As a etrac user and someone who has watched the posts/finds when the etrac 1st came out and now watching the ctx posts/finds, has the ctx lived up to your expectations? I no its been very dry in about half the country and maybe that has alot to do with less finds/hunting happening ( drought here and haven't detected in almost 2 months). Good luck HH.
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Is the ctx3030 as good as you thought it would be?
- Thread starter mike4663
- Start date
Fire Fighter 43
Member
It has more than met my expectations. In my opinion it is deeper and separates better than the Etrac. I feel I have not even pushed it to its potential because I'm still learning. Im so confident that it will out preform the Etrac that I sold the Etrac and the Excal.
mtwolf2270
Member
I also got mine when it first was released and I can honestly say yes it was worth every penny. I too am still learning it but I know my greatest finds are coming I have never been happier with a purchase in my life.
Jason in TN
New member
Have not got to hunt with mine as much as I would like. About 30 some hours I was impressed with the ID at depth and the balance is not too bad. I do think it is a good detector. I think it may be over priced a bit but most minelab detectors are. I think it is probably the best ID detector out right now though.
Jason
Jason
Silvermaster
New member
Well I'm dissatisfied with the quality of the screen and the ctx is horrible at pinpointing targets.
Maybe just me but I ran a e-trac and v3i for years with few problems.
Overall I believe the machine will operate on par with the etrac as far as depth but at twice the price .
In my opinion if you already own a etrac save your money because I don't see a big advantage of a ctx over a etrac.
Just my opinion I know there are many!
Maybe just me but I ran a e-trac and v3i for years with few problems.
Overall I believe the machine will operate on par with the etrac as far as depth but at twice the price .
In my opinion if you already own a etrac save your money because I don't see a big advantage of a ctx over a etrac.
Just my opinion I know there are many!
Jason in TN
New member
Silvermaster said:
I do think it is better than a Etrac in finding good targets in trash. Balance much better for me the Etrac was just uncomfortable for me to hunt with. Depth not sure do not think it is a lot deeper. If you have a Etrac and enjoy it I am with you on the price difference not sure it is worth the upgrade. Only if maybe you are going to do a good bit of water hunting.
Jason
The CTX has found targets my E-Trac could not find in a couple of parks that are trashy. Depth seems to be close but the CTX locks on at depth with much better TID. Not near as many iffy targets compared with my E-Trac. The CTX in auto +3 is much better. Combined audio and ferrous coin on the CTX is much better than TTF on the E-Trac with hardly any noise. But they are two different machines. I thought I was getting a waterproof E-Trac when I got the CTX and that is not the case. I have a lot of learning to do with the CTX and the only thing that can come close to compare with is the E-Trac but they are two very different machines. I use golf tees to mark targets found with each machine then go back with the other machine and the E-Trac has not found a target the CTX can not nail. The CTX has found several the E-Trac just can't get. Now I agree this is not much of a test because you know a target is under the golf tee that has already been found. But it is a way to compare and make your own mind up. Kind of like comparing T-Bone to Rib-Eye they are both good but I prefer T-Bone. HH 
greenmeanie
Active member
I personally don't like the targeting on the screen of coins.
I penny/dime/quarter are grouped to close together to tell what they are and it ID's to jumpy to be sure what it is just like my V3 did.
Pinpointing I am still not sold on I am still trying to see maybe if they are coins on edge kicking targets to the sides.
Other than that It is fine for me and I love the threshold compared the the BBS machines.
But would I buy it again probably not. But I am also not mad that I own it either.
I penny/dime/quarter are grouped to close together to tell what they are and it ID's to jumpy to be sure what it is just like my V3 did.
Pinpointing I am still not sold on I am still trying to see maybe if they are coins on edge kicking targets to the sides.
Other than that It is fine for me and I love the threshold compared the the BBS machines.
But would I buy it again probably not. But I am also not mad that I own it either.
mine PP's like a lazer,,,,, very easy to swing,,,, solidly hits on coins, even in iron and thru a null, I feel like I am getting very good coverage when out hunting,,,,, when the rain comes I can hunt worry free (my favorite time of the year), and the wireless is sweet,,,, VERY hapy to have my CTX,,,,, dun even miss the Etrac even a little at this point,,,,HH !!!
Silvermaster said:
Couldn't disagree more. I loved my ETRAC, but it can't compare to the CTX. I ran the CTX over the same spots I hunted with the ETRAC which are VERY trashy, and the CTX with the faster processor was able to lock onto targets better at depth, so all those "iffy" targets we former ETRAC users saw as trash, now are solid numbers with the CTX. I'm by no means a CTX fanboy all of a sudden, but I can see the difference every time I hunt, and my recent results have been nothing short of spectacular. I lost count of how many "Firsts" I've had just this month alone. Is it better? By a long shot. My .02 /End
I don't have a etrac but i do have a exp2 and the ctx has got coins the explorer missed indians at 3 to 4 inches that had nothing at all by them no reason for the exp2 not to hit on them but the ctx found them why i don't know. Something else going on with this detector now only if i had a 6 inch coil.
Gonehunting
New member
I got mine and after I had figured it out(about a week and a half) I sold my E-Trac..
I was not impressed with the Sovereign when I first got it, nor the Explorer XS, really like the E-Trac right away, but the CTX Isn't what I expected,, but after I learned the Sovereign a bit it was a awesome detector and still have a GT. The Explorer too was different and until I spent the time to get to know it I wasn't happy, but once I learned it a bit I seen it too was a awesome detector. The E-Trac many didn't like it and once some spent the time to get to know it and not run it as a Explorer which it was not they see where this was a great detector and soon others where also buying one. Now with the CTX we have to learn it which seem hard at first, but it is not that hard to do really and for me it hasn't impressed me much yet, but do know it will if it is like the other Minelabs as they are so far advanced over the others they are different to use that what we have used before.
I like the build on the CTX, love the balance and the battery system, nice screen and easy to see when using the back light, taking some time to get used to the pinpoint button on the handle, but a nice addition and seems to work real good.
I do expect after some time in the Field it will get better like all the other Minelabs I have used and be very impressed with it. I know I am impressed with what some are finding and I do have another guy in our club that also has one and after the first day he wanted to sell it as he was trying to use it like his E-Trac, then he read the instructions and went out again and did impress him more as he was finding some nice coins in areas he never could before. Now every time he uses it he learns more and doing better every time, so I do expect to be impressed with my CTX once I spend the time to learn it. I do feel we will see those that do not like it, but it will be those that think they can go out and dig old coins without leaning what the detector is telling them, those that have them and uses them with some patience and be willing to learn them will keep them. This like I say was the same with the Sovereign,Explorers and E-Tracs many didn't like them as they didn't want to learn them, those that did love them so the CTX I feel will be the same.
Not impressed yet, but know I will be when I get more time with it.
Rick
I like the build on the CTX, love the balance and the battery system, nice screen and easy to see when using the back light, taking some time to get used to the pinpoint button on the handle, but a nice addition and seems to work real good.
I do expect after some time in the Field it will get better like all the other Minelabs I have used and be very impressed with it. I know I am impressed with what some are finding and I do have another guy in our club that also has one and after the first day he wanted to sell it as he was trying to use it like his E-Trac, then he read the instructions and went out again and did impress him more as he was finding some nice coins in areas he never could before. Now every time he uses it he learns more and doing better every time, so I do expect to be impressed with my CTX once I spend the time to learn it. I do feel we will see those that do not like it, but it will be those that think they can go out and dig old coins without leaning what the detector is telling them, those that have them and uses them with some patience and be willing to learn them will keep them. This like I say was the same with the Sovereign,Explorers and E-Tracs many didn't like them as they didn't want to learn them, those that did love them so the CTX I feel will be the same.
Not impressed yet, but know I will be when I get more time with it.
Rick
texasranger
New member
Reading this 'item' was interesting to me not so much about how the CTX 3030 has impressed (or otherwise), but for the average poster's perceptions in relation to their expectations.
I somehow feel that the question asked, relates as much to the people as to the product.
I sense, that some comments are more a reflection of the owner rather than the CTX they own.
I appreciate there is a contributory effect from a lack of opportunity to exercise the detector, but for those who imply that it's not living up to their expectations...???
I don't understand how that can be a genuine observation without some input as to what it is exactly that you want?
Maybe someone will expand on matters and tell us what's 'missing'.
I hope my comments are not taken as criticisms, but rather as provocation's with intent to spark a more definitive exposure of what it is exactly that 'disillusioned' owners expected?
Matt.
I somehow feel that the question asked, relates as much to the people as to the product.
I sense, that some comments are more a reflection of the owner rather than the CTX they own.
I appreciate there is a contributory effect from a lack of opportunity to exercise the detector, but for those who imply that it's not living up to their expectations...???
I don't understand how that can be a genuine observation without some input as to what it is exactly that you want?
Maybe someone will expand on matters and tell us what's 'missing'.
I hope my comments are not taken as criticisms, but rather as provocation's with intent to spark a more definitive exposure of what it is exactly that 'disillusioned' owners expected?
Matt.
earthmansurfer
Active member
Thus far I have been pretty happy with the CTX. I will try to break my comments down:
Performance - Noticeably faster and better separation than the E-Trac. It doesn't necessarily go deeper but I'm finding more coins at 9" with the CTX than I did with the E-Trac, in a much less time. (9" is the max thus far). The way it hits the 9" coins I think I will start finding some 10" coins. 50 Conductive falses way too much compared to Combine but I'm able to get it to perform regardless. I do run it hot though, at least most of the time. I love the shortcuts and user button and layout - Minelab got that right and I bet they aren't finished! VERY EASY to move around the menu. I will stress this point, very nice Minelab.
The performance of the CTX is not hugely superior to the E-Trac, but it is noticeably better (I'll guess and say 20% ish). I'm guessing the E-Trac hits on most targets the CTX finds, albeit with a less accurate VID and not as strongly. The E-Trac will miss some of the deeper targets or targets closer to iron/trash. If you don't hunt in bad ground or high iron / trashy conditions, I wouldn't think the upgrade to be worth it.
Build Quality - Top Quality. Can't complain. The stems fit tight and I like that. Very sturdy unit and it also looks nice.
Ergonomics/Weight - They got the balance spot on, just perfect. The reason I tried the CTX is because the E-Trac's balance was terrible and I loved it so much (just clicked with it) and didn't want to keep searching for a machine that worked in my soil after so many had failed. I now have a few 5 hours hunts and I do feel the weight but not like the E-Trac. I would have preferred a 3lb E-Trac to be honest. The handle, for me, is at the right angle and has the perfect thickness. I love not having a foam grip! The only thing with ergonomics that I still think is off is the pinpoint button. It is above the forefinger and not angled down towards it. It is mostly easy to adjust to this though - but still gets me after 40 hours of use.
Screen Quality - For a color screen it is subpar in my opinion. Had I not had a V3i I might not say that. (The V3i is how many years old now and the CTX's color screen, though it clearly has more pixels, is just kind of blah.) Sort of sad considering the cost of the machine. (Now, if the sun is just coming up or about down it looks pretty good). If they could add some contrast and more vibrant colors I will change my opinion. But the colors and contrast is sort of flat - Just look at most of my videos. I mean, there IS NOT a contrast adjustment - that is weird. It's a bit hard to see where your disc pattern is at times as it is sooo faint. (Depends on outdoor conditions though.) I switch between patterns fairly often and sometimes am in the wrong one as one is minimal and the other open (when sun or the like is out it is easy to do). The VID numbers mostly cover the clock and if you run hot (like I do), the clock is almost always covered - hope they allow us to move something in an update.
Special functions - I do like target trace and target trace pinpoint. Target Trace doesn't seem to do much beyond 6" or 7" so in my ground but it is giving a lot more information via the splattering. I like that much more than the target trace alone. The ferrous coin ground setting has made a HUGE difference in my iron mineralized ground and sites with more iron. I am most looking forward to what upgrades Minelab adds. That is exciting and a big improvement imo - to have upgrades. Being waterproof is great as far as cleaning the unit and hunting in rain goes. Having it waterproof to 10ft probably added a lot to the cost and I bet most don't ever use that, so I would have preferred water resistant and a cheaper price. The GPS feature, thus far is mostly unused but I will play with it more at more open locations. It is handy for keeping track of larger sites.
Price - Pick your currency, I'd say the unit should sell for 1900 bucks or so. The technology is improved and the waterproofing is great, but the price seems really exaggerated. The AT Pro which costs 600 or so bucks is waterproof to 10ft as well so I can't justify a 2500 buck price tag because of that. Essentially, we have a unit very similar to the E-Trac with maybe 20% or so better performance, not really more depth, but it sells for almost double the price. I could see that being worth it if the depth was 3" or so more. Think about this. This is not a criticism, I'm really looking at the unit and wondering how they charged so much. It is a great unit, no doubt, but I can't justify the cost. But here is the thing - sites are getting pretty hunted out. And if the CTX gives you that edge in those sites AND word gets out, they will come.
Overall - I really like the unit, my favorite unit by far thus far - not close (So don't take my criticisms the wrong way). Performance is what matters most and that has been improved on over the E-Trac. I still say, had they built a fast and light and just water resistant E-Trac (basically a CTX light in a way) they would have killed the market. Thus far, at least from my reading forums, the CTX seems like an E-Trac upgrade for most. I don't think a lot of guys are using it at the beach or underwater - I haven't seen any stats.
Well, I didn't plan on writing a mini review, but so be it,
Albert
Performance - Noticeably faster and better separation than the E-Trac. It doesn't necessarily go deeper but I'm finding more coins at 9" with the CTX than I did with the E-Trac, in a much less time. (9" is the max thus far). The way it hits the 9" coins I think I will start finding some 10" coins. 50 Conductive falses way too much compared to Combine but I'm able to get it to perform regardless. I do run it hot though, at least most of the time. I love the shortcuts and user button and layout - Minelab got that right and I bet they aren't finished! VERY EASY to move around the menu. I will stress this point, very nice Minelab.
The performance of the CTX is not hugely superior to the E-Trac, but it is noticeably better (I'll guess and say 20% ish). I'm guessing the E-Trac hits on most targets the CTX finds, albeit with a less accurate VID and not as strongly. The E-Trac will miss some of the deeper targets or targets closer to iron/trash. If you don't hunt in bad ground or high iron / trashy conditions, I wouldn't think the upgrade to be worth it.
Build Quality - Top Quality. Can't complain. The stems fit tight and I like that. Very sturdy unit and it also looks nice.
Ergonomics/Weight - They got the balance spot on, just perfect. The reason I tried the CTX is because the E-Trac's balance was terrible and I loved it so much (just clicked with it) and didn't want to keep searching for a machine that worked in my soil after so many had failed. I now have a few 5 hours hunts and I do feel the weight but not like the E-Trac. I would have preferred a 3lb E-Trac to be honest. The handle, for me, is at the right angle and has the perfect thickness. I love not having a foam grip! The only thing with ergonomics that I still think is off is the pinpoint button. It is above the forefinger and not angled down towards it. It is mostly easy to adjust to this though - but still gets me after 40 hours of use.
Screen Quality - For a color screen it is subpar in my opinion. Had I not had a V3i I might not say that. (The V3i is how many years old now and the CTX's color screen, though it clearly has more pixels, is just kind of blah.) Sort of sad considering the cost of the machine. (Now, if the sun is just coming up or about down it looks pretty good). If they could add some contrast and more vibrant colors I will change my opinion. But the colors and contrast is sort of flat - Just look at most of my videos. I mean, there IS NOT a contrast adjustment - that is weird. It's a bit hard to see where your disc pattern is at times as it is sooo faint. (Depends on outdoor conditions though.) I switch between patterns fairly often and sometimes am in the wrong one as one is minimal and the other open (when sun or the like is out it is easy to do). The VID numbers mostly cover the clock and if you run hot (like I do), the clock is almost always covered - hope they allow us to move something in an update.
Special functions - I do like target trace and target trace pinpoint. Target Trace doesn't seem to do much beyond 6" or 7" so in my ground but it is giving a lot more information via the splattering. I like that much more than the target trace alone. The ferrous coin ground setting has made a HUGE difference in my iron mineralized ground and sites with more iron. I am most looking forward to what upgrades Minelab adds. That is exciting and a big improvement imo - to have upgrades. Being waterproof is great as far as cleaning the unit and hunting in rain goes. Having it waterproof to 10ft probably added a lot to the cost and I bet most don't ever use that, so I would have preferred water resistant and a cheaper price. The GPS feature, thus far is mostly unused but I will play with it more at more open locations. It is handy for keeping track of larger sites.
Price - Pick your currency, I'd say the unit should sell for 1900 bucks or so. The technology is improved and the waterproofing is great, but the price seems really exaggerated. The AT Pro which costs 600 or so bucks is waterproof to 10ft as well so I can't justify a 2500 buck price tag because of that. Essentially, we have a unit very similar to the E-Trac with maybe 20% or so better performance, not really more depth, but it sells for almost double the price. I could see that being worth it if the depth was 3" or so more. Think about this. This is not a criticism, I'm really looking at the unit and wondering how they charged so much. It is a great unit, no doubt, but I can't justify the cost. But here is the thing - sites are getting pretty hunted out. And if the CTX gives you that edge in those sites AND word gets out, they will come.
Overall - I really like the unit, my favorite unit by far thus far - not close (So don't take my criticisms the wrong way). Performance is what matters most and that has been improved on over the E-Trac. I still say, had they built a fast and light and just water resistant E-Trac (basically a CTX light in a way) they would have killed the market. Thus far, at least from my reading forums, the CTX seems like an E-Trac upgrade for most. I don't think a lot of guys are using it at the beach or underwater - I haven't seen any stats.
Well, I didn't plan on writing a mini review, but so be it,
Albert
Buried Crap NJ
New member
I have had the 3030 sine it came out. I am not fully convinced that its going to be the best machine for hunting the beach. It has some stability problems around minerilized sand and water movement.With all the options it might just be I have not found the right combo! I have a problem with target strenght being the same for a 2in target vs a 10in target, I am so use to a low wisper targets being deep.I can't help but feel I am missing some deep ones.
Pin Pointing is spot on when you employ the trigger.But once the target is out of the hole and you dump 15lb of wet sand and kick it out you don't always have time to re PP before a wave comes. The coil is so good it will sound off on a loose out of the hole target from a couple of inches of the coil. That means in some where's in an area 12 in from the coil. With the Excal/GT a simple sweep produced center.I found in dirt hunting the machine shines, there is no need to be in a rush to recover the target as nothing is going to prevent the recovery. The fast pace beach hunt where you are digging 300 targets good or bad while fighting the elements the machine is slow. The other thing is the PP switch is really way to high to be reaching around for several hundered time during a hunt. Again in the dirt its relaxed and stopping tp pull the trigger to PP is no big deal.And again the PP is so good the target rarely isn't under the center of the plug!
Pin Pointing is spot on when you employ the trigger.But once the target is out of the hole and you dump 15lb of wet sand and kick it out you don't always have time to re PP before a wave comes. The coil is so good it will sound off on a loose out of the hole target from a couple of inches of the coil. That means in some where's in an area 12 in from the coil. With the Excal/GT a simple sweep produced center.I found in dirt hunting the machine shines, there is no need to be in a rush to recover the target as nothing is going to prevent the recovery. The fast pace beach hunt where you are digging 300 targets good or bad while fighting the elements the machine is slow. The other thing is the PP switch is really way to high to be reaching around for several hundered time during a hunt. Again in the dirt its relaxed and stopping tp pull the trigger to PP is no big deal.And again the PP is so good the target rarely isn't under the center of the plug!