If a Safari is a simplified Etrac, then why buy the Etrac?

[Cal_Cobra]

Eventually I plan to buy either an Etrac or a Safari, but this question has been on my mind for a while.

Does the Safari get the same depth as the Etrac? What would you loose by going with the Safari vs the Etrac? Do the audio tones sound the same on both machines?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Mark ( ohio )]

updated version of the quatro... It certainly has alot less bells and whistles then the e-trac...for that matter, alot less then even my old explorer xs which I recently sold... I'm hoping the performance of the safari will be the equal of the explorer since both are fbs tech.. I won't know that for many weeks too come, I still have a bunch of snow on the ground..gonna take some time to melt.. I think the new pro-coil on the safari ( and others ) will be a plus on hunting for deep targets.

Time will tell... Good luck on your choice

Mark ( ohio )

 

[Dan-o]

Some will say the safari gets the same depth as the etrac and some will say not. I think for most users it will get more than enough depth. I have been finding pennies and dimes at 8 inches easy. But the etrac has a lot more to offer than maybe a little more depth. The guy I hunt with uses an etrac and he tell quarters from dimes from pennies. He can silver from clad. The etrac's abiltiy to id targets is far superior to the safari. For the average coin hunter like myself, the safari is an awesome machine. I love mine. If I could have afforded an etrac I would have gone that route, but I got a hellava deal on a used safari and I am 100% satisfied with it. I think the audio sounds in conductive are similar. Check out mlotv.com and look up safari and there is a video on the sounds the safari makes. Must be something for the etrac as well.
I have only had mine for 4 weeks or so and have made some really good finds at a park. 8pcs of silver, 2 civil war era buttons, lots of wheaties, 3 buffalo nickels etc...
But I say, if you can afford an etrac, you won't regret spending the extra money.

Dan C

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

The Safari is a great machine. After thinking about it for a month I sold my Safari and got an E-Trac.
The decided to go to the ET because of the faster processor, FE & CON dual target ID's and the fact that it has a Lighted Display.
If you don't want to have pack up when it gets dark out - the lighted display is a great feature to have - night hunting's a lot of fun !

The E-Trac is 5 oz. heavier than the Safari - but because of the 15 degree ( I believe ) angle change ( more vertical ) of the handle - it's much easier to swing for long periods than the Safari.
I had to take a break after using the Safari for 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. - sore shoulder, arms, etc. I can go 3 to 4 hrs. straight with the E-Trac - no problem - no hype - just the facts.

As far as depth goes - from everything I've read - it's pretty close. But you can do more fine tuning with the ET - and this could result in a deeper finds.

The bottom line is their both great machine's - I personally think that even though the ET is a lot more expensive - it's worth it.
Also, if you get a Safari, Explorer or an E-Trac- be sure to get a copy of Andy's book - you'll learn a lot about these machines that isn't in the factory manual.

Good Luck !

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Thanks everyone for your information. It sounds like if ones on a budget then go for the Safari, but if one can spring for the ET then that's the way to go, which will be exactly what I'll do when I get there

Thanks again, and HH,
Brian

 

[synthnut]

I have a Safari , and my buddy uses an Etrac ....We hunted yesterday 3/27 and while I was getting my targets , my buddy was getting coins deeper , and they were repeatable tones ....I brought my Safari over to some of his findings before he dug them, and I would get a "scatchy" tone in one direction, and in a lot of cases was NOT repeatable , so that would have been a targe that I would have passed by .....He did not , and out came Silver !!!.....I made as many adjustments to my Safari as I could , but it could not compare to the Etrac after a certain depth ....The fact that he can get both Ferrous and Conductive numbers at the same time is a big issue to when I.D.ing targets .... I would LOVE to have both numbers rather than have the icon's which don't help me much at all ... If I could turn them off in Conductivity mode to conserve the battery , I would ..... My thoughts are that for the average user, the Safari is a great machine, but for that added assurance and depth that the Etrac gives , it's TOTALLY worth the extra money ....Again, for your average hunting , the Safari is a great machine,, but for those DEEP targets , the Etrac get's my vote ....Jim

 

[Dan-o]

I would LOVE to have both numbers rather than have the icon's which don't help me much at all ... If I could turn them off in Conductivity mode to conserve the battery , I would .....

Jim, you can get rid of the icons and still use conductivity sounds.
1. Open either your Coin mode, or your Coin & Jewelry Mode.
2. Adjust your discrimination pattern.
3. Press and hold either your Relic mode or your All Metal Mode and save the pattern.
4. Now you will have Conductivity Sounds without Icons.

Dan C

 

[synthnut]

Dan.
Thanks for your reply ....Yes, I am aware of the fact that I can do that on my own mode settings ....I was basically saying that I wish I had a toggle on ALL the programs in the Conductive Mode to either "Icons" or "No Icons" ......Something already built into the software ..... Instead of icons, I would more like to see the 2 numbers (Conductivity and Ferrous ) like you can with the E Trac where they come up at the same time . ..... Actually , what it really boils down to is that I will probably end up buying an E Trac ..... It's a very well layed out machine with a lot of power, and I don't mind doing a bit of programing to get great results .... Not to say that the Safari is not a powerful machine....The Safari is a very simple machine with a lot of power ...... I'm still pullin some nice finds out of the ground with my Safari .....I got my first Silver, and 1898 Barber dime !!..... It was a THRILL to say the least !!.... I DO know that I can go that one step beyond with an E Trac .... It's one thing to read about the difference , but when you are right there looking at the difference, it make you think !!....Again, you are talking a lot more money here too !!.... For the majority of people , the Safari is even more machine than they need ... I've learned with a LOT of my toys like motorcycles , cars , guitars. keyboards, fishing gear , etc ( yes I'm a toy junkie ) that you can purchase really nice items for a price, but if you want the best , the best might only be 10% better , but you will pay 30% or more in price for that 10% icing on the cake !!......Thanks again for your reply ....Jim

 

[EZrider]

The one thing money can't buy. That's experiance and time in the field. Is the Safari the same as an ETrac? No but it is capable.