I've got a question????????

[Jack Flynn]

Why do I have this overwhelming urge to get an Explorer or a Safari? I've got the X 70 and the X 705. Would I gain anything or just be wasting money? Pro's and con's please. Is an FBS machine any advantage over what I have also.

 

[David]

First of if I was getting another unit it would be a E-Trac and not a Safari or Explorer. The E-Trac and Explorer are more surgical in dicrimination than the 70/705's, with the 2 number Conductive and Ferrous system. But I have heard that a coin on edge, corroded, bent, etc. can throw off the 2 number system a bit.

The FBS units are heavier and also much slower recovery speed(sweep speed), but much better-deeper in wet saltwater sand that ALL single frequency VFL's.

I heard about the same depth in normal soils, then another opinion said deeper, who is right??

 

[Mark ( ohio )]

you are correct on your answers, weight, slower sweep speeds are drawbacks with the explorer models, but you will still see way better depths in "normal soils " then what the xterras will give you.

JMHO.. Mark ( ohio )

 

[D&P-OR]

You're on the wrong forum asking that question.--You need to go over to the Explorer, Safari & Etrac forums & pose that question over there.--You say you have the 70 & 705 so you must know those two machines pretty well-right?--So now you need to learn all you can about the FBS machines thru research, study & "hands on" (if at all possible).--You shouldn't expect anybody to convince you but do what I just stated & make up your own mind.--What's right for someone else in a detector as an end result might not be right for you at all.---For me, the Explorer line, Etrac & Xterras are all GREAT detectors (but for different reasons).---And yes, I know what it's like to get "the itch" like you have (for a detector). --------Del

 

[Jack Flynn]

Well, truly I don't think I'm on the wrong forum asking questions about those machines. It seems a lot of people have the X Terras and several other machines too or they have had other ones. Quite a lot of people "really" think the more you pay for something, the better it is. This might be one of those cases I don't know. Several people on this forum have access to lots of machines and use the X Terras and are not posting much at all on the other forums. I feel like I'll get a more accurate answer here instead of all the hoopla about the other machines on their perspective forums. Just investigating with a few questions here.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

I have owned an Explorer XS for about 8 years and got a X-Terra 705. about 5 weeks ago. The explorer is definitely better in wet salt water sand. In low mineralization soils the depth is approximately the same using similar sized coil (note that the explorer stock coil is larger than the stock XTerra coil so in default configuration the XS has an edge) however, in my opinion the much faster recovery speed is more important in normal detecting environments. So my explorer is retired except for beach hunting.

 

[BarnacleBill]

While many here have different brands & models the group(s) you are asking about may be limited in number. In that I mean there are those that move from the X-Terra to an FBS/BBS type and sell the X-Terra. There are a few that move from the FBS/BBS to the X-Terra & sell the FBS/BBS. And then the final group that owns both and uses them for different tasks. It's this last group that will likely provide you with the best info as they have current use on both detectors. Those users may be hanging around on the FBS/BBS forums and not spend much time here.

I have not used an FBS/BBS but may in the near future, time allowing. However, having read thousands of posts over the years here are some of my expectations.

**The FBS/BBS will be deeper on high conductive targets.
**The X-Terra will be deeper on low conductive targets.
**The X-Terra will find smaller gold and can be used for Prospecting.
**The FBS/BBS will tolerate bad ground better when coin/relic hunting.
**The FBS/BBS will be more stable & deeper on wet salt sand, but the X-Terra will rule the dry sand for gold jewelry hunting.
**The FBS/BBS must be hunted slowly to maximize depth.
**The FBS/BBS is heavier.

Remember that these are my expectations and as of yet proved. If it were me I'd sell the X70, keep the X705, and buy a used FBS/BBS to give one a whirl. That would be a pretty formidable combination that would cover most detecting situations.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Hi Jack.
The answers here have been pretty good. I've been using an X-Terra 30 for a few years and recently upgraded to the 70. I've also got an XS Explorer that I've got a bit over a 100 hours on.
Having the bug to buy detectors, is one I suffer from too. I think that I've scratched the itch enough for a while now. You won't be buying a better detector so much as a different one, depending on what you like to hunt and where. The numeric display seems to be more stable on the conductive numbers of the Explorer, but I wouldn't put a huge amount of stock in the ferrous numbers as they seem to bounce around a bit. The heart of the Explorer is it's audio system, particularly using the long tones on it as it seems to give a continuous signal that sounds like hearing your targets in 3D. It can be a bit confusing to listen to when you get a lot of targets close together, but I think that you adjust to it. Mind you, putting the X-terra into 99 tones sounds a bit the same, which is also pretty neat. The prospecting mode is helpful on the X-Terra as well.
As far as the weight goes, you can't beat the X-Terra's, but I have played around with an E-Trac once and despite it's weight, is superbly balanced and as a result, feels like it only weighs 1.5kgs. think that it weighs 2.2kgs. The X-Terra weighs 1.3kgs. The Explorer weighs 1.95kgs but with the older style coil (10.5in DD) makes it very toe heavy, but put on backwards balances it out nicely.
If you tend to hunt modern coins, the X-Terra seems to be a better unit, but if you prefer to hunt for silver coins, then the Explorers are the go.
Good luck and have fun.
Mick Evans.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Having used both and not something I read in a book...The Explorer series probably has the best guts of any unit on the planet but haven't used Whites new Vision, is extremely heavy, poor ergonomics, have to hunt slow for extreme depth loves silver coins and a little weak in the lower end of the spectrum for gold rings and nickles.
For most people expect a long learning periods also but had no problems myself along that line..

On the other hand the X-terra series is light, user friendly, less expensive has different freq. coils depending what your after, will work well with a faster swing for more coverage.

Remember this is just a generalization as both give good depth and good ID both visual and audio depending on your neck of the woods and in reallity Minelab gives us the best of both worlds so take your pick as most excell with either and we all have our preferences.

In all fairness ask the same question on the Explorer forums and grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence and most ardent detectorists own several units for this reason as one unit can't do it all and all have give and take aways...

 

[Digger]

Detectoritis! And most of us in the hobby will suffer from it to from time to time. I ain't bragging or complaining, but I've been bitten by that bug on more occassions than I care to remember. (however, my wife apparently keeps closer track!)

For what it is worth, and having used most of the FBS detectors, I have reached several conclusions....... 1. there isn't one detector that will do everything perfectly. They all have "trade-offs" 2. as I've gotten older, my preferences (for what a detector is capable of doing) have evolved. 3. knowing and understanding the potential of your detector is more important that simply having a different detector with a boatload of features that might not apply to your style of hunting. 4. Your job is to find a detector that fits your needs and your pocketbook, and practice - practice - practice.

With all that said, let me tell you why I chose to use the X-Terra more than the Explorer (or others in the FBS series). As many have pointed out, the X-Terra has a more forgiving sweep speed. You can effectively hunt fast or slow, with good results. The amount of information being processed by the Explorer requires a slower sweep speed. With my hunting habits, good targets are more easily masked using the Explorer than with the X-Terra. I like the weight and balance of the X-Terra. The Explorer doesn't weigh that much more. But the fact that the Explorer takes a slower sweep speed to "guide the coil", opposed to "swinging" the coil of the X-Terra, fatigue can become a factor in a relatively short amount of time. In my case, I can use the Explorer for an hour or so and I am shot. I can use the X-Terra for the better part of a day and never take a break. To give a (probably poor) example, hold a brick in your hand and swing it by your side for a few minutes. Not a big deal. Now, hold that same brick out in front of you, at arms length, and notice the difference. That is how using the Explorer feels to me. Too much pressure on the shoulders and neck muscles. But again, my physical circumstances may differ from others.

If I were a young man again, and had the cash to buy one, I'd probably have to buy another Explorer or an Etrac. They both will provide more target ID than any other series of detectors available. If you can sweep them slow and "work" that coil, they will pull deep targets out of nasty-trashy areas better than anything else available. But for the type of sites I hunt and my style of huning, the weight, balance, functionality, sweep speed and the information provided by my X-Terras are all I feel I need at this time. JMHO HH Randy

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Unlike drugs or drinking has not detox centers and you bring up some good points...Guiding a unit rather than swinging surely cause more stress and lets not forget ergonomics and weighting along with more weight... a nice honest post and basically all comes down to personal preferences, cash on hand and of course physical abilities as young or old certainly differ among our ranks.

In addendum I don't hunt anymore but bought a good rifle and shotgun when I was 20 or so and never changed in the 40 years I used them so I guess it depends on your hobby..at least in my case....as I lost track of the number of detectors I have used( some twice)....

 

[Jack Flynn]

Gentlemen, some great info from this thread. I appreciate these and many more answers from all of your experiences. Add more as you think of them.

 

[Steve(MS)]

I have both the 70 and Explorer XS. If you want to try an Explorer, you could sell your 70 and buy a used one just to see how you like it.
They compliment each other nicely and cover almost any hunting situation that you will encounter if put in the time and effort to master the Explorer.