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Let's tell Minelab what WE would like to see in an "Explorer 4":thumbup:
- Thread starter Hotcz70
- Start date
I would like to see the new version lighter. The next improvement would be some sort of exposed coil connections so changing coils would be easier to do out in the field. People who use the Sunray probe can change coils in less than a minute. I do not use the Sunray and I hardly ever change coils in the field because it can be a pain in the rear. The menu system is pretty simple so I would not change it. I hope Minelab reads this thread. R.L.
MNCoinhunter
Active member
I would like to see the Fer/Con numbers and Smartfind on one screen like the ETrac. Yeah I know it's all about listening to the sounds, but I still check the numbers occasionally..
Also, it would be very cool if you could manually change the frequency for beach hunting small gold items.
Also, it would be very cool if you could manually change the frequency for beach hunting small gold items.
dewcon4414
Well-known member
Light weight straight shaft get away from the current shaft which makes coil change difficult, water proof or at least resistant, switch style PP, Change the salt setting a bit to make it a little more user friendly on the beach to small gold, menu a little more user friendly, depth meter.... true auto sensitivity.... and dual screen like the Etrac, make the darn screen so it can be read on the beach in the sunlight.... color screen would be nice, adjust the setting to allow more air gap between the soil and coil for field hunting, improve processor for faster recovery, Id love to see true PP but you would loose multi tones and TID.... but on a beach it would be a killer machine, put a light on the charger that shows charge and make it a quick charge option.... just a few quick ones id like.
Dew.......... oh and let me test one
Dew.......... oh and let me test one
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
1. Dump the useless external speaker its just dead weight.
2. Include built in X1 probe jack and switch
3. Waterproof to 10 feet, see Garrett AT Pro/Pro Gold e.g. it doesn't have to weigh 40 pounds (cough) Excaliber (cough)
4. Move the main boards back under arm rest with battery with just the screen and buttons out front on a lighter Xterra type shaft. Better balance and less weight is the goal. Keep the thick oval comfy grip like on the Xterra but lose the heavy weight aluminum rod, use carbon fiber instead.
5. Add a small gold mode, tweak whatever you need to tweak to hit smaller gold deeper, smaller gold chains and diamond stud earrings for example.
6. Give me more control over tones, ideally I should be able to highlight an area of the screen and assign a tone of my choice to any targets ID'ing in that area. Rest of screen has normal tone ID's. If I could have 8 of these user definable areas that would be great.
7. The cam clamps on the Explorer suck, when I have to jam a piece of ciggarrett pack into the thing to keep the lower rod from just falling out well there's room for improvement.
8. Option for 10 cell rechargeable AAA to reduce weight.
2. Include built in X1 probe jack and switch
3. Waterproof to 10 feet, see Garrett AT Pro/Pro Gold e.g. it doesn't have to weigh 40 pounds (cough) Excaliber (cough)
4. Move the main boards back under arm rest with battery with just the screen and buttons out front on a lighter Xterra type shaft. Better balance and less weight is the goal. Keep the thick oval comfy grip like on the Xterra but lose the heavy weight aluminum rod, use carbon fiber instead.
5. Add a small gold mode, tweak whatever you need to tweak to hit smaller gold deeper, smaller gold chains and diamond stud earrings for example.
6. Give me more control over tones, ideally I should be able to highlight an area of the screen and assign a tone of my choice to any targets ID'ing in that area. Rest of screen has normal tone ID's. If I could have 8 of these user definable areas that would be great.
7. The cam clamps on the Explorer suck, when I have to jam a piece of ciggarrett pack into the thing to keep the lower rod from just falling out well there's room for improvement.
8. Option for 10 cell rechargeable AAA to reduce weight.
I am still sometimes a number guy. I love the information that the screen has but can't see it half the time. I would love a brighter screen with bigger icons. Maybe a third screen scroll so things were jammed up so tight. Love the tones, but like to see my numbers and cross hairs.
Don
HH
Don
HH
MNCoinhunter
Active member
Charles, I really like the idea of assigning a tone to specific target areas. Good one !
sgoss66
Well-known member
All great suggestions and I agree. LIGHTWEIGHT/ERGONOMIC!!!! Did I mention lighter weight? Oh, and make it ergonomic. Then, make it light weight and ergonomic.
Make it faster. Smartfind/digital screen, both on one. Add a switch, to go to a more "gold sensitive" mode. Color screen maybe, but DEFINITELY easier to see (contrast), and more durable. More stable like the E-Trac (improve the nail falses). Better batteries -- longer life, better charger, lighter. Waterproof. Better depth meter (like the E-Trac, but larger). Add the E-Trac's sensitivity adjustments and display (i.e. with one bar showing "best" sens. and another showing where you are running; allow auto +1 through auto +5 options). ALLOW MORE AIR GAP. Some GPS ability? Keep the backlight. AND DON'T JACK THE PRICE!
BUT -- keep the incredible deep silver/high conductor performance, keep it as deep if not a little deeper (if that's possible), and KEEP THE AWESOME EXPLORER TONES -- at least keep them as one of the "tone options." DO NOT change them -- even the E-Trac tones are just slightly different. KEEP THE EXPLORER tones.
Those would be off the top of my head, pretty much what everyone else said.
Steve
Make it faster. Smartfind/digital screen, both on one. Add a switch, to go to a more "gold sensitive" mode. Color screen maybe, but DEFINITELY easier to see (contrast), and more durable. More stable like the E-Trac (improve the nail falses). Better batteries -- longer life, better charger, lighter. Waterproof. Better depth meter (like the E-Trac, but larger). Add the E-Trac's sensitivity adjustments and display (i.e. with one bar showing "best" sens. and another showing where you are running; allow auto +1 through auto +5 options). ALLOW MORE AIR GAP. Some GPS ability? Keep the backlight. AND DON'T JACK THE PRICE!
BUT -- keep the incredible deep silver/high conductor performance, keep it as deep if not a little deeper (if that's possible), and KEEP THE AWESOME EXPLORER TONES -- at least keep them as one of the "tone options." DO NOT change them -- even the E-Trac tones are just slightly different. KEEP THE EXPLORER tones.
Those would be off the top of my head, pretty much what everyone else said.
Steve
DaugBiscuit
New member
I'd like to see a better screen, easier to see on a bright day - even the Safari is better than the SE. Secondly I like to see a one-button-select to show the numbers on the Smartfield screen. I prefer the SmartField and never go to the Digital screen but it would be nice to have them available on the SmartField screen too.
Don, Virginia
Don, Virginia
Mark ( ohio )
Well-known member
All suggestions are great... My top 3 would be this ;
1) Waterproof control box..ie At Pro..
2) Lighter weight.
3) Easier to see screen in direct sun light..
Just my 2 cents.. Mark.
1) Waterproof control box..ie At Pro..
2) Lighter weight.
3) Easier to see screen in direct sun light..
Just my 2 cents.. Mark.
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
PS: Don't screw it all up by thinking something is broke and needs fixing e.g. ETrac. 
dewcon4414
Well-known member
Id like to be able to isolate or create a pattern on a small area of the smart screen that would cause a freq shift allowing targets to be better separated with improved tones.
Bobby Moyers
New member
I use the digital screen because screen brightness and contrast are poor. My eyes have to hunt for the crosshair when using the Smartfind screen, so a better meter is definitely first on my list. Second would be better ergonomics to include less weight. A toggle switch to change modes would be nice. It's a great machine, It truly is a deep silver magnet, as someone else has commented on one of the forums, but it can be a lot better if Minelab will listen to us.
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
Gold Nuggets
New member
I would like to see the following changes to a new Explorer model:
1) A brighter or at least more visible screen for working in shady sites
2) A depth meter that actually is accurate for deeper targets
3) The capability for more separation between the different tones on coins
(ie: dimes and quarters and nickles and pull-tabs)
4) A battery charger that will indicate when it is charging and when it has completed the charge
and shorter charge times for the batteries
5) Camlocks that will hold up to several years of use instead of several months before they
let the lower shaft slide out and fall to the ground
That's enough for now............
Gold Nuggets
1) A brighter or at least more visible screen for working in shady sites
2) A depth meter that actually is accurate for deeper targets
3) The capability for more separation between the different tones on coins
(ie: dimes and quarters and nickles and pull-tabs)
4) A battery charger that will indicate when it is charging and when it has completed the charge
and shorter charge times for the batteries
5) Camlocks that will hold up to several years of use instead of several months before they
let the lower shaft slide out and fall to the ground
That's enough for now............
Gold Nuggets
cladkiller
New member
Id like to see them change the grip to a more upright design , instead of the pitched forward design it has now, it starts to take its toll on your wrist after a few hrs of swinging, Id also like to see them just have a digital display that just said gold or silver ,( and don't dig its a pull tab), OK that's asking for a lot, i can live with the grip!!
All that being said i think its a damn fine machine!!!
All that being said i think its a damn fine machine!!!
TheOtherLeggoHead
Member
A thinner grip, preferably a pistol grip similar to the 1200 series Fishers, and while you are at it, how about an LED light on the shaft to illuminate the coil.
Eddie in Poulsbo
New member
All very good ideas fellows and let's do hope that Minelab has their eyes and ears open. Maybe once their warehouses are empty they will come out with a new and better detector and if we want something to compare with the SE and E-Trac or one even better, then don't hold your breath that it will be any cheaper then what they are going for now. HH everyone and Happy New Year.
Eddie
Eddie