CTX 3030 - Do I Still Have The Right Detector?

[TORRERO]

Blowing it away is a relative term of course. The Manticore beats it in just about every aspect, but, in some areas, it's almost too close to call. It's going to be those iffy signals in bad or trashy ground where the Manticore really shines over the CTX. I know it seems that the CTX processor speed is fast, but, it's nowhere near what the Equinox, Manticore, Legend, or Deus have. That can be a game changer in bad and/or trashy ground. Depth on silver in clean ground I also give to the Manticore, but, not by much in stock modes. If you know how to tweak the Manticore, you can get significant extra depth at certain venues over any other machine I've seen.....even PI machines. Small gold and tiny nugget hunting, Manticore is better, especially in Prospecting mode. Nothing wrong with the CTX however. In most areas of hunting, if you don't need the extra depth, or the ground is not hot or trashy, the CTX will work just as well. It's still one of the best coin and jewelry detectors out there. It's mostly the extreme situations where you need the extra speed and ground handling where the Manticore (and Equinox, Deus, and Legend for that matter) shine. Weighing a fraction of the CTX doesn't hurt most of us either.

I've never had either one of those machines, but would love to see a SIDE by SIDE signal comparison. I'm not always convince that one high end machine is better than another unless you do a signal side by side test, I got this target, what do you get or do you get it at all ?
So when me and my partner go hunting he has a Minelab 800, so far there have been a few signals he got that I couldn't but I think they might have been iron or trash my DEUS II did not want, ON THE OTHER HAND, we just hunted a church yard where I got 11 Wheat Cents to his 1, (one) although he did not check EVERY target I got, he did check a few and many of the ones I was digging he said gave him jumpy signals and he would not have dug them... Clearly if we both are hunting a small yard and I get 11 coins to his one, my machine is working better... Does it mean he should run out and buy one of mine ? I rib him about this all the time and he admits mine is better, but 11 wheat cents are worth maybe 15 cents so the math doesn't add up..

 

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[TORRERO]

Old school!

If you want a lightweight machine, may I suggest a DEUS II ? 🤣

 

[daddyflea]

This is an old thread but to me the CTX is not dead just yet. I have a Deus 2 but I did this Video where the CTX really shines at ID

 

[cudamark]

This is an old thread but to me the CTX is not dead just yet. I have a Deus 2 but I did this Video where the CTX really shines at ID

Nobody credible is saying that the CTX is dead. It's still a great machine, but, not cutting edge anymore. In mild ground that isn't trashy, it will find 98% of anything the new machines will find. It's the weight, hunting in iron trashed ground, and tiny gold where the new machines shine. If you're starting from scratch, no reason to get a new CTX, so, get the newest high tech machine instead. If you have the chance to get a used one at a bargain price, don't need a lighter machine, or you're not hunting stud earrings or tiny nuggets, by all means.....get the CTX and have fun.

 

[1637]

iam still using my mxt whites and it work good, the main reason i would change is the weight.
wow the newer old are really lite

 

[Norwegian82]

Hi there! I live in Norway and have recently bought a used CTX. I have read that "Tadpole 4 Ghost 4" is a good combination of programs, but I can't find them anywhere. Can anyone here help me?

 

[cudamark]

Depending on your soil and other local conditions, there may or may not be better settings. Learn your machine features and what they do so you can adjust according to YOUR search area.

 

[Norwegian82]

Depending on your soil and other local conditions, there may or may not be better settings. Learn your machine features and what they do so you can adjust according to YOUR search area.

Thank you. I ask because I need a handy strategy to "iron check". I dig a lot of rusty nails that shows ID's at the FE 11-12 level.
I have read the book of Andy Sabisch, "CTX 3030 Handbook", and he mentioned the tadpole and ghost programs by Gordon Heritage as a good strategy to "iron check" if my memory is correct. But I can't find them anywhere.

 

[CW3]

Thank you. I ask because I need a handy strategy to "iron check". I dig a lot of rusty nails that shows ID's at the FE 11-12 level.
I have read the book of Andy Sabisch, "CTX 3030 Handbook", and he mentioned the tadpole and ghost programs by Gordon Heritage as a good strategy to "iron check" if my memory is correct. But I can't find them anywhere.

Use Ferrous coin

If you really want to get into it.

Set your user button to previous mode.

Set your first program as Ferrous coin and the second to high trash 50 tone. Use the user button to switch between the 2 programs.

Hunt in Ferrous coin when you get a target switch to 50 tone high trash. If the sound changes to a high squeal like an Etrac its silver.