Inside the Minelab CTX 3030
The Minelab CTX 3030 runs FBS 2 (Full Band Spectrum 2), which Minelab says sends multiple frequencies from 1.5 to 100 kHz to improve depth, sensitivity, target ID and stability, including in mineralized ground. Smartfind 2 shows each target as a ferrous value from 1 to 35 and a conductive value from 1 to 50 on a full color LCD, and you build discrimination patterns on that same 2D screen. Search modes are Coins, Beach, Relics, Silver, High Trash and five custom modes, plus All Metal. Sensitivity runs Auto or manual 1 to 30, noise cancel is Auto or manual, Pinpoint shows a crosshair on the screen, and Auto Ground Balance adapts as the soil changes.
The CTX 3030 ships with the CTX 11 11 inch Double-D Smart Coil, KOSS UR-30 100 ohm wired headphones, the WM 10 wireless audio module, a rechargeable 7.2 V lithium-ion battery pack, an AA battery adapter, the BC 10 battery charger and a universal charging kit. The detector is waterproof to 3 m (10 ft), weighs 5.2 lb (2.36 kg) and adjusts from 94 to 140.5 cm (37 to 55.3 inch). Minelab covers the control box and coil for 3 years.
CTX 3030 vs MANTICORE: Which Should You Buy?
Both Minelab detectors show ferrous and conductive information on a 2D target display with a full color screen. The CTX 3030 runs FBS 2, adds built-in GPS with FindPoints, WayPoints and GeoHunt files, and lets you draw your own discrimination patterns on the 2D screen. The MANTICORE runs Multi-IQ+ with selectable single frequencies, is waterproof to 5 m (16 ft) against 3 m (10 ft) for the CTX 3030, and weighs 2.9 lb (1.3 kg) against 5.2 lb (2.36 kg).
We recommend the CTX 3030 if you want a record of where you hunt and what you find, or you want discrimination patterns you build yourself for each site. We recommend the MANTICORE if weight on long days or deeper wading matters more than GPS. If a single target number is enough, the EQUINOX 900 is the lightest of the three and ships with two coils.
CTX 3030, Best For:
- Hunters who want GPS records of their hunts: FindPoints, WayPoints and GeoHunt files reviewed in XChange 2
- Old parks and homesites where ferrous and conductive readings help pick good targets out of iron
- Saltwater beaches, wet sand and shallow water to 3 m (10 ft)
- Detectorists who want to draw their own discrimination patterns on a 2D screen
MANTICORE, Best For:
- Hunters who want a 2D target display at 2.9 lb (1.3 kg)
- Wading and shallow water to 5 m (16 ft)
- Detectorists who want selectable single frequencies alongside Multi-IQ+
- Hunters who also visit goldfields and want a Goldfield mode
Smartfind 2, GPSi and Wireless Audio in the Field
We use the Smartfind 2 screen to build accept and reject patterns for each site. In an iron-heavy relic field, we reject the strongly ferrous zones and accept high conductors that would share a single number with iron trash on a one-number detector. In a manicured park, we open the whole high-conductivity range and pass on foil and pull tabs. Target tones can follow ferrous (2, 5 or 35 tones), conductivity (2, 4 or 50 tones) or both combined, so you can hunt by ear and check the screen on a keeper.
GPSi uses a u-blox GPS engine to log location and time with your finds and settings. Minelab's XChange 2 software stores them as WayPoints, FindPoints and GeoHunt files, so you can return to a productive spot or review a whole session at home.
The WM 10 module carries audio to the supplied KOSS UR-30 headphones without a cable to the detector. For hunting under water, we recommend the Minelab CTX 3030 waterproof headphones on the detector's waterproof headphone connector. The removable lithium-ion pack charges in the BC 10 charger, and the AA battery adapter keeps you hunting if the pack runs flat.
Where the CTX 3030 Works Best, and Its Limits
The CTX 3030 is at home on saltwater beaches, in wet sand and shallow water to 3 m (10 ft), and on old parks and homesites where iron and good targets sit together. FBS 2 handles mineralized ground and wet salt sand, and in our experience it holds target ID steadier there than a single-frequency detector, which has to drop sensitivity to stay quiet.
The CTX 3030 has limits. At 5.2 lb (2.36 kg) it is nearly twice the weight of the MANTICORE or EQUINOX 900, so for full days we recommend a harness. We don't recommend it for gold prospecting; for nuggets, see our gold detectors. Its waterproof rating covers wading and shallow water; for diving below 3 m (10 ft), Minelab's EXCALIBUR II is waterproof to 60 m (200 ft).
Coils and Accessories That Fit the CTX 3030
Minelab makes three Double-D Smart Coils for the CTX 3030: the CTX 06 6 inch round for trash and tight spots, the CTX 11 11 inch that ships with the detector, and the CTX 17 17 x 13 inch elliptical for covering open ground. Each Minelab coil comes with its coil cover, and replacement 6 inch, 11 inch and 17 x 13 inch covers are in this collection. Check that a coil listing names the CTX 3030 before you buy; all coils that fit are in the CTX 3030 coils filter.
The CTX 3030 collection also holds the CTX 3030 lithium-ion battery pack, the alkaline battery pack, charging station kits, the WM 12 wireless module, lower shafts, the armrest, coil hardware, waterproof headphones and several CTX 3030 guide books. Pair the detector with a pinpointer for faster recovery.
CTX 3030 vs MANTICORE vs EQUINOX 900 Comparison
All three are Minelab multi-frequency detectors with a waterproof control box and coil and a 3 year warranty. The differences sit in the technology, target display, iron controls, waterproof depth, weight, battery and what comes in the box. Of the three, Minelab lists built-in GPS only on the CTX 3030.
| Feature | Minelab CTX 3030 | Minelab MANTICORE | Minelab EQUINOX 900 |
|---|
| Technology | FBS 2 multi-frequency, 1.5 to 100 kHz | Multi-IQ+, plus 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | Multi-IQ, plus 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz |
| Search Modes | All Metal, Coins, Beach, Relics, Silver, High Trash, plus 5 custom modes | 10: 5 All-Terrain, 4 Beach, 1 Goldfield | All Metal, Park 1 and 2, Field 1 and 2, Gold, Beach 1 and 2 |
| Target ID | 2D Smartfind 2: ferrous 1 to 35, conductive 1 to 50 | 2D map, 0 to 99 with ferrous indication (100 conductive, 50 ferrous segments) | -19 to 99 (119 segments) |
| Sensitivity | Auto and manual, 1 to 30 | 1 to 35 | 1 to 28 |
| Iron Control | No Iron Bias; 2D discrimination patterns | Custom ferrous limits | Iron Bias 0 to 9 |
| Noise Cancel | Auto and manual | Auto, Continuous Auto, Manual | Auto, Continuous Auto, Manual |
| Tones | 1 tone; 2, 5 or 35 tone ferrous; 2, 4 or 50 tone conductive; combined | 1, 2, 5 tones; 1, 2, 5 regions; All Tones | 1, 2, 5, All Tones, Depth; ferrous and non-ferrous tone break |
| Display | Full color LCD | Full color LCD | Monochrome LCD, red backlight |
| Included Coil(s) | CTX 11 11 inch DD | M11 11 inch DD round | EQX 11 11 inch DD round + EQX 06 6 inch DD round |
| Wireless Audio | Low-latency, WM 10 module in the box (KOSS UR-30 wired headphones) | Low-latency, ML105 headphones in the box | Low-latency, ML 85 headphones in the box |
| Vibration | No | Proportional | Ferrous and tone region |
| Waterproof (control box and coil) | 3 m (10 ft) | IP68, 5 m (16 ft) | IP68, 5 m (16 ft) |
| Weight | 5.2 lb (2.36 kg) | 2.9 lb (1.3 kg) | 2.8 lb (1.27 kg) |
| Battery | 7.2 V, 34 Wh Li-ion, removable; AA battery adapter | 3.7 V, 6800 mAh Li-ion, built in | 3.7 V, 5100 mAh Li-ion, built in |
| Warranty | 3 years control box and coil | 3 years control box and coil | 3 years control box and coil |
Read our CTX 3030 discrimination guide for setting up Smartfind 2 patterns, and our CTX 3030 accessories guide for the add-ons that suit beach, park and relic hunting.
Why Buy the Minelab CTX 3030 from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Minelab CTX 3030 ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Minelab Dealer: Showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, full 3-year manufacturer warranty and product registration support.
- Help Before and After You Buy: Our staff answer setup, coil and CTX 3030 questions by phone or email.
