Probe for E-Trac

[DavefromCt]

I have been using the vibra probe for years and really like it. I've heard wonderful reviews for the sunray x-1 probe and wondered if anyone out there has compared the two and if the Sunray is better, why? That may convince me to get one if there are advatages. Thank you! -Dave

 

[Nick A]

I have had both.
Love the Sunray. I have vowed never to buy another detector unless or until there is a Sunray probe for it.

The Vibraprobe is big and bulky, awkward to carry. I like to travel light.
I love that the Sunray is on board (nothing extra to carry, nothing to forget at home or in the car).
I love that it uses my detector electronics - it's like a 1" coil - can ID targets on the meter.
I can use it like a 1" coil and pinpoint with it as well.
Sunray has no batteries to replace.
Sunray can't get lost.
Sunray doesn't matter which direction you store it... up-down-horizontal. ;-)
Sunray is deeper than I ever got with the Vibraprobe. I can pinpoint coins up to 3" which is great for popping clad with a screwdriver.
Sunray has a great warranty, and all the ones I have owned have been super durable. No problems (knock on wood).

On the down side, some woods hunters complain about the extra wire getting caught on branches, and I can see that being a valid point.
Some people seem super sensitive to the weight of the probe attached to the detector. I don't even notice it.

 

[EddieB]

Hey Nick, I too use the X1 probe on my explorers and now the etrac. I have noticed and just wonder if you have yourself a difference with the probe's performance when on the etrac. I myself see less depth with the probe and greater discrimination when on the etrac. I not in anyway criticizing the x1 but wonder if you and others are seeing the same results. Please comment. Thank you all in advance!! To all have a great Memorial Day weekend and happy hunting. EddieB

 

[pro778]

I have the Sunray on a Garrett and love it. I think it's the best probe made. I didn't want the weight on the E-Trac so I bought the Garrett probe. It's almost as good as the Sunray and easy to carry and your not swinging the added weight.

 

[Nick A]

The pinpoint mode with the E-Trac is definitely not as strong or "positive" as on the Explorer with the Sunray. At first I had this impression of less depth, but it seems to be fine for me in non-pinpoint. I think this is a function of the changed pinpoint mode on the E-Trac. I find however that the pinpoint "normal" mode with the E-Trac is dead on, compared to the Explorer which could be a little less accurate.

I am running high auto sensitivity and think that may affect the performance of the probe as well. If you are running auto sensitivity, you may want to see what happens when you switch over to the probe? Also the high sensitivity makes the probe more sensitive to all metal in pinpoint, so if you are digging a good target near trash, the pinpoint signal will get "pulled away" by the probe, if that makes sense... the probe gets confused and distracted kinda

 

[bcoop]

With a Garrett Pro Pointer you won't be disappointed. Place it in your cargo pants or wear the holster on your belt. Excellent tool. I use it with my GTI 2500 and my E-Trac.

 

[moseng]

I used a Pistol Probe (and a couple of others) with my E-Trac for a couple of hunts but ended up with a Sunray. Although the Pistol Probe had more depth you just can't beat the fact that the Sunray works as a mini coil so you can hear the exact same sounds when digging. Can't imagine hunting without it.

 

[Magicman]

I can recover a lot of targets and dig less with the X-1 probe. I have another probe but when you have other objects (Junk) near the good target, it gets to be a pain. The X-1 probe is great as a mini-coil. I can switch back and forth from coil to pinpoint without looking at the buttons on the E-Trac. For me the X-1 probe is #1.

 

[Steve in OK]

I have had many machines and used just about all the probes. The Sunray is good but to me not worth the extra weight and wires it adds to the Explorers. I used to love it and then I tried the Uniprobe headphones. I drop the small probe in my pouch and away I go. Some people like the Sunray better because it discriminates but my philosophy on that is that if there is iron in the hole you dig you need to get it out anyway so your detector will provide the best signal. The Uniprobe is more expensive than the Sunray but you have to keep in mind that you are getting quality headphones and a pinpointer in one package.

 

[LilloEsquilo]

I've had both. The vibra probe is excellent in every respect but one - depth. The most you are going to get on a coin is a little over an inch of depth. That may be all you need and if so, it's easy to use, rugged and does an excellent job.

The Sun ray will get you up to about 3 inches. That extra depth is what I want. In addition to that, it's mounted on your detector, so it uses your detector's discrimination and gives you signal info on your screen. It's very handy and to me well worth the money and is what I'm using today.

I recommend the Sun ray but if you want one that isn't attached to your detector, also consider the Garrett propointer. It too will give 2 to 3 inches depth, is rugged and about the same as the Vibraprobe, only problem I saw with it is it's LOUD, too loud as I don't want to attract attention when I'm out, and you are already a kid magnet walking around with a detector. But this one is great and worth a look too if you don't go with the Sun ray.

 

[DavefromCt]

Ok, thanks a lot for the info!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hi Dave, I use the VibraProbe (I have two - I like the older ones much better than the new units) AND the SunRay X-1 together. I use the X-1 to find the general direction of a target in the hole or if it's in the plug. The X-1 is a PITA to do a fine pinpoint with - you have to switch over to pinpoint on the control panel, detune the probe, and then it's still noisy - in normal mode it'll read a nearby target off the side of the tip so I find it very frustrating to do a fine pinpoint with. I'll reach for the VibraProbe to find the target if I know it's right there somewhere in the hole or in the pile of dirt - much easier & much faster. That being said, just the VibraProbe is not enough - you need the X-1 for the depth....they make a good combo.