Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
Question on explorer's
- Thread starter John1 S
- Start date
a lot of guys who "updated" to the SE, ended up going back to their II's. The II seemed to have a little more tell-tale audio information, that the subsequent explorers didn't seem to have.
But as far as depth goes, they're all about the same. The newer ones just added whistles and bells. JMHO.
But as far as depth goes, they're all about the same. The newer ones just added whistles and bells. JMHO.
dewcon4414
Well-known member
I know several people who went back to the Exp II.... but it had more to do with the slim line coil. People were getting top dollar for those coils until the Pro and SEFs hit the market. Then came the Etrac.
Dew
Dew
Big Boys Hobbies
Well-known member
Depth is exact same. The main differences is a faster processor.
Other differences are the new pinpoint mode, a new audio response option (Pitch Hold), an expanded Iron Mask circuit, and the Pro has the Pro Coil
I am not a fan of VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) nor Ratchet pinpoint personally (neither have ratchet though).
Owned a SE but, I went back to the old trusty XSII but, it is all personal preference.
I am not a fan of VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) nor Ratchet pinpoint personally (neither have ratchet though).
Owned a SE but, I went back to the old trusty XSII but, it is all personal preference.
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
I am one of those guys that went back to the Explorer II. I tried hard to like the SE I bought. Finally after a year I sold it. Left a real bad taste in my mouth that sort of flares up when wishing I had a newer Minelab. The Explorer II is next on the block for being too old to get repaired though. I guess there are limited parts for them (SAD TO SAY). So that is a consideration too. I wish they still made them! I bet they would be out selling the SE by now (especially if they were a little less costly).
Keep in mind that when I bought mine, the SE was advertised to "Handle Iron Better" (they quit that claim real fast). This was a big deciding factor for me to drop a thousand bucks! I am not rich.
My SE lied to me about the one thing that really mattered - deep iron. Mine kept saying "it's a coin" then I would check at 90 deg. and it would say "It's A Coin! - Dig!" then I would dig up two-thirds of a square nail from nine inches down. That got old real fast!!! I could have probably set it up some different and overcome the problem, but the EII just worked the way I liked. When my EII says "It's A Coin! - Dig!", the only iron I dig is an occasional bent nail. I would say 95% of the time or better, a deep good ID is non-ferrous as indicated.
There, you got me going for the morning.
HH - BF
Keep in mind that when I bought mine, the SE was advertised to "Handle Iron Better" (they quit that claim real fast). This was a big deciding factor for me to drop a thousand bucks! I am not rich.
My SE lied to me about the one thing that really mattered - deep iron. Mine kept saying "it's a coin" then I would check at 90 deg. and it would say "It's A Coin! - Dig!" then I would dig up two-thirds of a square nail from nine inches down. That got old real fast!!! I could have probably set it up some different and overcome the problem, but the EII just worked the way I liked. When my EII says "It's A Coin! - Dig!", the only iron I dig is an occasional bent nail. I would say 95% of the time or better, a deep good ID is non-ferrous as indicated.
There, you got me going for the morning.
HH - BF
dewcon4414
Well-known member
BF you were kind of one of those people i was talking about..... did you try the SE with either of the newer coils? I know you werent happy with the slimline and it is chattery.... way to sensitive. When using it on the beach its like having your sensitivity maxed out on an SEF coil. I think they also added the feature of being able to get a digital reading in PP on the SE. Like BF said one of the biggest down sides is they are getting old and ML doesnt want to repair them.
Dew
Dew
you re willing to take the time to learn it.
Once you do...it's SUPERB at ID'ing deep silver coins in iron...no matter what you read to the contrary.
If you aren't able to understand what its saying while hunting in iron...and interperet the signals as iron or coin...then obviously you might prefer the EX2.
The SE PRO is NOT the same over iron as the EX2...it's not supposed to be. It has a slightly faster processor as well as a different coil....and is more sensitive. The signals sound different over iron...coins...and coins hiding in iron.
It just takes a little practice...sometimes a lot...but in the end it definitely does better in the iron for me than the EX2.
It is a little "hotter" than the EX2...and the EX2 is a little smoother because of it....but that "hotter" translates into "better" if you are patient.
The all metal, ID'ing pinpoint feature alone, which is exclusive to the SE is enough to put the SE a step above the EX2 in my opinion.
I have an EX2...an E-Trac...and two SE Pro's. The SE handles iron better for me...ID's while in all metal pinpoint mode...is my machine of choice...hands down
Check out the links below as they contain other bits of info that might help.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1620253,1622560#msg-1622560
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1632837,1633128#msg-1633128
Once you do...it's SUPERB at ID'ing deep silver coins in iron...no matter what you read to the contrary.
If you aren't able to understand what its saying while hunting in iron...and interperet the signals as iron or coin...then obviously you might prefer the EX2.
The SE PRO is NOT the same over iron as the EX2...it's not supposed to be. It has a slightly faster processor as well as a different coil....and is more sensitive. The signals sound different over iron...coins...and coins hiding in iron.
It just takes a little practice...sometimes a lot...but in the end it definitely does better in the iron for me than the EX2.
It is a little "hotter" than the EX2...and the EX2 is a little smoother because of it....but that "hotter" translates into "better" if you are patient.
The all metal, ID'ing pinpoint feature alone, which is exclusive to the SE is enough to put the SE a step above the EX2 in my opinion.
I have an EX2...an E-Trac...and two SE Pro's. The SE handles iron better for me...ID's while in all metal pinpoint mode...is my machine of choice...hands down
Check out the links below as they contain other bits of info that might help.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1620253,1622560#msg-1622560
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1632837,1633128#msg-1633128
Bought the II..............never did learn how to master it.. Dug many, many pieces of iron. very few Silver coins.
Switched to the Etrac........ Found a few more deep coppers, but still lacked on the deep Silver finds everyone posted about.
Had several Pm conversations with Bryce..........he was kind enough to share his experiences with me, and a lot of educational suggestions.
I purchased an Se pro........... Wow...a few weeks of detecting with the Se Pro and I was digging Silver 6 to 9" range in the exact same areas the other two machines failed "ME"..
All of a sudden I was enjoying detecting again.......... Finding good targets, stable operation and not digging much iron.. Sure some nails, and that is to be expected..but many times next to those nails was a nice copper, or Silver. Sometimes in the same hole with the Silver under the Iron..yet still got that nice Silver sound..
So I guess a lot of times it might be your soil, Your understanding what the detector is telling you, Your patience level with a detector...and many other reasons why one works, one doesn't work..
I'm happy using the Se pro.Find decent targets etc..... Now if I can just have one of those twenty (20) Silver days like some have posted.. LOL..A 10 day Silver would work too.
One other thing I want to mention about the Se pro.So far I have been able to use it every place I have gone.. None to maybe just a little interference from outside sources (EMI) a quick push of the button ( Noise cancel) and your good to go.
I also give credit to Bryce Brown for much of my what I consider success.... he hung in there with me while I was learning.. Thanks Bryce !!
Switched to the Etrac........ Found a few more deep coppers, but still lacked on the deep Silver finds everyone posted about.
Had several Pm conversations with Bryce..........he was kind enough to share his experiences with me, and a lot of educational suggestions.
I purchased an Se pro........... Wow...a few weeks of detecting with the Se Pro and I was digging Silver 6 to 9" range in the exact same areas the other two machines failed "ME"..
All of a sudden I was enjoying detecting again.......... Finding good targets, stable operation and not digging much iron.. Sure some nails, and that is to be expected..but many times next to those nails was a nice copper, or Silver. Sometimes in the same hole with the Silver under the Iron..yet still got that nice Silver sound..
So I guess a lot of times it might be your soil, Your understanding what the detector is telling you, Your patience level with a detector...and many other reasons why one works, one doesn't work..
I'm happy using the Se pro.Find decent targets etc..... Now if I can just have one of those twenty (20) Silver days like some have posted.. LOL..A 10 day Silver would work too.
One other thing I want to mention about the Se pro.So far I have been able to use it every place I have gone.. None to maybe just a little interference from outside sources (EMI) a quick push of the button ( Noise cancel) and your good to go.
I also give credit to Bryce Brown for much of my what I consider success.... he hung in there with me while I was learning.. Thanks Bryce !!
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
I used it with the Sun Ray Stealth 8" and the Standard 10.5" from my Explorer II. I used the slimline for a while at first. I think it was a beach trip that got me away from the Slimline coil - as you say too chattery in areas I could run smooth at max sens. with the 10.5". The SE still lied to me on the deep iron no matter what coil I used.
Thanks - BF
Thanks - BF
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
I am glad the SE works great for you! My experience is only with one SE and it could have been a lemon.
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
Bryce,
I gave it a year to try to hear the difference between iron and a good deep target... I guess I could tell tiny subtle differences in the "good iron tone", but not enough to say that it was absolutely a non-digger, quite the contrary. I had years of experience using the Explorers at that time. I really wanted to like my SE, especially after dropping over a thousand bucks! I purposely did not use my Explorer II during the year, so that I would get use to the SE.
It just was a dud. It could have been that the one SE I have experience with was a lemon. I have heard of guys going through numerous SE's before they got one they liked.
When I fired up the EII after a year, I knew I would never use the SE again. The signals that I had become so warry of, were again good targets. The deep iron was again easily identifiable. To me there was no comparison. You may be right - I never learned the differences between a good sounding nail and a good sounding indian head cent, both down at nine inches. To me they sounded completely the same!! Maybe it was a lemon, maybe my hearing isn't that good, I do not know. I truly wish I could say the SE worked better, can't do it though.
HH - BF
I gave it a year to try to hear the difference between iron and a good deep target... I guess I could tell tiny subtle differences in the "good iron tone", but not enough to say that it was absolutely a non-digger, quite the contrary. I had years of experience using the Explorers at that time. I really wanted to like my SE, especially after dropping over a thousand bucks! I purposely did not use my Explorer II during the year, so that I would get use to the SE.
It just was a dud. It could have been that the one SE I have experience with was a lemon. I have heard of guys going through numerous SE's before they got one they liked.
When I fired up the EII after a year, I knew I would never use the SE again. The signals that I had become so warry of, were again good targets. The deep iron was again easily identifiable. To me there was no comparison. You may be right - I never learned the differences between a good sounding nail and a good sounding indian head cent, both down at nine inches. To me they sounded completely the same!! Maybe it was a lemon, maybe my hearing isn't that good, I do not know. I truly wish I could say the SE worked better, can't do it though.
HH - BF
The fact is that for whatever reason you interpereted the signals over iron and deep coins differently than you did when using the EX2.
It doesn't mean you necessarily got a bad one. It simply means you did not prefer what you heard over iron, etc.
You got to know your EX2 very well and simply preferred what you hear over iron with that machine.
To me and many others it's the opposite.
I AGREE 100%...the sound isn't the same over said targets when using one machine or the other.
The fact is though...that it shouldn't be...just as those sounds are not the same when using the E-Trac instead of the SE....and again they shouldn't be.
While the SE and EX2 are explorers they are different machines with diffferent processors...and react slightly different over iron and other targets.
If we are able to interperet those signals as good vs bad or visa versa...then we praise and love that detector.
If we aren't...then we feel we got a "bad" one. You just simply prefer what the EX2 says over iron instead of what the SE says.
I'm the same way with my SE compared to the E-Trac....although many others would disagree.
I understand your frustration because I was one of the few who DID get an SE lemon from the start.
Here is a post I made over 4 years ago about my lemon jobber...lol.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?10,488257,490509#msg-490509
I prefer my SE over the EX2 and "newer tecnology" of the E-Trac HANDS DOWN!
Doesn't mean I got a bad E-Trac or that it doesn't handle deep coins next to iron as well as my SE.
It simply means that my SE (4 different ones) handles deep iron better than my 2 different E-Tracs...for ME
There are a zillion guys who went from the SE to the E-Trac and feel it's much better in iron than BOTH the EX2 and the SE. I'm NOT one of them.
I spent years on the EX2 and SE training my ears to interperet what I MYSELF consider a "dig me" me signal...so what the E-Trac says is or isn't...doesn't sound the same or better to me than my SE. I think your experience with EX2 and SE is similar to mine with the SE and E-Trac. No harm no foul. It is what it is for both of us.
Robin you did learn the differences between those sounds down 9"...but with the EX2 and not the SE because you found the "dig me" signal that worked for you..
I respect your opinion because I have the same opinion AND experience with the E-Trac...but it doesn't mean the the SE might not be a step up from the EX2...and the E-Trac might not be a step up from the SE. It simply means that YOU and ME feel they are not because we have both spent a zillion hours learning our preferred machines AND the language each speaks to us over iron.
I've seen your finds and pics over the years...and it's obvious you know the EX2 WELL.
On that same token my finds and pics of previously masked silver speak volumes of the SE's capabilities in heavy iron.
There is no need for you to learn a different sound over iron than what you prefer with the EX2. You have that EX2 sound DOWN SOLID
PS: My offer still stands I made to you over a year ago on that coil you wanted to try. Just let me know.
It doesn't mean you necessarily got a bad one. It simply means you did not prefer what you heard over iron, etc.
You got to know your EX2 very well and simply preferred what you hear over iron with that machine.
To me and many others it's the opposite.
I AGREE 100%...the sound isn't the same over said targets when using one machine or the other.
The fact is though...that it shouldn't be...just as those sounds are not the same when using the E-Trac instead of the SE....and again they shouldn't be.
While the SE and EX2 are explorers they are different machines with diffferent processors...and react slightly different over iron and other targets.
If we are able to interperet those signals as good vs bad or visa versa...then we praise and love that detector.
If we aren't...then we feel we got a "bad" one. You just simply prefer what the EX2 says over iron instead of what the SE says.
I'm the same way with my SE compared to the E-Trac....although many others would disagree.
I understand your frustration because I was one of the few who DID get an SE lemon from the start.
Here is a post I made over 4 years ago about my lemon jobber...lol.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?10,488257,490509#msg-490509
I prefer my SE over the EX2 and "newer tecnology" of the E-Trac HANDS DOWN!
Doesn't mean I got a bad E-Trac or that it doesn't handle deep coins next to iron as well as my SE.
It simply means that my SE (4 different ones) handles deep iron better than my 2 different E-Tracs...for ME
There are a zillion guys who went from the SE to the E-Trac and feel it's much better in iron than BOTH the EX2 and the SE. I'm NOT one of them.
I spent years on the EX2 and SE training my ears to interperet what I MYSELF consider a "dig me" me signal...so what the E-Trac says is or isn't...doesn't sound the same or better to me than my SE. I think your experience with EX2 and SE is similar to mine with the SE and E-Trac. No harm no foul. It is what it is for both of us.
Big Fang Coin Biter said:
Robin you did learn the differences between those sounds down 9"...but with the EX2 and not the SE because you found the "dig me" signal that worked for you..
I respect your opinion because I have the same opinion AND experience with the E-Trac...but it doesn't mean the the SE might not be a step up from the EX2...and the E-Trac might not be a step up from the SE. It simply means that YOU and ME feel they are not because we have both spent a zillion hours learning our preferred machines AND the language each speaks to us over iron.
I've seen your finds and pics over the years
...and it's obvious you know the EX2 WELL.On that same token my finds and pics of previously masked silver speak volumes of the SE's capabilities in heavy iron.
There is no need for you to learn a different sound over iron than what you prefer with the EX2. You have that EX2 sound DOWN SOLID
PS: My offer still stands I made to you over a year ago on that coil you wanted to try. Just let me know.
Big Fang Coin Biter said:
I thank you for the response BFCB..... Not sure there ever is a right or wrong on what works for each of us.... Sometimes it may just be our mindset on which one produces for us, and when one does we bear down a little stronger with it and find better coins.
I will repeat this one thing though. Bryce Brown made the difference for me with the Se pro.. As I stated the man hung in there with me from day one.Never giving up on guiding me through the learning curve. " Darn I bet he hated seeing my Pm's"....
I did find the Se pro worked better from the get go, and I was better able to get results with the Pro. I do really believe that some detectors work better in different areas......... with Bryce's patience I was able to figure out with his guidance how to get the better results with the Se Pro over the other two detectors.. From the outstanding finds I have seen you post up..For you, and your area the Exp II is the machine that gets it done for you.. I'm happy you found the one for you too... Your top notch people, Your also a detectorist with proven results whom I have admired greatly..
I'm just glad They make machines we can each use and get good results..I hope as time passes another machine can give me the same results as ours get old and can't be fixed and or replaced..
orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr We better buy a couple more and set them aside for the future LOL............
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
Thanks Bryce! So you are saying that three-quarters of a square nail down at 9" gives you high tone that you can hear as iron? Are you using conductive tones? Are you listening to the little rough edge trail-off or what? I was able to ID the above in ferrous tones, but that is not my preferred hunting mode. Tell me what you listen for on the deep questionable signals.
BF
BF
Big Fang Coin Biter
New member
n/t
Robin...3/4 of a nail at 9" deep will either null for me...or give a slight, intermittent chirp trying to fool me as a coin.
That's when I investigate that initial /false/chirp further to see if I "like" what I hear.
I can usually tell real fast whether it's just an iron false/chirp or possibly a chance of a coin in there with said iron chirp I want to further investigate.
Do I know....NO
...but I check that false/chirp real fast...and in that quick pass or 2 with the coil I decide whether to walk or to investigate further.
IF I decide to investigate further here's what I do:
Hit that false/chirp/signal from 4 angles as I do a 360 degree circle around the undug target.
I usually use quick, short, "minelab wiggle" types of passes (4 or 5 passes AND return passes) from each angle...then turn another 90 degrees and repeat...then again until I have hit it from at least 4 angles.
If I can get the sweet high warble to repeat from 2 of those 4 angles and the warble doesn't "break up" in any way...I'm digging.
If I don't get get a consistent, repeating warble on both the pass and return pass from 2 of the 4 angles...I walk.
Now to throw another cog in the iron wheel...Honestly there are a times when I will be able to get a repeating warble on only 1 angle out of the 4 BUT that warble is so sweet AND repeating like clockwork on each pass and return pass 5 or 6 times in a row that I'll give it a shot.
Does it always work...NOPE
. I do dig a few rusty nails every now and then BUT I made the choice to give it a shot before I dug the already iffy signal.
Honestly though Robin I don't dig much iron...and on occasion I will pop out some silver or injun's hiding in there with that iron as my finds and pics show.
That's when I investigate that initial /false/chirp further to see if I "like" what I hear.
I can usually tell real fast whether it's just an iron false/chirp or possibly a chance of a coin in there with said iron chirp I want to further investigate.
Do I know....NO
...but I check that false/chirp real fast...and in that quick pass or 2 with the coil I decide whether to walk or to investigate further.IF I decide to investigate further here's what I do:
Hit that false/chirp/signal from 4 angles as I do a 360 degree circle around the undug target.
I usually use quick, short, "minelab wiggle" types of passes (4 or 5 passes AND return passes) from each angle...then turn another 90 degrees and repeat...then again until I have hit it from at least 4 angles.
If I can get the sweet high warble to repeat from 2 of those 4 angles and the warble doesn't "break up" in any way...I'm digging.
If I don't get get a consistent, repeating warble on both the pass and return pass from 2 of the 4 angles...I walk.
Now to throw another cog in the iron wheel
...Honestly there are a times when I will be able to get a repeating warble on only 1 angle out of the 4 BUT that warble is so sweet AND repeating like clockwork on each pass and return pass 5 or 6 times in a row that I'll give it a shot.Does it always work...NOPE
. I do dig a few rusty nails every now and then BUT I made the choice to give it a shot before I dug the already iffy signal.Honestly though Robin I don't dig much iron...and on occasion I will pop out some silver or injun's hiding in there with that iron as my finds and pics show.