Got mine today

[Larry (IL)]

thanks to service above and beyond by Richard at Backwoods...... Thanks Richard.

I took it out to a test park that I test all new detectors at or when I'm just fiddling with adjustments or brand comparisons. I fired it up and started hunting in coins mode just to get the feel for it and at times I am lucky to pick up some clad let alone an old deep coin but after an hour a faint but solid 10-35 showed up and read 7 inches. That is a digger in my book and out pops a 1878 Indian Head right at 7 inches. Needless to say, I was pretty impressed with the performance right out of the box and I haven't even started tweaking it yet.

The weight was no problem for me and the balance was perfect as well, I am used to an SE with the X-1 and the aftermarket 12X10, so I'm actually hunting lighter than what I normally do. The only complaint I have right now is the screen is very good in the sun but when I got in the shade it became very hard to read, not impossible though after twisting the wrist just right to get the right angle, no sunglasses either.

I have a keeper in the CTX.....very impressed.

 

[bcoop]

Thanks for the Info Larry, I think we all will be impressed

BCOOP

 

[D&P-OR]

Thanks for the info Larry.----Did you try turning the back light on?----It was mentioned that helped with screen visibility on the CTX.

 

[pspr]

From the reports everyone is posting it seems the CTX 3030 is leaps and bounds ahead of everything else for trashy sites. I hope it turns out that way for me, too, when mine arrives. I've struggled with the discrimination with my explorer xs.

 

[etracjoe]

Glad to hear the CTX is what you hoped for!! Thanks for the info Larry. HH Joe

 

[Larry (IL)]

I just found the backlight settings going through the menus, I think that will fix the visibility problem in the shade, thanks.

 

[Digger]

Congrats on the 78 IH. Pulling out a 130+ year-old coin is a great way to break in the new detector. The backlight adjustment goes from a low of 1 to a high of 10. I've found that 4 is plenty of light for the shade, and helps to "overcome" most of the glare in the daylight. Thanks for the post. HH Randy

 

[pspr]

Congrats on the 78 IH. Pulling out a 130+ year-old coin is a great way to break in the new detector. The backlight adjustment goes from a low of 1 to a high of 10. I've found that 4 is plenty of light for the shade, and helps to "overcome" most of the glare in the daylight. Thanks for the post. HH Randy

What effect does having the backlight on all the time on the battery. The stated battery life if 14 hours, I think. Does running the backlight degrade that number much?

 

[Digger]

The manual says the backlight increases the power consumption by 8%. Regardless, I run the backlight on setting 4 all the time. Like I've mentioned, I wear my shades all the time and the backlight made the display easier for me to see in the sun and in the shade. I typically hunt 4 - 8 hours per day and rechage it every-other day. I saw the battery indicator go orange several times (40%). But I only ran it "out" on one or two occassions. Then it was just a matter of popping in the AA pack to finish the day. HH Randy

 

[sopg1155]

I should be getting my new CTX from Richard in the next day or so and can hardly wait.
Congrats on the IH Larry. I should hope that I get to my old spots before another guy
with a CTX does. Gary

 

[earthmansurfer]

Congrats Larry. As I said on another thread, I'm hoping the CTX does some good unmasking like the machine I returned it for (that fast one ;-) Same depth as my E-Trac but I'm hoping to ID things a bit deeper in my somewhat iron mineralized ground - fingers crossed.

The default switch for the backlight is the user button, so it should be quick and easy to test. Also, there isn't a contrast button that I can find BUT you can control the brightness of the screen. Probably can get it just right with those two. With the V3i it was a HUGE help to put on a thick cell phone anti glare screen. The one I had had noticeable ridges in it and didn't impact the view but it lowered glare A LOT.

Nice finds and great you pulled them from where you did - confidence builder!

Next few weeks should be interesting as these first reports start to roll out. Hope to have one soon.

Albert