How many still use their Explorer XS?

[Tim IN/ IronBrigade]

n/t

 

[UtahRich]

I joined the ranks of the Explorer XS back in 2000 and used that detector for a decade before moving to the etrac. What a pair of great detectors.

I will always have fond memories of the Explorer XS.


Rich (Utah)

Did you jump from your XS to the etrac? Or did you use an SE prior to the etrac? And if so, have you noticed better detecting with the etrac?

I went straight from the XS to the etrac.

Differences? Grip angle was the first thing I noticed. Etrac grip angle feels better to me. It was nice to have 1/4" headphone jack. The S line changing to the 12 line was a pretty simple conversion although it did take a bit of mental gymnastics to flip the screens in my mind. For example rusty bottle caps went from lower right edge to left upper edge. I had areas of the XS screen where certain items would appear. It is the same for the etrac. Just needed to learn the new areas. I look at the S line and the 12 line as the center area of a band my good items usually fall into. There was a certain quality to the Explorer audio that didn't quite make it to the etrac. And I hear even more so with the CTX. That said, I do like the familiarity of the explorer series audio, it is very telling of what is happening under the coil.

If the explorer series has stopped with the XS I would still be swinging one. I did well with my XS and do well with the etrac so I have no complaints.

Rich

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

I joined the ranks of the Explorer XS back in 2000 and used that detector for a decade before moving to the etrac. What a pair of great detectors.

I will always have fond memories of the Explorer XS.


Rich (Utah)

Did you jump from your XS to the etrac? Or did you use an SE prior to the etrac? And if so, have you noticed better detecting with the etrac?

I went straight from the XS to the etrac.

Differences? Grip angle was the first thing I noticed. Etrac grip angle feels better to me. It was nice to have 1/4" headphone jack. The S line changing to the 12 line was a pretty simple conversion although it did take a bit of mental gymnastics to flip the screens in my mind. For example rusty bottle caps went from lower right edge to left upper edge. I had areas of the XS screen where certain items would appear. It is the same for the etrac. Just needed to learn the new areas. I look at the S line and the 12 line as the center area of a band my good items usually fall into. There was a certain quality to the Explorer audio that didn't quite make it to the etrac. And I hear even more so with the CTX. That said, I do like the familiarity of the explorer series audio, it is very telling of what is happening under the coil.

If the explorer series has stopped with the XS I would still be swinging one. I did well with my XS and do well with the etrac so I have no complaints.

Rich

Thanks, Rich.
Having used both detectors, have you ever compared deep in-ground targets with both XS and ET? In other words, if you have a coin garden, have you compared the two on your deepest coin? And if so, are they both comparable?

 

[UtahRich]

Having used both detectors, have you ever compared deep in-ground targets with both XS and ET? In other words, if you have a coin garden, have you compared the two on your deepest coin? And if so, are they both comparable?

I didn't have them at the same time. Sold my XS when I stepped into the etrac so I never made a direct comparison between the two over the same targets.


Rich -

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

There just is nothing like the sweet sounds of the XS model.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

I predict a WOT coil is in my near future, first I have to machine and assemble the Explorer SE Pro Ultralight. The carbon fiber tubing is inbound, coil connectors have landed.

How much lighter is your carbon fiber tubing compared to the Explorer SE Pro carbon fiber? At least I thought my rod was carbon fiber.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

I predict a WOT coil is in my near future, first I have to machine and assemble the Explorer SE Pro Ultralight. The carbon fiber tubing is inbound, coil connectors have landed.

How much lighter is your carbon fiber tubing compared to the Explorer SE Pro carbon fiber? At least I thought my rod was carbon fiber.

Minelab put a giant heavy plastic end on their carbon fiber lower rod, I want to avoid that so mine is lighter. I can think of two reasons why they did this, either to guard against ware and tare of the carbon fiber rod, that lower ABS plastic end is rugged, ABS is tuff stuff, carbon fiber tubing not so much. OR they needed to put a few inches between the carbon fiber tube which is detectable and the coil. Worse case mine will be a bit lighter than ML's, possibly much lighter if I can extend the carbon fiber further towards the coil than they did.

 

[Ed (Upstate NY)]

My poor XS has been sitting in a corner, unused for many, many years now. I should fire her up for old times sake ! I'll never get rid of her.....

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

My poor XS has been sitting in a corner, unused for many, many years now. I should fire her up for old times sake ! I'll never get rid of her.....

I could never get rid of my XS. I learned detecting on that when they came out. I'm sooooo glad the detecting shop told me this is what I need. I've found lots of good and very deep goodies with mine.
I now have an SE Pro but I have not yet found any super deep coins yet like I used to the the XS with the stock coil. Can't wait till I get that deepie.
I just about a month or so ago, got my XS back from England for a new face.

 

[chamak]

Still use mine the odd time here in Ireland. Have the WOT coil too.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Still use mine the odd time here in Ireland. Have the WOT coil too.

Yes, I too have the WOT coil.
Interesting how my finds fell off when going from the XS to the SE. The verdict is still out on the SE PRO I got to replace the SE.
I am now waiting form an E-trac to come in. Will see if my finds increase again.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

You mention the 'S' line and '12' line. What are those?
Tony

I joined the ranks of the Explorer XS back in 2000 and used that detector for a decade before moving to the etrac. What a pair of great detectors.

I will always have fond memories of the Explorer XS.


Rich (Utah)

Did you jump from your XS to the etrac? Or did you use an SE prior to the etrac? And if so, have you noticed better detecting with the etrac?

I went straight from the XS to the etrac.

Differences? Grip angle was the first thing I noticed. Etrac grip angle feels better to me. It was nice to have 1/4" headphone jack. The S line changing to the 12 line was a pretty simple conversion although it did take a bit of mental gymnastics to flip the screens in my mind. For example rusty bottle caps went from lower right edge to left upper edge. I had areas of the XS screen where certain items would appear. It is the same for the etrac. Just needed to learn the new areas. I look at the S line and the 12 line as the center area of a band my good items usually fall into. There was a certain quality to the Explorer audio that didn't quite make it to the etrac. And I hear even more so with the CTX. That said, I do like the familiarity of the explorer series audio, it is very telling of what is happening under the coil.

If the explorer series has stopped with the XS I would still be swinging one. I did well with my XS and do well with the etrac so I have no complaints.

Rich

 

[tiftaaft]

Tony, Volumes can be written (and have been written) on that question. The bottom line is the etrac and ctx both have switched the conductive and ferrous axis compared to the explorer... so the conductive scale runs left to right and the ferrous scale runs top to bottom on the etrac/ctx. AND, the etrac and ctx try to push all desirable targets to the "12" ferrous line. so a pure target would be 12 Fe / 47 Co as an example, and all in a line from left to right (in a perfect environment). As you know, the explorer places desirable targets top to bottom, and along an S shaped line where the pure target would be in the upper right corner.

https://www.minelab.com/__files/i/295716/FE%20CO%20curve.PNG

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p557/Johnnyanglo/CTX-3030/CTX%20-%20E-TRAC%20Ring%20amp%20Jewelry%20Plots.jpg

Hope that helps clarify a little.
Tim.

 

[UtahRich]

You mention the 'S' line and '12' line. What are those?
Tony

Hey Tony,

Tiftaaft has a couple really good diagrams above that show the difference between the two displays. As I understand it, the Minelab engineers changed the display algorithm which effectively rearranged where items showed up on the visual display. Some say they dumbed it down, others say it was simplified. Whatever. For me the Explorer/Etrac series is pretty amazing. I've been impressed with the number of GOOD targets I've found that were co-located with rusty iron of many types.

This off season, if you are bored, go back thru the posts and you can read the discussions on each of the models from the X and XS to the Explorer II, the SE and SE Pro and the Etrac. There are hard core proponents of each. I"ve not used the CTX-3030 but many say it is a different beast than the above. Maybe some that have been down the 3030 road can chirp in here.

As I've said before, if the powers that be took away my etrac and handed me an XS, I'd be just fine.


Rich (Utah)