Minelab Explorer SE: Loser
Never have I been more disappointed in a new metal detector than I am with the new Minelab Explorer SE, which I recently purchased.
While the rains came down last week I read and reread Minelab’s lengthy instruction manual and practiced the settings on the machine. The instruction manual is the most detailed I’ve come across, but it’s essential, for the SE is the most complicated machine I’ve ever tried to use. But I finally mastered the controls, the screens and settings, etc., and, yesterday, when the rains finally ceased, I visited my old stomping grounds at the extinct town of Warrenton, Mississippi. I picked Warrenton especially since I’ve hunted it innumerable times, and I know every old housesite and fort in its bounds. If the SE could perform here, I would know it was a worthwhile investment.
The first thing that struck me was the weight of the machine, especially the coil. While most manufacturers have produced light-weight heads, Minelab has evidently made theirs from melted-down minie balls. After three hours of hunting, my arm was sore and I was through not only for the day, but for the week.
Spring has encouraged the sprouting of all kinds of little vines and plants. The SE loved them. Many times when its coil brushed against one, the SE expressed its joy with its own version of Jingle Bells. This forced me to rescan each time the SE sang, for there was no difference between the SE’s song and a true signal. And true signals were a rarity. I don’t know how this machine got its reputation for superior depth performance - I certainly didn’t experience it. I covered areas where I’ve found many old silver coins and minie balls, but this day I failed to find coin, minie ball, or any brass or lead at all, with the exception of two .30-06 shell casings (on top of the ground) and a small piece of a brass thimble. I did find the tops of two aluminum cans. I tried three different locations at Warrenton, using several of the SE’s various search patterns, and experienced the same disappointing results.
Pinpointing with the machine is a nightmare. The random Jingle Bells tune occurs with such irregularity over a target that one can only guess at a specific location for it. The pinpointer is no help, for it whines at random, and finally plateaus at some upper-threshhold level and is thereafter useless. Best results were achieved by leaving the machine in discriminate mode and gradually raising the head to try and center maximum signal. Still, there were a couple of small targets that I never found.
The SE has the same weakness for big iron that other machines exhibit. I got two very nice signals that the SE indicated were high conductivity, low ferrous - the type signals that should indicate, say, a belt plate - only to find, 12″ - 15″ down, large chunks of symetrically-shaped iron objects. What a disappointment.
The positives for the machine include its design and manufacture. It’s obviously well made and of very good quality. Placing the coil lead inside the shaft is a big improvement over other machines, and the method for locking the shafts to coil and electronics is fast and convenient. The LCD screen is easy to read and, once you understand all the nuances in the machine’s rather complex programming, fairly easy to navigate. Overall, then, the design is very good.
My experience with the SE and its Smartfind/Digital Display screen has reminded me of a decision I made many years ago - buy a sound-only machine and dig every signal that’s not a nail.
I agree, I am completely baffled by the SE despite all my efforts.
↓ Quote | PostedApril 29, 2007, 8:52 amYou’re right and I have to applaud your truthfulness. People believe all that banana oil they read in those reviews, field tests, and forum postings of depth claims and performance. Stay with the brands you can trust.
↓ Quote | PostedApril 29, 2007, 4:04 pmI’m selling the SE and going back to my Shadow X5 - a much better machine.
↓ Quote | PostedApril 29, 2007, 4:59 pmThanks for the comment, Badger. I like to try different machines, and the SE was just next in line. I’m thinking Fisher F75 or Tesoro Tejon next. Have you had experience with either of them?
↓ Quote | PostedApril 29, 2007, 7:55 pmMy new Tejon just arrived today UPS and I used it without even reading the manual first. It’s super easy to use and ground balances easier than any machine I’ve had yet.
Tomorrow I’ll check the depth out using a ruler but as of now I think it’s deeper than my Nautilus IIB and my Minelab Excalibur. One thing is for sure, it’s much easier than the Nautilus to setup and use.
I don’t guess on depths so tomorrow it’s the ruler test on freshly buried coins. I’ll get back with a full report if you would like me to.
Michigan Badger P.S. You should post your review of the SE on metaldetectorreviews.net
↓ Quote | PostedApril 30, 2007, 7:39 pmBadger, I would greatly appreciate a report on the Tejon. I’m going to try the F75, and will likewise give you a report on it if you want. Thanks much for the input.
↓ Quote | PostedMay 8, 2007, 8:10 amI did do two depth tests on the Tejon. The first was very disappointing so I checked a major detector dealer friend in the UK. He told me I had done something wrong so I selected another test site and everything changed for the better.
I had a buried dime at 7 inches and it gave a nice loud solid signal. I can see where it would easily detect a dime at 8 inches and maybe even 9. In my soil this is extremely good and about twice the depth of my Minelab Excalibur.
The whole thing with the Tejon is the ground balance (GB). The GB must be set very close or one loses depth (maybe 2-4 inches).
The first depth test failed because there was iron in the ground and powerlines overhead. These can greatly affect the GB. One gets a false ground balance set to the iron in the ground and therefore loses a lot of depth. This is one reason an adjustable GB machine can sometimes be worse than a factory preset model such as the Tesoro DeLeon.
So far I find the Tejon very stable with little if any drift. One setting of the GB is usually good for the entire site. And too, the Tejon balances very easily. It’s the easiest I’ve seen in 40 years of detecting experience.
The Tejon is nearly a perfect detector for both super trashy sites and relic hunting. It separates targets extremely well.
Hope this helps.
Badger P.S. I just posted a rather boring YouTube of the Tejon so if you’re very patient take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PguF-I5MOoI
↓ Quote | PostedMay 12, 2007, 11:24 amBadger, that’s sure a good report; you’re tempting me… Maybe I made a mistake ordering the F75? It’ll probably be another week or two before it gets here (they’re on backorder). I’ll post a report on it after I have a chance to try it. Do keep me informed on the results of your hunts with the Tejon. Maybe I’ll try it next…
↓ Quote | PostedMay 12, 2007, 7:26 pmOuch! That’s a bummer that you had a bad experience. The SE is definitely not for everyone. Seems like everyone hates it at first.. then it splits… you either love it, or hate it more. I’m glad I was able to turn it around for myself, but I’m always looking for any edge for increasing finds. I’ve been hearing great things about the F75 and the Tejon… so I’m very curious about those.
I’ve heard talk that the F75 goes as deep.. if not deeper than the SE, but is WAY more comfortable to swing. Can’t wait for personal reports.
Thanks!
↓ Quote | PostedMay 24, 2007, 7:32 pmDetectorBase
Hey, DetectorBase… I haven’t received the F75 yet, but as soon as it gets here, I’ll try it out. I’m confident it’s a good detector, though - certainly I hope my experience with it beats that with the SE. Perhaps I should have given the SE more time, but, life is short, and I’d rather be digging than fiddlin’. Regards, Malcolm
↓ Quote | PostedMay 24, 2007, 10:46 pmI had a explorer11 and the ID in trash would just freeze ( to much money for that ) , know I have the F75 and like the small in the trash, work very good and ID works. In 17 hunts 190.oo in clad, 1 gold ring, `9 silver coins, some buttons and tokens. The f75 is very fast, I like it. I hunted with the cz’s 13 yrs. like them , too.
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↓ Quote | PostedMarch 20, 2008, 3:09 pmhttp://heather48dd.bravejournal.com/entry/20870
You sure saved me from a mistake. I’ve been trying to decide between the Explorer SE and either the Fisher F70 or F75.
I guess I’ll stick with Fisher.
↓ Quote | PostedJune 28, 2008, 12:30 pmMike
Mike, consider the Shadow X5, if you can find one. I understand production has ceased on this great machine.
↓ Quote | PostedJune 28, 2008, 2:10 pmI agree that the SE does sound confusing at times, and cant comment on depth of other machines, my last machine was an old C-Scope about 25 years asgo. I bought the Explorer II and then an SE when it came out.
Yes they are difficult to understand at first, but it really sounds that either something was wrong or the sensitivity was set way too high if it was making noise when you brushed the coil against foilage.
The upper threshold sound can be adjusted to suit the user, just turn down the upper limit in the Sounds section of the menu.
It is too heavy, yes, that is a big problem, but using a harness helps. I now even use a harness on ligher machines, save me dropping the machine in water all the time when I am detecting on the beach.
I have kept mine, but it has taken some getting used to, and I have come to it with no ideas of how other modern machines operate, so that probably helped.
Just because it is Menu driven rather than knobs and switches it is no more prograble than an analogue machine. People tend to quite happily twiddle knobs and adjust till they are happy when using an analogue machine, but as soon as the word Programable appears, people seem afraid to change settings and fiddle with them.
↓ Quote | PostedJuly 18, 2008, 4:08 amI’m a computer programmer/electronics engineer and I’ve been into the hobby of metal detecting for thirty years now. I have owned many machines such as the Fisher 1260x, 1265x, CZ3D, Tesoro Golden Sabre, Garrett Grand Master, Whites Eagle 2 SL 89 & 91, & DFX, Minelab Sovereign, Explorer, Explorer I, Explorer II and now the SE.
I totally agree that the Minelab Explorers including the SE are rip-offs. I guess the reason that I’ve kept buying them is because I hoped that Minelab would finally get their act together and make this machine live up to its potential, which just hasn’t happened. The Explorers while well made are just too heavy. The smart find is a pure gimic (just a fancy analog display) which has never really worked well because of the cross-hair response time relative to the target signal and the lack of a grid/reference points on the screen (the SE has the same problem). Plus the plastic screen is very dififficult to read in sunlight because of glare. I guess minelab never heard of anti-glare coating, which is widely used on PDAs and works well. Not too much to ask for on a machine that costs nearly $1400.00!
The SE does require quite a long learning curve to understand the settings & signals. As mentioned by others, the SE loves rusted nails, large iron & ferrous bottle caps. The most annoying thing for me with the Explorer Se (same as the older models) is the very slow response (due to the slow processor) of the cross hairs which will often freeze. There is absolutely no excuse for this considering the availability of super fast processors today.
Great depth is one of the claims for this machine, but I just haven’t seen it. When it come to depth it is just not in the same league as the Fisher CZs for instance. Target Id is ok but the Whites machines are so much better. The Whites machines are also much more comfortable and fun to use because of their lighter weight/better balance. I have found that the VCO pinpoint mechanism on the new Explorer SE works very well.
In conclusion, the Minelab Explorer SE has so much potential that Minelab just hasn’t taken advantages of. The machine is also very over priced for what you get. After investing around $5000.00 in Minelabs over the last several years, I’m giving up on them. I’ll stick with the Whites and Fishers!
↓ Quote | PostedJuly 23, 2008, 6:51 amTom, have you tried the new Garrett Infinium LS? I’ve read good and bad about it, but I do intend to try one. I’m using the Troy Shadow X5 now, and consider it the best all-around machine I’ve ever had. I’m also looking at the Tesoro machines - any experience there?
↓ Quote | PostedJuly 23, 2008, 7:55 amMalcolm, I have not tried the new Garrett Infinium LS. Like you I have heard some good and some bad things about this machine. When you try it I would be very interested in hearing your conclusions about it. I have only owned one Garrett machine (the Grandmaster) and I have used a few others which were owned by detecting buddies of mine. I didn’t really like the Grandmaster or the others that I tried basically because they had poor depth. These were older models however.
I have owned one Tesoro machine (the Golden Sabre) and I liked it very much. Good depth and a very good coin machine. I have heard very good things about the Tesoro line. Good luck.
↓ Quote | PostedJuly 23, 2008, 9:22 pm