Looking at a CTX

[wvrick]

Hello Everyone,

I'm looking at the CTX, since its been out a while now I noticed the post count on the forum and looks to be very active. I'm in the market for a new machine, I'm just using the old back up right now and sold the Etrac a while back. Is it as good as it looks? better than the Etrac? I like the water proof and the GPS, since I'm retired I can get more hunting in now and the CTX looks great.

 

[Digger]

In my opinion, those who refer to the CTX3030 as a waterproof ETRAC with GPS are under-estimating the potential of the CTX. Frankly, I doubt if most of those folks have used the CTX3030. Based on your description, if you liked the ETRAC and sold it to buy a new waterproof detector with GPS, the CTX3030 is probably just what you've been looking for. FBS2 functionality is similar to the FBS ETRAC (28 freqs etc) with the addition of a smart coil. As such, many of the settings (and TID readings) are the similar to the ETRAC...so you should have little or no learning curve. But the additional functionality is what sets it apart from any other detector in the marketplace. Functionality like identifying multiple targets under the coil simultaneously, the ability to "move" the ferrous line in building programs, having Combined audio give you both ferrous and 4 conductive tones in one program, being able to set a ground balance in those highly mineralized areas, wireless audio capabilities, better ergonomic balance, SeaWater mode, etc etc etc. Granted, you won't have as many coil options as the ETRAC, as the CTX uses a different coil design. But I've not found a site that couldn't be effectively hunted with the three coil choices that are currently available. During the Field Test process, I took the CTX3030 back into places that I'd hunted with many other detectors..including the ETRAC. And this wasn't just simply a matter of using the CTX in those spots. I actually used both detectors head to head, marked all the targets, and kept meticulous notes. In everyone of those sites, the CTX found coins in amongst the trash, that the ETRAC failed to locate. JMHO HH Randy

 

[BerntOut]

Stop looking at a CTX! Buy one and start hunting.....be sure to get the 6" coil. It is killer in trashy iron infested areas.

 

[wvrick]

Thanks Guys

 

[BerntOut]

Where in WV are you?

 

[Doctorcoinz]

I have been using a ctx for 4 months now , it's a nice machine to sweep i like the wireless and water proof a lot. the gps as yet i have not used. For my hunting so far the gps is unused. I made a cherry picking pattern for certain types of modern coins and it work a treat on a really trashy site , i plucked a few coins out but still dug some bits of trash.
I would have bought a good secondhand one if i know what i know now, as you loose a fortune when selling a new ctx a few months later. A good secondhand one is the way to go.
A nice detector except the price sucks.. Pulls the coins out if there is coins on the site but the depth don't seem any better than my explorer in all honesty , but like i say it pulls coins from the ferrous trash and non ferrous trash a fair bit better than the explorer.

 

[wvrick]

Where in WV are you?

I'm near Huntington.

I don't think I'd use the GPS much unless I went to a large open area, but its good to have. I've uses hand held GPS to hunt in the past, using a topo map overlay. The CTX sounds like the way to go.

 

[Altamaha]

Just don't hold your breath waiting for software updates if that sales pitch is part of your motivation for considering/buying one! Otherwise, generally speaking a fun detector to use.

 

[wvrick]

Looks like the standard package does not include the rechargeable battery? And I see the land based headphone module?

 

[Agseeker]

I moved from the E-Trac to the 3030 also. I went back over the areas that I'd previously hunted with the E-Trac and was a bit discouraged at first because I wasn't finding anything that I missed with the E-Trac. But now that I've got about 30 hours experience with the 3030 I'm starting to get the hang of it and am finding coins I missed with the E-Trac. I've also noticed that I dig up a lot less trash (even when hunting areas that I didn't use the E-Trac on). I highly recommend the 3030.

 

[OldBeechnut]

I know a few good areas up around Gauley B, Summersville where I grew up, CTX would have to be the machine with all the history there.

 

[wvrick]

I know a few good areas up around Gauley B, Summersville where I grew up, CTX would have to be the machine with all the history there.

I love that area, lots of CW history. I been the the battlefield a few time near Summersville (not detected).

I like what I see and read about the CTX, I still have a few weeks before I buy something so I'm putting in all the time I can doing research and watch comparison videos. I've drifted away from Minelab a few times but alway return. I know I'm preaching to the choir....