How Many were ready to sell their Explorers after using it for a little while?

[Rick(ND)]

I ask this question to help some see they are not the only ones that wish they had never bought one after the first day or 2, but after using it for a while was glad they didn't sell it as it just takes a little while to understand it. I am sure there is some that tried it for a while and gave it a good work out and sold it too as it just wasn't for them.
I can honestly say I have seen more great finds and lots of them since the Explorer came out around here than I have in the last 20 years, so we know it works and may not for everyone. It also seems the Explorer is made for those that use a detector more than a couple hours a week too.

Rick

 

[Neil]

That would be me Rick

I did sell the first one and ended up rebuying one since I felt I didnt give it enough time. Im glad I did now.


Neil

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Heck my first time out in quick start got 6 wheaties a mercury dime and and a walking half from depths 6 to 10 inches from a worked out religious camp..Of course I had years of experience with other units and did my homework on an Explorer also.Blessed with good tone hearing and a 3 hour talk on the phone with a local guru after that my learning period was short.My problem was I had used a CZ for many years and just couldn't handle the weight and ergonomics of the Explorer XS...After switching back and forth and experimenting with swing variations, rod lengths and armrest positions over several years my arm or back problems along
with my CZ went..I have used XS models 11 models and perhaps someday an SE is in my future..I wish to thank Mitch Tippins from Treasureport for his input shortening my learning period...and although he no longer hunts wish him luck in his endeavors...

 

[Steve(MS)]

the 2nd time I took it out. I was overloaded with what it's language and to top it off I threw a dime on the ground and it would not signal on it but my old detector would. After the fact, I realized there was a large iron plate under the ground over the dime so it overloaded. After that I really started understanding it and went on to dig up many good finds other detectors I used missed.
The only way I would sell it now is if someone comes out with a detector that totally blows away all current top performers, which seems unlikely right now, even then I am not sure I would sell it, a lot of great memories.

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

Hey Rick,

I was just thinking that it has been some time since someone has come on the forums complaining up a storm that he must have a defective unit and the machine is all screwed up. Certainly has happened several times before. I think every time it has been the user and not the machine that had problems.

Everyone that has stuck with the machine has done well with it. Certainly see much more good finds posted on the explorer forum; perhaps more than all the other forums combined.

Most that do move on to another machine either don't have the patience to learn it- usually have too high of expectations about being able to program patterns and only dig good stuff, or have health issues that make swinging the explorer too much work.

My major complaint with the Explorer is in town performance around power lines. I'm almost considering trying a T-2 or maybe the F-75 for a back up. Seems like the there is alot of hype every time a new detector comes out, but then fizzles quickly. Explorer has certainly held up to the test of time, and the T-2 seems to be doing well.

Any thoughts? Also I better order one of those 8" concentric coils before the snow melts.

Chris

 

[Neil]

My number one complaint with the Explorer is the screen. I have such a hard time seeing it clearly. The best time for me to view it is on night hunts when I can have the backlight on and the screen is illuminated. I like the Xterra screen better.
Neil

 

[jeff & Maria]

n/t

 

[Clifford Powell]

I got back into this a little over a year ago by purchasing an Ace 250 just to see if I would like to get into the hobby again. While I had the Ace I read all of the forums on about all of the machines out there. Over and over I read where the EXP II was very good but was very hard to learn. Complaints about to many sounds, to many controls, etc. Well, I

 

[ellis]

hi rick,i bought one of the first ones out.i thought i was going to really tear it up when i got (it).boy was i surprised.after two trips out i sold it to a cousin of my detecting friend.went back (thats back,not forward}to my trusty sovxs.Jan.thisyear i went with that young manto a place where i've found many coins in the past.needless to say he came out with 100+ coins,ME-50.the moral to this story is that now i have a new se.brother it is tough but i'm determined to learn it.glad you asked.let an unbeliever go with someone that is experienced in the explorer and he won't be smilin' too big at end of hunt.my 3 pennies.thanks for reading and believe it cause it's true.:blush::blush::blush::blush:

 

[mattockman]

Going from a radio shack to an explorer was devastating..,,the wierd sounds it made freaked me out.There was no way I would be able to figure this out.I am so glad I stuck with it....it is the BEST! This forum help me so much so don't be afraid to ask questions cause these people will help you.Had I sold mine I would never know just how good it was.

 

[mattockman]

n/t

 

[Steve(MS)]

I think mine is set to 5. The key is in sunlight, the sinlight will saturate the screen if the screen contrast setting is too high, you need to go to a lower number. Also, I cut a piece of that very thin plastic notebook folder material a little less than the width of the top of the control housing. Then I used sticky backed velcro piece across the top of the control housing, then used the other mating velcro piece over it with the plastic material between it. Then you can slide the plastic piece back or forward as required to block the sun. These 2 little fixes really will help you see the screen in sunlight.

 

[diggingfix]

but i was finding silver so it must be working. Have seen one for sale that looked like it was wrapped around tree.

 

[Hotcz70]

...but not from being confused...I knew something just wasn't right. There were some small glitches with a few of the SE's when they first came out. It was documented in at least 2 or 3 cases...mine being one of them. I assure you in the 2 incidents I know of it was not user related..it was something with the machine. The screen split...numbers stuck...it was completely unstable no matter what the settings. I hunted with 2 other guys who each have the SE. Theirs were fine...but mine was completely unusable at the same settings in the exact same locations. I hunted just fine with both of their SE's but nobody could "settle" mine down. Minelab rectified the situation with a new unit in my case. In one of the other incidents that I know of there was an issue of screen tolerance levels not being as they should from what he posted. His unit had split screen issues like mine did. His said his unit was quickly fixed and returned as well. I have had no problems since and neither has he...that I know. As for what could be improved...honestly in my case like many others from the posts I see.... is that the screen is very hard to see and at times impossible to see no matter what the contrast level is set at.
I agree 100% about high expectations driving some users away. Many think they can just turn it on and go...which you can...but they probably aren't going to make the finds some of the more experienced users are.
Almost anyone can turn on the SE...go right to smartfind/conductive sounds and start finding keeper coin targets.
The problem is that many users want to experiment too much...too fast and get overwhelmed and frustrated...and THINK something is wrong with their machine when there isn't.
The EX...EX2...and SE are all great machines.

This forum is a great place for new users or experienced users. Their is a wealth of info available and what works for some may not work for others...but the info is here for all of us to do with as we wish.
Happy hunting everyone.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Heck a poor cold solder joint, diode or the like even new out of the box can drive one bonkers..I remember years ago bought a new top of the line unit that worked but not correctly so I had a experienced clubmember try it and it was off to the factory for evaluation and repair. Majority of the time its operator error or inexperience but yep units from all major brands do malfunction..Even a brand new one takes a beating in transit from dealer to consumer which usually is the problem as they are checked by the manufacturer when sent to the dealer...

 

[Knipper]

Not at all!

My first hunt was at a local worked out park just before the weather turned cold and snowy, so not much experience. I'd never used a Minelab before. The only machine I'd used with tones before that was the three tone Fisher CZ-6, and the multi-tones of the SE made me a little apprehensive. However I found a sterling ring 6" deep that sounded so loud I was surprised at the depth of the actual target. It was an Irish type ring with two hands clasping each other over a heart. All finding that ring did was make me wish I could continue to hunt instead of packing it up for the winter. I have high expectations for the SE this coming year...

Knipper

 

[keithinvestigations]

I'm at that point, I suck with it. Hopefully I will change my mind, ARGH!

 

[cosmic]

I'm thinking about it right now!! I have a new se that I've used a couple of month and lots of hours.. If you want to find nails and can fodder it can't be beat.. I know no machine is 100 pecent on identifing or discriminating.. I did expect much, much better than this.. Most say to lower the sensitivity..Isn't that defeating the purpose of having a deep machine? If you lower the sensitivity don't you also lose depth? Pinpointing is not a problem at all except on small items.. How accurate is the cursor and the numbers in pinpoint? I have many, many sweet sounding, great cursor placment, repeatable two ways and then in the pinpoit mode it read high ferrous.. I'm really beginning to beleive I made the wrong decision purchasing it.. Not close to the claims about it.. I do sweep extremely slow..

 

[Steve(MS)]

Try long audio and fast before you sell it. The long audio will give you a longer signal and help ID it better, at least that my opinion.

 

[goldenpulltab]

The explorers are hard to master thats for sure. Not an easy detector to use by any standards!