What is so hard about using the explorer series machines

[nwtreasure]

I too am new explorer user, just arrived in the mail yesterday (Explorer SE with pro coil). I have been reading posts, watching youtube videos, and studied the users manual for the last week knowing that I was going to buy one. Maybe that helped? I took it out for about an hour after it arrived in the mail. First impressions were similar to others slow slow slow recovery speed in trash areas with stock program and yes it will take some time to learn the tones but IMO the user settings are easier to learn, understand and Navigate than my DFX. I use the DFX almost exclusively in mixed mode which I think is very close to the constant tones of the explorer. I can see if someone was upgrading from a turn on and go type of machine like the ace series, MXT, or similar machine with few adjustments needing more time to understand some of the changes. or if you are a screen watcher which i am not. I think I was more intimidated by other users claims that it was so hard to use and learn. With the DFX which I absolutely love I always felt I had something else I needed to change to be successful, explorer seems like im ready to go right away. if i do need to change a setting its pretty self explanatory in the menu. If i had a suggestion for anyone considering the explorer series it would be not to be intimidated just get out and use it. the learning curve is very similar to any other machine with multi-tones. then again im not the type of person that only digs silver coins or cant stand digging trash (where there is trash there is treasure). I usually dig any repeatable signal above iron even if im pretty sure it is just a pull tab, ive been surprised before. im not trying to sound all knowing and every person will have a different experience I just don't think the curve is as long or steep as its made out to be.

 

[MikeO]

Granted turn and go its an easy machine but, it is the little things you will learn over time that will really help you get to the oldies.
Stock settings are good for someone starting out but, in no way optimal in my opinion.
The small things like learning the cursor movement/bounce on really deep coins will take some time.
I thought I had the machine down pat after about two years but, now after using the Explorer series over fourteen years I can tell you mastering it takes time.

Learning what settings work best for you will also take time.
There are a few things I would advise. One is go into the menu and switch from Conductive to Ferrous tones. that is explained in the sticky in one of the threads at the top of this page.
I also would drop the gain from 8 to 7. The Iron Mask setting is whatever you feel comfortable with but, opening it up to much right off the bat might overwhelm you. From that point on set you Threshold Hum and Tone Limits to whatever best suits you. Turn Fast off and Deep on. Last but, not least try to find you a nice X1 probe. They are bringing a premium since being discontinued but, once you hunt with it you will never look back.

Like you already mentioned the recovery time is not that fastest but, your SE is the quicker of all three generations. You still have to go slow.
Minelab really set the bar high for the competition when they introduced the XS in 1999 thats for sure.

I wish you all the best and I envy you being able to get out and hunt as we northerners for the most part are frozen solid.

 

[JAN1]

The hardest thing I found about using the Explorer SE Pro that I use is the time it took to learn the machine.
A couple of times I gave up and went back to my DP Wader, I have recently gone back to using the SE. After setting up a new program I now don't touch it and have got used to the tones, only changing the fast or deep settings and have been doing very well on our beaches, 400 within 1.5 hours drive.
I was down the beach yesterday and hardly looked at the screen and ended up with £6.50 and quite a lot of coppers including a 1946 George VI Penny but it was so cold I had to stop as most of my detecting is done in shallow water so it is very cold on the hands.
So the main thing I would say is keep at it.

 

[dmckee17]

I apologize for hijacking the thread here but have a Ferrous question for MikeO.
I have always been a conductive tones user but recently have been intrigued by the possibilities of unmasking some keepers at some old cabin sites littered with square nails out in the woods. The immediate area around site nulls constantly while in conductive, so one time I switched to ferrous and dug a few just to see whats causing the null, all were heavily rusted square nails.

My question is: SE Pro set to ferrous tones in all metal - If I passed over a silver coin in this "nailbed" will it "blend" the audio signal of the two metals (iron & silver) into a signal between iron and silver? or wilI the SE Pro take "preference" with the iron or silver therefore blocking the other targets audio response?
I understand target orientation and sweep direction/ speed would change things but just generically speaking about target interpretation. Yeah its sorta complicated....My optimistic theory is if a silver coin is hiding in there I can use this set up and dig anything that signals higher than the iron "grunt". Yet I think I have read somewhere that the SE Pro "likes" iron and would fail to signal the coin. I plan on trying it in the nailbeds, along with my new 6" Excelerator DD. When do you use ferrous? Is this proper place? I'm open for suggestions/ comments

 

[MikeO]

I seriously doubt in a very heavily nail infested area you will pull a smaller coin clearly.
Like you mentioned there are many-many variables in what you asking though.

I do not hunt in all metal which the closest you can get too is hunting in wide open with no IM. Well, you could walk around with PP on. LOL
I have pulled coins close to iron in the same plug and you can get that high tone but, I often wonder myself what I have missed due to being masked. I suppose that is the way it goes. Many times I find it will skip across the top of the screen. It might not be as high pitched as say a pegged silver high right but, you know its worth digging to see. Now, if I get a high tone and it always pulls the cursor left nine times out of ten its a nail or similiar ferrous object.

Ever dug a pocket spill with a nickel, dime and penny all in the same hole? The nickel will pull the crosshair downward. Many times it will skip around along the right and down left a smidge then back up again. Not the best analogy but, the tone in Ferrous will still be higher tone worth digging.
I always hunt in Ferrous tones and so, does my hunting partner. There are far fewer crown caps at an old homesite and fields compared to iron so, its without a doubt it is the way to go in my opinion.
If you are at an old site and get anything with a higher tone you best be digging it imho. If your not you might be missing out on a surprise.
I have no idea if this helped you in any way but, I hope it did.

 

[dmckee17]

Thanks for the info, it all helps. I'm pretty much just an audio signal guy, that my be a fault I don't know? (I have an "ear" for music notes/ tones). I'll have to try it out in ferrous tones & all metal setup: coin alone -vs- coin and iron together -vs- iron alone. Comparing the audio signal to see if any tone "blending" occurs when coin and iron are under coil at the same time .

I may be wrong but I think it "should" signal as follows: coin alone (100% non ferrous target) = high tone, Coin and iron together of equal mass/ size (50% non ferrous/ 50% ferrous target) = mid tone, Iron alone (100% ferrous) = low tone.

I believe the small coil should help also, being less targets under coil at a time.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Do yourself a favor and leave it in the factory settings...set the threshold to your liking and bump up the manual sens. to low twenties and even then you have a super unit and hunt that way until you get the hang of it, remember you have to swing slow and learning the tones is essential. Next google Mike Moutray and follow up what he is telling you...
To really shorten your learning period a local mentor is essential and remember don't get fancy and all will fall into place...I was lucky and had a good local mentor and first time out by myself hit an old
religious campground that had been beaten to death and came away with 8 Wheaties, 20's mercury dime and a walking half. Good luck in your learning period and feel free to ask questions as we have some real good Explorer users that can help....((AGAIN DON'T GET FANCY))