A
Anonymous
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When I was considering upgrading my detector from a CZ6a , I would frequently visit this forum and try to decipher what TH's would post and what it might mean to me. Over the last few months that I've owned the XS, I've received a lot of advice and help on how to use the machine and what the various signals mean and the like. So, I'd like to give something back to would-be users and newbies like myself. I offer the following summary.
The Explorer is unique in my experience in depth, flexibility and sensitivity. There is no doubt in my mind that my time in the field is much more productive and I have more and better finds to show for my efforts. I am not an expert with this machine (yet). I've dug coins from as deep as 11" (large cent), and recovered coins (my primary interst) from amidst iron and from tight mineralized soils. 6-8 inch depth is routine for pennies, dimes etc. Target display flexibility allows me to determine what I dig, which dramatically cuts down on trash digs. My trash recovery has dropped quite a lot. When I dig 'iffies', I'm usually very good at ID'ing the target BEFORE I dig, so it's become somewhat of a game.
The XS is easy to use but fairly challenging when it comes to really understanding all the info that's being transmitted to the user. That fact alone is probably the biggest stumbling block on the learning curve. One can't really get maximum performance from this machine until all the subtleties are learned. Also, one must be patient and experiment with the machine to max it's capabilities. I would definite recommend reading Sabisch's book carefully and studying the owners manual carefully BEFORE you try the machine in the field, especially in a place you KNOW holds good finds. The XS is a very powerful and exciting machine to use once you really learn how to use it.
Painful as it might be (for Minelab) to say, the cracks these machines get knocked for are real. Mine cracked the first week I had it. The phones also bit the dust early on. ML will fix/replace at their expense which they should, and they've been easy to work with in this regard. When they correct these design issues, this will be one awesome machine!
Hope that helps a little.
GL HH
The Explorer is unique in my experience in depth, flexibility and sensitivity. There is no doubt in my mind that my time in the field is much more productive and I have more and better finds to show for my efforts. I am not an expert with this machine (yet). I've dug coins from as deep as 11" (large cent), and recovered coins (my primary interst) from amidst iron and from tight mineralized soils. 6-8 inch depth is routine for pennies, dimes etc. Target display flexibility allows me to determine what I dig, which dramatically cuts down on trash digs. My trash recovery has dropped quite a lot. When I dig 'iffies', I'm usually very good at ID'ing the target BEFORE I dig, so it's become somewhat of a game.
The XS is easy to use but fairly challenging when it comes to really understanding all the info that's being transmitted to the user. That fact alone is probably the biggest stumbling block on the learning curve. One can't really get maximum performance from this machine until all the subtleties are learned. Also, one must be patient and experiment with the machine to max it's capabilities. I would definite recommend reading Sabisch's book carefully and studying the owners manual carefully BEFORE you try the machine in the field, especially in a place you KNOW holds good finds. The XS is a very powerful and exciting machine to use once you really learn how to use it.
Painful as it might be (for Minelab) to say, the cracks these machines get knocked for are real. Mine cracked the first week I had it. The phones also bit the dust early on. ML will fix/replace at their expense which they should, and they've been easy to work with in this regard. When they correct these design issues, this will be one awesome machine!
Hope that helps a little.
GL HH
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