Minelab X-Terra 50 User manual

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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 latest 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 30 or X-Terra 50.
* This asterisk will appear
throughout the manual,
indicating features available
on the X-Terra 50 model only.
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Back Cover
VFLEX Technology
Assembling Your X-Terra
Connecting the Coil
Shaft Assembly
Armrest Assembly
Connecting the Control Box
Coil Cable Assembly
Inserting Batteries
Ready for Use
Quick Start Reference
Detecting Basics
Holding the Detector
Sweeping the Coil
Introducing the Control Panel
Keypad Layout
Turning on the Detector
LCD Layout
Detecting Exercise
Example Detections
How Detectors Work
Target ID
Discrimination Scale
Preset Discrimination Patterns
Choosing a Discrimination Pattern
X-Terra 30
X-Terra 50 / All Metal Shortcut
Pinpointing
Recovering the Target
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Detailed Detector Operation
LCD Icons
Operation
Selecting Menu Settings
Sensitivity
Adjusting Sensitivity
Volume
Adjusting Volume
Noise Cancel*
Choosing a Noise Cancel Channel*
Ground Balance*
Adjusting Ground Balance*
Editing Discrimination Patterns
Method 1
Method 2
Erasing Patterns
Factory Presets
Reference Information
Sounds
Error Messages
Battery Behaviour
Care of your X-Terra
Accessory Headphones
Protective Accessories
Accessory Coils
X-Terra Specifications
X-Terra Model Features
User Preferences
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Power
Supply Audio Transmit
LCD ReceiveKeypad
PRIMARY MICRO
(IN CONTROL BOX)
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
(DSP)
CODEC SIGNAL CONVERSION
The X-Terra detectors are Minelab’s first products
to incorporate 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.
Analog Signal
Control Box

For the X-Terra user, this precision means
dependable performance and improved immunity
to environmental conditions such as ground
mineralization, 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 optimizes 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.
Analog Signal
Coil
Precision VFLEX Signal
Standard VLF Signal
(Without VFLEX)
Transmit
Receive
SECONDARY MICRO
(IN COIL)
SENSING + TRANSMITTING
COIL TYPE, SIZE, FREQUENCY

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

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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.

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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 either side of the shaft

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Place the armrest onto the top of the upper
shaft, lining up the central hole in the
armrest with a hole in the aluminium shaft.
Position the armrest to suit your arm length.
(Holding the Detector, pg. 15)
Insert the screw up through the stand, upper
shaft and armrest. Tighten the screw, being
careful not to overtighten and damage the
thread.
With the velcro side facing upwards, thread
the armrest strap through both slots in the
armrest. Ensure the end of the strap will
be fastened outwards from your arm.
The X-Terra is designed to be used in both the
left and right hand. This diagram shows the
velcro strap threaded outwards for the left arm.
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