Minelab Explorer II
Approximate price: $1200
Number of Reviews: 84
on 9 pages.
Also in this price range:
Minelab Explorer SE
Spectra VX3
patience is a virtue
Peter in sussex uk -
You will get what you call false readings, what you need to do is after a while sought out the right noises, its hard to explain because you have to learn , by makeing a test ground on your lawn or what ever , put down a silver coin , or a gold ring.
Pound coins ect, when your out in a field if you dig cap end of a shot gun cartridge up, use that in your test area, you will soon learn the different sounds, even bullet cases, in the end you your self will be the best discriminator.
good luck
Mar 25, 2006
17 Yes
3 No
Me and my Minelab
Patrick in London -Well since i found on my first trip a gold gilted roman ring i have found that my friend who i go out with does not pick up the signals i do an example is i got a strong signal and asked my friend to check where i was pointing to, he said he thought it was nothing. But he was wrong, it wasn't a valuable find but a small brass button, so i think that says it all and it was deep the tiny babies thimble ring i found was at about ten inches. Ok so the minelab can chatter alot but you get real depth. But it is a machine for someone who has the patience to learn what it is telling you a bit like learning a new language. I have just bought the the sun ray probe so that i can get even deeper, dont forget the minelab has 28 signals going into the ground so it will tell you lots of information
Mar 13, 2006
21 Yes
2 No
Explorer ll takes time.
Chris in MO in Mid Missouri -First off...I have tried most detectors. Even when I start liking another detector, I go out with the Explorer again... and it amazes me again. In my opinion, this is probably the best overall detector made for FINDING items in the ground at depth. When I first got/used the Exp. ll, I was ready to wrap it around a tree. The thing was constant noise!!! Now, I'd hate to be without it. I had a lot of encouragement from friends to give it time. Boy were they right! Rather than bore you with my stories, I want to give some prospective Exp. owners a few opinions and pointers...
If you are impatient and/or just a casual coin hunter, don't bother. There are a lot of light, short learning curve, detectors that will do well. Click the back arrow and look at something else.
Now, those of you still here, here goes...
The Exp. machine is superior to others in most conditions. Minerals don't seem to affect it. Get the probe. It helps locate targets in a deep hole.
Know that when you get the Exp, it will take time...it has a steep learning curve and by that let me say the learning curve doesn't mean alot to learn. It means it takes a good while for your brain to process and understand what you are hearing in the ground and know a good signal when you hear it.
Next, You HAVE TO HUNT SLOW!!! I can't say this enough. Slow means slower. Alot of the noise people complain about hearing is just all of the junk in the ground and going over it too fast. The slower you go, the more separated the sounds are, and easier to pick out.
The Exp. is very versitale, but not complicated. Once you get it set the way you want to hunt, it is pretty much a "turn on and go" machine. It is great in the ground or on the beach.
Again, if you are just wanting the 4-5" coins, most all machines will do that. If you are wanting to find coins the other detectors can't reach, the Exp. is for you. Just yesterday, I found a ring and two wheaties at about 7-8" (highly mineralized) in an old park in a small area that has been POUNDED FOR YEARS!!! I went slower than slow and was rewarded for doing that.
The Exp. is heavy. I recommend shortening the rods and hunt closer to your feet. In other words, don't extend the detector out in front of you. Or get a bungie strap to help hold it. Make sure you have NO metal in your shoes!
Once learned, this detector will increase your finds and go for the old stuff. It will, and has to, take time to learn it. There are no short cuts. Your brain has to have time hearing the machine's sounds to reprogram itself in to knowing how to, and when to, recognize a signal and what it means. That WILL NOT happen over night.
For those of you that want the best...this is what it takes. If you quit too soon, that's OK...it is just more for us other Explorer owners. The forums have a wealth of info and many users to help anyone. The only reason I scored it at four stars is because it is a little heavy. Good luck to you and Happy Hunting!
Chris
Feb 22, 2006
81 Yes
2 No
Explorer II
Max Wood in HADLOCK WA. U.S.A. -The ExplorerII is a very good machine and recovers coins other detectors passed by. Most of the time you can tell what you are going to dig up!
The smart find box will position it self on the screen in a certain place depending what type of metal that is buried, if it is a silver coin the box will land in the upper right corner of the screen, then to make sure it is silver, you push the detect button to go to the digtal screen, sweep over your coin if you get a reading of 00 ferous and 29 cond, you will dig up a quater, half dollar or silver dollar, [when i found this web site] i was looking for a place to disuss my Explorer2 with there is still a lot to learn.
Happy hunting.
Feb 19, 2006
12 Yes
1 No
What am i doing wrong
Patrick in London -Please if anyone can help i would appreciate help with settings as i went out the other day and all i got was chatter and faulse signals, dont get me wrong i love the machine i found a roman ring in hertfordshire but i dug forty holes to find it as the rest were mostly faulse signals i guess or to deep, tell me what am i doing wrong borgpanodrac@aol.com is my e mail all i want to do is dig deep but without all the chatter all the time, rating is difficult but 4 as i know it is the best but i need the info to make it 5
Jan 23, 2006
13 Yes
7 No
A serious machine for serious detectorists!
K. Isaac in Midwest, USA -I was prepared to buy a DFX this spring but ran across a great deal on an Exp II and since a friend of mine had one and loved it I went ahead and got it. I was using a Whites IDX Pro and really liked it but wanted to step up to something more serious. The first couple times I took the Explorer out I was completely lost and confused. It was making so many noises with every sweep of the coil that I could not tell what was in the ground. I was seriously considering selling it or trading it for something else. After reading the manual a couple times and getting some more practice with the machine I am beginning to realize why this detector is bragged about so much. If you are looking to just go out and "have some fun " finding clad coins a couple inches in the ground go get a $100 detector at a discount store and have all the fun you want. If your idea of fun is finding the good coins and things those other guys are walking right over then you want an Explorer!
Jan 11, 2006
20 Yes
1 No
Explorer, The Standard That All Detectors Are Judged By
R.L. Johnson in NE Ohio -It seems that all coin detectors are compared to the Explorer and I have done this many times in the past. I had an XS several years back and I made many outstanding finds with that detector, but I sold it and have tried many detectors since.
Last summer I bought a new Ex 11 and immediately had success. In three months, I found over 150 silver coins and close to 500 wheats. Also, many older nickles and IH's. Many of the coins were found 10 inches plus deep, with a silver half at 14 inches. I have no doubt that a big silver is capable of being dug at 18 inches. I bought a Sunray 8 inch coil and I can wade through the trashiest spots around my neck of the woods and find old coins. I guess I will have to eat my words and now say the Explorer is the gold standard. I now move the CZ3D to second place.
Jan 08, 2006
14 Yes
1 No
OK, here is MY opinion, sigh !
BOB VALDEZ in Belgium -I started metal detecting 4 months ago. Started with a XP-GMaxx. A very good machine to start with. Found things the very first day, never stopped doing so.
After a few weeks, purchased a Minelab Explorer II.
Never ever could use it :
1. far too heavy to be fun (you know, fun ? That is what it is all about ; metal detecting, in my opinion : having FUN !)
2. it is EATING batteries
3. pinpointing ? Whàt pinpoiting ?
4. far too difficult to learn. Why spent months on learning a simple & stupid metal detector ? Why lose months of pleasure if you could just be out somewhere FINDING things with any detector ? How about learning to use your next car, bike, pc, gps, mobil, etc for months ? Come on, be serious ! It is just another tool.
5. NO (repeat : NO !) recovery speed. (of course not : 28 signals !) For me, THAT DID IT ; I cannot work without a (fast) recovery speed.
The explorer ii is still here, somewhere. Bought a Minelab X-Terra 50 and started finding things again. I don't think I'll EVER "use" that explorer again...
Why waste time on an Explorer when you can be having FUN ?????????
Jan 07, 2006
26 Yes
39 No
Exp II
Joe in NY -I too read all of these review when I was looking to purchase a new MD. A great many "pros' about the ExpII but the few cons scared me a little... How could so many people absolutely LOVE it and yet, have those who couldn't even work it?
Well, I purchased one on some advice from people I know personally who use them. Here's my take on the "cons"
Heavy machine: Yes it's heavy. So, I bought a bugee harness. I'm 50, no weight lifter, yet I can swing this thing for hours at the park without the harness. The only time I use the bungee is at the beach (mainly so I don't drop it in the water). Between the 7 lb stainless steel sand scoop in my left hand and the ExpII in my right, my arms are lookin' good :)
Learning Curve: Yes, there is a learning curve. But it's only as steep as you make it. If you read your manual a couple of times, get Sabich's book, read the classroom forums, you can make it a lot easier on yourself. I read the manual way before I got the machine. This thing gives you a LOT of information, it just takes a little time to learn what it's trying to tell you. If you don't want to take the time to really get to know a machine, any machine, don't buy it.
Difficult to pinpoint: I don't find that to be the case at all. There are a few tricks that help you narrow it down very accurately. I dig very small plugs and more often than not, my target is right where I thought it was. One necessary accessory (although expensive), is the Sunray X-1. Can't leave home without it.
Plastic: Yes, it's made of plastic, just like everything else. I'm sure if I take care of it, it will last.
Reliability: I have it about 9 months and believe it or not the coil died about 5 months after I bought it. Stuff happens. I sent it to Minelab and they sent back a new coil the same day. Very helpful customer service.
Expensive: Yes :) But in my opinion, worth it. If something were to happen to the one I have, I would do what I could to get another.
Unbalanced machine: The coil mount is at the rear of the coil. This makes it top heavy. Simply shorthening the length of the rod, getting it closer to the front of your toes, makes it a lot better. Not something I think about.
I think that about covers the cons... The pro's? I will have to do that another time. Most have already been mentioned anyway. Bottom line is, if most of the clocks on your electronic equipment at home are flashing "12:00", the Exp II is not for you. If you like top of the line gadgets with lots of useful bells and whistles and awesome performance, the ExpII is one great machine. I know that I've found things with the Exp II that others simple could not find.
Jan 02, 2006
32 Yes
1 No
How good or what?
Peter Abbott in Brighton England -As a novice to detecting I got to say useing this machine was rather daunting to say the least,but the end results are worth all the effort,read the books that are available and cds,this machine will out perform the rest.
I joined a club and i can honestly say that its the explorers that find the most on club digs, pinpointint is 100% and easy, there are lighter machines but I use a harnes so no problems there .
Even useing factory settings it out performs all other detectors, ok its expensive ,but you get what you pay for.
Nov 08, 2005
36 Yes
5 No
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