Minelab X-Terra 305 User manual

Instruction Manual
Field Guide
Turn on (p. 20)
Choose a Discrimination Pattern (pp. 30–35)
Adjust Sensitivity (p. 46) and Volume (p. 52)
Choose a Noise Cancel channel (p. 48)
Adjust Ground Balance (p. 56)
Begin detecting!
These quick start instructions allow you
to begin detecting straight away and nd
important reference information for setting
up your X‑TERRA.
Minelab encourages all users to read the entire
manual to ensure a complete understanding
of all the X‑TERRA features and functions.
Power
Turns the detector On/Off.
Patterns
Scrolls through the different
Discrimination Patterns.
All Metal
Toggles between the
selected discrimination
pattern and the All Metal
pattern.
Minus
Adjusts settings, and scrolls
to the left through the
discrimination segments.
Menu
Enters the Menu.
Accesses and scrolls through
the detecting settings.
Plus
Adjusts settings, and scrolls
to the right through the
discrimination segments.
Pinpoint/Detect
Pinpoint assists in locating
the exact position of a target
prior to recovery.
Detect exits menu settings
and returns to detection.
Accept/Reject
Accepts or rejects
discrimination segments.
Ground Balance
Accesses the Ground Balance
Menu.

1
CONGRATULATIONS ON
PURCHASING YOUR XTERRA!
Metal detecting is a fascinating and rewarding
activity enjoyed by people all over the world.
By getting to know your X-TERRA you can
become one of the many who find valuable
coins, relics and jewellery on a regular basis.
The X-TERRA is a high-precision instrument
incorporating Minelab’s proven single
frequency technology, VFLEX.
VFLEX processes a pure single frequency,
ensuring that you can enjoy the hobby at all
times, confident that you are using a highly-
tuned and dependable detector. In other
words, a SERIOUS detector.
This pocket sized manual is designed to help
both the beginner and expert treasure hunter
get the best performance out of the X-TERRA
305 and X-TERRA 505.
This asterisk will appear
throughout the manual,
indicating features only
available on the X‑TERRA
505 model.

2
CONTENTS
4 VFLEX Technology
6 Assembling Your X‑TERRA
8 Connecting the Coil
9 Shaft Assembly
10 Armrest Assembly
11 Connecting the Control Box
12 Permanently Connecting the
Control Box
13 Coil Cable Assembly
14 Inserting Batteries
Quick Start Reference Back Cover
Detecting Basics
15 Holding the Detector
17 Sweeping the Coil
18 Introducing the Control Panel
19 Keypad Layout
20 Turning on the Detector
21 LCD Layout
22 Detecting Exercise
24 Example Detections
26 How Detectors Work
27 Target ID
28 Discrimination Scale
30 Preset Discrimination Patterns
34 Choosing a Discrimination Pattern
36 Pinpointing
38 Recovering the Target
Part Number: 4901-0071-4

3
Detailed Detector Operation
40 LCD Icons
44 Operation
45 Selecting Menu Settings
46 Sensitivity
47 Adjusting Sensitivity
48 Noise Cancel
49 Choosing a Noise Cancel Channel
50 Threshold
51 Adjusting Threshold
52 Volume
53 Adjusting Volume
54 Tones
55 Adjusting Tones
56 Ground Balance
58 Adjusting Ground Balance
60 Editing Discrimination Patterns
60 Method 1
61 Method 2
62 Erasing Patterns
63 Factory Presets
Reference Information
64 Sounds
66 Error Messages
67 Coil Identification
68 Battery Behaviour
70 Care of your X-TERRA
72 Accessories
74 X-TERRA Specifications
75 X-TERRA Model Features
76 Service and Repair Form

PRIMARY MICRO
IN CONTROL BOX
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING DSP
CODEC SIGNAL CONVERSION
The 2nd generation X-TERRA Series incorporate
Minelab’s proven VFLEX Technology.
VFLEX uses state of the art digital and mixed-signal
components to enhance standard single frequency
technology by replacing most of the analogue
circuitry with digital signal processing. The small
amount of analogue circuitry still employed has been
very carefully designed and calibrated to obtain the
outstanding sensitivity, stability and repeatability
required to match the performance of the processing
in the digital domain.
This radical departure from traditional approaches to
metal detector design has been made possible by
advances in electronics that power personal digital
assistants, cell (mobile) phones and high-fidelity
portable audio equipment.
Analog Signal
Receive
Power
Supply Audio
LCDKeypad
Transmit
Control Box

For the X-TERRA user, this precision means
dependable performance and improved immunity
to environmental conditions such as ground
mineralisation, electromagnetic interference and
temperature variations.
VFLEX requires coils that are accurately constructed
and calibrated. Every time the detector starts up,
the micro-controllers in the control box and the coil
establish communication through a digital data link.
Information about the coil is sent to the control box,
so the detector ‘knows’ what type of coil is attached
and can set the correct operating parameters.
This optimises the performance, and also makes the
detector ‘future proof’, in that it will be capable of
operating at different frequencies depending on the
electronic properties of the coil.
Precision VFLEX Signal
Standard VLF Signal
(Without VFLEX)
SECONDARY MICRO
IN COIL
SENSING + TRANSMITTING
COIL TYPE, SIZE, FREQUENCY
Receive
Analog Signal
Transmit
Coil

6
Before assembling your X-TERRA please check
that the package includes these parts:
Coil
Skidplate (fitted to coil)
Lower shaft
Middle shaft
Upper shaft
Armrest
Stand
Control box
Control box screw
Rubber washers (2)
Plastic wing nut
Plastic bolt
Armrest screw
Armrest strap
Velcro tabs (2)
Warranty card
Instruction manual, you’re holding it
ASSEMBLING YOUR XTERRA

7

8CONNECTING THE COIL
Plug the two rubber washers into the holes
on either side of the lower shaft yoke.
Slide the yoke into the yoke bracket on top
of the coil. Ensure that the spring loaded pin
in the lower shaft is underneath.
Insert the plastic bolt through the yoke and
the yoke bracket.
Fasten with the plastic wing nut provided,
being careful not to damage the thread
of the bolt by over-tightening. This may
need to be loosened to adjust the coil to a
comfortable detecting angle.
The coil cable is directly wired into the coil
and is not removable.
Any attempt to disconnect this cable will
void your warranty.

9
SHAFT ASSEMBLY
Ensure that the twistlocks of the shafts
are loosened by rotating them counter-
clockwise.
Compress the spring loaded pin in the lower
shaft and slide it into the middle shaft until
the pin reaches the adjustment holes. The
pin will spring out and click into place.
Attach the middle shaft to the upper shaft in
the same way.
Once shafts are assembled, lock them in
position by rotating twistlocks clockwise.
The upper shaft assembly location uses
two spring loaded pins to strengthen the
joint, one on each side of the shaft