OPERATING MANUAL &GUIDE TO METAL DETECTING
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Ground Balancing (continued)
When ground balancing, try to “feel out” a spot on the
ground to make sure there is no metal present.
In order to avoid locking onto metal, the detector will not
balance in DISCRIMINATION mode where the GROUND
PHASE is less than 40. Where the ground reads less than 40,
enter AUTOTUNE mode (DISC LEVEL = At) and then perform
the ground balancing procedure.
If the ground balance adjustment is incorrect, there will be a
difference in the sound as the search coil is either moving
toward or away from the ground. It sounds like you are
either pulling the sound out of the ground, or pushing the
sound into the ground.
• If the sound gets louder as you raise the search coil,
ground balance setting is too low.
• If the sound gets louder as you lower the search coil,
the ground balance setting is too high.
Positive and Negative Response
The purpose of ground balancing is to adjust the metal
detector to ignore ground minerals. If the setting is
incorrect, ground minerals will give either a positive or a
negative response, depending on which direction the
adjustment is off. If the ground balance setting is not
accurate, repeat the GROUNDGRAB procedure.
POSITIVE RESPONSE
If the Phase setting is too high a number, the response of
minerals will be positive. This means that when the search
coil is lowered to the ground in Pinpoint or Autotune, the sound
will get louder as the search coil approaches the ground. The
sound will grow quieter as the search coil is raised. What, if
anything, you will hear in discrimination mode depends on the discrimination setting.
When searching in an AUTOTUNE mode, if ground balance is properly set to cancel the
ground, and you sweep over a positive hot rock, the rock will give a “zip” sound similar to that
of a metal object.
NEGATIVE RESPONSE
If the PHASE setting is too low a number, the response of minerals will be negative. When
the search coil is lowered to the ground in Pinpoint and Autotune mode, the machine will be
silent. The machine will sound off as the search coil is lifted away from the ground. What, if
anything, you hear in discrimination model depends on the discrimination setting.
When searching in AUTOTUNE mode, a negative hot rock will produce a “boing” sound after
passing over it, making it difficult to know where it is located. It will not have the sound and
“feel” of a metal object.
The detector will not balance in
DISCRIMINATION mode where the
GROUND PHASE is less than 40
If the ground reads less than 40,
enter AUTOTUNE mode (see
Menu System pg. 12)
Capabilities and Limitations (continued)
GROUND BALANCING
To achieve maximum depth in any detection mode, as well as when using the Pinpoint feature, the
F70 offers the ability to cancel out ground minerals automatically using the GROUNDGRAB feature.
If you do not perform the ground balancing operation, the Discrimination mode will usually still
work fairly well, but the Autotune mode will not. The Pinpoint feature can be used for
pinpointing objects at moderate depth in most soils without prior ground-balancing.
The internal computer can cancel salt water only while in the Autotune mode.
DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination refers to a metal detector's ability to ignore metal objects in selected categories,
especially iron and aluminum. This makes searching much more pleasant in an area with a lot
of metal trash. The F70 offers a wide variety of discrimination features which you can select
according to the search conditions and your personal preference.
DEPTH READING
The estimated Depth Reading displayed when in Pinpoint mode is based on the strength of
the signal. It is calibrated for typical coin-sized objects. Smaller objects will read deeper than
they actually are, and large objects will read shallower than they actually are.
AIR TESTING
There may be times when you want to test or demonstrate the metal detector without
sweeping it over the ground, for instance, if not fully assembled, or if you are indoors.
To air test, place the search coil in a spot where the detector is stable and more
than two feet away from any large masses of metal, including the reinforcing steel
usually present in concrete. If you are wearing a wristwatch or jewelry on
your hand or arm, remove it. Then, test or
demonstrate by waving metal objects over the
search coil; wave objects briskly, several inches over the top
of, and parallel to, the search coil.
Ground balancing cannot be tested or demonstrated in air
unless you happen to have appropriate specimens of iron
minerals available.
SWEEP SPEED
The F70 is noted for its quick response. It permits the user to sweep the search coil quickly in
order to cover more ground with very little risk of losing targets. In general, if you are
searching an area where the desirable targets are more than 8 to 10 inches deep, a faster
sweep speed will detect to a greater depth and yield more accurate target IDs. Another way to
achieve greater depth detection is with the SL Speed Control.
CHECKING A TARGET
In order to most accurately verify a detected target with most other metal detectors, users will narrow
their sweep and loiter over the top of the target. The F70 is different. The F70's quick response and
advanced signal sampling system produces the most accurate target IDs with deliberate (shoulder
width) sweeps all the way across the target, even if there are other targets nearby. If you check
targets using sweep techniques learned on some other detectors, you run the risk of getting less
accurate target IDs. You can use the confidence level indicator to improve your technique.
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