DCI DigiTrak Falcon F2 User manual

- 1 -
© 2019Digital Control Incorporated,
All rights reserved. 402-2049-00-A-English
digital-control.com
Falcon ®Quick Start Guide
Power On the Locator
1. IRport
2. Toggle
3. Trigger
1. Install the battery pack
and hold the trigger for
one second.
2. Ensure the region
number in the globe
icons on the startup
screen and transmitter
match.
3. Click the trigger twice to open the Main menu (or toggle down
at the Locate Mode screen).
Main Menu
1. Telemetry channel
2. Transmitter (Tx) band up/down
3. Locator battery status
4. Locate Mode
5. Power off
6. Calibration
7. Height-Above-Ground (HAG)
8. Settings
9. Transmitter/Frequency
Optimization (FO)
Toggle to menu options, and then click the trigger to select.
Locate Mode Screen
Select Locate Mode from the Main menu to start locating.
1. Locate point (ball)
2. Yaw
3. Locator with Locate Line (LL)
4. Roll indicator and value
5. Roll/pitch update meter
6. Transmitter pitch
7. Transmitter signal strength
8. Transmitter temperature
Transmitter and locator must be paired before data will display.
For DigiTrak remote displays, see the DCI DigiGuide ™ App.

Steps Required Before Drilling
1. Scan the jobsite for interference.
2. Pick the frequency bands.
3. Pair the locator with the transmitter.
4. Verify data range.
5. Calibrate both bands.
6. Check Above Ground Range.
1. Scan the Jobsite
a. With the transmitter off, select Transmitter/FO from the Main menu,
then Frequency Optimization (FO) . The FO will show active
interference (noise) readings for current bands. Select Scan/rescan
to see nine newly optimized bands.
1. Current bands
2. Selector
3. Band number
4. Maximum noise level
5. Up band
6. Down band
7. Scan/rescan
8. Pair
9. Exit
Frequency Optimization Results
Run the FO for each new project to select an optimal set of
frequencies for each band every time.
b. With the FO results displayed, walk the locator along the bore path
while observing the noise readings. Mark those points where
significant increases occur.
If noise levels rise substantially at any point along the bore, consider
selecting and pairing one band (see next step) that performed well up to
this point. Cancel calibration, and select Transmitter/FO to repeat Step 1
- Optimize. Perform a new scan, select and pair a second band for use in
this higher-interference area.
- 2 -

Your locator can only detect active interference, not passive
interference, such as rebar. Lower frequency bands tend to perform
better around passive interference. Middle bands can perform better
in deeper bores and may have longer steering capability. High bands
have slightly less signal strength, but tend to offer better performance
around active interference such as power lines.
2. Pick the Frequency Bands
Up Down
Toggle to and select the band of your choice, then click Up to
assign this first band as Up band. Toggle to and select the
second band, and then assign as Down band.
3. Pair the Locator with the Transmitter
If you assigned two new
bands, both will pair at the
same time, and the locator
will be set to use the Down
band first.
a. Install transmitter (Tx) batteries
and endcap; the increase in FO
noise readings shows the Tx ison.
b. Select Pair to pair the locator
and Tx.
c. Position the transmitter's infrared (IR) port within two inches of the
locator's IR port.
1. IRport
d. Select Pair Request . The locator beeps and displays a check mark
after a successful pairing.
4. Verify Data Range
Optional Step - Requires exiting Calibration Mode.
Exit to the Locate Mode screen. Have a coworker hold the transmitter
beside you at the approximate distance of the maximum intended depth
of the bore. Walk the bore together in parallel, with the locator over the
bore. Wherever the data or signal strength becomes unstable or
disappears, try the other band, or consider re-optimizing a band in that
area (see Step 1).
- 3 -

5. Calibrate Both Bands
Calibration in an interference-free environment
is required after any optimization.
a. Place the Tx in a housing on level ground
10feet from locator as shown.
b. From the Main menu, select Calibration >
1 PT CAL and calibrate each new band.
After the calibration, the Above Ground Range
(AGR) screen opens automatically.
6. Check Above Ground Range (AGR)
Always check AGR with a tape measure to
verify depth readings on each band at various
distances up to the maximum expected bore
depth. Distance readings should be within ±5%.
Access AGR directly on the Calibration
menu. Calibrate and check AGR for both new
bands.
If you selected two bands, repeat steps 5-6 (Calibration and AGR) for the
second band. An error symbol will display in the roll indicator on the Locate
screen until a 1 point calibration is completed for the current band.
Settings Menu
Use the Settings menu to set the depth units, pitch units, telemetry
channel, contrast, LOC security options, level check, and roll offset.
Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Menu
Height-Above-Ground (HAG) is the distance from the ground to the
bottom of the locator while it is held. Setting HAG on the Main menu
lets you take accurate below-ground depth measurements without having
to place the locator on the ground.
- 4 -

Changing Transmitter Frequency Band
Switch between Up and Down bands during pre-bore calibration
or mid-bore to overcome interference. See next page to change
bands on the locator.
Both optimized bands remain stored on both the locator and
transmitter even after a power cycle.
Above Ground – Power-On Method
Insert transmitter (Tx) batteries with the Tx pointing down
(battery compartment on top, shown at right) to power on in the
Down band. Insert batteries with the Tx pointing up to power on
in the Up band.
Above Ground – Tilt Method
You must hold the Tx at the same general clock position
(±2 CP) for this whole procedure. Hold Tx powered on at level
(0±10°) for at least five seconds (sec.). Tilt Tx up at approx. +65°
(almost vertical) for 10–18 sec., then return to level for 10–18 sec.
When the Tx changes bands, data disappears from the locator.
Below Ground (Mid-Bore) – 10/2/7 Roll Method
Disable Roll Offset (if enabled).
1. Roll clock-wise to
approx. 10 o'clock ± 1 CP.
Wait 10-18 seconds.
2. Roll clock-wise to
approx. 2 o'clock ± 1 CP.
Wait 10-18 seconds
3. Roll clock-wise to
approx. 7 o'clock ± 1 CP.
Wait 10-18 seconds.
Data should disappear in 10-15 seconds. Re-enable Roll Offset, if needed.
The Aurora display has a built-in app that can walk you through this
method. See the DCI DigiGuide App for more details.
Below Ground (Mid-Bore) – RRS3 Roll Method
Remain at any clock position for at least 40 seconds (sec.) to clear timers.
Complete one full clock-wise rotation (±2 CP) within 1–30 sec., wait 10-18
sec., and repeat this sequence twice more for a total of three rotations.
After 60 sec. the Tx should change frequency band and the locator will
stop receiving data and depth. The Aurora display has a built-in app that
can walk you through this method. See the DCI DigiGuide App for more
details.
- 5 -

Changing Locator Frequency Band
If you change bands on your transmitter, you must also do so on your
locator. At the Locate Mode screen, hold the toggle right briefly to open
the Band Selection window. Select the Up or Down band, or select Locate
Mode , to return to the Locate Mode screen without changing bands.
The data should begin displaying as transmission resumes in the new
band.
MAX Mode
MAX Mode™ helps obtain depth/data readings in high-interference
areas and at the edge of the Tx's range, when readings are unstable.
• The drill head must remain stationary during MAX Mode readings.
• Hold the trigger at least five seconds to enter MAX Mode.
Do not consider the data reliable unless the reading is
stable before the MAX Mode timer bar under the roll clock is
full.
• Always take three MAX Mode readings; all three must be
consistent.
See the DCI DigiGuide App for important information on this feature.
Signal Attenuation
Signal attenuation may occur due to excessive interference or if the
locator is within 8 feet of the Tx, such as when locating at a shallow depth.
If an Aicon appears on the roll indicator for depths shallower than 8feet,
you can ignore the warning. This is normal.
If the Aicon and signal flashes on the Locate Mode screen or appears on
the FrequencyOptimization screen, there is extreme interference. Depth
and locate points could be compromised and the locator will not calibrate.
Relocate to a quieter location before recalibrating.
For detailed information, see the DCI DigiGuide™ App. If you have questions,
contact Customer Service at 425.251.0559 or 800.288.3610US/CA.
Watch our DigiTrak®training videos at
www.YouTube.com/DCIKent
Printed:
11/14/2019
- 6 -

Basic Locating
1. Find the Front Locate Point (FLP) and the Rear Locate Point (RLP) by
centering the target ball in the box. Mark the positions.
2. At the FLP, hold trigger for predicted depth reading. The Reference
Indicator Ricon will appear. The Locate Line (LL) may not appear if
this step is skipped.
3. Find the LL by centering the line in the box between the FLP and the
RLP (see Locate Mode screen on next page).
4. View depth by holding the trigger at the LL on the line connecting the
FLP and the RLP.
5. Holding the trigger longer than five seconds enables MAX Mode (see
page6). MAXMode does not have to be at LL or FLP.
Transmitter Signal Field Geometry
Level Transmitter
1. Side view
2. RLP: Rear Locate Point
3. LL: Locate Line
4. FLP: Front Locate Point
Pitched Transmitter
1. Bird's-eye view
(top down)
2. Drill Rig
3. Side view (underground)
4. RLP: Rear Locate Point
5. LL: Locate Line
6. Transmitter (Tx)
7. Bore path
8. FLP: Front Locate Point
FLP and RLP are not equidistant from the LL when the transmitter is
pitched. For more information, see the DigiTrak DigiGuide App,
Advanced Topics > Steep and Deep.
- 7 -

Bird’s-Eye View on Locate Screen
1. Locate Line (Tx)
2. Box (Locator)
3. Locate Point
4. Attenuation
5. Tx
6. Locator
Locate Screen
(Line-in-the-box at LL)
Actual Position of Locator
and Transmitter
Depth and Predicted Depth Readings
Trigger held at LL
1. Locate Point (FLP or RLP)
2. Bird's-eye view
3. Line-in-the-Box at LL
4. HAG on
5. MAX Mode timer
6. MAX Mode icon
7. Tx depth
Depth Screen
Trigger held at FLP
1. Reference indicator
2. Ball-in-the-Box™
3. Roll/pitch update meter
4. Tx predicted depth*
5. Tx battery strength
6. Horizontal distance between Tx and
FLP*
* Only valid at FLP. Invalid at RLP.
Predicted Depth Screen
The predicted depth is the depth the transmitter is calculated to be when
it reaches the Front Locate Point (FLP) if it continues on the current path
and pitch.
- 8 -