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Minelab CTX 3030 GPS :thumbdown:

T

TreasureHawk

New member
Had a chance to use the Minelab CTX 3030 this past weekend May 19 at Minelab National Metal Detecting Day.
The GPS is so limited. Very basic and disappointing. No maps? What gives?
You can get a nice GPS for under $100 that has a decent mapping display and other functions. Why not the Minelab CTX 3030 that probably will cost
over $2000. I think they jumped the gun too earlier with this one.

:detecting:
 
The maps and details are on the Exchange2 software that you download onto your computer. The CTX plots it for you & when you connect your CTX to your computer, thats where the details pop.
I'd rather have the strengths of finding coins that other detectors cant in tough ground situations be the focus.
 
WHAT???? You mean to tell me I can't plug in the address of my nearest Dairy Queen so that I can get a Blizzard while hunting??? I guess I'll have to cancel my order for the CTX now. J/K, take it easy.
 
I'm pretty sure the GPS functionality wasn't meant as a hardcore navigational tool but rather to enable you to record what you've done in a grid set up and then overlay it onto google maps later. It will show you where you've been and and the points you've plotted in the field for reference. These of course have no map.
 
So everything else we have heard about this detector and " limited GPS" was what this guy talks about! :yikes: LMAO :rofl::rage: REALLY???????? Are you bying a GPS or state of the art machine. No seriously, I may never use the GPS but downloading the exchange 2 and ctx manuals could fix some of the wrong info popping up everywhere!
 
MHirschmann said:
WHAT???? You mean to tell me I can't plug in the address of my nearest Dairy Queen so that I can get a Blizzard while hunting??? I guess I'll have to cancel my order for the CTX now. J/K, take it easy.
Click to expand...

HEY!.......I love Dairy Queen. I've been known to down the better part of a box of Dilly Bars. I think I got down to 3 left before I couldn't feel my lips anymore:yikes:

Dave
 
The GPS is the least of my worries with the CTX, I would probably never use it, but I think you need the Exchange 2 loaded on your computer for the maps and neat stuff.
 
All feedback is appreciated. I know this is the CTX forum and machines are not even out to the consumers yet, but I know I will be posting my impression on ALL aspects of the machine when I get mine. Good or Bad.

GPS is a selling point used on the web page and on the brochures so it is fair to express ones opinion-positive or negative. I would hate people to hesitate to post honest opinions in fear of negative replies.

The focus for me is not the GPS but locating targets in the trash that other machines can not ID, but it is good to know to not have too high an expectation regarding the GPS in the machines as to not be totally let down.

I do appreciate the feedback from others and keep it coming!

Ron Swenson
Ron (CA)
 
I understand brand loyalty and all, but take it easy people. I presented what I saw and thought.
I understand about the logging onto a computer and using Goggle maps too. That was not my point.
The idea was to be able to see surrounding terrain and other location data. It would have been nice for example to see a map of your surrounding location.

Not just an "X" with squiggly lines on a nondescript display.

I like new technology too, but I expect more for my money.

Robert

:nopity:
 
Fair enough I agree I hope everyone is honest about the strengths and weakness of this machine. I plan and giving all my views I am sure minelab will not fail with this detector. I am sure it will not be for everyone but I bet for the most part it exceed our hopes. On the GPS i do not use one when I hunt and for me if I do. All i will need is the dtat stored till I can up load it to exchange and then do map viewing.
 
TreasureHawk said:
I understand brand loyalty and all, but take it easy people. I presented what I saw and thought.
I understand about the logging onto a computer and using Goggle maps too. That was not my point.
The idea was to be able to see surrounding terrain and other location data. It would have been nice for example to see a map of your surrounding location.

Not just an "X" with squiggly lines on a nondescript display.

I like new technology too, but I expect more for my money.

Robert

:nopity:
Click to expand...

It's a basic GPS system like a Garmin eTrex10 not a mapping GPS system. You do realize how much that would've added to the price? The mapping is done on the PC.
 
My machine is ordered. I don't expect the GPS to be anywhere near as accurate as a surveying unit or even a hand held unit. I hunt farm fields a lot. Trying to go back to a hot spot in a farm field is not as easy as one might think. With the GPS, being able to get back to the approximate area of good finds, to me is a very important feature. Plotting on a map on the PC is just the icing on the cake, for record keeping, etc.
 
I agree. The map screen is comprised of 5 horizontal "cells" X 4 vertical cells. That makes for 20 cells within the map screen. I can have each cell represent 10 yards, 20 yards or 100 yards. This allows the screen to "zoom out" to a map that is 500 yards E/W and 400 yards N/S. If I set the scale to 10 yards per cell, I can zoom in to a map that is now 50 yards E/W and 40 yards N/S. That means if my Findpoint is in the middle of one of those cells, and I have it set for 10 yards per cell, I know when I am within 5 yards of where I placed it originally. If it is more to the left or right of the cell, or more toward the top or bottom of that cell, it brings me closer than 5 yards. HH Randy
 
be good if going to somewhere new and not familiar with and want to know where you went and found stuff if going back 6 months latter and have forgot that's what i would like it for.

BP
 
[size=large]The 3030 has the ability to simply show you start point and when you get lost, you can simply go back to your start point within a foot of so. For a lot of people that may not mean much but I hunt in the mountains and sometimes I get "turned around"... Relic hunting sometimes can cover 100's of acres. Also when you download your info to the computer, you can overlay it on a map, giving you a "picture" of what happened where, where the most targets were found, etc. The CTX 3030 is super innovative in its ability considering that it's main purpose is to detect.. I realize that this function will not be useful to all but it is there when you need it. By using the smaller grid, it is
even useful to mark your targets and see where even a small area produces... Best to all, Richard[/size]
 
Here is a video of the GPS and mapping.


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNwJt35YdOg&feature=g-all-u[/video]
 
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