What do you like about the CTX & What would you like to see improved or added?

[Altamaha]

As a computer engineer/programmer and metal detectorist for the last 31 years, I have always been impressed with Minelab's technical innovations. I have owned several previous minelab detectors (Original Sovereign, Explorer XS, Explorer II, Explorer SE, E-Trac) and see the CTX as a notable improvement on previous models and the continuation of a fine metal detector design tradition.

Likes

Waterproofing, balance, wireless audio

The grids on the display are welcomed and very useful for discerning finer more accurate cursor positions. This was the very first recommendation that I made to Minelab after receiving my new Explorer XS. I finally designed a gridded template myself which was a big improvement especially on the Explorers with their S-curve positioning of the target ID cursor. I'm glad that Minelab finally got around to adding this feature.

Faster processor, response time & target separation

Target Trace

Combined Mode Tone ID Profile

For those of us Explorer users who loved the machine's TID response characteristics when hunting in "Iron Mask, All Metal, Ferrous Tone Mode" and were not too happy to have lost that on the E-Trac, the CTX's Combined Mode allows us to greatly improve on the Explorer's "All Metal Ferrous Mode response type characteristics and much more. With the CTX "The Iron Drone can again be your friend"

Color Display, user options, GPS


Wish list - Improvements & additions

Have the CTX remember both the current & previous modes in the user options stack after power down. Currently the previous mode user option must be reset after power down and power up.

Add a user option to toggle between the current size and a larger size of the status bar. Currently the small status bar/fonts are very difficult to read especially with sunlight & glare.

Display the version/level of the CTX software/microcode on the splash screen on power up

Higher contrast colors (less grey scale) to improve display readability

Integrated target probe


Keep up the good work Minelab!

 

[INSAYN]

Likes
Balance is crazy, I love it!
Menus are easy to navigate.
User has control over ground balance.
Push button pin point trigger, rather than a toggle lever. Always afraid of snagging the toggle lever on my Whites detectors.


Things that could be improved on.

I feel that the location of the Fe/Co numbers on the screen should be user defined. Top, center, near bottom, or completely on the bottom if the Sensitivty is not selected to be on. Right now, they completely block the clock, and if using the large numbers it blocks the coin area of the grid.

Auto sensitivity has -3 to +3 offset, why stop there? Couldn't it be a wider variable like -10 to +10?

As mentioned in Altamaha's post, contrast needs some work for daylight use, as does a factory screen that does not have the glare issue.

Thanks Minelab!

 

[Altamaha]

Things that could be improved on.

"I feel that the location of the Fe/Co numbers on the screen should be user defined. Top, center, near bottom, or completely on the bottom if the Sensitivty is not selected to be on. Right now, they completely block the clock, and if using the large numbers it blocks the coin area of the grid."



That's an excellent idea NSAYN. The clock, etc being hidden by the Target ID Displays is annoying.


Altamaha

 

[goodmore]

I would like to see an 8 inch coil.

 

[D&P-OR]

Yes, OH YES--I would like to (love to) see an 8" coil also!----Are you listening Minelab?

I would like to see an 8 inch coil.

 

[Crusty]

There is already a huge thread on this subject......probably best from an organizational point of view to add what you want on the CTX to that thread.

Dave

 

[wildherre]

+ one on the hidden clock and the 8" coil...I also liked how easy it was to toggle between auto & manual sensitivity on the Etrac....More color display choices like on the V3, different colors for different programs, different colors for daytime vs night hunting etc etc...On a v3 you can pick a color combination for night hunting that is highly visible but doesn't blind you after looking at it... also fully assignable tones... The Xchange 2 program is too difficult to use... If I send someone a mlf file they should be able to just click on it and it opens Xchange 2 & opens the mlf file .. For all of the Sunray probe users, not having a quality pin pointer available at time of release & even now for that matter, was/is a giant loss of revenue for the company.. oh, and a fully wireless headphone option would be nice ... Its the best detector I have ever owned but still some room for improvement.... wildherre

 

[Howard Snell]

I was thinking today a mute button might be a good idea. So I can hear my pin pointer.

 

[jas415]

I would like to see the display 'cocked' (somehow able to adjust the viewing angle) toward the left, as I am right handed, and would be able to see it a bit betterl Less glare. I assume there are nothing but cables in the handle so an ability to adjust it left or right would help.

 

[SE-5]

I would like to see the display 'cocked' (somehow able to adjust the viewing angle) toward the left, as I am right handed, and would be able to see it a bit betterl Less glare. I assume there are nothing but cables in the handle so an ability to adjust it left or right would help.

excellent point! and I'd like it to come with a printed manual.

 

[orio]

The Minelab CTX is on the top at the market of detector special in the case
of the possibility to record the discovery documentation, deepness and
discrimination.

Improvements & additions
weight 1,3kg

pack size 60cm

Xcahnge 2 for MAC

A further USP of the Xchange would be, if you are able to print the records
and send individual records via mail for example to an archaeologist.

8 inch coil

 

[Altamaha]

"I'd like it to come with a printed manual."





A printed manual, YES! I was really disappointed that Minelab didn't provide one. For a piece of equipment that costs $2500.00 I would expect nothing less, and I wasn't too happy having to pay $46.00 to have a manual color printed and soft bound at Staples!


Altamaha

 

[C&RHunter]

I was thinking today a mute button might be a good idea. So I can hear my pin pointer.

I realize that these are things people would like to have modified with the CTX/XChange2. But for right now, there is a "work around" solution to muting. If you are using the WM10, with or without headphones attached, it is just a matter of turning off the WM10. The CTX is still operating, but the speaker was deactivated when turning on the WM10, and does not automatically come back on when the WM10 is turned off. Also, I have an older set of SunRay ProGolds. There is a switch on them, that if it is the incorrect position, there is essentially no sound emitted from the headphones, this allows a flip of the switch and things are quiet...........Just a couple of "work around" solutions to muting the audio, and still having the CTX on..HH

 

[WildOutdoorAddict]

quote=D&P-OR]
Yes, OH YES--I would like to (love to) see an 8" coil also!----Are you listening Minelab?

I would like to see an 8 inch coil.

[/quote] X3

 

[Ferrous Bueller]

More bins.

 

[Silverstore]

Dislikes:
- To few buttons
- therefore complicated to use UI (compared to E-Trac)

Likes:
- Akku holds long time
- very good sensitivity


For this version of the CTX i would like to see more Firmware Updates with new features.
I do not know how much memory the developers have left in the machine.

If possible, I would liek to see more information on the ground target. Maybe sinus curves like the whites have?

Pin-Pointer could directly display the direction where the target is (left/right/up/down) and the distance to the target.
Instead of just an distance. Also the Pinpoiner on the E-Trac was even easier readable then these actual "moving dots".

The in a newer version i would like to have much more buttons, so there is no need to fight through "endless menus" to change a setting.

And then i would like to have a chip integrated, like its in those controllers of the WII-Gamepads or in any Smartphone.

Such a chip shows the movement/position of the coil, and it shows the CPU, if its actually moving left or right or standing.

Taking account of this information about the coil position,. while analyzing the signal strength per frequency, can give much closer information on the real depth and size of a potential target.

 

[hershey1]

The 8 inch coil would be great. HH

 

[nolanation]

What I am confused about is what is SO HARD about using Xchange2? I find it to be very simple.

 

[Silverstore]

Exchange 2 is quite simple to usem yet you have to understand the concept first that is far from any "Normal" windows application.
And you need to click a lot of buttons for things that could have been done much easier in a convenient way.

Also i wonder that it does not run on MACs because its basically a WEB-App, it should be possible to run it in any browser with few changes.
Ok, let me add something about Exchange 2.

WHY do i need to each time Login?
Where is the "stay logged in" checkmark?

For me i am now using an Auto-Login Script, that will automatically log me in. But what will all those other people do?
How do you log in?

[pre]
' Smart Package Robot Script-Exchange 2 Auto-Login
'Author: Theo Gottwald
'Creation date: Feb. 2013
'===========================================================
'#EXE:?pfad\
'#SPI:ForceWrite
'
$$LOG=LOGIN
$$PWD=Password

GSB.runit
GSB.Login
ENR.
'-----------------------------------------------------------
' Run Exchange 2 if its not running
:runit
STW.ctwg|Chrome_WidgetWin_0|XChange 2 - Your Detecting Connection|88|over
VAF.$$EXE=?appdata\XChange2\XChange2.exe
VAF.$$PAH=?appdata\XChange2\
VAF.$$EXE=$$PAHXChange2.exe
CHD.$$PAH
EXX.$$EXE -d'.\' -n'mldata' -r
STW.ctwo|Chrome_WidgetWin_0|XChange 2 - Your Detecting Connection|88|out
ver
RET.
'-----------------------------------------------------------
:Login
STW.ctwVX|Chrome_WidgetWin_0|XChange 2 - Your Detecting Connection|0|over
SWP.1180,0|1379,1040

' Are we already logged in?
NPC.o|945,439|=&HDBDBDB
GTver
EIF.
STW.ct|Chrome_WidgetWin_0|XChange 2 - Your Detecting Connection
MMV.
SCW.nct|1|Chrome_WidgetWin_0|XChange 2 - Your Detecting Connection
SCW.nct|1|Chrome_RenderWidgetHostHWND|{&NOTEXT:}

' Clear Textboxes from previous content
MDC.o|911,532
PAU.0.2
SKP.{DEL}
GSB.Lab_del
SKP.$$LOG
PAU.0.2
SKP.{TAB}
PAU.0.2
GSB.Lab_del
SKP.$$PWD
PAU.0.2
' Click Login
MLI.c|935,591
RET.
'-----------------------------------------------------------
' Clear Textboxes from previous content
:Lab_del
PAU.0.2
KYD.{strg}
SKP.a
PAU.0.2
KYU.{strg}
PAU.0.2
SKP.{BS}
PAU.0.2
RET.
'-----------------------------------------------------------
ut
ENR.
'-----------------------------------------------------------
[/pre]

PS: There should be no smileys in formatted code ? .

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

Currently, the map always displays "north" as up. It would be easier if my heading was straight up and the north indicator rotated.