Sunray probe removal?

[Ronandari]

Hello all, I picked up an Etrac this winter with the Sunray probe. Can this probe be removed from the shaft or do I need to buy a new shaft? So far I'm not sure that I like it. Thanks in advance for your inputs.

Ron

[coinnut]

I think they weld it on, so you would need a new shaft. My question is why? I find that probe to be the greatest attachment to any machine :lol: People will stare at you and say "how could you bring that child out half dressed" :hystericallaugh: Seriously, I have a spare upper shaft that you can have. It's used but still works (locks) well. I'll never need it so it's free for the taking. Just PM me if you want it.

[Ronandari]

Hey Coinnut. That is a kind offer and I will think about it very seriously. I have heard a lot of good things about the Sunray probe but so far I don't seem to be having much luck with it. I haven't been able to locate targets with it very well and have to pull out the Garrett anyway. I will work with it for a while longer and see if it is just me or the probe.

[Tony Two-Cent]

I have a Sun Ray target probe on my E-Trac and I absolutely love it. Its ability to show you the target ID numbers is invaluable in my opinion. Not only that, but you can also use it in pinpoint mode to determine a target's precise location in the hole.

Perhaps yours is not functioning properly. Have you tried air testing it?

[NJJOSH]

I agree Sunray probes are awesome! I have one on my etrac and v3i. When i can afford the ctx i think ill:crying01: without it.

[POKIE73]

i have to agree with tony i would not want to be without my sunray and now more than ever they no longer make them for the e trac my advice would be to learn and you will come to love it i think that its a invaluable tool one i would not want to be without dennis

[pulltabsteve]

Hey Coinnut. That is a kind offer and I will think about it very seriously. I have heard a lot of good things about the Sunray probe but so far I don't seem to be having much luck with it. I haven't been able to locate targets with it very well and have to pull out the Garrett anyway. I will work with it for a while longer and see if it is just me or the probe.

The probe is fine. If you don't like it, I'll buy the probe with shaft back from you. Let me know.

[SilverDon]

I really miss my E-trac and Sunray probe! It was the best setup I ever owned. I'm really hoping the Deus changes my mind about MineLab Etrac being the best (nothing will ever change my mind on the SunRay probe - unless Deus produces a wireless probe that reads out on the Deus).


I have a Sun Ray target probe on my E-Trac and I absolutely love it. Its ability to show you the target ID numbers is invaluable in my opinion. Not only that, but you can also use it in pinpoint mode to determine a target's precise location in the hole.

Perhaps yours is not functioning properly. Have you tried air testing it?

[coinnut]

Hey Coinnut. That is a kind offer and I will think about it very seriously. I have heard a lot of good things about the Sunray probe but so far I don't seem to be having much luck with it. I haven't been able to locate targets with it very well and have to pull out the Garrett anyway. I will work with it for a while longer and see if it is just me or the probe.

Try watching some E Trac videos on You Tube. You can see the probe in action, especially if there is iron in the hole along with a coin. Another thing to think about. The probe also works off of the sensitivity settings you have on the machine. So if you run just auto, the probe will get minimal depth, but if you run manual with higher sensitivity (like 27 and up) it will go deeper. But if too hot, it can false or seem sluggish, so keep that in mind.

[Ronandari]

The probe is fine. If you don't like it, I'll buy the probe with shaft back from you. Let me know.
The probe is working fine Steve, it is my ears that are broken, I have some audio adjustments to get used to with the Etrac and probe. I have less than 2 hours in the field with this setup so I will give it some time. I took it out today and it is starting to make a little more sense. I keep the Garrett with me for comparison and will increase my sensitivity a bit. I was able to separate two targets in one hole today, that was pretty nice. Thanks for all the inputs.

Kind regards

Ron

[coinnut]

Wait until you dig that deep silver and put the probe into the hole. You will find yourself pinpointing that target for 30 seconds, just to hear that special tone :lol: If you do a video, people will be screaming at the computer, "just finish digging the hole for crying out loud" :rofl:. You will get used to both the probe and E trac. It's just like any other machine....once you zero in on how to find good targets, your confidence goes up a lot.

[Ronandari]

Wait until you dig that deep silver and put the probe into the hole. You will find yourself pinpointing that target for 30 seconds, just to hear that special tone :lol: If you do a video, people will be screaming at the computer, "just finish digging the hole for crying out loud" :rofl:. You will get used to both the probe and E trac. It's just like any other machine....once you zero in on how to find good targets, your confidence goes up a lot.

:hystericallaugh:I'll make a special video just for you Coinnut. :rofl: I actually found a couple silvers with it today and you really can't mistake the sound. even as a newbie with the unit there was no doubt that there was silver there.

Ron

[POKIE73]

as far as keeping the garrett i use both some times you will get a signal and dig out a target that will not show up on one or the other i always keep both at my side they work great together

[Epi-hunter]

If you do decide to sell the shaft and probe, please let me know - I am very interested in buying it. :)

[Ronandari]

Ha Ha Angie. Don't you enough Sunrays:lol: I won't be selling it, my ears will adjust soon enough. I had thought of removing it and setting it aside until I learn the Etrac sounds and operation to kind of help with the learning curve.

Ron

[coinnut]

:hystericallaugh:I'll make a special video just for you Coinnut. :rofl:

Ron

Just keep it under 2 hours long :lol: Man some of those guys doing videos love to talk.....5 minutes into a 7 minute video and they haven't put the coil to the ground yet :eyebrow:

[AmxFred]

The SunRay probe on my E-Trac is the only reason I have not went to a CTX 3030. I don't think I could hunt without it!

[coinnut]

The SunRay probe on my E-Trac is the only reason I have not went to a CTX 3030. I don't think I could hunt without it!

I had the E Trac out last hunt and really realized how much I missed the Sunray probe :crying02: Now back to the 3030 this Friday.

[Ronandari]

I have been getting more comfortable with the Sunray on the last few outings. I do like the tone ID but sometimes I still have a little problem zeroing in on the really small finds. When that happens, I just pull out the Garrett although I should probably just switch the Sunray over to pinpoint.

Ron

[coinnut]

Yep, pinpoint will help when you are getting the runaround :lol: There is a sweet zone as far as sensitivity goes with the probe. Too little sensitivity and it doesn't go very deep. Too much sensitivity and it sort of overloads and becomes choppy. Remember the probe is using what ever sensitivity settings you have on the machine. I usually have mine in manual and running around 26 or 27. You can switch to the auto settings just by hitting the left or right buttons. I run auto +3. That way you can easily increase or decrease the probes response.

[giant056]

Personally I never did want a probe attached to my detector and seldom have ever used a pinpointer, however I did recently get me the Whites TRX and I'm sure I'll be trying that out.

[MangoAve]

I know this does not pertain to the Sunray, but ecstatic that I'm getting the Vibra-Probe 580 today. It was only a few $ more than the Garrett. I shall be informing on how well it works. Ron, lucky there is no sound to this one. Giant, I was thinking I didn't need a pinpointer either but now I'm learning why they make it. hahah.

[giant056]

I've heard good things about them Vibraprobes.

[MangoAve]

Giant. That vibra-probe was Def a big help today. It's awesome for stuff registered as 2" on detector. I was thinking I got so many ghost signals, but with vibra-probe I was able to find some were small oxidized pieces of metal. Nothing worth, but I know now why md picked up signal. And if I put it on ground pointed toward coil while it's still on, it makes detector go crazy. Lol.