randy
05-11-2010, 07:15 PM
I managed to get what I felt was a good deal on a used E-trac, and took it out for the first time today, to a park that has given up a mix of silvers, old coppers, tons of wheats, clad, and old and new trash, but doesn't have too much target density. Seemed like the perfect place to test drive it, until I show up and notice 3-6 inches of thick grass :bangahead01: :bangahead01: (can't they put their mowing schedules on the web? lol).
Anyway, managed all of 75 cents in clad, and no target deeper than 4 inches. Can hardly blame the machine, tho, due to the grass. I think it is going to be a huge learning curve coming from the White's system, but I think I'm going to like the machine in the long run.
What I like about it on first impression is the magic ground balancing and sensitivity setting, and it seems to run much quieter than the White's machines (this park is the worst in my area for EMI; in fact, one edge of the park the V3 is almost unusable; and you also have to GB the V3 alot here). What I didn't like was not getting target ID on rejected targets without going to another screen (I think this is a really nice feature of the V3). I also dug alot more bottlecaps today than I would have with the V3 -- I've come to be able to analyze them pretty well on the V3 and skip them -- perhaps I'll learn how to do so on the E-trac as well.
I intend to spend as many hours learning it as I did with the V3, then run them side by side, and then sell one (I can't afford two expensive machines in the long run). I'll admit I'm a little disappointed with White's coil issues and the upgrade situation, but don't want to get into a whinefest about it. I'll just see which machine is more fun for me and my style considering everything, and that's what its all about for me.
Well, I'm not sure why I posted for finding 75 cents in clad. Hopefully I can bother some of you with newbie E-trac questions :grin: So, wish me luck I guess.
Anyway, managed all of 75 cents in clad, and no target deeper than 4 inches. Can hardly blame the machine, tho, due to the grass. I think it is going to be a huge learning curve coming from the White's system, but I think I'm going to like the machine in the long run.
What I like about it on first impression is the magic ground balancing and sensitivity setting, and it seems to run much quieter than the White's machines (this park is the worst in my area for EMI; in fact, one edge of the park the V3 is almost unusable; and you also have to GB the V3 alot here). What I didn't like was not getting target ID on rejected targets without going to another screen (I think this is a really nice feature of the V3). I also dug alot more bottlecaps today than I would have with the V3 -- I've come to be able to analyze them pretty well on the V3 and skip them -- perhaps I'll learn how to do so on the E-trac as well.
I intend to spend as many hours learning it as I did with the V3, then run them side by side, and then sell one (I can't afford two expensive machines in the long run). I'll admit I'm a little disappointed with White's coil issues and the upgrade situation, but don't want to get into a whinefest about it. I'll just see which machine is more fun for me and my style considering everything, and that's what its all about for me.
Well, I'm not sure why I posted for finding 75 cents in clad. Hopefully I can bother some of you with newbie E-trac questions :grin: So, wish me luck I guess.