Which Explorer

[tink]

Hi gang,

I am getting ready to make a move across country. We just purchased a house in Ohio and its a 1927 two story with a big back yard. most of the houses of this street are early 1900s and the next street over has 1800s houses. So I plan on doing a lot of coin shooting for older stuff. I went back a couple months ago and used my F75 in an old yard. Found a couple of 1882 IH about 5" down from the ground being leveled a couple years ago. For the most part, I like the F75 and it has found me a ton of stuff. But you always wonder what it might be missing since I haven't found any silver with it or real old coins. I know I hunt in the right areas because of the wheats, 1920/30 misc stuff i have dug up but never any silver.

So I am in the market for another machine to try out. I have had some pretty nice machines like the M6, XLT, F75, X-50 and the Excalibur for water hunting. So I was sitting here thinking about what machine would be a good selection to try. Then it hit me, whats one of the most talked about and seemingly longest kept machines my owners. Explorer. Not sure why I haven't tried one before but I just always overlooked them probably because of price.

I don't want to buy a new one because of price and money you loose up front if you don't like it. Also there are a lot of different ones and even the oldies seem to be a great machine. So maybe you can help me out with some answers on which one I should look at and why. Answers like coils selection and price, battery type and weight, ease of use and which model seems to be do the job for the money you invest. Hope you can help me with some of these questions. Like to either buy one or make a trade for the F75 before i move the first of the year.

 

[dewcon4414]

Im an Explorer Se guy, but the pro has the better coil. The E-Trac seems to have some real improvements in target ID. There isnt as much bounce to the Ferr and Cond numbers, it does connect to you computer to save programs, the grid numbers have been reworked making it more worth while to use conductive tones in an AM situation, and the digital screen has been combined with the smartfind screen so you arent flipping back and forth. I think all the Explorers have great potential for finding older coins very deep. Id have to say unless you can find a E-Trac go with the PRO just because of the coil size and its ability to seperate targets and being less affected by ground minerals. Also a good 8" coil wouldnt hurt since you can really crank up the sensitivity and get great separation and depth in iron dense areas. Ive never had a problem with the SlimPack that came with the SE and ive had it a good while. I also use rechargeables, try getting the Tenergy 2600 AA's they last a long time. It is an off balance machine weighing about 4lbs with the batteries. However, i used to swing the DFX a lot and had terrible elbow problems. The Explorer doesnt recover as fast, but you move it more than swing it so my elbow problems are no more. After the DFX i found the Explorer much easier and forgiving. No more EMI issues which for me is the problem with the DFX. You will deffently find more silver with this machine, it does take a little more effort to find smaller pieces of jewerly. I made a great swap with Gerry's detectors out of ID for mine. I like the E-Trac, but i think the next generation will be even better... so ill save my clad. Good Luck.

 

[Steve(MS)]

I'm still using my old XS Explorer and have resisted upgrading to the new Explorers. There are still quite a few of us who still use them and are doing very well. From what I have been able to read about the XS compared to the newer ones is that it has the same depth, only doesn't have some of the upgrades like double digital numbers.
Some of the guys who have used all of them like the Explorer 2 the best and it and the XS can be had at a reasonable price.
Just so the SE folks don't get offended, it is definitely a very good detector as well.
If it has Explorer written on it, you can rest assured it is a top notch detector.
If you decide on the XS, I would get the latest version because from what I have read, there isn't much difference between it and the Exp.2.
Of course there is a learning curve and those that stick with it till they've learned it will be rewarded.
On the coils sizes, there is a wide selection from different brands so you will have plenty to pick from.
I have the WOT, stock coil and a 5". I have used an 8" as well. Of those I use the stock the most and the 5" coil is very good in iron trashy areas.
I see where some up North are using and have good success with the 6" coil and the 10 X 12.

 

[jackintexas]

I have the XS. I find with the stock coil it is too heavy. I guess that is why someone came up with the Swingy Thing. I use the Sunray 5 1/2" COIL AND DO VERY WELL WITH IT.....Jack

 

[pcuser1]

I use the XS also. The stock coil it is too heavy for me so I use the Sun-ray 8" coil and dig coins around the 10" depth. I recently added the X1 probe and don't know how I ever lived with out it. HH

 

[Ron from Michigan]

The Explorer XS,ll and SE are great detectors.When I was using my Sovereign I had a very high wheat to silver ratio.This season I use an Explorer ll I'm finding old silver I passed over with my Sovereign GT.My opinion the Sovereign will outclass the DFX in performance,but any the Explorer series will find coins missed by these two metal detectors.A good clean XS wood serve you well and a switch to a good after market AA charger system.I sold the Sunray probe that came with my Explorer ll and now use a handheld pin pointer less weight and more effective.The Sunray probe doesn't work as well with the Explorer as it does with the Sovereign.When you get your Explorer take it over the same area you worked with the DFX and other units you will be impressed. Happy Hunting Ron

 

[Neil]

Ive had them all and have the SE Pro and EXII now. The SE has the nicer menu setup, everything is setup through the one step, no smartfind/advanced settings, they are all grouped together. so to jump between digital and smartfind(if one wanted to) you dont have to scroll through learn and edit screens like on the XS and EXII. Its also a little faster processor it seems but not by much. Also the SE has more adjustments on the iron mask and so on, may not matter to some but it can be tuned a little finer that way. Just like from the XS to EXII, the threshold adjustments werent enough in my opinion on the XS but the EXII got it right. The EXII and SE both have the newer middle and lower rods. The carbon fiber lower rod is a definite improvement also. The EXII and SE also have the 1/4" heaphone jack.
I would say if money doesnt matter get the SE but you can get a better deal on the XS or EXII. forgot to mention as far as the pro coil goes, the only improvements I see are it will seperate targets better and its lighter but as someone mentioned it sure gets hung up easier also. I havent seen any depth improvements or stability improvements that others have seen. I guess it matters on where you hunt and how you have your machine set up also.
I think Steve said it right, if it says Explorer on it, its a good one

HH
Neil

 

[LI Tom]

I picked up a used XS in late August for $420,because the stock coil is heavy,I picked up Sunray X-8 used and a used X-1 probe.Total cost $650.I never used an Explorer but my hunting buddies do,so I had free lessons and I love this machine and with this set-up,I can swing all day and I'm 58.It will find you your silver.In three months,I've found 70 silver coins.

 

[supershaw]

Hi all.I'm thinking of getting a new coil for my Explore rand it would appear i need a ''swingy thing'' can anyone tell me what it is and how i get one

Thanks supershaw

 

[Steve(MS)]

There are some Findmall forum dealers that handle them, just click on the banners at the top of the page on the Explorer forums. I don't want to seem to show partiality so take your pick.
HH

 

[jackintexas]

The swingy thing is a harness that fits over your shoulder and uses a bungy cord attached to the Explorer. It takes a lot of weight off the machine and makes it eaiser to swing. In the classifeds in Western Eastern Treasure magazine someone makes them to sell. I made my own for when I hunt with the stock coil......Jack (of course I am 76 years old)

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Supershaw, Go to the Sov/EXCAL Forum, and click onto Doc's Banner! He is the designer, has pictures of it, and sells the Swingy-Thingy. It sells for $35.00 shipped, and I have one, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! Better yet, 1st entry on that forum, says something like Doc's Christmas Gift. Click on it, it has pictures
and is all about the Swingy-thingy. HH, Les

 

[Dang]

I finally got a Explorer ll last fall. I had to trade and ship a lot of detectors to get it though. Probably spent as much on shipping as it would have cost for a new Explorer! LOL!
It all started with a Tesoro Lobo ST that I bought used at a local dealers shop. Price: $300.00. I later traded that for a Sovereign GT. I traded that for a Whites M6 which included a 8" Excellerator DD coil. (Sweet coil)
Then I traded that for a X-terra 70 and that I traded for the Explorer ll ! When I first got the Lobo the explorer was selling for about a grand then. Will I ever trade the Explorer for another machine. Probably but not for awhile. I'm finding silver at at the same parks I detected with all those other detectors I had. I almost traded it for a Tesoro Deleon but backed out of the deal. Glad I did!

 

[spoonmann8]

Sounds like hanging on to my XS is money in the bank