Technical Question from newbie

[30harry]

Hi all, new to the forum but been around a LONG time. I have a Minelab Explorer XS I bought in 2000 and I was thinking it would be nice to maybe update to latest technology/features.

In looking at what is currently available, I'm wondering just how much has changed in the last 13 or so years. It looks to me like ML might have been resting on their laurels, so to speak. I also follow ham radio and I am constantly amazed at what technology has done in the software defined radio (SDR) area in the last ten-15 years. It is just incredible!

And I have to admit I know just a little about ML because of the Explorer XS but I know next to nothing about any other MD company or their products.

I'm wondering if any MD company has moved in that direction?? I see ML still has the same 28 freqs they have advertised since 1999 or so. I would think that in 14 years some things would have changed in the technology but it isn't readily visible. Using something like SDR you could have unlimited freqs and analyze all of them at the same time to help to improve metal detecting.

It looks to me as if the only changes were in the way the info is presented and not much changed in the actual technology. ? Maybe a little faster CPUs, etc. but no "leaps ahead"

I see the CTX 3030 looks new but is it an actual different technology or just presented in a different manner with a much higher price tag?

The Etrac looks like it is an Explorer with a little different user interface and a higher price tag And the Explorer PRO SE looks like my explorer XS with slight differences

Thanks for any help in understanding how technology has advanced in the last ten years.

Harry from Missouri (you know, the SHOW ME state)

 

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[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Technology has changed! FBS2 is an improvement on the FBS technology. The CTX3030 has multiple target ID on one screen. GPS technology now shows you where you have been and allows you to record finds. Xchange2 allows you to update firmware when updates are available. Faster CPUs allow for faster swing speeds. Plus the addition of wireless connectivity shows that" Minelab hasn't been sitting on their laurels".

Wayne

Www.metaldetectingstuff.com

 

[Terry Soloman]

As MDS says, better discrimination, better signal filtering, focused signal depth.

 

[30harry]

I thought I should add to this with what I've been able to discover regarding minelab technology.

First off, I was able to find a minelab video (smartfind2 video) that describes the technology of the ctx3030 to a small degree and as it turns out, it appears to be exactly the same technology advances I wrote about in the ham radio field. The ctx3030 uses the same "software defined" technology. The analog signals from the receive coil are sent to an "analog to digital" converter chip where the analog info is turned into digital data and then that digital x and y data is then analyzed/processed giving the outputs used to display data to the user. The x data being the conductivity, and the y data being the ferrous signal data. This is getting very close to what is happening in the ham radio field. The "radio" is actually the software. In this case, the "detector" is actually in the software.

If this follows along the same path, there will be no need for "new" metal detectors, just new "software". You can add new features just by writing new software.

Now, I was only able to find this type of information for the ctx3030. I could not find anything similar on ANY other detector. And no other brand of detectors either. So I'm going to guess that if the detector does not at least have the ability to download updates and upgrades (attach to a pc usb port), then it is still old technology. I wish the detector makers were a little more open with their products in discussing the technology.

The gps addition does help in some cases but I don't think it is a feature that would drive a person to just buy a model with gps.

I've settled this enough in my mind that my next detector is going to be the ctx3030. Now I just wish I knew what programming language minelab used on the ctx3030.

Harry

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I thought I should add to this with what I've been able to discover regarding minelab technology.

First off, I was able to find a minelab video (smartfind2 video) that describes the technology of the ctx3030 to a small degree and as it turns out, it appears to be exactly the same technology advances I wrote about in the ham radio field. The ctx3030 uses the same "software defined" technology. The analog signals from the receive coil are sent to an "analog to digital" converter chip where the analog info is turned into digital data and then that digital x and y data is then analyzed/processed giving the outputs used to display data to the user. The x data being the conductivity, and the y data being the ferrous signal data. This is getting very close to what is happening in the ham radio field. The "radio" is actually the software. In this case, the "detector" is actually in the software.

If this follows along the same path, there will be no need for "new" metal detectors, just new "software". You can add new features just by writing new software.

Now, I was only able to find this type of information for the ctx3030. I could not find anything similar on ANY other detector. And no other brand of detectors either. So I'm going to guess that if the detector does not at least have the ability to download updates and upgrades (attach to a pc usb port), then it is still old technology. I wish the detector makers were a little more open with their products in discussing the technology.

The gps addition does help in some cases but I don't think it is a feature that would drive a person to just buy a model with gps.

I've settled this enough in my mind that my next detector is going to be the ctx3030. Now I just wish I knew what programming language minelab used on the ctx3030.

Harry

Harry, thanks for your analysis, GREAT job. With your comparative analysis with ham radios, this really sheds new light on the CTX.

When I got my Etrac, I was kinda hoping I could do software updates with the USB port too, but at least I can add patterns I review and wish to try.

Your post was right on target.