MINELAB X TERRA 50 FIELD TEST

As an experienced detector operator working at Minelab, I have the fun job of field-testing new detectors, and with the brand new X-Terra series, you can put rings around the word FUN!! From putting the detector together, turning it on, swinging the detector, hearing a signal, pin-pointing and recovering the first of many coins - all of the attributes of the machine revolve around simplicity, ease-of-use, and best of all great performance. The weight and balance of the detector is brilliant, and you can swing it for hours without any fatigue. Both X-Terra's come standard with a padded armrest with adjustable arm strap, and the 3-piece locking shaft feels very solid when detecting, yet is easily broken down for compact storage.

When it comes to Coin & Treasure detectors, I am a long time Sovereign user, and have had some experience with the Explorer and more recently with the Quattro, so swinging a low-cost digital single frequency detector was a whole new experience, but once I picked one up, it was difficult to switch off! Putting the detector through its paces at parks and playgrounds within walking distance of the Minelab factory, I quickly began to appreciate the easy to read LCD, as this was a great aid in identifying good vs. bad targets. When discriminating, good targets will lock on and provide a positive ID reading, whereas Iron targets will give either no signal or a clipped signal followed by a "- -" reading on the meter. In the case where multiple targets are present, a quick change to All-metal will allow you to isolate the good from the bad targets with ease.

The 4-tone audio is great (X-Terra 30 has 3 tones), and when using the all-metal mode, Iron not only gives a negative ID number, but also a very low audio tone as well. What this means is that you can search in All-metal and see all the targets that are present, but only dig up the targets you want. The pinpointing function is the best I've used on any detector. As you sweep over the target the signal will sharpen up and the visual pinpoint graph fills up when you are directly over the target. As you dig closer to the target, the volume and pitch of the pinpoint audio increases. This is a great tool, as you can predict the size and depth of the target, which helps with the speed of recovery. I found that in grassed areas I was able to probe shallower coins within seconds, and could pop them out of the soil without any digging.

During field-testing several targets were located, including a 1914 half penny, a 1917 one penny, and 3 modern Chinese coins in the same hole! The sensitivity was much better than expected, as I found several small bullets, brass buttons and various other trinkets (see photo). On the beach the X-Terra works great; on the dry sand the sensitivity can be set quite high, and wet sand conditions are easily dealt with by lowering the sensitivity to suit. Being well before the big summer crowds, targets were few and far between, but a few coins did see the light of day proving that the X-Terra will find the goodies at the beach.

The X-Terra features many new and intuitive features which I don't have the room to mention here, so contact your nearest Minelab dealer and request a copy of the detailed four page brochure. You can also check out the rest of the new X-Terra website which will be updated with information, field tests and advanced user tips.

As all of us know, any time a new detector comes out we are all craving information on its performance, features, etc. And it's tough to wait until the machine finally is released before you hear any field test info on it.

First a few notes on prices and availability. I do not have price information on either the X-Terra 50, which I am testing, or the X-Terra 30, which lacks some of the features of the 50. If you want pricing information, please contact Minelab USA. Also, I do not know of the specific release date but have been told sometime in mid-November.

Next some tech info on the X-Terra series. According to Minelab, the X-Terra series of metal detectors utilizes a new type of single frequency technology called "VFLEX." I'll spare you the technical stuff that Bruce Candy no doubt understands better than anyone (since he invented VFLEX) and tell you the basics as I understand them. Essentially the frequency of the detector is determined by THE COIL. Yes, that's right, the coil. In the case of the X-Terra 50 there are two coils, the standard 9" concentric that operates at 7.5 khz & a smaller coil that operates at 18.75 kHz. When the coil is attached to the detector a digital data link is established between the control box and the coil.

According to Minelab, a number of coils will be offered for the X-Terra's. To me this is a truly innovative concept as it will allow us as users to adjust our detectors to the type of hunting we want instead of having to go to a different machine entirely.

Assembly was a breeze. Three parts to the shaft, standard coil attachment, detector stand and arm cup with strap on the end. Even Velcro straps are included to secure the cable tightly around the shaft. The shaft, stand & arm cup have several adjustments to suit various sizes of operators.

Set-up took barely a couple of minutes. Right away I noticed two things that I had never noticed in a Minelab detector before (and I've owned the Sovereign, Excalibur, Explorer I & II). It was lightweight AND balanced. It weighs about 3 lbs. with batteries. I could hold the detector on one finger with not trouble. Try that with your Explorer sometime!

The X-Terra series of detectors are silent search, metered machines that feature LCD displays. The X-Terra has a series of nine buttons on the control panel, all easily reachable with the operator's thumb except for the power button. They are: POWER, Menu Select (for adjustments to Sensitivity, Noise Cancel and Volume), Pinpoint/Detect, +/- (for adjustments), Patterns, Accept/Reject, All Metal and Ground Balance.

Target Type	Display Reading	Tone
14K band	12	Medium
Clad dime/Copper penny	36	High
Round Pull Tab	16	Medium
Zinc	32	High
Nickel	12	Medium
Silver quarter	40	High
2004 Dollar coin	40	High
Silver Roosevelt dime	36	High
Silver Mercury dime	36	High
Bent pull tab	12/16/20 (wouldn’t lock)	Medium
14K Ladies wedding ring	8	Medium
14K Charm/fine chain	8 (with Sensitivity at 10)	Medium
10k ring	6	Medium

I used the X-Terra in two environments this weekend: parks and a saltwater beach. Since I was new to the detector, I did what I think most users do with a new machine, which was to use it in the factory presets except for Volume, which I cranked up to 17 from the preset of 15. The preset discrimination patter was for coins/jewelry and I wore headphones.

The X-Terra performed very well in what turned out to be an extremely trashy park. The tone audio ID was very helpful in initially recognizing what sort of general target I had located. However, the meter was invaluable here as the numerical values were vital in determining probably target ID. What I found was that I used audio to get "good hits" that determined whether or not I would dig. Then I would turn to the meter for a more specific ID.

I dug all targets and found the combination of audio/visual target ID to be very accurate. Good targets were repeatable in both directions (as they should be); trash targets often broke up/sounded clipped. Visual ID on trash targets often jumped between numbers while good targets generally locked on a number.

Depths were good, with my deepest recovery being a 1947 wheatie at a measured 8". Outside of numerous clad coins my best finds were a silver ring (read 27) and two wheaties, a 1944 & the 1947. The wheaties really impressed me since this park has been heavily hunted.

A note here on depth reading, which is indicated by a series of arrows on the right side of the screen. I found it be helpful, with the arrows each representing approximately 2 inches, give or take. The depth reading, along with the strength of the audio signal gave me a pretty decent idea of how deep the target was.

Let me address one feature of the X-Terra at this point that I thought was just terrific: its pinpointing feature. It was of enormous help in locating the target. Here is how it works: Once you locate the target in normal discriminate mode, you move the coil off and press the Pinpoint button which activates pinpoint mode. Moving the coil back over the target produces a tone that increases in volume and pitch until the center of the coil is over the target. But here's the best part: as you are doing this, a circular graphic is displayed on the LCD. As you near target center, a second circle appears within the first graphic. It fills in segment by segment until you are directly over the target, at which time the inner circle is now complete. It worked just great and was dead on every time.

I spent the afternoon at one of our local ocean beaches, hunting both the dry & wet sand. Targets were sparse (as has been the case lately). The X-Terra was stable on both dry & wet sand with no falsing. I did try increasing the sensitivity from the preset of 12 to 20 & found that I could work the dry sand fine but had to back off to a high of 14 in the wet sand. The coil was submersed numerous times and did not false at all when the saltwater washed over it.

I did try the all metal mode on the detector but didn't notice a discernable difference in performance. What is cool about this mode is that the detector still provides both audio & visual target ID.

Several clad coins were found at very acceptable depths, again at a maximum of 8". Didn't dig any nickels (at the park, either, for that matter), but every tab reading that I got was a tab. I also found a nice 14K ladies ring with a small diamond in it about 4" down in the dry sand that read a 6.

Again, I dug all targets, including those that sounded "clipped." These turned out to be bottle caps; I was impressed that the machine didn't fool me into thinking that these were good targets.

Also, the combination of audio & visual target worked very well for me here. I hunt the beaches a lot and have had for years. The X-Terra delivered what I felt was very acceptable performance for a general use machine.

There are numerous pluses to mention here, but none more than this: I suffered no arm fatigue whatsoever. None. I can honestly say that I have never said that about any of my previous Minelab machines before. Other things I liked: ease of use, target ID system, stability.

The X-Terra 50 does have a ground balance control. According to the manual, if you start seeing meter readings of -9 then you are experiencing false signals. At this point they recommend adjusting the ground balance. I did not encounter any such readings and therefore did not see a need to adjust the ground balance.

Gripes thus far? Not many. I'll admit that having been a Minelab user for a number of years I wasn't thrilled about having to use a concentric coil again. The pinpointing feature certainly helped, but I'd prefer a double D and will be anxious to try one of those out someday.

After one weekend I would definitely give the X-Terra 50 a "thumbs up." It is not an Explorer, nor is it a Sovereign. And it wasn't meant to be either, in my opinion. It is a well-thought out mid-range, general use detector that offers the user an extremely easy to use, powerful machine. Will it replace my Explorer XS II? Nope. Would I own one? Yep. It was really fun and easy to use and I was finding good stuff. That works for me.

Field Test Trifecta.jpgFirst of all, I want to thank the folks at Minelab for allowing me to be part of the Field Testing team for this new detector. It is an honor. And, I would like to thank Findmall for responding so quickly with this new forum.

As many of you who read the forums know, I am a BIG FAN of the Minelab single frequency machines. Especially those 5kHz units! As many of us have stated over the years, "if they would only incorporate a meter into the Musky"! Well, they didn't add a meter to the Musky. But, I think you are going to like what they have come up with. I won't bore you all with the specifications, as there are many sites that are offering that information at this time. What I would like to share with you is how it has been working for me the past few days.

The first thing I did with my X-Terra was to take it outside and pass a couple hundred old coins under the coil. My findings have been a bit different than some of the others in that I get a wider range of readings on certain coins. For example, silver dollars and half dollars hit a hard, constant 45 on the meter. Quarters hit a hard 42. Seated, Barber, Standing Liberty, Washington. Mine were all the same.

Some of my dimes varied. I passed about 50 Seated, Barbers and Mercs under the coil and the readings were 33, 36 and 39s. No certain type of coin seemed to make a difference. In other words, one mercury might come in at 33 and another at 36. The next one might be 39. But what I found was that, if a certain dime read 36 one time, it would always read 36. All the nickels I tested read a solid 12. Shields, V-nickels, Buffaloes and Jefferson's. I guess I forgot to test the 40% silver nickels. Indian cents ranged from 27, 30 and 33's. I suppose it has to do with the metallic makeup. I didn't compare certain dates to get a fix on that.

Yellow gold rings read from the smaller ones at 12, to the middle sized ones at 18 and the larger ones at 24. I'm sure size and carat will make a difference on yours, so check them before you leave home! What I have determined, at least for the type of hunting I do, is to remember the trash instead of the coins and just don't dig the shallow trash numbers. Pull tabs are 21 and 27. Screw caps are 24 and 27. I know, some of you are thinking that I will miss some surface gold jewelry and you are probably right.

Some of you are thinking, why don't he just notch out the numbers for the trash? Let me tell you why. I went to an old fair grounds yesterday. I have an old picture postcard that shows an old set of grandstands and a horse track, circa 1890. The field is bean stubble now and I have never been able to find exactly where the grandstands set, on previous trips. I imagine that is because I ran my other detectors with enough discrimination to avoid the nails. Fortunately, the X-Terra allows us to run in all-metal mode, and still provides the 4 tones and the digital read out. So today, I wandered across the fields in all metal, and knew exactly when I reached the area where the grandstands were because of the nails. Low tone and 6, 6, 6, 9, 6, 9, etc. Iron. Then it hit the high tone and read 36. Was it going to be a dime?

Before I dug it out, I switched to discriminate mode, preference 1 and it still read 36 and was at between 6 and 8 inches deep. Switching to preference 2, it stayed at 36 and the same depth reading. Using the pinpoint mode, I narrowed down the target center. I dug the target very slowly, taking away one layer of soil at a time, to make sure the depth was accurate. Sure enough, it was a 1903 O Barber dime at 7 inches. The all-metal mode worked like I had hoped. The discrimination worked in both preference modes and the depth was right on the target.

I wanted to try a place with more modern trash, just to see how the X-Terra would handle it, so I went to a nearby park. I hunted in preset preference 2 and hadn't taken 3 steps until I got a 33 at 2 inches. And, to no surprise, it was a memorial cent. A few steps later I got a solid 42 at 2-4 inches. Clad quarter on the nose! 90 minutes and a handful of clad and memorials later, I decided I needed to trust the depth indicator and not dig until it was a deep one. (not a big fan of clad or memorials) I soon got a 36 at 6-8 inches and dug an 1882 IH cent. Across the sidewalk by an old tree stump, I got a solid 27 on the meter at 6 - 8 inches. Figuring it was too deep for a screw cap or pull-tab, and thinking it might be another IH on the low end of the scale, I was surprised to find a solid gold cuff link at a depth of nearly 8 inches. Loud and clear, with no hesitation.

I think that, for a 9 inch coil, this concentric does a pretty good job. Especially when operated in all-metal and you listen for the actual tone separation. I have a tendency to sweep too fast for most machines and I am finding that this can happen with the X-Terra too. By running in all-metal, I can hear every tone and "tune" my ears for the higher ones.

I was in an area today that had so much iron and low tone trash that I thought I had this X-Terra had developed a threshold sound! If I keep it in discriminate mode, and sweep a bit too fast, I find that I get a high tone on the "back side" of trashy items. Kind of like falsing. When I run in all metal, I still get that burst of high tone, but I know it is trash because I also get the low "grunt" directly on each side of the high tone. If you pay attention to the numbers, you can see them vary when you sweep perpendicular to the initial sweep.

One thing that I have found is that good targets are consistent in digital reading AND location on the ground. When I get a good signal, I make a mental note of a blade of grass or a clump of dirt, in relation to the center of the coil. Then, when I sweep perpendicular to the initial sweep, if the numbers change, the tone changes or the location changes, you can bet it is not a keeper. I had one today that read 36 swinging left to right, and when I turned 90 degrees, it read 6,36,6. I pushed the all metal mode, swept over it more slowly, and heard three distinct sounds. A low grunt, mid-high tone and another grunt. The mid-high tone repeated the 36 I had from the other direction and told me that it would be a dime between trash. Sure enough, there was a dime and a nail not 3 inches away. I have to think that the two 6's I got were one from each side of the concentric coil.

In doing my field tests, I have dug many, many targets that I knew were going to be bad, but wanting to learn all the tricks and tweaks, I dug them and noted what they were. I believe it is fair to say that, when I hit a target and get a 21 or a 24 from one direction and a different number from the other, it will be a pull-tab, screw cap or can slaw. Also, I have noted that when you get a solid coin reading (33,36,39,42 or 45) AND you get a 21 or 24 bouncing back and forth along with it, it has always been a scrap of aluminum can or an old screw-on bottle lid. No coins. But again, if you go in all metal and sweep slower, it definitely separates the sounds for you. I have not figured out a way to eliminate the tops of aluminum cans yet, (some read as 45 and others as 30) but I am sure once I get use to the sounds of pinpoint, I will be able to figure them out by depth and size. I will keep you posted.

And digging that trash is exactly what I wanted to do with the X-Terra 50 in order to further see how the machine ID's good versus bad targets. I took the X-Terra 50 to a very trashy park here in Los Angeles this morning and came away favorably impressed. Here are my observations on a variety of subjects:

The combination of meter & audio discrimination on the X-Terra 50 continues to impress me more & more. Today I once again decided to dig everything and came home with clad coins, a ton of various tabs and several screw caps. The one nickel that I dug read a solid 12. Every tab bounced around from 15 to 18 to 21 on the meter; the audio was clipped as well. I hit one beaver tail that bounced between 9 and 12. It appears that the X-Terra will be very good on separating nickels from tabs if the one I dug + my earlier air tests are any indication.

Quarters are a breeze as they read a solid 42 & are the only high tone that I have found thus far. Dimes and copper pennies hit in the 33/36 range for pennies & 36/39 range for dimes. Both give a mid-high tone.

For someone like me who has scrubbed the ground with the coil for years initially it was a bit of an adjustment to scan 1" above the surface as the manual suggests. Now I don't even have to think about it. And for whatever technical reason, the detector runs smoother when you scan this way.

The detector stand is a bit on the small side. You have to make sure that you set the detector down on level ground before you dig as it can tip over. This was more of an adjustment than a problem in my view.

The pinpointing on the X-Terra is terrific. Super easy to use and dead-on. The more I use it the more I like it. Minelab should make this type of pinpointing standard on all of its metered machines. It is the best that I have ever used on a detector, period.

Farm Field:

Condition - (1) Recent plow iron infested (soft) and (1)no till

Set-up - Pattern 1 and All Metal

Results

Found 2 musket balls Id 27, 30 (1) about 8" and (2) about 10", 3 buttons all Id 9 (1) cuff (small), Quarter size 1 piece flat button, dime sized button. Two bottle caps. Targets found next to Iron. Iron jumps up to +6 in Pattern 1, flipping in to all metal gives mixed constant tone. Good target lock on.

Small Playground / School Yard

Conditions - Wood chips

Set-up - Pattern 1

Result

Found 3 Quarters (lock 42), 6 pennies (30,33 bounce), 2 dimes( 36 lock), 2 nickels (lock 12). Only dug clear locking targets.

Competition / Pay hunt

Conditions - neutral soil, iron infested site

Set-up - Pattern 1 and All Metal

Results

Event one- 51 coins And 1 Pull Tab

Event two- 46 Coins, 3 shell casings and 1 Victorian drawer

pull

No, time to look at ID, Listen for correct tone, lock and dig