explorer series and target masking

[hartage]

I'm looking for something to start my hobby with and thought the explorer se/etrac was it. Untill I saw a youtube video of someone looking for a lost ring on the beach. In the video the etrac missed the ring due to slow recovery while the excal found it. There is another video on etrac slow recovery where the targets were..... nail- silver coin -nail with a seemingly 1in (or so) inch gap between the coin and nails. The etrac missed the coin all together at normal swing speed. Only if the swing speed was lowered to a crawl did the etrac sound on the coin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcrVPw9wlyg A eurotek pro detector sounded on the coin at normal swing speed. With the gap reduced to maybe a quarter inch between the nails and coin the etrac failed to sound on the coin no matter how slow the swing speed. The eurotek pro STILL sounded on the coin.

How important, or how "real world" is this failure of target masking? I'm looking at a used etrac vs a used t2 ltd. Should a beginner like me even be concerned with iron target masking? I imagine my MD spots to be the beach, totlots, with the off chance posibility of prospecting nuggets. Etrac, t2 se, or (suggestion here) for my first used detector ? Money is tight so a single all around detector is the idea. Thanks for any input.

 

[MikeO]

Well, I have no idea about Eurotek.
I will say that I feel Minelab is making the most advancements in detector technology.

Is target masking a real thing? Oh yes.

I will tell you one thing the speeds at which that Etrac picked up the coin is faster then I have ever swung any model in the Explorer line.
You really have to swing slow if you do not want to pass up the deep old coins with an Explorer that is a fact.
The best way I would describe my swing speed left to right would be to place two pieces of tape on the floor roughly three feet apart. Starting in the center I would say one thousand two thousand three then go right to the right tape piece at the same speed.
I think this gives you an idea of just how slow a speed at which I would recommend an Explorer user swings.
I will also say the more trash or possibility of combined targets due to site the slower I swing. I can get into trashy spots that I swing so slow a turtle would outrun my coil.

I personally do not take much faith in fresh test gardens. We won't get into this though.
Neither do I take much faith in many online tests unless the environment is controlled and all settings utilized in a given test are known.

Now as far as an Explorer being a prospecting machine I would sway towards not best suited for ultra fine gold hunting.

Now if you are general relic, coin or jewelry hunter the Explorer gets a big thumbs up.
What do you exspect its my detector of choice. I will say I do not own an Etrac nor do I plan on getting one. If add another detector to my line up it will be for a CTX.

You should be able to get a used XS for 400+ if you really look. Then like 550 for a XSII and roughly 700 for an SE.

I'm struggling doing this off a small tablet due too keyboard so, I hope this helps you.

 

[silverseeker 2]

In my experience this is what the Minelabs (Explorer series,SE pro etc., etc. ,)
are great at when swept SLOWWWW!!!! Open screen
I only have experience with the Explorer models but I sweep SLOWWW...
I think the later models processed a little faster though.
Just my personal opinions. Too many people sweep those machines wayyy
to fast and that's when targets are missed as the machine does not
have a chance to process especially in concentrated target areas.
Hope this helps and remember it's just my opinion as others have their
own methods of using Minelabs. That gentleman Bryce has found coins in
areas that have been heavily hunted and pulls coins out where most cannot.
If you were to ask him I'd bet his advice is to work one small area at a time
and sweep slow and investigate those short choppy deep high tones.
We all have our own style and when you figure out what works for you
Stick to your guns.. I wish you the Best!!!
silverseeker2

 

[stasys]

Hartage if you talking about the video there Excalibur founding target and Explorer SE not in the beach, dont believe, looking the video I was able to hear targets- operator in video not, he used to much discrimination and swing to fast.
I think Explorer or Etrac is the best metal detector for any new person in metal detecting who can swing this heavy brick in the hand, firstly you will dig very little iron in most bad situation where is allot new trash, second if you will find something you will always will be able to see dug targets in normal size, not much wires or tiny objects, this is good for people new in metal detecting. With the rest metal detectors models you can go to macro world and get bored very fast. Later you will need macro world too, but not now. Buy used and dont worry.

 

[cypearl]

I think from guys above I would choose Stasys for a better reference and right at all. I would choose minelabs to start and with the ''cheapest'' and the better. I had the explorer se my self and I found the most of my coins with that detector. It is true that you need to go slow with XS but when a coin is there the most certain you will know it. Other detectors can maybe get gold better but they need a lot of tweaking and they are very noisy. Noisy can be a nightmare to a new detectorist. SE model uses a higher preset gain and that makes the specific detector more noisy. Hope this helps.

 

[hartage]

MikeO, silverseeker2,stasys, cypearl, thanks
For all the input. I gather that the explorer series is slow in recovery but has good target filtration for iron trashy areas and has good depth. Perhaps a bit "brick" heavy but good to start with if your new to md. Both the t2 and explorer have pros and cons. I guess it comes down to which one I find first at a great price. Thanks again everyone for all the input and expertise.

 

[dewcon4414]

Ive used both on the beach. There has to be a lot of trash on that beach to produce target masking. Also, the Xcal like the Sov is designed that in IM to id targets FIRST.... thats why many say they still have good targets come thru during a full null of near targets. the Xcal DONT have the coil foot print either of an Explorer... nor is the coil quite as large as the pro. The ability to tweak the explorer exceeds that of the Xcal as well and the explorer doesnt have the salt setting. The tones are more refined and longer in the lower range on the Xcal. The explorer may be a slow recovery machine but on most beaches it still deeper than the Xcal and is just as fast to recover. Ive not found a single piece of gold... and thats what im out there for...that the Xcal finds the Explorer cant at better depths.

Dew

 

[idaho]

Hartage, if you are just starting in the hobby of metal detecting, I certainly wouldn't start with an Explorer. The learning curve is really steep. In my opinion start with a simpler unit that you can learn all the basics with, still find loads of coins and other items, then if you choose, move up to an Explorer. I've owned an EXII for 6 years now and am still learning the ins and outs of it. I can't imagine having started metal detecting with an Explorer.

 

[hartage]

Dew, Idaho, thanks for the advice. I'm basically right back where I started from, so much to learn and so many things to consider. Mud suggested that I just get into it and likely will switch machines once I know what direction draws me. IE, coinshooting, relic or prospecting. Explorer/etrac really does not scare me as I'm used to working with computers and systems that I imagine are more complicated. However I understand the efficiency and elegance of KISS (keep it simple, stupid) which makes the t2 appealing. I can swing either way based on the first great deal I find. Anybody have a great deal on a used etrac or t2 ltd with the 2 coils ??

 

[Big Fang Coin Biter]

Hello Hartage,
I watched both the videos you mentioned. To me the Minelab won out. The Technetics sounded well on the iron, that you did not hear in the ML video, but you were wanting the good target. I also noticed that the Technetics seemed to beep way off to the side from the target area. Not sure what that is about. Here is the deal with the two detectors... The T is faster recovery, but you have to swing it fast to acheive max depth. The ML will hit max depth at a very slow swing, but takes longer to recover. As far as masking, I would say once you learn a machine, then the masking will be at a minimum. IMHO though a slow swing that goes very deep will win over a very fast sweep to get the depth, especially when there is maskiing going on. I have used the Explorer for years. I tried an F75 LTD, but always felt like I would do better with the ML. Sold it after half a season trying to like it. As far as the ML being complicated, nothing is further from the truth. Once you do minimal set it up, it is a turn on an go machine.

You may not have picked it up, but folks were recommending the Explorer series over the Etrak.

Just my two cents... hope it helps, HH - Robin