please can anybody let me know if its worth buying a minelab e=trac has it got any faults and if so could they be fixed with a downloadable patch as i believe they can be linked up to a computer,or would you buy the minelab explorer se,i wouldn't like to buy one then six months or a year later an e-trac 2 and 3 comes out
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minelab e-trac
- Thread starter fredb
- Start date
Andy Sabisch
Active member
The ability to connect the E-Trac to the computer is only to transfer programs and settings to the computer for storage or back up to the detector for use. The E-Trac Xchange application does not allow changes to be made to patterns on the computer for uploading nor updating of the software internal to the detector as it has been "locked" to prevent people from hacking the program.
As far as which to buy, check out the posts on the E-Trac & Explorer forums, post a few questions of your own and start digging . . . and if you are worried about when the next model is coming out, you will wind up never buying anything because as they say "Whenever you buy, there might be something faster and cheaper teh next day".
Good luck in your decision
Andy
As far as which to buy, check out the posts on the E-Trac & Explorer forums, post a few questions of your own and start digging . . . and if you are worried about when the next model is coming out, you will wind up never buying anything because as they say "Whenever you buy, there might be something faster and cheaper teh next day".
Good luck in your decision
Andy
No faults in mine. Works great, I'm getting tons of silver coins. Definitely worth it to me!
The computer hookup is NOT for upgrades or patches. It is only to manage your settings on your individual unit.
Detector companies will always be coming out with new units.
Minelab Explorers and E-Tracs are all great machines and will find most of the same targets, so get one and don't look back.
If budget is a concern get a used Explorer and put the Pro coil or a 10x12 SEF on it and you've got a dam fine deep seeking and great IDing machine.
The computer hookup is NOT for upgrades or patches. It is only to manage your settings on your individual unit.
Detector companies will always be coming out with new units.
Minelab Explorers and E-Tracs are all great machines and will find most of the same targets, so get one and don't look back.
If budget is a concern get a used Explorer and put the Pro coil or a 10x12 SEF on it and you've got a dam fine deep seeking and great IDing machine.
cosmic hillbilly
Member
I see what you mean. I bought a brand new x-terra a few months back only to find out that shortly thereafter minelab came out with a 705 model. Needless to say my 70 lost a lot of value. Before that I was thinking about buying the latest top of the line PI unit from minelab but changed my mind. From now on the only minelab detectors I will ever buy are used models. Nothing new anymore from minelab.
I actually have / had it working in Linux. Out of our 7 computers in the house, only 1 has windows and thats because I have not converted my wife yet. 
Yes I am a geek. I only tinkered with the exchange software with Wine for a few minutes and then switched over to using it in a virtual box on Debian and Ubuntu
This could probably use its own thread and I dont wanna get to off topic, but you could probably setup a virtual box on a mac and use it. I dont know that one for a fact though
Yes I am a geek. I only tinkered with the exchange software with Wine for a few minutes and then switched over to using it in a virtual box on Debian and UbuntuThis could probably use its own thread and I dont wanna get to off topic, but you could probably setup a virtual box on a mac and use it. I dont know that one for a fact though
LilloEsquilo
New member
Well it's hard to say if it's the machine for you. I'm happy with mine, but everyone is different.
As far as I know, there is no way to patch the software in the E-Trac, the USB connection is just so you can save/exchange patterns and settings.
Faults, yeah, the depth reading on shallow coins outside of pinpoint mode is not very accurate, but if you switch to pinpoint it gets a lot better. This is only for relatively shallow coins, and when you go to pinpoint it is accurate. Not a deal breaker by any means but it would be great if they fixed it at some point.
It is also heavy compared to many machines. To me it's worth it, the finds I'm making make it worth that extra weight.
Oh I'm sure someday they will come out with better machines, what company doesn't? I guess your options are to either figure this is a great machine and I'm going to use it and have fun, or I will save my money forever waiting for the time they never produce anything new, so that I won't get left behind, and never go detecting. Are they coming out with anything in the near future? I don't know, check their website - I'm too busy using my E-Trac to worry about it.
Here is a suggestion - find a dealer in your area and go try one out. Have the dealer demo it and let you try it and see what you think, before you spend your money.
As far as I know, there is no way to patch the software in the E-Trac, the USB connection is just so you can save/exchange patterns and settings.
Faults, yeah, the depth reading on shallow coins outside of pinpoint mode is not very accurate, but if you switch to pinpoint it gets a lot better. This is only for relatively shallow coins, and when you go to pinpoint it is accurate. Not a deal breaker by any means but it would be great if they fixed it at some point.
It is also heavy compared to many machines. To me it's worth it, the finds I'm making make it worth that extra weight.
Oh I'm sure someday they will come out with better machines, what company doesn't? I guess your options are to either figure this is a great machine and I'm going to use it and have fun, or I will save my money forever waiting for the time they never produce anything new, so that I won't get left behind, and never go detecting. Are they coming out with anything in the near future? I don't know, check their website - I'm too busy using my E-Trac to worry about it.
Here is a suggestion - find a dealer in your area and go try one out. Have the dealer demo it and let you try it and see what you think, before you spend your money.