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just came home with an explorer xs...

T

tndirtslinger

Member
hello group..

had recently placed an order for an xterra 705 but before the order was shipped i got the chance to bring home an explorer xs instead...i am very excited about this machine,i know it's out of production now but it looks as new with very little use on it...just gotta order an arm strap, for it but no big deal...

so question is what can you guys tell me about this machine, first minelab, but i currently own whites, garrett and an old teknetics so i'm not completely new to detectors but i don't have a large number of hours under my belt on them...

is it a good detector, are there any problems that may need addressing, and are there any specialty books for this detector that i may want to read?

thanks
kevin
 
Here's a couple of messages I sent to other guys asking the same questions. Take what you can use from it. Pay particular attention to the threshold hum vs. ID change part.
That messed with my mind for weeks.

There are big differences between the Explorer and other machines.
Lots of people say to stick with the factory presets for awhile but you need to find out what all those settings are so you can know what's going on. There are things you need to change from site to site.
The number one thing is the preset discrimination patter. If it's still the same old pattern I had then the blackened area looks like a top heavy stack of books. It should not be top heavy because coins that you want are all over the top of the screen and you're discriminating half the good ones. It would be better to start with an easy to listen to iron mask like -10 or so. As you get used to learning what to dig you might bump down the iron mask to -12 then eventually try even -15 at some sites. -16 is all metal meaning every piece of iron or metal will sound off. You won't believe how much is in the ground when you listen to that!!!
Here's a good start up set up:
Iron mask -10
Sensitivity manual 24(in manual you are in control of the sensitivity, in semi-automatic the machine is in control).
Threshold 7
Variability 9
Limits 9
Volume 10
Gain 7
Conductive sounds
Normal response
Recovery FAST and DEEP
Be sure and run the noise cancel when you get to the site you're going to hunt.
If it's still too busy, seeming to pick up hundreds of targets more than you're used to then you can turn the sensitivity down even more. Especially if the cursor is bouncing everywhere and the threshold tone is not there often enough.
Here is the big problem I had when I started on the Explorer. THE CURSOR WILL NOT MOVE TO THE ID OF THE TARGET YOU ARE HEARING UNLESS YOU HAVE HEARD A THRESHOLD HUM SINCE THE LAST TARGET IT MOVED TO. Not sure why Minelab hasn't improved this yet but it's true. You need to hear the hum between targets for the the cursor to be correct. If you are hearing a low tone and the cursor is high on the screen or vice versa then the cursor isn't moving. Turn down the sensitivity and the hum will be there plenty. OR if you feel like you've turned it down enough and you want to make the cursor move then pick up the machine off the ground until you hear the hum.
Sometimes when I'm in manual sens. and want to make the cursor move I'll just push the semi-auto sens. button(which always gives you less sensitivity) and then I get the proper cursor movement. Then I'll switch back to manual sens. to use the high sens. again.
An 8 inch coil is often the best coil over the stock because so many targets can get under the stock coil at once. Don't worry if you can't get one quite yet. There are plenty of places where the stock coil is the best.
Sweep the coil slowly and scrub it close to the ground. The Explorer does best when touching the ground.
That coil cover will last a long time and they aren't expensive to replace. I've had mine for 7 years and still have plenty of life in it(1000's of hours).
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions.
Neal Wright
(NealNoINIronBrigade)


On all the Explorers here's how the sounds work.
IN CONDUCTIVE SOUNDS:
Iron sounds high and silver, quarters, dimes, halves, pennies all sound high too.
(so you need to use a little iron mask so you don't hear all the iron)
IN FERROUS SOUNDS:
Iron sounds low and silver, quarters, dimes, halves, and pennies all sound high but can sound medium and even low if iron or minerals or just plain depth pulls that cursor to the left.
IN CONDUCTIVE SOUNDS:
Anytime the cursor is on the top of the screen whether left or right it WILL BE a high tone.
Anytime the cursor is on the bottom of the screen whether left or right it WILL BE a low tone.
Midway up or down will be a medium tone.
IN FERROUS SOUNDS:
Anytime the cursor is on the left side of the screen whether high or low it WILL BE a low tone.
Anytime the cursor is on the right side of the screen whether high or low it WILL BE a high tone.
Midway left to right will be a medium tone.
 
You have just bought one of the best detectors ever made....happy hunting pal:clapping:
 
thanks neil

i plan to put that info to work so i can learn this machine...

buzz that is good to hear...
 
I STARTED WITH THE GARRETT 1500 AND LOVED IT. IT HAS THE CONCENTRIC COIL AND PINPOINTING WAS A SNAP. BUT ALL THAT I READ ABOUT THE EXPLORER AND JUST THE GREAT LOOKS, I HAD TO HAVE ONE. SO WHEN THEY TURNED THE EXPLORERS ALL BLACK AND THE NEW PRO COIL... I NEEDED IT. LOL. SO I GOT IT IN THE MAIL PUT IT TOGETHER ADDED AA BATTERIES AND HIT THE PARK. THE SOUNDS I HEARD AND THE BIGGEST PROB WAS PINPOINTING WITH THE DD PRO COIL. ESPECIALLY SURFACE COINS. OMG. I WAS READY TO SEND IT BACK AND GET MY 1100. DOLLARS BACK. BUT I KNEW I HAD A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, AND FORCED MYSELF TO LEARN THIS MACHINE. READ ANDY SABISH BOOK MORE THAN TWICE AND HIGH LIGHTED WHAT WOULD HELP ME. SO I COULD GO BACK AND BACK TO READ WHAT I KNEW WOULD HELP ME. NOW I WOULD NOT USE ANYTHING BUT MY EXPLORER. UNLESS IM WATER HUNTING. THEN I USE MY DETECTOR PRO WADER. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND KEEP WITH IT. SEE YOU IN THE FIELD AND H.H.
 
Good luck - it is a great machine. It has a long learning curve but well worth it. Read Andy Sabish's book thoroughly and go SLOW.

HH.
 
thanks richard

i'm on my third spin through the manual after playing with the detector for a bit in the drive way, which yielded eleven cents that i missed with the dfx...will have to order a copy of that book, and i will admit so far i like what i am seeing and reading from the manual but i will have to admit the color on this detector has got to go................
that's the only thing i don't like and hopefully thats the only thing...

tokendigger the learning curve can't be nearly as bad as my dfx....the big reason i don't like it...but that's the most fun part of the hobby? right?

hopefully i get to take it out tomorrow for a test drive...

thanks
 
[size=large]you are going to get frustrated with the explorer. much slower machine than the whites. whites vdi numbers are much better. when it says a penny and the vdi is 55-72 you know it's probly a penny. not so with the explorer. the numbers will really tick you off. it says a dime or qtr. and it comes up a penny. whites does this very seldom. minelab is constantly doing this. i know i can learn my explorer better with more time. you will see that this is totally differant from a whites. i think i have an understanding on the explorer vdi numbers from reading why whites uses the numbers they do. that explaination came from reading jeff foster's mxt edge. the chapter that explains what the whites vdi numbers are and how they get them.
i for sure would get an 8" DD coil soon. much better seperation and easier pin-pointing.
don't forget to visit the explorer classroom forum for any help.

HH [/size]
 
Perusing the previous posts you received a lot of info and personally feel its as good as any Explorer but indeed go slow and all will fall into place.

Only drawback I can see I understand not all parts are available if it goes down but many of them still going strong and never been to the shop so good luck...
 
LEAVE IT IN THE FACTORY PRESETS for a short while

...and I believe I can truly shorten your learning curve as well as cut down on the level of frustration that might pop up.:bouncy:

LEAVE it in the factory preset conductive sounds settings.. while hunting in the smartfind screen for at least 5 full hunts.

As a forum moderator as well as having some input on Andy Sabisch's Explorer/E-Trac book...the number one thing I get asked about is "settings".

Don't mess with anything for some time. Those preset settings are there for a reason...and that reason is to help new users adapt to the language the SE speaks.

You will have time to learn the settings and what they do after after you have familiarized yourself with the vastly different language the explorer speaks.

IMHO the worst thing a new explorer user can do is switch anything at all...especially switch back and forth between conductive and ferrous sounds.

That will completely change what you hear and how you hear it over deep coins....and probably confuse you at this point.

Take your time...swing very slow...and do NOT worry about anybody's settings right now. There is a crucial time frame where you have to spend some quality time with your new friend...the SE...and nobody else. That time is the first few hunts.

Pay close attention to the barrage of sounds you hear...the nulling...the instability...etc...and don't get frustrated.

ONLY 2 things I would even consider changing from the stock factory learning settings which is pretty much a coin program....

1) possibly set the iron mask at -22 on the SE while continuing to hunt in smartfind screen(-6 on XS and EX2).

2) The only other thing I would consider changing would be to put the sensitivity in semi auto and set it at 26 which will GREATLY cut down on the falsing and chirping..

Both of those change suggestions do not even need to be made IMHO...but if you must tinker...then tinker with only those two things.

Everything else....I strongly recomend leaving alone for a few weeks...and leaving it in the factory preset settings.

Do NOT try too much too fast...just have FUN.

These Explorers are more than capable of hitting 8"+ deep coins right out of the box in the factory preset mode.

Once you have quite a few hours on it...and have familiarized yourself with the "language" it speaks...then you can start to piddle with settings if need be.

You might even decide at that point that you want to give ferrous sounds/AM a shot. That is a proven method as well.

For now though...trust me...leave it as I suggested for a few hunts...then when things start to click a little...you can start piddling and tinkering:thumbup:

Of all the things I get asked about through messages...this is the number one thing...and my advice never changes.

I think it's a big mistake for new users to get caught up in what other's settings are and they try too much too fast...then get discouraged and sell the Explorer.

Just take your time...enjoy...and get a "feel" for the explorer before taking big leaps...and the learning curve will lessen a bunch.

After a few weeks or 5 full hunts...whichever comes first....then start pickin' the brains of everyone on this forum for tips...suggestions...advice...settings to try...etc. This place is a wealth of knowledge and there a ton of talented hunters here who will help you in whatever way you need:thumbup:
 
thanks for the info so far from everyone....

got to take it out for a hunt today and i must say i'm not even close to being impressed....went to a guys house that i purchased a detector from before and we went detecting in his yard, he also has and explorer but it is the 2 model....i dug up a piece of foil about the size of a bb at around six inches so i know it can get small stuff, then we went to a school ball field, there i found one penny and some pull tabs....now out of both places i expected to have to learn the machine but here is the problems i noticed, constant chirping and beeping when the coil is moved around, i tried all settings of sensitivity from low to high and also run the noise cancel....adjusted the threshold to just a low hum and it was very stable...also does this here in my driveway...

the next thing that i really see to be a problem is the threshold....there would be times that it was blanking like i was discriminating something but switch to pin point and nothing at that particular spot, other times it would seem to disappear completely for a while or until i stopped swinging the coil it would come back to normal...

i tried the sensitity setting on manual and semi auto...seemed more stable in manual and i also tried bumping the threshold up as well to no avail....
 
kinda sounds to me like your in a very trashy area. slow WAY down on your sweeps. about 3 seconds to one side and 3 second sweep to the other. if thats not it... then u mite have a cracked coil or wire loose or ready to break. just my thought.
 
hi wayne

just got a chance to see your question...yes it does it while in motion and sometimes just sitting still....the tones cover the whole range of responses, but i believe i figured out what i was doing wrong, or what i was doing to cause the erratic tones and the constant loss of threshold...found a video on the explorer 2 on you tube last night that demonstrated the same thing i was experiencing and it was because i did not adjust the sensitivity correctly to the ground conditions i have here...i first done as the manual stated i turned the sensitivity up til the threshold became unstable while motionless, then back it down a bit then all is well while motionless...

as the video showed i needed to back the sensitivity on down to match the soil conditions i have at my current location, meaning that i need to start detecting as normal with motion while listening to the threshold, just keep lowering til the threshold becomes stable while swinging....

i hope that this correct but anyway it does seem to work for me here...
 
Cool.

Can you post a link to the video? I'm thinking its the one with Des.


w
 
had to remeber how i did the search for it but yep it's the one with des....

its centered on the explorer 2 but i think it can be applied to my xs as well...they seem to be real close it operation.. i have been comparing the differences between all models of explorers...

the link is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHFEecUefcg&feature=related
 
Des says the method is easy, but there's a couple factors not explained. For example, is he doing this method over a spot that is clean of any metal? I also notice that he goes from bobbing the coil up and down to swinging it in a bit of an arc.

Still, 11 sensitivity?


w
 
well just got done reading the book by andy sabisch and there's alot of good info in there and i hope i learned something from it...this weekend i should be able to test my brain to see if i learned anything or not, got permission to hunt the local fair grounds...yes i had to ask it's privately owned..fairly old and very active year round so it should produce something but even if it's just modern coins and trash it will still be a learning experience that i plan to visit as much as i can....
 
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