Equinox 800 -vs- E-Trac?

[CoinHunterAZ]

I’m seriously thinking of doing another upgrade. I currently have the AT Pro, and an older Tesoro Sidewinder. and I think both are decent machines and I’ve found a lot of good stuff with both of them. I’ve been reading good things lately about the 800, but wondered if I’d be better off money wise with the E-Trac. My hunting is primarily coin shooting and relic hunting. Is the E-Trac a better machine for what I do? The 800 is more in line with what I’d like to spend. Decisions, decisions. Any advice will be appreciated!

 

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[tcornel]

I would think about just going to the 3030. You can find a used one with 2+ years of warranty left for 1200 to 1500. The 3030 is basically a waterproof etrac upgraded in many, many areas. The Equinox is a great machine for the money but I have both and after 8 months I find myself picking up the 3030. That is unless I am tired and the Nox gets the call. With the same size coils the Nox cannot match the CTX depth. With the Nox's separation ability they are perfect compliments to each other.

The thing about depth is the ability to get it while doing a normal swing, not hovering over a known target. With the CTX 17" coil I have pulled nickels and dimes 18" + at the beach in salt water. Many targets are 2 scoops deep with my 920i. That is over 2 FEET deep.

A big reason for that is the CTX ability to amplify deep weaker signals. That leads to more recoveries.

 

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[Racso]

My 2 cents worth is to listen to people who own the machine themselves. There’s some people who just love to tell you how to use the machine and what it can/can’t do but they don’t even own one. Your best bet would be finding someone local that’s using these machines in the same environment you plan to hunt. I’m not a coin hunter but I have hunted a site that’s filled with lots of iron. It’s not easy but you can do it if you put the time needed to learn it and by that I mean deciphering the good signals among the heavy iron. The picture below is the silver coins I have found in this site with eq800 and most targets were about 8” deep. Good luck with whatever detector you choose.

 

[the_mad_cladder]

My buddy has the deus and the 800. He has had the 800 since a couple months after it came out and had the deus for a few years. He doesn’t seem impressed with the 800. He hit a field we both hunt and found very little to nothing. I hit the same spot and found 10 flat buttons. That could be due to his lack of experience on the machine but who knows. I might get an 800 if I start seeing better results from his. I need a waterproof machine but Hearing about someone digging good stuff just doesn’t convince me, I wanna see results in person. You might consider renting one or borrowing a friends if possible. Try it out for yourself. Make a test bed. We what they do. I love the deus and they are coming out with a cheaper model with a couple less bells and whistles. That might be the way to go.

 

[A2coins]

I think you will be fine with either one dig all targets till you learn, Takes a while getting your coil over the target is most of the battle Happy Holidays Tommy

 

[smokeythecat]

A2coins is correct. I like to try out a new machine before I buy one, is there a dealer nearby you can take a test drive on a machine? When V and I were at a Civil War spot, the big coil on the Equinox was useless as there were too many targets under the coil at the same time. This was a camp, with lots and lots of targets in the ground, mainly iron ones. Lots and lots. On all metal you can't move any machine even a few inches without getting a hit. It really will also depend on where you want to use it.

I'd try to find one to try out first, maybe a local club would help.

 

[HighVDI]

Just think.....if the Eq was worthless in an iron pit how will that CTX fair?

Theres a tool for every job but to me the 800 is the swiss army knife of them all for the time being.

 

[smokeythecat]

Not much of anything works in the iron pit, except the Deus with the HF coil. With the LF coil, it doesn't do well either. Once upon a time ago, most vlf machines would get something, but eventually the easy targets disappeared. A buddy of mine went there with a 3030 and then switched to an etrac, (I think I got the 2nd machine right), he didn't find anything. When V switched to the Deus, he got his kepi #2 and other keepers. I have dug a lot of the bigger iron out to get it out of the way, but that place is still a nightmare for most machines. There are still 2' long pieces of CW barrell bands lying there. These days I tell folks if you get one good CW relic at this site, it's a good day.

The 800 with the big coil would be ideal for wide open land hunting. I think it's regular coil would suffice for salt beaches, not sure you'd need a bigger coil there. My lowly Cibola at the salt beach gobbled up colonial coins down 12" or more. It got tiring digging that deep.

 

[HighVDI]

Not much of anything works in the iron pit, except the Deus with the HF coil. With the LF coil, it doesn't do well either. Once upon a time ago, most vlf machines would get something, but eventually the easy targets disappeared. A buddy of mine went there with a 3030 and then switched to an etrac, (I think I got the 2nd machine right), he didn't find anything. When V switched to the Deus, he got his kepi #2 and other keepers. I have dug a lot of the bigger iron out to get it out of the way, but that place is still a nightmare for most machines. There are still 2' long pieces of CW barrell bands lying there. These days I tell folks if you get one good CW relic at this site, it's a good day.

The 800 with the big coil would be ideal for wide open land hunting. I think it's regular coil would suffice for salt beaches, not sure you'd need a bigger coil there. My lowly Cibola at the salt beach gobbled up colonial coins down 12" or more. It got tiring digging that deep.

It seems like the Deus is still the king in the iron but looking at what the OP is looking to spend is the 800 not the best fit? Deus would be at the high end of the price spectrum plus the popular Hf coil cost and you're knocking on low hour used CTX prices. Etrac is a legendary coin sniffer but he mentioned he wants to also relic hunt. It just seems like the obvious choice is the EQ. Thats just my outlook though.

 

[the_mad_cladder]

The deus is available new with the x35 hf coil if I’m not mistaken. I like the x35 better than the 9” hf coil in hard hit areas. Seems like it hits deeper. The new detector from xp the orx is suppose to be cheaper and works with the same x35 coil also. It’s suppose to be the same detector as the deus without a few of the bells and whistles and the price is suppose to be way cheaper. I don’t think it’s on sale in the states yet though.

 

[Grizz12]

I'm new to this hobby and don't own a rig yet but I'm looking at the 800. My observations as someone totally inexperienced yet watching MANY videos online using various rigs.

1) people swing over a target and get bleeps
2) then they push buttons, turn knobs and swing again resulting in more or fewer bleeps
3) repeat number 2 or dig or move on to another spot
4) they rarely mention the initial settings or say them so fast I can't catch it. That being said I don't know the lingo so when I do hear the settings it usually goes over my head...

My point is this, you guys are saying one rig is better or worse than another but how do you know the settings are the same on each rig? The number on the screen may be the same but that does not mean the results will be the same.

I'm looking at it this way, if you have a corvette and a f150 and drive both in 1st gear you will get different results. You will get different results between f150 and a chevy truck yet the are both in 1st gear. You can also get different results with the same truck and different drivers... How do you know you are comparing apples to apples with MD rigs

 

[HighVDI]

I'm new to this hobby and don't own a rig yet but I'm looking at the 800. My observations as someone totally inexperienced yet watching MANY videos online using various rigs.

1) people swing over a target and get bleeps
2) then they push buttons, turn knobs and swing again resulting in more or fewer bleeps
3) repeat number 2 or dig or move on to another spot
4) they rarely mention the initial settings or say them so fast I can't catch it. That being said I don't know the lingo so when I do hear the settings it usually goes over my head...

My point is this, you guys are saying one rig is better or worse than another but how do you know the settings are the same on each rig? The number on the screen may be the same but that does not mean the results will be the same.

I'm looking at it this way, if you have a corvette and a f150 and drive both in 1st gear you will get different results. You will get different results between f150 and a chevy truck yet the are both in 1st gear. You can also get different results with the same truck and different drivers... How do you know you are comparing apples to apples with MD rigs

Very true for both settings and "driver"

Heres the difference. If someone tells you they want a vehicle that can get them to work every day and also from time to time haul some things your answer would be the f150. If they wanted a weekend corner carver the vette would fit.

 

[vferrari]

A2coins is correct. I like to try out a new machine before I buy one, is there a dealer nearby you can take a test drive on a machine? When V and I were at a Civil War spot, the big coil on the Equinox was useless as there were too many targets under the coil at the same time. This was a camp, with lots and lots of targets in the ground, mainly iron ones. Lots and lots. On all metal you can't move any machine even a few inches without getting a hit. It really will also depend on where you want to use it.

I'd try to find one to try out first, maybe a local club would help.

Agree with Smokey to try before you buy if you can, hunt with a buddy who has one or borrow one.

I never used the big coil at the site Smokey was talking about, took it off immediately after we joked about it, and used the mini coil and found some small camp lead and other small non ferrous in tight areas where the 9" coil of the Deus couldn't reach, but nothing to write home about. Just happens my best finds were with the Deus that day as I was switching between the two) and it had the edge as it usually does in super thick iron. In a field in the same area, I would probably be using either Deus or Equinox, probably Equinox because of the wider coil coverage. Bottom line is I would not be caught without either detector in my truck (Deus and Equinox) and would choose the detector best suited for the conditions at hand because they have complimentary performance features.

But as far as the OP is concerned, he was asking about eTrac vs. 800 (not Deus) and I would still recommend 800, even and if you bring Deus into the picture, I would recommend Equinox to him based on overall value and versatility (Deus is not the right tool of the two at a wet salt beach, for example), but it would be a closer call than eTrac for relic hunting. IMO.

Just think.....if the Eq was worthless in an iron pit how will that CTX fair?

Theres a tool for every job but to me the 800 is the swiss army knife of them all for the time being.

100% agree.

It seems like the Deus is still the king in the iron but looking at what the OP is looking to spend is the 800 not the best fit? Deus would be at the high end of the price spectrum plus the popular Hf coil cost and you're knocking on low hour used CTX prices. Etrac is a legendary coin sniffer but he mentioned he wants to also relic hunt. It just seems like the obvious choice is the EQ. Thats just my outlook though.

Yes.

The deus is available new with the x35 hf coil if I’m not mistaken. I like the x35 better than the 9” hf coil in hard hit areas. Seems like it hits deeper. The new detector from xp the orx is suppose to be cheaper and works with the same x35 coil also. It’s suppose to be the same detector as the deus without a few of the bells and whistles and the price is suppose to be way cheaper. I don’t think it’s on sale in the states yet though.

The ORX is no Deus - I elaborate why in detail here.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/deus/594570-xp-orx-intro-video-english.html#post6013395

Besides, OP has explicitly stated that he is not interested in other non ML so belaboring the point is probably not helpful for him especially at the higher Deus price point (unless a used machine is in the cards).

Merry Christmas!

 

[smokeythecat]

V is correct, the Deus does work on a wet salt beach, but not nearly as well as either the Equinox I briefly had or my Cibola. I would not get confused about what other people think, try to find a dealer or club and test any machine you are looking at purchasing if at all possible. Etrac vs Equinox, again, try to go take a look at each before you purchase.

And price break? Depends on what you want. Price should not be the primary consideration unless you have no machine at all. Best to wait and get whatever your personal choice is. Some folks need a small car, a very small compact because they are in the city and never go more than 10 miles at a time.

Others need a huge pickup because they live in the middle of Wyoming and the store is 30 miles away. And when you get a new machine, please use the factory presets until you get to learn it. Otherwise you'll sabotage yourself.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I’m seriously thinking of doing another upgrade. I currently have the AT Pro, and an older Tesoro Sidewinder. and I think both are decent machines and I’ve found a lot of good stuff with both of them. I’ve been reading good things lately about the 800, but wondered if I’d be better off money wise with the E-Trac. My hunting is primarily coin shooting and relic hunting. Is the E-Trac a better machine for what I do? The 800 is more in line with what I’d like to spend. Decisions, decisions. Any advice will be appreciated!

I don`t know how old you are but the weight is very important both your`s and the weight of the machine, that E-Trac is heavy.
My friend has the 600 and it`s a little liter than my old E-Trac.
Gary

 

[smokeythecat]

With machines, as I said it's always best to try out any new machine. And machines are like cars, you get what you pay for. Not everyone had the same needs or wants. And a $200 machine can find a $5k item as easily as a machine that costs $2k. The stuff has to be there to begin with and you have to dig it. I have no use for a PI machine, but see the newest banner was found by a PI machine. Way to go. Also, since I don't particularly like the water, a water machine is out for me. My fields have objects a foot to 18" or less down and so most machines will work there. My iron infested sites, takes a specialist not a GP.

Try out what you're interested in FIRST. I have bought a few machines over time I plain did not like and sold they fast.

Most any detector on the market is now on the USED detector market, check that out also.

 

[CoinHunterAZ]

As much as I’d love to try someone’s machine before I buy one, it’s highly unlikely that I will be able to. In my 30 years of MD here, I think I’ve only seen just a couple of other fellow detectorists here. I did have one guy contact me a few years ago through this forum to meet at my favorite park to hunt. He was using an E-trac and I ended up seriously cleaning his clock using my AT Pro. I honestly don’t know what his skill level was, but I had hundreds and hundreds of hours on the ATP. He’s from a different town though, and spends most of his time on another MD forum. I feel that I’ve done enough research now to be confident that the equinox 800 will serve me well once I get some time on it.

 

[HighVDI]

If you do purchase the 800 and don't like it you will be able to sell it off quickly and shouldn't lose too much while doing it.

 

[Grizz12]

Very true for both settings and "driver"

Heres the difference. If someone tells you they want a vehicle that can get them to work every day and also from time to time haul some things your answer would be the f150. If they wanted a weekend corner carver the vette would fit.

I'm interested in salty beach work looking for rings/jewelry/etc..., which will fit my needs best, nox 800, Explorer II, other??

 

[smokeythecat]

High VDI is correct, any better machine will sell fast on the secondary market.

 

[chub]

I don`t know how old you are but the weight is very important both your`s and the weight of the machine, that E-Trac is heavy.
My friend has the 600 and it`s a little liter than my old E-Trac.
Gary

Glad you mentioned it. Op wants something lighter than the AT. Thats not the E trac...or 3030...

I was on the verge of buying a E trac and put a number of hours on it. The ergonomics are pretty bad (in my opinion), nose heavy and to master it / make use of its potential / programming etc would have taken me years.

chub