In our Minelab CTX 3030 review, we’ll look at the features of this high-quality metal detector with built in GPS.
About the Minelab CTX 3030 metal detector
The CTX 3030 is a VLF metal detector with a built-in GPS function that you can use to track your hunts and navigate and store your favorite locations.
What we like about this GPS function is that you can download the data and look at your usage trends. What areas are you covering? What patterns can you see? How can you improve your searching with this metal detector? We’ve heard of people improving their strike rate by paying attention to this data. Who knows? It might even pay for itself.
The Minelab CTX 3030 is best for:
- Coin, relic and artifact hunting
- Underwater metal detecting (but not diving)
- Jewelry hunting
- Gold prospecting
- Beach treasure hunting
Unlike its younger sibling the Excalibur II, it’s only waterproof to a depth of 10 feet (3 meters), but it comes with a full-color LCD with adjustable brightness, and 10 customizable and five pre-set modes.
The CTX 3030 is even more accurate than the Excalibur II. If you aren’t into SCUBA diving and underwater treasure hunting, and if you can afford the extra $1000 on top of the Excalibur’s price, then this is a great detector.
Buy it nowFeatures of the CTX 3030
Price | $$$$ – Click to check the Minelab CTX 3030 price |
Type of detector | VLF 3.125 kHz – 25.0 kHz |
Suitable for salt water | Yes |
Suitable for fresh water | Yes |
Suitable for SCUBA diving | No |
Depth rating | 10 feet (3m) |
Weight | 5.20 lbs |
Search coil | 11-inch waterproof Double-D smart coil |
Battery life | Up to 13 hours |
Headphones included | KOSS UR30 (100 ohm) supplied with detector (non-waterproof ) |
Warranty | 3 year control box and coil |
USB connectivity | XChange 2 (via USB) compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7 |
Ground balance | Auto Compensation and Auto Ground Balance |
Pinpoint | Non-motion with modulated audio and visual crosshair on LCD, 2 modes: normal and sizing |
Sensitivity adjustment | Auto and Manual (1–30) |
Depth indication | Accurate gauge active in normal detecting and Pinpoint mode |
Made | Malaysia |
Who the CTX 3030 is best for
For newbies to treasure hunting, we don’t think this is the best model to cut your teeth on. For the price, you want to be sure that metal detecting is the hobby for you before buying a model like the CTX 3030. You might want to consider a model like the AT Pro or the AT Gold.
Watch this Minelab video that introduces the CTX 3030. Minelab has a great range of videos on YouTube that will help you learn how to master this metal detector.
Click to check the priceLast modified: October 2, 2019