When do you do a reset?

[Phillip_in_NM]

First off, I bought my Etrac used. So I've been questioning whether or not I bought somebody else's problem. After watching the Etracs on YouTube and reading the discussions here, I've pretty much determined that my machine is doing things others don't. My best example of this is when I'm sweeping and get an audio signal. I'd say only about 25% of the time, I get both a cursor indication and Fe-Co numbers at the same time. Most of the time, I don't get any numbers showing up until after I've moved the coil away from the target and sometimes I get audio with no visible cursor anywhere on the screen.

That being said, I've found some great finds with the machine, but it doesn't seem to be functioning like other Etracs do. I've had other detectors where a reset kind of reboots the system.

My question is: Should I do a reset? Do you think that would help?

I've got some modes and patterns that I would hate to lose, but if doing a "Master Reset" might cure some of my issues, I'd be happy to do it then just rebuild them.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[DirtAngler]

Can't you send your modes and patterns to your computer and then re-install them back to your etrac.

 

[hershey1]

The only way you will be satisfied is do a Master Reset. This will reset the machine back the way it came from the factory. All the Minelab settings will remain. You should'nt have any problems. Now just re-install your favorite programs. HH

 

[EtracTom-AdirondacksNY]

Sometimes when you get a sound look in the blacked out area and you'll see the cursor there. I'm not convinced yours isn't right I think maybe It's just you not used to it and you say you just bought it from someone else. Is Trash set to HIGH and Ground set to DIFFICULT if your hunting on regular ground and if it's beach sand or plowed field set Ground to normal. The more discrimination you run and also FAST being ON chopps and cuts the signal and makes it seem late or shortened eratic a bit.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

I would do a master reset just so you for sure know where your at to start with. The Etrac is not hard to learn but it could be if the previous owner had some screwy settings on it.

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

I like the idea of saving the settings and then reinstalling them. But do you guys think that might just reintroduce the problems?

Thanks for all the input thus far. I'm learning a lot from this "classroom" forum.

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

Oh, and EtracTom... Thanks for the pointers. I will definitely check them out. Thanks!

 

[Jason in Enid]

Your machine is fine!

The audio and VID circuits are seperate. You get an audible tone when the target is detected. You get the VID when the coil moves away from the target. When you have a single conductive target in the ground, the ID comes up by the time you have looked down from the sound and everything seems fine. When you have several targets together, especially iron, the E-Trac is waiting until it stops getting a response to try to figure out what to display.

This is why the experienced users tell everyone, Audio is the main indicator, VID is secondary. If it sounds good (or good enough) dig it.

 

[earthmansurfer]

Jason - Thanks for explaining that so clearly. It is something I have noticed and it really bothered me. I thought it was the slow processor but other times it seemed to change. I guess it was my narrow sweep and/or iron and other co-located targets.

But there are other times when I am using a regular sweep and I hear that higher tone and when I look at the VID it's at 36 or there abouts. (At that point I believe the VID as I'm still learning the E-Trac) But something makes me investigate - I guess I do know the higher tones pretty well. After a few more swings I see that 45 or so VID appear. Maybe there was iron around then too, but it seems really slow. I almost walked past a silver ring a couple of weeks ago. After I dug it I was shocked as the VID was at 36 (and upon checking it was 46 or so).

Anyway, you have given me something to chew on and I'll watch for this in the future (hopefully I can remember this after things warm up - season finished for me this week!)

Thanks again,
Albert

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

I think Jason is exactly right; I experimented with it a lot this past weekend. The sound first then the VID seems to be exactly right. Thanks, guy!!! I think I'm now "at peace" with my machine as it is!!!

 

[lawsonland]

I think Jason explained what is happening

 

[McDean]

I recently did the first master reset since I got the E-trac... and of course, I had my custom patterns filled up and different user modes that I had modified ALOT just from playing with settings, learning the machine...

I felt I wasn't getting the performance like when I first got it. Id's were erratic, falsing like crazy, ghost signals... Just didnt seem right, so I did the master reset, created 2 patterns and just altered the existing mode(didn't save any) cleaned the coil cover, tightened the wire lugs and thumped it on the box.... not sure what did the trick but all is back to normal operation.

a small tip for those who don't get out much... take the batteries out of the machine if not using for an extended period of time as batteries can leak corrosiveness into the finely tuned electronics... goes for any electronics really.

HH all!