Geoff says that the "E Trac" is "probably the best commercial detector out there a far as depth and sensitivity are concerned ."
Sorry Geoff ,but i could very easily take issue with that statement.
The reasons being I bought the E trac on a certain High flying Minelab users recommendation at the time who is well known on all the forums as a respected detectorist.
I had previously at one time in the past,been a Explorer user, & always having one amongst my detectors.Not using them much eventually though ,because of continuing shoulder and elbow problems occurring the last few years (frozen shoulder & Tennis elbow)
I bought The E Trac, on the recommendation it was a lot "lighter" than the previous Explorers were.
On buying it i discovered the weight "Loss" was marginal. Yes, weight had been reduced by the Pro coil but not to the extent that it now felt much lighter to use.
I found the Menu system a bit better to scroll through and navigating the menu had gone for the better.
But to say it was deeper or more sensitive is i`d say "debatable". Very debatable.
You see , people say Its deeper ! but what i`d like to know , it , what are they basing their "Facts" on ?
Are they basing it on head to head comparison with another person next to them with an SE or a Explorer 2 ,comparing signals as they are found ?
Or, are they simply as most do ,and being "suggestive" in so much that they "think" its deeper & more sensitive from their past recollections of what they achieved with their past SE or Explorer 2 ?
If that`s the case, then all i can say is "recollections" can be often Jaded and slightly inaccurate on details.
Any new detector bought I`d say,has a psychological persuasion effect on the mind.
It says ,"this IS going to be deeper, and more sensitive," because it has to convince you that you`ve spent X number amount of pounds wisely and you need to convince yourself that you`ve done the right thing. After all you`ve bought the biggest and best !!! So you`ve been told by the media.
Hence the mind is telling you " yes, your getting better depths "
In reality though , its not quite the case. Your more than likely getting the same, but slight enhancements on occasions. This when recognised, immediately smothers over any other "similar" findings, and immediately goes to the for front of your mind saying "See! it IS deeper and better than my previous detector".
I DID get shut of my E trac because of mainly, the weight issue.
But in the time i had it ,i used the recommended settings given by the guys in the "know" and i can honestly say, It didn`t impress me enough to WANT to keep it, and put any medical problems to one side .
I have used the Minelab Explorers over a good length of time and i can put my hand on my heart and tell any one, that i found less with the Explorer than i have with my F75 . When i started using the Goldmaxx even i found more with that, than i ever did with the Explorers.
The Explorers work on the Multi frequency application. They start off sending out 28 frequency's, which in turn diminish down to around 5 which then end up with actually one or two as the final BEST FREQUENCY that the processor sees as right for that ground.
The processor will not always get it absolutely right though.
Lets do a scenario that says when searching, the Explorer or E trac send out their 28 freq`s and end up on a particular piece of land beneath you on 3kHZ and 10 kHz as the processors chosen best Data for that ground .
Yes you will get the deeper bigger target by courtesy of the 3kHz freq. BUT!! you also might miss the Tiny Edward the first farthing that is sitting there ,because the Processor didn`t see fit to send "on that occasion" ,the 18 kHz freq out beneath you needed to get that tiny coin .
Hence YOU MISS the farthing.
Now ! along you come the next day with your F75 or your Goldmaxx Power with your higher freq,and you`ll go over that same ground and GET the Edward the first Farthing. You then think . "How the hell did i miss that yesterday with my bestest biggest Minelab " ?
The answers simple. The Processor didn`t get it right on the instant you were there yesterday.
It really is a case of getting it right in your head what should you be using on the day. And thats another discussion.
All i can say is since i no longer use the big Minelabs, I detect with a more confident air about me ,that i DO find more with my F75 than i ever did with the big Minelabs and thats certified by the finds not thoughts. And unfortunately for the Minelab Explorer and E trac owners ,that is a fact .
" i must also add ,that this is just my thoughts on this discussion and others might find different, so its all down to what you interpret in your findings that you can comment on . it doesn`t nessesarily mean its absolute ".