The Minelab X-TERRA Elite is a high-performance metal detector designed to help you uncover hidden treasures in various environments. Equipped with advanced features like Multi-IQ technology, waterproofing up to 5 meters, 129 target IDs, impressive iron bias, and six versatile search modes, it’s a tool that can enhance your metal detecting experience whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro. In this guide, we’ll give you some basic information about the X-TERRA Elite and provide 10 essential tips to help you get the most out of your detector. This blog is designed for both beginner and intermediate level detectorists.
Tip 1: Correctly Build Your Detector
Setting up your Minelab X-TERRA Elite is a straightforward process, but it’s important to get it right for comfortable and efficient use.
- Assembling the Shaft: The shafts of the detector slot together easily, and the clips allow you to adjust the length to suit your height. The arm cuff should sit just below your elbow for stability.
- Adjusting the
Length: The length of the lower stem is crucial. It should be
long enough so that you can swing the detector comfortably across the
surface without holding the machine too far away. If it’s too short, you
might find yourself hunching forward, which can lead to discomfort over
time.
- Cable Management: Don’t
forget to wrap the cable from the coil around the shaft as it passes up to
connect to the control box. This prevents the cable from flapping around,
which can be both annoying and a potential cause of false signals.
- Battery: The
X-TERRA Elite has a built-in battery, so you don’t need to add anything.
Simply charge it, and you’re ready to go.
- Waterproofing: Ensure the small rubber bung is placed in the headphone socket to keep water out, especially if you plan to use the detector in wet environments (or that wired headphones are used if desired).
Tip 2: Pairing Headphones
Pairing your headphones with the Minelab X-TERRA Elite is easy when you know how! You’ll have your ML85 or ML105’s connected in no time.
Super Tip: Start by turning on your headphones first!
From a powered-down state, HOLD the power button until the headphones turn on and the light flashes blue and red. Next, turn on the detector and press and hold the wireless button on the top right of the control box. Place the headphones close to the control box, and they should pair automatically. If not, turn everything off and try again. Once paired, they should automatically connect the next time you power on your X-TERRA Elite. Remember turn on the headphones first!
Super Tip #2: Once paired turn off the machine first and then the headphones, BUT, be careful not to depress the power button on the headphones too long, or the headphones will reset and need pairing again – this is a common mistake.
Tip 3: Noise Cancel
While not always necessary, performing a noise cancel can significantly reduce electronic interference from your surroundings, making your detecting more accurate. You might be near power lines or other detectorists and performing a noise cancel will help your detecting experience in some cases.
To perform a noise cancel, press the cog button to enter the noise cancel menu. For a single noise cancel press the accept/reject button, and the detector will automatically find the best setting to minimize interference.
If you hold accept/reject for a longer period of time you will enable the rolling noise cancel which means the detector will periodically carry out a noise cancel to ensure it has adapted to its environment. This is particularly useful in situations when there are lots of possibilities for interference such as detecting rallies where lots of other detectorists are in your vicinity, or in places where there are large metal structures such as power lines.
Tip 4: Ground Balance
Ground balance is essential for adjusting your detector to the specific mineral content of the ground you’re searching, ensuring accurate detection and reducing false signals. However, it is not always necessary. We only advise a ground balance if you feel the conditions are difficult. If this is the case, here is how to do a tracking Ground Balance.
- Enter the ground
balance menu.
- Accept/ Reject Button
This is particularly important when transitioning between different types of terrain, such as from a sandy beach to a grassy field. Try to do this on piece of iron that doesn’t have a piece of iron on it as this will throw off the ground balance calibration.
Tip 5: Set Your Sensitivity
Stop the press – this is one of the most important aspects of setting a metal detector. Sensitivity controls how deep your detector searches and how much interference it picks up. “Oh, so I guess I just turn it to maximum then? So that I can find as much as possible!” Unfortunately, not. A higher sensitivity setting allows for deeper detection but often results in more false signals in areas with a lot of trash or mineralization. A microphone in the middle of a crowded, bustling café which is trying to listen to one person tell you something important. You could turn up the gain on the microphone to try to hear the person better, and this might work, but you would also increase the noise in the background.
To adjust sensitivity:
- Simply use the plus and minus buttons on the main menu to increase and decrease your sensitivity. You need to adjust it to in accordance with the environment you are in. You should set the sensitivity to a moderate level and slowly increase it whilst conducting trial swings in a few areas. Eventually the sensitivity will be increased to a level which means the machine becomes noisy. This means you’re hearing the soil (the crowd in the café) and you need to roll back from this slightly. Don’t roll back too far however or you won’t hear your targets (the person in the café you’re trying to listen to).
It's common to tweak your sensitivity as you detect, so feel free to adjust as you investigate, but being more moderate is advisable.
Tip 6: Understanding the Search Modes
The X-TERRA Elite comes with six search modes, each optimized for different environments:
- Field 1 & 2: Best for open
areas with minimal trash. Field 2 is slightly more sensitive for deeper
targets.
- Park 1 & 2: Ideal for parks
or areas with more trash. Park 2 is tuned for smaller targets like coins
and jewellery.
- Beach: Perfect for saltwater environments. Beach 2 works well in wet sand and shallow water. This has slightly lower sensitivity as the saline water is more conductive, requiring less amplification.
Experiment with these modes to find out which works best for your specific environment. Field 1 & 2 will be the most likely to fit most detecting situations.
Tip 7: Utilise Target ID
With 129 Target IDs, the X-TERRA Elite offers precise target identification, helping you distinguish between valuable targets and trash.
- Lower numbers
generally indicate ferrous metals (iron).
- Mid-range numbers
often represent gold, nickel, and pull tabs.
- Higher numbers usually correspond to silver and copper.
Understanding these ID ranges will help you decide
whether to dig or move on. When you find a target, look at the number as a sign
of what might be beneath the surface. It’s often not an exact science, as the
machine is trying to identify your target but the environment (saline water,
mineralised soil, other targets, etc) will all also be detected and therefore
target ID’s are an average of the target and its environment.
Our advice is to look at the target ID’s as a guide, but always go by what you hear as the best guide. If it sounds good, dig it.
Tip 8: Learn the Tones
Each target ID comes with a specific tone. Learning these tones can give you additional insight into what lies beneath the surface, helping you make quicker and more informed digging decisions. You can choose how many tones your targets are segregated into. You can choose one tone, two tones, 5 tones or all tones, and this refers to how many tones your signals are separated into.
Tip: There is no difference in performance on any of these options, it’s all down to what you prefer to hear.
Super Tip: Practice in a controlled environment with a variety of different metallic targets to familiarise yourself with the tones. When you are practicing with different targets, decide which of the tone settings you prefer and listen out for the nuances of each style. When you are in the field we would suggest that your ears are the most important aspect and although target ID’s are useful, it all comes down to sound as to whether or not you should dig a target, so train those ears.
Tip 9: Master Iron Bias
The X-TERRA Elite’s iron bias settings allow you to adjust sensitivity to iron targets. In areas with a lot of trash, a higher iron bias helps you avoid digging up unwanted iron objects. If you’re searching for relics, a lower iron bias might be more appropriate.
The iron bias numbers are referred to as FE numbers options are -1, 0 (off), 1, and 2. You might chose to turn the FE numbers to 1 or 2 if you are experiencing a lot of iron falsing (false signals from iron targets). Adjust this setting based on your hunting goals and the specific site you’re searching. If there is a lot of iron in the ground try moving the iron bias feature
Tip 10: Practice and Patience
Mastering the X-TERRA Elite takes practice. Spend time learning its features and responses, and don’t get discouraged by early challenges. Metal detecting is as much about patience as it is about skill, and the more time you spend with the X-TERRA Elite, the more successful you’ll become.
At first, practice with some targets to learn the tones and set the machine the way you like it. Once you get into the field for the first few hours at least you need to dig everything you find to learn what the machine is telling you. Think about how the target tones and target ID’s relate to the objects you find.
The Elite is a phenomenal metal detector and with a little time on the control box you’ll hear the finds and pull up some truly great items.
Happy Hunting!