I've had my Etrac a few weeks now. Like most directorists, I always wondered what I was leaving behind, that is, whether my detector was getting the optimum depth, discrimination, etc. In my 35+ years of serious detecting, I've owned most of the major brands, and, again, like a lot of you, have been on the search for the "best" detector out there. Well, one thing my years of detecting has taught me is that the person swinging the machine is the greatest variable. An experienced detectorist, who knows his machine and has the right amount of patience and concentration, will make more and better finds, on average, than the inexperienced guy/gal, regardless of the machines being used.
All that, notwithstanding, I wanted to see if the Etrac lives up to the reputation it seems to have among its owners.
For me, at least, it does! I have not made any earth-shattering finds. Didn't really expect to, given the fact that I am still at the beginner level with Etrac and given the fact that I am testing it in a public park that has been hit by every person around who owns a detector. In fact, I first detected it back in 1982 and have had great success over the years, finding not only "tons" of silver coins, Wheaties, rings (gold, silver and junk), but tons of clad and all the junk that goes with public parks. It is the perfect venue for testing a new machine. Anyway, my second trip out, I found the first silver dime that I've found in two years there. Not only that, every time out, I've found at least one Wheatie, which had disappeared for me years back. The Etrac is punching down to depths that the other detectors I used there didn't.
One of the things that kept me from going to this model (besides the rather hefty price), was my belief that the detector was big and heavy, compared to the machines I've been using lately (Gold Bug Pro, AT Pro, At Gold). I'm very surprised and pleased how well-balanced the Etrac is and how long my almost 70-year-old arms can swing it, without getting fatigued. In fact, my greatest source of fatigue is in the increased digging I'm having to do. The discrimination is spot-on and this thing is a nickle-killer! Etrac is going to be my go-to machine for a long time!
All that, notwithstanding, I wanted to see if the Etrac lives up to the reputation it seems to have among its owners.
For me, at least, it does! I have not made any earth-shattering finds. Didn't really expect to, given the fact that I am still at the beginner level with Etrac and given the fact that I am testing it in a public park that has been hit by every person around who owns a detector. In fact, I first detected it back in 1982 and have had great success over the years, finding not only "tons" of silver coins, Wheaties, rings (gold, silver and junk), but tons of clad and all the junk that goes with public parks. It is the perfect venue for testing a new machine. Anyway, my second trip out, I found the first silver dime that I've found in two years there. Not only that, every time out, I've found at least one Wheatie, which had disappeared for me years back. The Etrac is punching down to depths that the other detectors I used there didn't.
One of the things that kept me from going to this model (besides the rather hefty price), was my belief that the detector was big and heavy, compared to the machines I've been using lately (Gold Bug Pro, AT Pro, At Gold). I'm very surprised and pleased how well-balanced the Etrac is and how long my almost 70-year-old arms can swing it, without getting fatigued. In fact, my greatest source of fatigue is in the increased digging I'm having to do. The discrimination is spot-on and this thing is a nickle-killer! Etrac is going to be my go-to machine for a long time!
