How many of you still use your Explorer?

[Kapok]

How many of you on this forum really still use your Explorer, or have you moved on to the E-Trac and are just here to answer questions (which I really appreciate, by the way). If you're sticking with the Explorer in favor of the E-Trac, why? The reason I'm asking is that I am in the first month of using my Explorer and am starting to see its capabilities. But would it be better to upgrade to the E-Trac now or spend the rest of the season learning the Explorer and then make the jump? Or is it better to stick with the Explorer altogether?

 

[Explorer.se]

I have both I started out with the Explorer SE Pro and I wanted to see for myself what the E trac was all about. In the beginning when the E trac was first made, I always thought that it was a type of detector that I would not be interested in because the fact that you could connect it to the computer "never interested me at all" because I thought that that would detract from the power that I was looking for in a machine but I was wrong especially when I started to watch a bunch of YouTube videos. I am proud to say I have one and I really like it. I like it because it is a very powerful machine and when I get a chance I want to pit each machine against each other. I like the E trac because it gives me better pinpointing accuracy which is very important to me when detecting. I like the fact that you can see where the E trac thinks at what frequency you should be operating in that particular site for you to be more successful at. I love the raw power of the Explorer SE Pro because it is a third generation machine so to me a lot of stock went into machine to make it better. And it is an awesome machine. The reason why I bought the E trac also was that I never owned two machines at one time and I felt it was about time that I had two, just in case one machine broke down then I would have the other. I still have a lot of metal detecting in me and never want to be without a machine.

I have to admit I have been using my E trac more because it is the latest addition to my arsenal and I need to get to know it better to see its capabilities. I am leaning more towards the E trac to being my everyday detector and I have been using the stock coil because I believe it gives me better pinpointing accuracy versus the Ultimate and the Nel loops that I have. I still have to sort through both machines and it will take me little while since I just bought the E trac in February of this year. Ive had the Explorer since 2009.

I need to go head to head w both detectors but it is hard to at this time because I am enjoying the E trac so much that I cant put it down now lol! I don't know if I helped but this is how I feel.

I have been pulling more "keepers" with the Etrac because I opt not to dig clad coins. I seem to dig more clad with the Explorer. I'm still trying to figure out why maybe because of the pinpointing accuracy of the E trac is better for me than the explorer? This is one thing that I do like because for me time is of the essence. I am limited with how much detecting I can do and all I am really interested in are old coins.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

I have owned the Explorer, Explorer II, Explorer SE, Explorer SE Pro, E-Trac, and CTX. I went back to Explorer SE Pro. The E-Trac was a step down from an Explorer SE Pro for me. I lost vital target information, low conductive targets are so bunched together vs spread out on the Explorer that I could no longer call my shot on gold. If you hunt gold especially on the beach this really sucks. Look how much of the screen on an E-Trac is wasted.

The CTX is a different animal, it proved too heavy for beach hunting for me. Beyond that I didn't spent enough time with the machine to comment on performance vs Explorer but have been told its pretty much an E-Trac technology wise.

If I were looking for a machine to pair/compliment the Explorer SE Pro, it would be a PI (pulse induction) machine. They go deep as hell and ignore soil mineralization like its not even there that would challenge the Explorer. The down side to PI's is they have at best mediocre iron discrimination.

 

[IDXMonster]

Excellent reply above. I had my EX2 out just this morning before work and put it away after 10 min. I've become SO accustomed to the CTX and it's ID accuracy that I think my EX2 will likely be up for sale soon. Proceeds will go to a backup CTX or perhaps eTrac.

 

[Kapok]

In my situation, I almost exclusively hunt for old coins, tokens, and other period pieces on sites with infestations of ferrous trash. Gold coins would be so much of a rarity for me, it's not much of a concern. And I'm really not into jewelry. So am wondering if the ETrac would be smoother and easier to operate in these conditions. Again, I can commit to learning the Explorer SE if it's close or better option.

 

[BigTony]

I am stuck on the Explorer II, I love the sounds it makes and know where most coins and jewelry hit; with the exception of Indian Heads (even after reading posts on this site, I can't get them down).
I do read Etrac and CTX forums to try to understand about those machines.

 

[DougF]

I'm cheap, can't see spending $2500 for a machine when the Explorer is finding good stuff. Also I live in a Piedmont area where the soil is rocky and the topsoil layer is thin, unless you're in a river bottom. I don't believe stuff gets as deep as in areas with deeper top soil.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

In my situation, I almost exclusively hunt for old coins, tokens, and other period pieces on sites with infestations of ferrous trash. Gold coins would be so much of a rarity for me, it's not much of a concern. And I'm really not into jewelry. So am wondering if the ETrac would be smoother and easier to operate in these conditions. Again, I can commit to learning the Explorer SE if it's close or better option.

Lets say you are hunting a real trash heap with both iron and non-ferrous trash in abundance you have to decide if you are hunting for the deepest targets at the limits of the machine or targets that are just hiding in the iron and trash but at more reasonable depths. Your machine setup and even machine choice Explorer vs Etrac may be different.

If I were hunting a real trash heap and I thought most good coins were at a depth easily reached by a Minelab, say up to 6 inches I'd setup for target separation vs depth. Probably a Minelab 8 inch coil so I could in/round the iron and trash close enough to get a hit on a coin that's been hiding from larger coils in the shadow of iron/trash.

So two different types of hunting really deep vs trash. And now we get to your question Explorer vs Etrac. Both machines will be accurate up to 6 inches and for a trash heap the Etrac might be a better choice for someone new to Minelab machines, so long as the Etrac is programmed properly. That's one of my big issues with the Etrac, when in the field I have a solid screaming signal on a target and the Etrac can't even get a hit on it I think wow what the hell. Once I found the target for the Etrac user, and they were able to sweep it while reprogramming their machine, eventually the Etrac hit as solid as my Explorer SE Pro, but what if I hadn't been there to find the target for them? The guy would have gone on hunting not knowing his Etrac setup was whacky and not performing. You can't really program an Explorer wrong, setup is simple for max performance.

As for gold and jewelry...I have dug over $20,000 in gold and silver jewelry. Plus beach goers replenish the gold and silver daily.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

n/t

 

[tiftaaft]

How many of you on this forum really still use your Explorer, or have you moved on to the E-Trac and are just here to answer questions (which I really appreciate, by the way). If you're sticking with the Explorer in favor of the E-Trac, why? The reason I'm asking is that I am in the first month of using my Explorer and am starting to see its capabilities. But would it be better to upgrade to the E-Trac now or spend the rest of the season learning the Explorer and then make the jump? Or is it better to stick with the Explorer altogether?

Kapok,

I started with the Etrac, then moved to the CTX fairly shortly following that... hoping to take advantage of the improved target separation in my difficult soil here in the NW. But found that a few area Etrac users that went on to the CTX, went back to the Etrac. So I had been toying with that idea... no question the tones are sweeter on the high tones with the Etrac, and honestly, the CTX isn't any deeper in my hunting. I used the CTX hard for a period of 8 months and just recently decided to throw all conventional wisdom into the air and bought a SE Pro after discussing the pro's and con's with several of the minelab vets (specifically Charles, but many others have helped me along the path as well). Something about the way the Explorer sets up, and delivers it's feedback to me just connected. And I have to say (originally swinging an AT Pro) the Etrac and CTX also were much more to my brain/ear's liking than the Garrett's... that is just a personal preference... the AT Pro and other machines are great machines too... I just meshed with the minelab setup better. And the Etrac with it's sweet tones, and the CTX with it's combined mode and tone bins have their strengths... but the CTX always felt like work... tweaking here, listening for something there, tweaking again... I don't mind putting in the work, but I was quickly losing the joy in my hunts... less the case with the Etrac, but still is a machine that lends itself to second guessing your pattern and setup choices... which isn't necessarily a bad thing.... but then came the SE Pro. Issued at the same time as the Etrac, but with an S curve and opposite axis for CO/FE. My joy has returned. . Part of the joy is in my best finds since I started hunting (my first two indian heads, and a 1 ct. diamond ring, a silver ring and a silver brooch topping the list, but also a handful of Wheaties and plenty of clad), but part of the joy is the simplicity of the setup and then just training your brain/ear to hear and see the good targets. So... Yes, I still use my Explorer... even though I only received it about a month ago. I recently took the CTX out to the beach to hunt, and will most likely switch between the two depending on my land/water hunting needs... I think it is a great combo.

Tim.

 

[diggervance]

Hello all,

Today will be 9 weeks that I sent my E trac into Kellyco to get fixed. So well that has been in the shop I have been using my XS.

I guess I have forgot what a great detector this really is. The depth of the finds still amazes me.

Been hunting a hunted school the last two hunts and have pulled

2 buffs 16,18
36 merc in a hole with a nail
12 d v nickel
3 tokens dating back to the late 1800
and wheat pennies dating back to 1909.
The depths of these coins are at 8 1/2 to 10 inches and this is no joke with the stock coil.

I will post pictures this weekend there is a picture on the e trac forum .
Makes me wonder why I have ever given up on this detector.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Hello all,

Today will be 9 weeks that I sent my E trac into Kellyco to get fixed. So well that has been in the shop I have been using my XS.

I guess I have forgot what a great detector this really is. The depth of the finds still amazes me.

Been hunting a hunted school the last two hunts and have pulled

2 buffs 16,18
36 merc in a hole with a nail
12 d v nickel
3 tokens dating back to the late 1800
and wheat pennies dating back to 1909.
The depths of these coins are at 8 1/2 to 10 inches and this is no joke with the stock coil.

I will post pictures this weekend there is a picture on the e trac forum .
Makes me wonder why I have ever given up on this detector.

Hey diggervance, it doesn't surprise me at all.
My XS can easily hit a 10" wheatie with the stock coil. I still use my XS along with my SE Pro.
When I'm swinging the XS, when I hear that deepie, it is such a sweet sound. It is more of a
hushed sound but once you hear it you never forget it. I'm sure if I upped my gain way past 7 it would be a lot more pronounced.
It is still reporting a hit on the smart screen but, like I say, it is a very sweet, hushed kind of tone. It's not a bell like tone at all.
If I had to sell all my detectors and keep only one, believe it or not, I'd keep the XS.
I have yet to hear a real deepie with the SE Pro. But if I did, I'd know it was a good thing to dig.

I first started detecting using the XS when they first came out.
I was at a park and just wondered what that hushed sound was, so I dug it. To my surprise it was a deep wheat. From them on,
in that park, I dug many many deep wheats.

 

[diggervance]

Hey Tony,

You hit the nail right on the head with that hush sound. I have been trying to explain it to my hunting buddies and your explanation is right on,
Heading back to the park now I will keep you posted.

D,V,

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Hey Tony,

You hit the nail right on the head with that hush sound. I have been trying to explain it to my hunting buddies and your explanation is right on,
Heading back to the park now I will keep you posted.

D,V,

Sometimes, D.V. you just have to take them to a test garden and let them hear what it sounds like.
Let us know what you find. Maybe someday I'll make a sound file of a deep coin.

 

[Ed (Upstate NY)]

I bought an AT Pro 3 years ago and have used it three times. I still use my SE Pro all the time. Nothing can beat it !

 

[5900_XL-1]

I bought into an Se Pro middle of last year and use it all the time. Recently bought an Etrac for a backup. The SE gets the nod before the Etrac. Love that deep silver tone.

 

[JJ]

Sold my Exp II for a Ctx, have a few years under my belt now. I often miss the days of a super deep unquestionable signal, comparing it to my buddies machine, debating whether its a seated or barber just by the sound, those days are long gone. I still hit deepies but miss the confidence i had with an Explorer

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Sold my Exp II for a Ctx, have a few years under my belt now. I often miss the days of a super deep unquestionable signal, comparing it to my buddies machine, debating whether its a seated or barber just by the sound, those days are long gone. I still hit deepies but miss the confidence i had with an Explorer

I've only found two barber dimes since I've been detecting (about 18 years with Minelab starting with the XS) . Never found a seated anything. So I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Found an 1804 half penny, which to my knowledge is the oldest coin I've found so far. I don't count old large coppers that were so warn there are no identifying features on them.

Could you tell the difference between a seated and a barber by the digital numbers of Co/Fe?

I know it is very easy to tell a clad dime/quarter from a silver dime/quarter by Co/Fe numbers.

So what is the difference between the Ctx and Explorer? Is the Ctx better in iron than the Explorer?

 

[Nuke em]

I have been using my Explorer 11 for quite a while now . My E.Trac is back in its box and clean as new .
Its a fine machine but i just like using my E 11 , i like the tones which seem higher pitched than the ET , i use the Gray Ghost headphones and they are perfect with the E 11 .
I will be running my E 11 for all this year at least .
Cant beat the FBS on the beach .
One thing for sure it is as good as the CTX or ET though those machines do have better target info numbers wise .
I will never go back to the CTX which i sold around 1 year after buying it on the day it was released , i class that a backward step .

 

[kingingkunsan]

I do sort of. It is in storage while I am in South Korea for a year. When I return I plan on upgrading to the E-trac. I have had the EXII for about 14 years and it has a few minor issues. I will keep the EXII as a back up.