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Should someone who has no experiance with the E-trac or SE Pro take the plunge and buy the CTX 3030
- Thread starter Pookybear
- Start date
GateKeeper
Well-known member
No. You will never understand it. Dont buy one. Too many buttons. Get dowsing rods instead.
I was in your shoes too. I had only owned the 705 as a ML machine. I had owned decal detectors in the past and still currently have three others besides the CTX I read and studied and asked tons of questions and fianally pulled the trigger and bought a CTX a couple of months ago. I think it is another tool to use for this hobby. I really like all the information it provides while detecting. So much more than a grunt high tone and a single number on a display.
I am still learning and use it almost exclusively lately but I like to use my others from time to time. I think they all have their place in certain conditions and settings. The CTX is a great machine and glad that I went ahead and bought one.
Best thing I can say is read the classroom forum and ask questions.
HH
Jim
I am still learning and use it almost exclusively lately but I like to use my others from time to time. I think they all have their place in certain conditions and settings. The CTX is a great machine and glad that I went ahead and bought one.
Best thing I can say is read the classroom forum and ask questions.
HH
Jim
I had never even thought about MD before August. I had no interest in it, but a friend of mine has been detecting for ever and was telling me about it. I thought why not and started looking into buying a metal detector. I wanted the best so I bought the 3030 and I absolutely love it. I'm hooked and metal. It is a huge learning curve, but if you have an addictive personality like me and you're already on here looking into it. GET IT!!!
No having an E-trac could be an advantage when buying a CTX. I was very happy with my E-trac, but wanted better discrimination on deep targets in trashy areas, so I bought a CTX. I think having an E-trac cluttered my thinking a bit with the CTX, causing me to become a bit frustrated with all the additional information and features. I am 70, and the old brain does not remember all it should, so I struggled a bit, but with the 6" coil, in the last two months the CTX has been outstanding!!!
Unless you are financially strapped I would go for the CTX. It doesn't end at the 2500 for the machine.. The accessories are priced high too.. If you want a full set of coils you are looking at another $700.. BUT, I value my time more than money. I don't have all the time in the world and I figure if I am going to use my precious 3-4 hour hunting time I better be using the best equipment possible. That being said you can get some killer deals on e-trac's and SE's right now.. Neither one of those machines are slouches either.
It may be better in a way that you have no experience with the Explorers or the E-Trac when learning a CTX 3030. Many people like myself try to use what we had learned about the Explorers when we got the E-Trac and found out they are different detectors and used a little different, so now with the CTX 3030 we that have used the E-Trac see too that these are also used and set up different.
If you are used to a beep and dig detector you will see that the higher end Minelab like the Sovereigns,Safaris,Explorers,E-Trac and now the CTX are going to be different that what you been used to, so spend the time to get to know and learn them and you wont be sorry. Just look at the finds that are posted on any one of the Minelab detectors by those that took the time to learn and understand a Minelab.
Good luck on your decision
Rick.
If you are used to a beep and dig detector you will see that the higher end Minelab like the Sovereigns,Safaris,Explorers,E-Trac and now the CTX are going to be different that what you been used to, so spend the time to get to know and learn them and you wont be sorry. Just look at the finds that are posted on any one of the Minelab detectors by those that took the time to learn and understand a Minelab.
Good luck on your decision
Rick.
BrakingGnus
New member
I was always a White's and Garrett's user. Love the CTX so far.
I was in your shoes more or less never having had an SE or E-trac and took the plunge on the CTX. As others have stated it might be an advantage not having the other models and just learning the CTX. Learning the language is key and takes some practice. I only have around 25 hours on mine and still need more mind to train my brain to the sounds. My other Minelabs that I own and use the Excal, GP3000 and Quatrro(not this one so much). Prior to the CTX the MXT and ATGold were my main coin machines which continue to have their place in my detector arsenal.
I ended up with the CTX cause I wanted the best coin machine out there. So far I have about 102 coins (clad) 1 wheat and 1 cool Good For token. Still on the silver hunt. Shallow coins less than say 5" are no problem in my area and give solid clear tones and ID's. So far I have no coins deeper than 6" but that may be a function of my mineralized ground or I just haven't put my coil over it. Iron falsing can be challenge for a newbie like my self and I have dug down 8-10" on some tricky iron signals than sounded good and ID'd two ways.
Ergonomics are a big positive factor with this machine. Simply it's the best. Really no arm fatigue or tendinitis issues here. Also don't forget the wireless. I rave about this every time out. Oh yeah almost forgot -it's waterproof to 10'- looks like rain won't spoil your hunt. I was going to get an E-trac, SE or CTX and I'm glad I got the CTX.
I ended up with the CTX cause I wanted the best coin machine out there. So far I have about 102 coins (clad) 1 wheat and 1 cool Good For token. Still on the silver hunt. Shallow coins less than say 5" are no problem in my area and give solid clear tones and ID's. So far I have no coins deeper than 6" but that may be a function of my mineralized ground or I just haven't put my coil over it. Iron falsing can be challenge for a newbie like my self and I have dug down 8-10" on some tricky iron signals than sounded good and ID'd two ways.
Ergonomics are a big positive factor with this machine. Simply it's the best. Really no arm fatigue or tendinitis issues here. Also don't forget the wireless. I rave about this every time out. Oh yeah almost forgot -it's waterproof to 10'- looks like rain won't spoil your hunt. I was going to get an E-trac, SE or CTX and I'm glad I got the CTX.
If you don't get a CTX 3030 you will always have that what if question in the back of your mind. I still have my E-Trac and all the coils for it and use it occassionally but as good a machine as the E-Trac is the CTX is much better. If you can afford the CTX then by all means get it. You won't be sorry. Do your homework there are some great deals out there. Call the Findmall sponsers and you can save a LOT of $$$. Good luck and HH 
muttandjeeps
New member
yes.
scoopjohnb
New member
Every detector you own will teach you about the others.
I've got 6, 4 minelabs and 2 fishers. Do I have a favourite? Yes all 6 when my fancy takes to it, off course they have different design intents.
CTX without prior detecting experience will do 1 thing, it will spoil you.
Audio is great, detecting performance is great, visual TID is great, menu system is nice to use.
Something else to consider, it is very possible to use the same complex mechanical or electronical devices for several decades and still find new ways of doing things.
Never stop thinking about how you should do it!!
I've got 6, 4 minelabs and 2 fishers. Do I have a favourite? Yes all 6 when my fancy takes to it, off course they have different design intents.
CTX without prior detecting experience will do 1 thing, it will spoil you.
Audio is great, detecting performance is great, visual TID is great, menu system is nice to use.
Something else to consider, it is very possible to use the same complex mechanical or electronical devices for several decades and still find new ways of doing things.
Never stop thinking about how you should do it!!