Aardvark Metal Detectors
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I have purchased and resold many high end detectors in the past to decide which one was for me. I've been detecting for 40 years and I find that most detectors are pretty good for the job that they're designed to do. The Minelab E-trac was purchased rather recently and I am happy with it and will keep it but there are a couple of things I don't like about it. Let me first start with the positive: I like the way it's designed and built. It is very sleek and pretty well balanced. You can tell that some thought went into the design. It's fairly simple to operate right out of the box. After much experimentation and utilization of other user’s ideas, I settled on the basic coin program with auto sensitivity +2 or +3 as my normal program. I like to set it for "conduct" and "recover deep" as well as "multi tone". For pinpointing I like the "sizing" feature so you can tell if the target is large like a can or small like a coin. I'm one to constantly change settings on things so this detector doesn't tempt me too much to change a lot. It goes deep enough for me with the stock coil but not noticeably deeper than other high end brands. The relatively minor things I don't like are first of all, the time it takes to charge the battery...18hours. I believe it should be an overnight charge and not more. The second thing is the noise cancel....it's great but I think 30 seconds is too long to stand there waiting for it...I feel kinda stupid with people looking on and saying "what's he doing"? The third thing is the sounds of the targets. No matter what settings I use they're still not crisp like on other detectors unless the target is very shallow then its better. These are all very minor annoyances but the fourth thing I don't like is for me, the worst annoyance. The system used on the screen to ID the target to me is not user friendly. Sure, once you've used the detector long enough you can say ok, a quarter is about "12-47" on the number system and about "here" on the screen. I think it's way too much to think about. On some other brands it will show icons of what the target could be, like a ring, foil, quarter etc. You don't have to think about the relationship of ferrous to conductance etc. Also the hype about the full frequency spectrum ID'ing better than other detectors hasn't been shown to me to be true. I did a lot of testing along with a detecting partner on different targets and another brand of detector and he can ID the targets, even deep ones, very accurately and with a good loud audio response and his only has two frequencies. Oh, another negative....if you like detecting around playground equipment as I did today, forget it! I couldn't get closer than a yard from any equipment with the stock coil without it sounding off and this is with the coin program! My buddy could detect within a few inches of the equipment with his! His total coinage was $5 and mine was under $2 and I worked just as hard! Anyway, having said all that, I still highly recommend this detector for its design, features, and ability to detect reasonably deep...if you decide to spend the relatively high price for it.

I've been detecting for many years with many different brands and types of detectors. I just couldn't resist the features of the E-Trac. I have changed detectors over the years looking for one that would be lightweight and powerful, but they were either one or the other. Plus, this detector gives you some idea of what you're digging. Don't get me wrong. This baby will not find the gold rings for you. You still have to dig your fair share of pull tabs and other things. But the E-Trac will give you a leg up on the competition, plus it is deep as all get out.

The balance on this detector is amazing. I have used detectors in the same weight range before, but this machine feels like it weighs like a lightweight detector with half the power. I can swing this machine at a fairly fast rate for hours without a twinge of pain to the old arm. And I am not a young man.

I have only used this detector for a few weeks and already I am making finds that I passed over with previous detectors. I have found small rings, charms and a small gold earring in an area that I had previously detected with two other detectors. I also found a small Canadian centennial dime about 3 inches down.

Last weekend I recovered a ladies 19K gold ring for a woman who had lost it about two months before and was ecstatic to have it returned. She had gotten her father and some friends to search with their detectors without any luck. The next day I found a tiny ball and a Northwest Mounted Police button near an old fort site.

I would recommend this detector to anyone who is serious about this hobby. Although, the E-Trac is a detector with a lot of bells and whistles, it is simple enough for a beginner, and will provide years of satisfaction to anyone with experience.

This detector is a treasure machine!

Having used many detectors in the past including the Explorer, I found the E-Trac to be very easy to use. Being an experienced metal detector user, The E-Trac was easy to adjust to although I was used to the numbers the Explorer model had. So it took a little learning to remember the readings on the screen. The sounds the E-Trac makes can be adjusted to come fairly close to what the Explorer had so finding the goodies with the E-Trac was second nature.

The screen layout is fantastic and although the screen is much improved, the sun glare can be problematic at certain times of the day. At dusk, the back light is quite nice and allows for extended searching at dusk.

I love to hunt parks and beaches along with old home sites and the E-Trac really does well in trashy parks and beaches. The double D coil is excellent and does a good job of finding the good stuff in with the trash. The iron masking on the E-Trac is excellent and allows for hunting in areas where old nails and iron would be a problem.

The E-Trac is more stable in my opinion than any other detector I have ever used. Programming discrimination patterns is easy and the E-Trac exchange makes storing and sharing patterns and settings easy. Target ID is incredible and works well even at depths that other detectors would have a problem with.

For the few weeks I have had the E-Trac, I've already found a couple of gold rings, 7 standing liberty quarters, and several silver dimes, about a dozen Indian head pennies, bunches of wheat pennies and my first large cent. The weather here in Ohio has gotten cold and snowy so the time out with the E-Trac has been short but the quality of my finds have improved. I am not digging as many clads and am getting more silver and gold goodies and older stuff that my other detectors missed. The finds with the E-trac have been deeper in areas that even the Explorer missed due to better separation of the targets in trash.

I would highly recommend the E-Trac to anyone who wants a machine that can do almost all types of hunting. If only they made a waterproof E-Trac, then I could say it could do it all.

I would give this detector five stars and if they had ten, it would be that.

I have been using the E-trac for under a month but have to say it has really impressed me so far. Specifically in it's way to sift through iron fields and pull out coins.

I mainly detect colonial thru mid-1800's homesteads and for anyone who has hit these types of sites, you know that most of the time you will find iron fields near where the home or barn sat.

I've hunted with the Explorer SE for 2 years and have done pretty well hunting these types of sites, but I never had very good success in the actual iron fields. I'd find a coin or two but always felt there was more there hiding under the iron.

Well after reading several field tests of the E-Trac, I specifically wanted to see how this detector would handle hunting in the many iron fields I've encountered.

After learning some of the ins and outs of the E-Trac, I purposely made the first 10 spots I detected with the E-Trac previous places that I felt I've "hunted to death". I chose these spots because they had mid sized to large iron fields at them. The first site I went to I pulled a total 24 coins, 4 mercury dimes and 3 Indians, & lots of wheaties all from a site I had already "hunted out".

I was amazed, the next day I hit another "hunted" site for a quick half hour - 2 silver dimes and 5 wheaties. I couldn't believe it. This went on and on - I couldn't believe I was finding coins in the iron patches. It felt like they were all new spots, I truly couldn't believe how this thing worked through the iron and gave me coin readings.

Anyway, needless to say - I am VERY please with my new E-Trac! The only thing that has slowed me down is the snow - but once it's gone I have another whole list of sites that I've hunted out.

It's a whole new ballgame!

I have a new favorite! Replacing my Explorer SE is the new E-Trac. Detects deeper, faster, and is easy to use. In fact, I'm detecting in areas that I've already searched. For as we all know, a couple inches can encompass decades of history.

The ability to link-up to your computer is a feature for those who want to customize and save specific discrimination settings. I'm much more of a "find it all" type of hunter so I haven't dabbled too much with it-even so I find that its speed and refinement to detection is well worth the extra cost over the SE.

Minelab has shown that they can improve upon perfection! Gave it 5 stars, but it deserves 6!

Greg recommended this Minelab E-Trac system as an upgrade from the Quattro, which I have been very happy with. Words fail!!! It is unbelievable!! I have searched (successfully) a certain beach every week for the last two years and was thinking that I have found everything. However, my first day with the E-Trac I found over 50 coins!! Plus, many tiny small objects that evidently I have missed before! The factory settings are perfect and I look forward to learning the "fine tuning" to do even better! Thanks again Greg and Kellyco!!!!

I have had another brand of detector and had almost sworn off other brands, until I got my ETRAC. KellyCo made good on their shipping and with the BOGO on detectors has made my 2008 great! I took the ETRAC to a field that I have already hit hard, and this machine was getting hits on targets that are right where I thought was tapped. The targets were between 4-12 inches. Unfortunately, the ground here is now frozen. Without a jackhammer, I'm at a loss till spring/summer. The BOGO is not over so get your ETRAC before the sale ends. I dove in and I picked up a Cobra that will enable me to detect underwater and above. What a great sale they have.

I am new to the metal detecting hobby/trade. I read about all the metal detectors. I bought a MineLab ETRAC from KellyCo. There is a great page to compare on detectors on the KellyCo site and that is what I did. I made the purchase and off I went. I found 7 rings and a 2 pound coffee can of coins. I find that the more I use it the better I get. Hearing is the key to this detector after the first ring sound you will never forget the sound that ETRAC makes. I was behind others and found twice that they did.

After receiving the E-TRAC in Feb. 09 and Andy's book, I found that with past knowledge of the hobby and help from members of Findmall.com and TreasureNet.com that this is truly a great detector. I wanted to wait and use the machine a few months before posting what I thought.

KellyCo was able to take care of all my questions and from past orders I know they will always be there after the sale for any help needed.

Anyone can get the detector and use the preset modes for hunting and can find treasure their 1st day out but I feel that unless you have someone to help you or if you have past use with an Explorer it is not for the beginner. You need time to learn the machine. If you are willing to take this time you will not regret buying this detector at all.

After about 30 or 40 hrs I soon found what it was telling me from the sounds and display but was finding coins and other CW relics the first day. It just got better as time went by. The control pad is easy to understand and navigate. The depth is great with the 11'' Pro coil. I also have the 12x15 SEF and 6'' Q2. Each of these coils served a purpose in different hunting areas and they all have made great finds for me.

I mostly hunt for coins and CW relics and find that the E-TRAC has done very well. In fact, it has almost paid for itself after just a few months of use.

In a yard that I've hunted with other machines and have had problems with nails (nulling), I found that the see through ability was true, finding a H.T&B. Manchester Confederate Eagle button worth $1115.00 the third month I had it not to include the coins, one of which was a 1835 Capped Bust (all mixed in with the nails and passed over by other machines, the E-trac still gave a good ID even in this trash).

If the multi sounds are too much go to FE 2tone (only dig your high tone that fall into the good ID #'s) and then change as you get more used to the detector.

If you do get the machine, you will not go wrong and I would highly recommend it. Just take the time to learn all it has to offer before you say it's no good.

HH

This is absolutely one of the best metal detectors ever made! My decision to buy this Minelab metal detector was made by researching a few metal detector review sites like Kellyco. All the reviews I read were right on the money!

I have been detecting for a long time but this metal detector makes me feel like I am hitting completely new sites once again even though many have been hunted to death!