First Time ETRAC User - Advice Requested

[LostNowFound]

I'm new to metal detecting and I'm waiting for my ETRAC to arrive this week. Andy S. book will be arrive with the machine.

I reside in New Jersey, and will be hunting for coins. I have researched possible hunting sites online. I only have 8 hours of hunting experience with a Garrett ACE 350.

Any advice with regards to what settings I should start with when useing the ETRAC? I want to get out and hunt ASAP.

Thanks in advance for any experienced advice.

 

[NebTrac]

I love this type of question.

Why?

Because I was in the same boat as you, a little over a year ago. You're in for a treat and also are in a prime website, filled with great information and guys that aren't upset to answer the same question twice.

Let me tell you my experience when I started out, as it will be different than some of the advice you'll recieve. Primarily in the pattern department.

When I purchased my E-Trac, it was in Dec. of 09. I'd run my X-Terra 305 for about 50 hours. Made some decent finds and felt this was a great hobby. Now I'd wanted the E-Trac to begin with, but felt I should purchase (or my wife felt) a less-expensive machine. After one of the finds with the X-Terra, she "allowed" me the E-Trac. You'll have to go back and read my very first post to find that story.

So here I was with an E-Trac, Andy's book, and no way to dig for 3 months. I played with the signals in the house, I read, re-read, re-re-read Andy's Book. Played with the Emulator 'til I was blue. Now here is where my info for diverge from some.

I loaded Andy's Program up and have ran it since day one. Some say to load factory coins up, making sure to open up the spot for silver dollars. I won't tell you to do either, I'm just tellling you what I did.

Another thing I did for that first 50 hours, and still do is to dig a lot. Let you're machine tell you whats down there. Here's some things to think about, that I and others have learned.

* - The Pro-coil is an excellent match for the E-Trac. It will work wonders. The day is coming, but I've yet to get another coil.
* - Often times its the shallow targets 3" and less that frustrate you the most.
* - If you can, make a test garden and use it. I find this VERY helpful, especially when I want to change something to my settings and see how the machine responds.
* - Your ATTITUDE goes a long way to your success. Sitting for 3 months before digging, I determined not to get angry when "frustration" - By the way Phillipian 4:11 helps on that!

If you can watch a number of Youtube videos on the machine. This is one of the reasons I started filming. Not only to go back and replay it for my benefit, but for others to learn from my experience.

I would encourage you to at least watch Episode 2 (you'll see a newbie dig up rusted barbwire, I was still learning my machine), then go to Episode 9 has to do with listening to "Falsing" in Conductive tones. Episode 7 both Part 1 and Part 2 I think is a common park hunt where you're looking for deep old targets. We do some full digs on there, but more importantly you'll see why I run Andy's Program over the stock one.

A lot of the guys run the Two Tone Ferrous (TTF), and I do to in certain areas. Gaz and Goes4ever are the one's you'll want to go back and read their posts on that set up.

Keep any and all questions coming! Thanks for the verse!

NebTrac

 

[LostNowFound]

Thanks Neb Trac,

That was a excellent response.

 

[markg]

I just watched some of your video's and all I can say is wow.
I hope to have the Etrac soon.
I presently use the SE PRO.
Thanks again for the youtube video's.
mark


I got a sneak peak of the coin setup and I can see why it is so popular.

I love this type of question.

Why?

Because I was in the same boat as you, a little over a year ago. You're in for a treat and also are in a prime website, filled with great information and guys that aren't upset to answer the same question twice.

Let me tell you my experience when I started out, as it will be different than some of the advice you'll recieve. Primarily in the pattern department.

When I purchased my E-Trac, it was in Dec. of 09. I'd run my X-Terra 305 for about 50 hours. Made some decent finds and felt this was a great hobby. Now I'd wanted the E-Trac to begin with, but felt I should purchase (or my wife felt) a less-expensive machine. After one of the finds with the X-Terra, she "allowed" me the E-Trac. You'll have to go back and read my very first post to find that story.

So here I was with an E-Trac, Andy's book, and no way to dig for 3 months. I played with the signals in the house, I read, re-read, re-re-read Andy's Book. Played with the Emulator 'til I was blue. Now here is where my info for diverge from some.

I loaded Andy's Program up and have ran it since day one. Some say to load factory coins up, making sure to open up the spot for silver dollars. I won't tell you to do either, I'm just tellling you what I did.

Another thing I did for that first 50 hours, and still do is to dig a lot. Let you're machine tell you whats down there. Here's some things to think about, that I and others have learned.

* - The Pro-coil is an excellent match for the E-Trac. It will work wonders. The day is coming, but I've yet to get another coil.
* - Often times its the shallow targets 3" and less that frustrate you the most.
* - If you can, make a test garden and use it. I find this VERY helpful, especially when I want to change something to my settings and see how the machine responds.
* - Your ATTITUDE goes a long way to your success. Sitting for 3 months before digging, I determined not to get angry when "frustration" - By the way Phillipian 4:11 helps on that!

If you can watch a number of Youtube videos on the machine. This is one of the reasons I started filming. Not only to go back and replay it for my benefit, but for others to learn from my experience.

I would encourage you to at least watch Episode 2 (you'll see a newbie dig up rusted barbwire, I was still learning my machine), then go to Episode 9 has to do with listening to "Falsing" in Conductive tones. Episode 7 both Part 1 and Part 2 I think is a common park hunt where you're looking for deep old targets. We do some full digs on there, but more importantly you'll see why I run Andy's Program over the stock one.

A lot of the guys run the Two Tone Ferrous (TTF), and I do to in certain areas. Gaz and Goes4ever are the one's you'll want to go back and read their posts on that set up.

Keep any and all questions coming! Thanks for the verse!

NebTrac

 

[Bell-Two]

Neb-Trac is giving you solid advice, I followed a similar course with exception I used the stock coin program at first. I now switch programs, as the ground and circumstances dictates. I use Andy's program, plus one my hunting partner Doug devised along with a couple of my own and also use Goes4ever's version of Two Tone Ferrous (see my post today on Buffalo Nickle) Whatever program you start with...stick with it for awhile...if you keep changing it all the time you will not learn as fast. Do not be afraid of digging junk...that is a good way to learn. Ask questions on this forum, try to find another E-Trac user to hunt with that is willing to help you...join a local club if there is one near you...if not start one. I found I got more out of Andy's book after I had about 50 hours on the E-Trac, for things he is telling you make more sense after experiencing them.