same old iron laden site homesite and there was quite a difference and I don't think ground moisture, sun spot's, moonphase or frankly my swing/technique was much different. I notice most everything about machine performance...I have learned that every Fisher CZ is unique in it's individual performance, X-terras vary, even Explorers so you just never really know in my opinion...HH

 

[Neil]

Jeff I appreciate the info, thank you.

HH
Neil

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

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