Nokta FORS relic User manual

Thank you for choosing and purchasing our Nokta FORS Relic detector.
FORS Relic, developed by Nokta's expert engineering team experienced in metal
detection, is a professional metal detector ideal for coins and relics.
Manufacturing high-tech metal detectors since 2001, Nokta Detectors has played
a key role in the development of this sector. Nokta Detectors is particularly known
for its technological know-how and professional staff.
Seeking to create different kind of technology, Nokta Detectors offers both
high-quality products and services to its consumers all around the world. Nokta
Detectors has been operating under the principle that environmental and
community responsibility, customer satisfaction and insistence on high-quality are
of the utmost importance.
Nokta Detectors aims to remain a leading pioneer in its sector, winning the trust of
its consumers and always being the preferred choice for metal detecting.
INTRODUCTION

WARNINGS ..........................................................................................................................................................
PARTS and ASSEMBLY ..............................................................................................................
CORRECT WAY OF HOLDING and SWEEPING ............................................
BATTERIES ..........................................................................................................................................................
DEVICE INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................
CONTROLS ....................................................................................................................
MAIN SCREEN ...........................................................................................................
NUMERIC DISPLAY ..................................................................................................
MENU ................................................................................................................................
SEARCH MODES .........................................................................................................................
GROUND BALANCE ..............................................................................................................
SENSITIVITY and THRESHOLD ........................................................................................
iMASK ..........................................................................................................................................................
TARGET ID and ID MASKING ..................................................................................
PINPOINT ........................................................................................................................................................
DEPTH INDICATION ........................................................................................................................
SWEEP SPEED and TARGET IDENTIFICATION .......................................
LARGE or SHALLOW TARGETS .......................................................................................
FALSE SIGNALS and COMMON CAUSES ........................................................
MAGNETIC MINERALIZATION LEVEL ...................................................................
HOT ROCKS AND SEARCHING IN ROCKY AREAS ..................
EFFECTS OF HOT ROCKS IN GROUND TRACKING ..........................
METALS UNDER HOT ROCKS .................................................................................
SEARCHING IN SHALLOW WATER AND ON THE BEACH .......
MESSAGES ....................................................................................................................................................
FACTORY and STARTUP SETTINGS ...............................................................
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ..........................................................................................
1
2-3
4
5
6-12
6-7
7-8
8
9-12
12-14
15-18
19
19-20
20-21
22
23
23
23
23
24
24-25
25
25-26
26
27
27-28
28
TABLE OF CONTENTS

WARNINGS
LEGAL WARNINGS
► When using the device, comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Do not use the
device in private premises, historic sites and military zones. Notify the authorities of any
historical or cultural findings.
WARNINGS ABOUT THE DEVICE
► This is a high-tech electronic device. Do not assemble or use the device before reading
the user manual.
► Do not expose the device or the search coil to very hot or cold conditions for extended
periods of time. (Storage Temperature: -20°C (-4°F) / 60°C (140°F))
► Do not immerse the device or its accessories (except the search coil) in water; do not
expose them to extreme humid conditions.
► Protect the device from external impact, especially during transportation.
►The device can only be opened and repaired by authorized service technicians. The
warranty will be voided if the device is opened by you or an unauthorized person.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Do not use the device indoors. The device
will constantly give target signals inside
places like homes where there are many
metals present. Use the device outdoors, in
open fields.
Do not let another detector or an
electromagnetic device come in close
proximity (10m (33ft.)) to the device.
Do not carry any metal objects while using
the device. Keep the device away from your
shoes while walking. The device may detect
the metals on you or inside your shoes as
targets.
For Consumers within the European Union: Do
not dispose of this equipment in general
household waste. The crossed wheeled bin
symbol on this equipment indicates this unit
should not be disposed of in general household
waste, but recycled in compliance with local
government regulations and environmental
requirements.
FCC STATEMENT
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interferen-
ce that may cause undesired operation.
Page 1

1
2
7
7
4
3
5
6
8
10
7
9
7
BATTERY BATTERY BATTERY BATTERY
PARTS and ASSEMBLY
Attach the right/left armrest components to the
S-rod with the bolts and nuts as seen in the
picture. Do not tighten the nuts but rather leave
them loose (these will be tightened after the
system box is attached).
Place the system box on the rail behind the
armrest and push forward. Then secure by
tightening the nuts. Attach the armrest strap
by inserting it through the holes.
1) System Box
2) Handle and S-Rod
3) Right/Left Armrest
Components
4) Armrest Strap
5) Search Coil
6) Telescopic Shaft
7) Bolts, Nuts and
Washers
8) 3 Cable Clamps
9) 4 AA Batteries
10) Headphones
Page 2

1
1
3
2
3
2
4
1)To attach the telescopic shaft to
the S-rod, first loosen the twist
lock. 2)By holding the metal pin
pressed, insert the telescopic
shaft into the S-rod and click the
pin into its hole. 3)Secure it by
tightening the twist lock. 4)After
adjusting the shaft length to your
height, secure by tightening the
twist lock.
1)Place the washers into the
openings at the end of the
telescopic shaft. 2)Place the shaft
on the coil as shown in the
picture. 3)Secure by tightening
the bolt and the wingnut.
Wrap the coil cable around the
shaft all the way up as shown in
the picture and after inserting it in
the coil input socket underneath
the system box, secure it by
twisting the connector. Pay
attention to not wrap the cable
too tight during this step. Insert
the handle cable in the socket
underneath the system box
(HANDLE) and secure it by
twisting the connector. Finally,
secure the cable by attaching the
clamps at 3 different spots.
PARTS and ASSEMBLY
Page 3

CORRECT WAY OF HOLDING
CORRECT WAY OF SWEEPING
It is very important to adjust the shaft to your
height correctly to be able to search without
discomfort and fatigue.
Adjust the height of the shaft so that you are
standing in an upright position, your arm is
relaxed and the search coil is approximately 5cm
(~2'') above the ground.
It is important to keep the search coil
parallel to the ground in order to get
accurate results.
The search coil must be parallel to the
ground at all times.
Wrong search coil angle
Incorrect way of sweeping
Wrong search coil angle Correct search coil angle
Correct way of sweeping
Shaft height is wrong. Shaft height is correct.
Page 4

Target
ID
General Search
22
54
GEN
ROCK IRON
Target
ID
General Search
76
45
GEN
Target
ID
Low Battery
00
- -
ROCK IRON
Target
ID
General Search
76
45
GEN
BATTERIES
The device comes with 4 AA Alkaline batteries.
Slide and remove the battery compartment cover by pressing the latch. Insert the batteries
paying attention to the + (plus) and – (minus) poles.
When batteries are full, they will provide approximately 25-30 hours of use. Different types
or brand of batteries may have different lifetimes.
For best performance, using AA Alkaline batteries is recommended. You may also use high
quality rechargeable Ni-MH batteries. Rechargeable batteries with higher mAh (capacity)
ratings will provide longer run times.
LOW BATTERY
The battery icon on the LCD panel indicates the battery life status. In addition, a warning
message will appear on the screen when the batteries are low. After the low battery
warning, the batteries will run approximately 3-4 more hours. This runtime will vary based
on the remaining battery charge. Ni-MH batteries have lower voltage so their remaining
runtime will be longer than Alkaline batteries. This does not affect the total runtime.
Page 5

1
5 7 6
4
32
1- POWER SWITCH:
To turn on the device, press the power switch to (1) position. The startup tone will be heard
and after the FORS Relic logo is displayed for a short period of time, the main screen will
come up on the LCD panel.
2- GROUND TRACKING SWITCH:
When the ground tracking is active (at 1 position), the device will track the changes in
ground and automatically adjust the ground balance to suit. The invisible changes in
ground affects the detection depth as well as the discrimination ability of the device so you
can improve the performance of the device by activating this feature on suitable ground.
You can find more details about ground tracking on page 17.
3- MENU AND SETTINGS BUTTONS:
These buttons allow you to access the menu and scroll through options as well as adjust
device settings.
On the main screen, you can access the menu by pressing one of the up/down/+/- buttons.
You can select the menu options with the up and down button and change the value with
the + (plus) and - (minus). Pressing these buttons in a specific order will result in ''resetting
factory settings'' or ''saving startup settings''. You can find more details about this on page
27-28 under the title FACTORY and STARTUP SETTINGS.
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
CONTROLS
Page 6

If you press and hold any of these buttons at startup, system information including
software version and the serial number of the device will appear on the screen after the
Nokta logo is displayed for a few seconds. This information will stay on the screen as long
as you hold the button pressed. Please have his information ready when you contact your
dealer regarding your device.
4- GROUND BALANCE BUTTON:
Allows you to ground balance manually or automatically before or during your search. By
keeping this button pressed and pumping the coil, you can quickly ground balance the
device at any time. When you press and release the button, you can ground balance
manually by changing the ground balance value on the screen. Please read pages 15-18 for
more information on ground balance.
5- PINPOINT SWITCH:
It is used to find the exact location of the target. Pinpointing saves you digging time by
narrowing down the location of a buried target. Please refer to PINPOINT section on page 22
for more details.
6- LED FLASHLIGHT:
Is used for illumination at night or in dark places. The flashlight will not work when the
device is off. Having the flashlight on will affect power consumption so we recommend to
keep it off when not needed.
7- LED FLASHLIGHT POWER SWITCH:
Is used to turn on/off the flashlight.
You can see all the information you need during searching, ground balancing, and
pinpointing on the main screen. The information is as follows:
Target
ID
General Search
22
54
GEN
1
5
23
4
6
MAIN SCREEN
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
During Searching:
1) TARGET ID
2) TARGET ID INDICATOR (HORIZONTAL BAR)
3) MAGNETIC MINERALIZATION LEVEL
4) GROUND TRACKING ON/OFF
5) SEARCH MODE or WARNING MESSAGE
6) BATTERY LEVEL
Page 7

The ground balance value during ground balancing and the target
ID during searching instantly appears on the numeric display
located on the handle. The estimated target depth also appears on
this display during pinpointing.
Therefore, once you adjust your settings on the LCD panel located
on the system box, you can follow all the information you need on
the numeric display. This way you don't need to go back and check
the LCD panel constantly. This provides great comfort during
searching.
The numeric display backlight turns on only when a number is
displayed to save power.
Target
Depth
76
28
1
2
3
4
5
Ground
Balance
Pump The Coil
20
60
1 2
3
5
4
NUMERIC DISPLAY
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
During Ground Balancing:
1) GROUND BALANCE VALUE
2) GROUND BALANCE FINE TUNE VALUE
3) SEARCH MODE or WARNING MESSAGE
4) GROUND TRACKING ON/OFF
5) BATTERY LEVEL
During Pinpointing:
1) TARGET DEPTH
2) NEGATIVE/POSITIVE BAR INDICATOR
3) MAGNETIC MINERALIZATION LEVEL
4) GROUND TRACKING ON/OFF
5) BATTERY LEVEL
Page 8

The menu screen allows you to access all the FORS Relic settings. You can go to the menu
screen by pressing one of the up/down/+/- buttons while on the main screen and adjust
the settings of the device. Now let's take a look at these settings:
MODE:
FORS Relic has 6 predefined search modes based on ground conditions and target type.
During your search, you can select one of these modes and quickly personalize its settings
in the menu if you want to.
The names of the search modes are abbreviated as GEN, DI2, DI3, COG, DEP and SWT.
Please read the SEARCH MODES section for more details on modes (see pages 12-14).
SENSITIVITY:
It is the detection depth setting that controls the gain of the device. It is used to eliminate
the electromagnetic interference signals received from the surrounding environment as
well as ground noise.
Each mode has its own default sensitivity value in the menu. When you change the mode,
the sensitivity value preset for that mode is displayed. This does not affect the sensitivity
levels set by the user in other modes. For ideal settings and detailed information please
refer to the SENSITIVITY and THRESHOLD settings (page 19).
Sensitivity level can be adjusted from 01 to 99. The most ideal sensitivity level for each
mode has been preset by the factory. Sensitivity level may be changed manually when
needed.
ID MASKING:
When the search coil passes over a target, if the target signal is strong enough, a 2-digit
target ID will be displayed on the numeric display as well as the LCD panel. Target ID ranges
from 00 to 99. Target ID is a number produced by the detector based on a target's
conductivity and it gives you an idea about what the target may be.
ID Masking is the ability of the detector to ignore (not produce a warning tone or ID)
unwanted targets. It provides ease of use by rejecting mineralized rocks (hot rocks) and
metals such as iron and foil.
You can customize ID Masking according to your needs. Each mode has its own default ID
Masking value in the menu. When you change the mode, the ID Masking value preset for
that mode is displayed. This does not affect the ID Masking levels set by the user in other
modes. ID Masking is not active in the General Search mode. For detailed information on
Target ID and how to use ID Masking, please refer to the section TARGET ID and ID
MASKING (pages 20-21).
MENU
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
Page 9

IRON VOLUME:
It adjusts or turns off the volume of the low iron tone.
IRON VOLUME range is 00-05. 05 is the maximum level. As you lower it, the volume of the
warning tone the device will produce for ferrous metals will decrease. At 00 level, the iron audio
will be silenced. In other words, the device will detect ferrous targets, the Target IDs will be
displayed on the screen but the device will not produce any warning tone for these targets.
IRON VOLUME adjustment applies to the selected search mode only. The change does not
affect the other modes. Since there is no discrimination in the General Search mode (GEN),
this setting is inactive in this mode.
TONE BREAK:
It is used to adjust the break points of the target response tones on the TARGET ID range.
As the factory default, in the 2-tone modes (DI2, DEP, SWT and COG) the device emits a low
tone for ferrous metals with target IDs equal to or less than 20 and a high tone for gold and
non-ferrous metals with IDs 21-99. In the 3-tone DI3 mode, the device emits a low grunt
tone for ferrous metals with target IDs equal to or less than 20, a low tone for gold and
non-ferrous metals with IDs 21-75 and a high tone for non-ferrous metals with IDs 76-99.
By using the TONE BREAK feature, you can change the point where the low tone changes
into the high tone.
When TONE BREAK is selected in the menu, the factory default setting for the selected
mode will be displayed. For the 2-tone modes, the factory default is set at 20 and for DI3 it
is set at 75. You can adjust these values by using the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons.
Let's say, in DI2 mode you changed the default value 20 to 65. In this case, the device will
produce a low iron tone for all metals with IDs equal to or less than 65 and a high
gold/non-ferrous tone for metals with IDs greater than 65.
TONE BREAK adjustment applies to the selected search mode only. The change does not
affect the other modes.
iMASK:
It is used to eliminate false signals caused by ground noise or hot rocks when searching in
discrimination modes and it values between 0-6. Its factory default value is set to 3. You
can change the value using the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons. For more details, please refer
to page 19.
THRESHOLD:
Threshold is used to increase the target signals and thus the detection depth of the device. In
General Search mode, it adjusts the audible level of the constant background hum. For more
details on threshold, please refer to the SENSITIVITY and THRESHOLD settings (page 19).
FREQUENCY:
Changes the operating frequency of the device. It is used to eliminate the electromagnetic
interference received from the surrounding environment or another detector operating
within the same frequency range.
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
Page 10

If the device receives a lot of noise when the search coil is held in the air, the cause may be
electromagnetic interference or a high sensitivity setting. If you suspect electromagnetic
interference, you may change the frequency. There are 5 frequencies in the device. The
factory default is 03. Normally, the frequency setting is not enabled and it is grayed out in the
menu. To activate it, while holding the pinpoint button pressed, press one of the
up/down/+/- buttons. Then, you can select the frequency option in the menu and change it.
IMPORTANT! Frequency shifting may affect the performance of the device. Therefore, it is
recommended that you do not change the frequency unless necessary and keep it at the
factory default.
VOLUME:
This control allows you to increase or decrease the device's volume based on your
preference and environmental conditions. Volume level can be adjusted from 0 to 20.
When you turn off and on the device, it will start with the last volume level you chose. This
setting is common to all modes; changes will take effect in all modes. Because the volume
level affects power consumption, we recommend you not to increase it more than
necessary.
BRIGHTNESS:
This control allows you to adjust the backlight level of the numeric display on the handle
and the LCD panel on the system box based on your preference and environmental
conditions. Brightness level can be adjusted from 0 to 20. This setting is common to both
displays; changes will take effect on both. When you change the brightness level in the
menu, the backlight will turn on the numeric display and number ''88'' will appear for easy
adjustment. When you turn off and on the device, it will start with the last brightness level
you chose. This setting is common to all modes; changes will take effect in all modes.
The brightness level of the LCD panel on the system box affects power consumption a lot.
Therefore, the backlight illuminates during menu access and ground balancing. It does not
illuminate during searching or target detection. On the other hand, the brightness level of
the numeric display on the handle affects power consumption relatively less. It illuminates
during target detection and pinpointing. Especially if you are using the menu frequently,
we recommend that you choose the minimum brightness level that you can see in for
longer battery life.
cm/inch:
Adjusts the system of unit of the estimated depth provided during pinpointing. Once you
select this option in the menu, you can choose between cm or inch.
LANGUAGE:
Is used to change the language of the device. The FORS Relic menus can be viewed in 10
languages. At initial startup, the factory default language will be displayed. The user can
change the language in the menu. When you turn off and on the device, it will start with
the last language you selected.
Language is placed as the last option in the menu so it is easy to find in case the language
is changed to a foreign language by mistake. For languages written from right to left, the
screen layout is also designed that way.
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
Page 11

IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT MENU USAGE:
* If no button is pressed for a few seconds after accessing the menu, the device will go back
to the main screen. If you do not want to wait, you can press and release the pinpoint
button once to go to the main screen as well.
* Do not turn off the device while the menu screen is displayed. If you turn off the device
while in the menu and made changes in the personal settings (volume, brightness,
cm/inch and language) the changes will not be saved.
* You do not need to confirm or exit the menu to save the changes. New values will take
effect immediately.
* When you select the ''brightness'' option in the menu, the backlight will turn on and
number ''88'' will appear on the numeric display. This way, the user can see the correct
brightness level on screen and adjust it accordingly.
* If you change the language of the device to a foreign language by mistake, the text on
screen may make no sense for you. Therefore, language is placed as the last option in the
menu. In such a case, go to the last option and select your own language.
* When you press and hold the menu buttons, the menu options and values will change
more rapidly.
* Disabled menu options ( that cannot be changed by the user) will appear grayed out. The
disabled option may be active in another mode. (For example; ID Masking appears
disabled in the General Search mode but active in other modes).
SEARCH MODES
GENERAL SEARCH MODE (GEN):
Sometimes referred to as the ''All Metal'' mode, this is the deepest mode of the device.
Different than the other modes, this mode has a constant threshold sound in the
background that enables the user to use his/her own judgment.
In the General Search mode, the device will detect all targets (metal, high mineralized
rocks etc.) without discrimination. The ID of the detected target will be displayed on the
screen (except for negative rocks) and the device will emit the same tone for all targets. The
audio warning tone will increase in pitch as the coil approaches the target.
In this mode, the sensitivity and threshold settings are preset by the factory for best
performance on most soil types. If you want, you can change these settings based on
ground conditions in your search field.
ID Masking, Iron Volume and Tone Break settings are not available in this mode so they
disabled in the menu.
We recommend using the General Search mode when discrimination is not necessary and
not using it in heavy trash areas or areas containing many hot rocks.
DEVICE INTRODUCTION
Page 12

DISCRIMINATION MODES (DI2, DI3, COG, DEP and SWT):
Different than the General Search mode, there is no threshold in these modes and the
device emits a warning tone only when a target is detected. If the sensitivity level is not set
properly, you can hear a crackling sound in these modes. Therefore, the sensitivity should
be adjusted where there is no metal present and to a level that the device is silent at.
Discrimination modes have some common features but they have slight behavioral
differences. ID Masking is a common feature, used frequently in these modes. ID Masking
values are preset by the factory for these 5 modes. If you want, you can change these
values based on field and ground conditions.
DISCRIMINATION 2 (DI2):
It is the 2-tone discrimination mode. It provides good results especially in clean fields
without much trash metals. In rocky or trashy fields, however, you can perform
deeper searches by using the ID masking feature and sweeping the search coil more
slowly (about one full right & left pass in 1 second). ID Masking factory setting is 05.
You can change this value according to the ID of the target.
In the DI2 mode, the device will produce a low tone for iron and for all other metals,
it will produce a single tone just like in the General Search Mode, which increases in
pitch as the coil approaches the target.
To get familiar with the warning audio tones, we recommend you to test the device
with different metals and rocks before you use it in the field.
DISCRIMINATION 3 (DI3):
This is the 3-tone discrimination mode designed for coin hunting. The device will
emit a low grunt tone for iron, a low tone for gold and foil, and a high tone for
non-ferrous metals such as silver, brass and copper. This mode is ideal to use in fields
with different types of metals enabling you to search faster with audio discrimination.
If you want, you can use the ID Masking to ignore unwanted targets in this mode,too.
The ID Masking default value is set to 05. We recommend you to change this value
according to the type of target.
CONDUCTIVE GROUND (COG):
This is the special mode of FORS Relic designed for conductive ground (wet beach
sand, alkali sand etc.). What is special about this mode is that it will not react to iron or
similar targets within the same range and that the device will ground balance easily
on all types of ground. The reason for this is that while the device can ground balance
automatically between 40-90 in the other discrimination modes, it can ground
balance between 0-90 in this mode. This enables you to easily ground balance the
device on conductive ground where normally you can hardly ground balance or
cannot ground balance it at all.
Just like in the DI2 mode, in the COG mode, the device will produce a low tone for iron
and a single tone for all other metals which increases in pitch as the coil approaches
the target.
SEARCH MODES
Page 13

Different than the other modes, the ID Masking is preset to 20 to eliminate ferrous
metals or ground effects due to iron mineralization.
Salty water or alkali ground are highly conductive due to high ionization and they
create iron effects on detectors. These effects can easily impair a detector's capability
of searching and detecting metals. Existence of iron elimination feature in a detector
can improve the situation but may not be sufficient.
FORS Relic Conductive Ground mode eliminates these effects and ground noise.
What you need to pay attention to when metal detecting on conductive ground are
further explained under SEARCHING IN SHALLOW WATER and ON THE BEACH (see
page 26).
Deep Mode (DEP):
Recommended especially for relic hunting, this mode is the deepest among discrimination
modes. Different than the other discrimination modes, this mode requires a slower sweep
speed. DEP mode is similar to DI2 in characteristics but offers a slower detection speed.
Just like in the DI2 mode, you can use the ID Masking in this mode to ignore unwanted
targets. The ID Masking default value is set to 05. We recommend you to change this value
according to the type of target.
Similar to DI2 mode, the device will produce a low tone for iron and for all other metals, it
will produce a single tone just like in the General Search Mode, which increases in pitch as
the coil approaches the target.
Swift Mode (SWT):
It is the 2-tone discrimination mode designed for trashy areas. It is recommended
especially for coin hunting. It offers slightly less depth but faster target detection and
recovery speed in trashy sites.
Similar to other discrimination modes, you can use the ID Masking in this mode to ignore
unwanted targets. The ID Masking default value is set to 05. We recommend you to change
this value according to the type of target.
In this mode, too, the device will produce a low tone for iron and for all other metals, it will
produce a single tone just like in the General Search Mode, which increases in pitch as the
coil approaches the target.
SEARCH MODES
Page 14

GROUND BALANCE
Metal detectors work on the principle of conductivity and all metals are conductive. On the
other hand, soil itself has a certain degree of conductive property. Under certain
conditions, the conductivity level of the soil may be very high. Soil and rocks have
magnetic properties as well as conductivity. For this reason, when searching in soil and
between rocks, in order for the detector not to give a target signal for the soil, the detector
should be able to eliminate the soil and minimize the effects of rocks while still detecting
real targets. Otherwise, false signals and noise may mislead the user and make it
impossible to find the target. The purpose of ground balancing is to eliminate these false
signals and noise.
When you sweep the search coil over the ground, you can see whether the ground balance
is adjusted properly or not. However, if the signals and noise continue when the coil is
raised up, you must consider the possibility of the electromagnetic waves in the
surrounding environment. Electromagnetic waves may result from power lines or from the
operation of electrical devices, radars, wireless radios, and even TVs. In such a case, first
make sure that the device is silent by making the sensitivity and threshold adjustments
and then ground balance.
One of the following may happen as a result of improper ground balancing:
- The device gives a signal when the coil is swept over the ground where there is no target.
- The device is silent but loses detection depth for certain metals.
- The device receives target-like signals next to holes and dips.
The above mentioned situations do not only occur as a result of improper ground balance
adjustment. However, before looking into other reasons you must be sure that the ground
balance is correctly adjusted.
Ground balance value is common to all modes; changes will take effect in all modes. When
using the automatic ground balance or ground tracking, this setting is adjusted
automatically.
Ground balance can be done in three ways in FORS Relic: Automatic, Manual or Ground
Tracking.
During automatic or manual ground balancing, when you press the ground balance
button, no matter what mode you are using, the device will unnoticeably revert to the
General Search mode and the audible tones will be heard accordingly.
AUTOMATIC GROUND BALANCE:
Automatic ground balance is done the same way in all modes:
1. Find a spot on the ground where there is no metal.
2. Press and hold the ground balance button and pump the search coil up and down from
about 15-20 cm (~6''- 8'') above the ground down to 3 cm (~1'') off the ground.
3. Continue until you hear the beep indicating that the ground balancing is completed.
Based on ground conditions, it usually takes about 1-4 pumps for the ground balance to be
completed.
Page 15

4. Once the ground balance is done, the ground balance value will appear on the LCD panel
as well as the numeric display on the handle. If you continue to press and hold the ground
balance button, the device will keep on ground balancing and beeping. To make sure that
the ground balance adjustment is correct, please repeat the process 2 or 3 times and each
time check the value on the display. The difference between the values should not be
greater than 1 or 2 numbers.
5. If you cannot ground balance, meaning you don't hear the beep, either the ground is very
conductive or not mineralized or there must be a buried metal object underneath the coil.
In such a case, move to another location and re-ground balance. If you still cannot succeed,
try manual ground balancing.
After the ground balance button is released, the device will work in the General Search
mode and the ground balance value will remain on screen for a while. (If you do not want to
wait for this period, you can go to the main screen by pressing and releasing the pinpoint
button once). This gives you the opportunity of fine tuning the automatic ground balance
value. Please refer to the following MANUAL GROUND BALANCE section for more details.
MANUAL GROUND BALANCE:
It is the process where you set the ground balance value manually. Because it is more time
consuming, it is not preferred by most users. However, it becomes useful when ground
balance cannot be achieved by other methods or when you need to fine tune the automatic
ground balance value.
FORS Relic is designed in a way that you can easily auto ground balance it on all types of
ground. Therefore, we recommend that you use automatic ground balance at start up.
However, some soils are not suitable for automatic ground balancing (except for the COG
mode). For example; wet beach sand, soils containing alkali or salty water, trashy areas,
plowed lands, highly mineralized ground or ground with very low mineralization are not
suitable for automatic ground balancing. We recommend you to manually ground balance
in such areas for your convenience. Manual ground balance requires experience acquired
with some practice.
To ground balance manually:
1. Find a spot on the ground where there is no metal and switch the device to the GEN mode.
2. You need to listen the sounds coming from the ground in order to perform manual
ground balance. Pump the search coil up and down from about 15-20 cm (~6''- 8'') above the
ground down to 3 cm (~1'') off the ground.
If the sound gets louder as you lift the search coil off the ground, it means that the ground
balance value is too low. In other words, the ground is negative and you need to increase the
ground balance setting with the up button.
90
Ground
Balance
Pump The Coil
00
90
GROUND BALANCE
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On the contrary, if the sound gets louder as you lower the search coil to the ground, it
means that the ground balance value is too high. In other words, the ground is positive and
you need to lower the ground balance setting with the down button.
3. Press and release the ground balance button once. The ground balance value will appear
on the LCD panel and will stay on screen for a while. If the screen changes, you can press
the ground balance button again.
To increase the ground balance setting, press the up button and to decrease it, press the
down button. If you press the button one by one, the values will change one by one as well.
If you hold the button pressed, the values will change rapidly.
4. Continue the above process until the sound is eliminated. If the sound is not completely
eliminated, then you can fine tune.
For fine tuning, follow the numbers above the symbol and use the + and - buttons.
The sound may not be eliminated completely on some types of ground although you have
fine tuned. In such a case, to determine whether you have successfully ground balanced or
not, listen to the audio feedback when lowering the search coil to the ground and when
lifting it off the ground. If both sound the same, it means that the ground balance is
adjusted properly.
After a while the ground balance is completed, the device will switch to the main screen
automatically. If you do not want to wait for this period, you can go to the main screen by
pressing and releasing the pinpoint button once.
IMPORTANT! Experienced detectorists adjust the ground balance setting to little positive
response (when lowering the search coil a weak but an audible response is heard). This
method may result in positive results for smaller objects in certain regions when used by
experienced users.
GROUND TRACKING:
With this feature, the user does not need to make any adjustments. Ground Tracking can
be activated by turning the Ground Tracking switch to 1 position. The Ground Tracking
icon ( ) on the LCD panel starts blinking. As long as the search coil is swept over the
ground, the device updates the ground balance setting. It does not provide the user any
kind of feedback ( such as the ground balance value or the beep sound in the auto ground
balance).
When Ground Tracking is active, the device may emit a loud audible signal if the ground
conditions change (for example a hot rock) or if a target is encountered. In such a case,
sweep the search coil a few times over the spot where you receive the signal.
Manual ground balance ranges from 0-99. However each
number includes 5 steps used for fine tuning and these
steps are shown on the LCD panel over the symbol and
in multiples of 20. For example; the ground balance value
on the screen to the side is 60.20.
Ground
Balance
Pump The Coil
20
60
Ground
Balance
Pump The Coil
20
60
GROUND BALANCE
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