Is the E-trac worth the $$$?

[hunter72]

I have been reading about all 3. SE, Ex ll, and the E-trac are great. Then someone is bashing one or the other. Need some help here! I do not mind digging, thats what this hobby is all about but from the sounds of it, the e-trac has good depth. It also sounds like they all have good depth and it's just a matter of reading the different sounds. Need some more advice please!

 

[TheMarshall]

I have been reading about all 3. SE, Ex ll, and the E-trac are great. Then someone is bashing one or the other. Need some help here! I do not mind digging, that's what this hobby is all about but from the sounds of it, the e-trac has good depth. It also sounds like they all have good depth and it's just a matter of reading the different sounds. Need some more advice please!

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Good morning Hunter72.

This is just my personal point of view:

First off, have you owned and used any of the previous models you quoted?

If so, and you were proficient with those, then the E-trac is a culmination of the earlier models with regards to performance.

It is technically an improvement on its predecessors.

The ultimate factors are, usability and overall functionality.

To me, it is the most user friendly of the series to date.

Functionally, for me, it is so easy to set up and use to analyse targets.

I dig targets based on the Ferrous audio, 4 tones set-up.

That is logical detecting. Numbers are for the 'idealist' coin detectorist. Targets at depth are different.

With this detector I've dug more targets from depth, more consistently.

In the final analysis....it's a matter of choice as to whether it suits you as an individual.

On the wet beach....its unbeatable.

Take your time choosing, and do your homework.....get a hands on session if you can.

All the best...................The Marshall

 

[spdnj]

All of the ML's are worth the money. They all detect well, and get great depth in the right hands. You can sit and read these forums until the end of time spinning your head as this person likes this and this person hates that. I have hunted the original Explorer, the Exp II and the Etrac. I never did try the SE. They all handle a bit differently but once you get used to each if you are in the right place and understand the machine you will find stuff, putting in the time is the biggest factor. I think one of the key factors that makes the ETrac better is actually the coil. If you take the stock coil of the ETrac and put it on one of the other Explorers the machine seems "better". It is a deadly coil.
If I was you I would set up a visit with a dealer if you can and try each out one out. Take a look at your budget and then make a decision. Either way you can't go wrong.
Good luck and let us know your decision.

 

[C&RHunter]

I agree with TheMarshall and spdnj, The machines are good. As far as the bashing goes, that kind of goes hand in hand with a forum. For whatever reason it doesn't matter what it is, some people are going do their bashing...As far as we know, it may be based on hearsay rather than their own experiences. As far as worth it, look at things this way. Buy any top of line machine for say $1500 + $500 of extra coils, pinpointer, etc... $2000 invested, keep the machine for say 5 years....sell it for $600...now your total is down to $1400..You had it for 5 years ..that's $280 per year or $23.33 per month. That's a small investment for the relaxation and enjoyment..NOT counting the value of anyfinds that you have made...Good luck with your decision.

PS: I own an Etrac (7 mo.s), and an Expl.XS (7-1/2 years), sold one XS that I had used as a backup/extra for about 3 years. They all have found silver, and that's what it's all about.

 

[jimpugh]

If you can not read this forum from the beginning.....

then you probably will not have what it takes to master a whistle......

Your detector.... you GOT TO KNOW.....like in the eastwood movie....I just got to know ...click.... empty chamber....

MY e-trac paid for itself first 30 days .....AND .....I aint the sharpest crayon in the box.....

I have had and used the others FLUENTLY.....This unit in the hands of someone with a passion to dig and learn is A Royal HOUSE!

If you can not afford the best use what you have and make it do the impossible until you can afford what ever you want in life!

Happy Trails
Jim Pugh

 

[Bugalooob]

Theres a few detectors that wouldn't touch with a 10 ft poll such as anything made by garrets, nor would I touch any of the recent Whites machines because I used them and don't like em for a number of different reasons...The Etrac seems to be in a league of its own but you have to really get the know the machine over I'd say about 50 hours of detecting..It will produce results better then any machine out there in my opinion, I personaly feel that the standard 11 inch coil is too big for park hunting and will discourage alot of people...Go with the sunray x-8 and learn the machine

 

[ashdigger]

I have been hunting since 1969, I have used the green and black machines and a few other I cant even remember, now that I'm learning the E-Trac its by far the best one out there, like any quality machine you have to give it time to learn then and get a longer digger you'll need it. If you can afford it, get it and don't look back....that's my 2-cents worth...

 

[Johnlightning]

I purchased one for my girlfrend from christmas and I took it into the backyard to swing it around and listen to it,( I own a SE) and I got a good signal just 3 feet off the back porch (has been hunted over by every detector Ive owned may times, it was about 6 inches down but with alot of bad signals around it, dug it and guess what, it was a little silver ring with 3 nails around it about 1/2 and inch away from the ring. The etrac locked in on the ring. Im sold on it, its a great machine.

 

[Solar Dave]

I was out with my new ET and really couldn't get the "hang" of it. I watched the Smartscreen and watched the digital numbers and I listened to the audio, and none, I mean none of these seemed to carryover from my Ex II! I dug the high sounding picthes which used to mean SILVER! but got nails, I watched the Smartscreen upper left and got iron chain, I wathced the digital numbers and saw 01 30 which used to be SILVER! ) and got some piece of iron scrap.


It got so bad that I pulled my X30 backup out and hunted with it for the rest of my time out. Still didn't find anything but at least it didn't confuse me since theres only 1 number to watch. And is there any "threshold" signal for the X30? Maybe I should have saved my money and stuck with my faithful Ex II! I can always find money with it, and what a great hobby for an accountant - FREE MONEY! Well kinda free...

Thanks.

Dave

 

[gregliss]

I was out with my new ET and really couldn't get the "hang" of it. I watched the Smartscreen and watched the digital numbers and I listened to the audio, and none, I mean none of these seemed to carryover from my Ex II! I dug the high sounding picthes which used to mean SILVER! but got nails, I watched the Smartscreen upper left and got iron chain, I wathced the digital numbers and saw 01 30 which used to be SILVER! ) and got some piece of iron scrap.


It got so bad that I pulled my X30 backup out and hunted with it for the rest of my time out. Still didn't find anything but at least it didn't confuse me since theres only 1 number to watch. And is there any "threshold" signal for the X30? Maybe I should have saved my money and stuck with my faithful Ex II! I can always find money with it, and what a great hobby for an accountant - FREE MONEY! Well kinda free...

Thanks.

Dave

Have you read Andy's book? It does put you well up the learning curve and explains a lot of the 'funnies' of the e-trac!

01/30.....i think iron will false there, I have the entire 01 FE line blanked.....but I'm not chasing silver dollars (further up the 01 FE line).

Get the book and read it, then read it again after you've done 30'ish hours with the e-trac, this will give you the 'base knowlege'.

Cheers,
Greg