Radio Shack System 200 User manual

Cat. No. 63-3007
OWNER'S MANUAL
Please read before using this equipment.
DISCOVERY 2000
Metal Detector
®
RadioShack™

FEATURES
With your RadioShack Discovery·2000
Metal Detector,
you can hunt for coins,
relics, jewelry, gold, and silver just about
anywhere. The Discovery 2000 is de-
signed to be versatile and easy
to use.
Loaded with features, the detector lets
you locate and identify all types of met-
als with pinpoint accuracy.
It can dis-
tinguish between different types of
metals and "tune out" the ones you
don't want to search for.
The detector's features include:
Liquid Crystal Displays -show the
detector's current search setting and
the probable type of metal being de-
tected. A separate display lets you
know when it is time to replace the bat-
teries.
Three-Tone Audio Discrimination -
sounds distinctive tones for different
types of metals, to make target identifi-
cation easier.
Auto Notch Setting -lets you set
the detector to automatically ignore
junk metal while you search.
Ultra Slow Sweep VLF (Very Low
Frequency) Discrimination -effec-
tively distinguishes between different
types of metals when the detector
is
swept at slow speeds.
Headphone Jack -lets you connect
headphones (not supplied) to the de-
tector.
Waterproof Design -lets you use
the detector's coil under water, and
use the detector
in just about any type
of weather.
Note: Your metal detector requires two
9-volt alkaline batteries (not included)
for operation.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORY
The medium-sized searchcoil sup-
plied with your detector efficiently finds
deeply-buried objects, and is ideal for
general use. However, if you are look-
ing for tiny objects (coin-sized and
smaller) that are not buried too deeply,
a 4-inch searchcoil (such as Ra-
dioShack Unlimited
No. 10484954, not
supplied) might work better.
This searchcoil is highly sensitive and
offers superior performance when hunt-
i
ng for small objects such as gold nug-
gets or small pieces of jewelry, or when
hunting
in mineralized or highly trashy
areas. Because of its smaller size, it
has a narrower detection field and
is
less susceptible to interference from
junk metal. This makes it better able to
isolate precious metals
in these areas.
© 1996 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack Is a trademark used
by Tandy Corporation.
2

CONTENTS
Preparation........................................................................................................... 4
Assembling the Detector ................................................................................ 4
Installing Batteries........•................................................................................. 4
Using Headphones......................................................................................... 6
Traffic Safety............................................................................................ 6
Understanding the Detector............................................................................... 7
Displays.......................................................................................................... 7
Top Display Ranges................................................................................. 7
Bottom Display Ranges .
.. ........................................................................ 8
Tones.................................
.. ........................................................................... 8
Operation............................................................................................................. 9
Turning On the Detector••.......•.................................•.................................•....
9
Setting a Target Mode ....•....•.•••.............•.........................................................9
ALL METAL ...............................................................................................9
DISC .......................................................................................................10
AUTO NOTCH ........................................................................................ 11
Testing and Using the Detector..................................................................... 11
Indoor Testing ........................................................................................ 11
Outdoor Testing and Use....................................................................... 12
False Signals
... ............................... .. .............................................................13
Fine-Ti1ning the Detector................
.. ... ..................................................... .. ... 13
Aa.1.Jsting SENSITIVITY......... .. ........................................................... ... 13
Ac!µsting DISC/NOTCH............. .... ...................................................... .. 14
Pinpointing a
Target. .................... .. ..................................... .. ..................... .... 14
Troubleshooting................................................................................................
15
Care and Maintenance...................................................................................... 16
Resetting the Detector...................................................................................16
Treasure Hunter's Code of Ethics .................................................................17
3

PREPARATION
ASSEMBLING THE
DETECTOR I
Upperl
Stem
_ Searchcoil 8utto
~---
Assembling your detector is easy and
requires
no special tools. Follow these
steps to assemble the detector.
1. Loosely attach the searchcoil to
the lower stem using the supplied
bolt and knurled knob. _
Do not
tighten the bolt
and knob yet.
2. While pressing and holding down
the button
on the top of the lower
stem, slide the lower stem tube
into the upper stem tube.
3. Adjust the stem to a length that
lets you comfortably stand upright.
The stem should be long enough
to let you comfortably hold the
detector so the searchcoil
is level
to the ground and about ½ to 2
inches above the ground with your
arm relaxed at your side.
4
4. Wind the searchcoil's cable
around the stem. Leave enough
slack
in the cable to let you adjust
the searchcoil when you are hunt-
ing
on uneven ground.
5. Insert the searchcoil's plug into the
matching connector on the detec-
tor's control housing. Make sure
the pins
on the plug align with the
holes
in the connector.
Cautions:
• The searchcoil's plug fits into
the connector only one
way. Do
not force it.
•
To disconnect the searchcoil's
cable from the detector, grasp
the plug and pull
it out of the
connector. Never pull
on the
cable.
6. Adjust the searchcoil to the
desired position, then tighten it
by
turning the bolt and knurled knob
in opposite directions until they
stop.
Caution: Do not overtighten the
searchcoil or use tools such as pli-
ers to tighten it.
INSTALLING BATTERIES
You need two 9-volt alkaline batteries
(such as Cat. No. 23-553) to power
your detector.
1. If the detector is on, turn SENSITIV-
ITY on the front panel fully counter-
clockwise until it clicks to turn it off.

2. While pressing and holding down
the release clip on the right side of
the battery compartment door, lift
open the door.
3. Snap a 9-volt battery onto each
battery terminal, then slide the bat-
teries inside the compartment.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the
required size and type.
• Do not mix old and new batter-
ies, different types of batteries
(standard, alkaline, or recharge-
able), or rechargeable batteries
of different capacities.
4. Carefully insert the tabs on the
battery compartment door into the
slots on the detector, then press
the door down until it clicks to
close it.
Cautions:
• Never leave dead or weak batter-
ies in the detector. Batteries might
leak and damage the detector.
• If you do not plan to use the detec-
tor for a week or more, remove the
batteries.
• Dispose of batteries properly; do
not bury or burn them.
The LOW BAT indicator on the front of
the detector lights for a few seconds
when you first turn on the detector.
LOW BAT
LOW BAT
If the LOW BAT indicator lights during
normal use or the detector does not
function properly, replace the batter-
ies. If it still does not function properly,
you might need to reset the detector
(see "Resetting the Detector" on
Page 17).
5

USING HEADPHONES
You can connect a pair of stereo head-
phones (not supplied) to the detector
so you can listen to it privately. Using
headphones also saves battery power
and makes it easier to identify subtle
changes in the sounds you hear, for
better detection results. Your local Ra-
dioShack store has a wide selection of
headphones.
Note: You cannot adjust the head-
phone's volume.
To connect headphones to the detec-
tor, insert the headphones' 1/4-inch
plug into the HEADPHONE jack on the
front panel.
Headphone Jack
The detector's internal speaker dis-
connects when you connect head-
phones.
6
Traffic Safety
Do not wear headphones while operat-
ing your detector near high-traffic ar-
eas.
Even though some headphones let
you hear some outside sounds when
listening at normal volume levels, they
still can present a traffic hazard.

UNDERSTANDING THE DETECTOR
DISPLAYS
The detector's displays are on the
front of the control housing. The top
display shows a probable identification
of a detected object, and the bottom
display shows the target mode the de-
tector is currently set to (see "Setting a
Target Mode" on Page 9).
Top Display
Bottom Display
In this example, the detector is detect-
ing a bottle cap and is set to the ALL
MET
AL target mode.
Top Display Ranges
When the detector detects an object,
an arrow appears on the top display
next to the probable type of metal or
denomination of the coin being detect-
ed. If the detector receives a strong in-
dication, the arrow appears steadily.
If
the indication is weak, the arrow blinks
or does not appear.
If an arrow points to a coin denomina-
tion, the detector might
be detecting
either a coin or another type of metal
(such as jewelry, tokens, medals, or
even junk metal) about the same size
and type
as the coin.
Since the indications are approxima-
tions, the detector might not have actu-
ally found the item it indicates. The
indicator is only a visual reference to
help you decide if
an item is worth in-
vestigating.
The top display
is divided into gold and
silver ranges.
GOLD Range:
IRON FOIL -indicates that the target
is probably iron or foil.
Some oxidized iron might register
somewhere within the SILVER range.
NICKEL -indicates that the target is
probably a nickel.
PULL TAB -indicates that the target
is probably a pull tab from
an alumi-
num can.
Some small gold items might register
within the PULL TAB category.
SCREW CAPS -indicates that the
target
is probably a type of metal like a
bottle cap.
Some medium-size gold items and
large aluminum items might register
within the SCREW CAPS category.
1
rt ZINC -indicates that the target is
probably a zinc penny.
Some large gold items might register
within the 1
rt ZINC category. 7

SILVER Range:
1¢ 10¢ 25¢ 50¢ -indicates that the
target is probably a penny, dime, quar-
ter, or half-dollar.
Bottom Display Ranges
An arrow appears on the bottom dis-
play next to the currently set target
mode (see "Setting a Target Mode" on
Page 9).
TONES
If the detector is set to the ALL METAL
target mode, it sounds a single tone
when it detects any type of metal.
If you set the detector to the DISC or
AUTO NOTCH target modes (see
"Setting a Target Mode"
on Page 9),
its built-in audio target identification
(ATI) system automatically sounds a
unique audio tone for each of three
categories of metal. This makes it eas-
ier to identify the type of metal being
detected.
The detector sounds a low tone when
it detects small gold and nickels, a me-
dium tone when it detects most pull
tabs and some gold and zinc, and a
high tone when
it detects copper, sil-
ver, and brass.
8
NO
RESPONSE
'C)
Iron & Steel
Notes:
I
........ .
• • ■ ■ ■ ••••
•• ■ ■ •••••
LOW MEDIUM
HIGH
TONE
TONE
TONE
•
..__,
,
~~
'"
Old & New
Copper, Silver &
Gold & NK:kels Pull Tabs Brass
• The detector will not detect most
iron and steel objects when set to
the DISC or AUTO NOTCH target
modes. However, the detector
might sound a tone and show an
indication on the display if
an iron
object is highly oxidized. For
example, the detector might sound
a high tone and display an indica-
tion
in the SILVER range if it
detects a rusted bottle cap.
• Depending
on the alloys used to
make them, about 15 percent of
gold rings cause the detector to
sound a medium tone instead of a
low tone when it detects them. If
this happens, the detector still dis-
plays an indication in the GOLD
range on the display.
•
If a pull tab is broken in half, the
"beaver tail" part of the tab causes
the detector to sound a low tone.
The detector also might sound a
low tone if a pull tab is bent,
folded, or highly oxidized.

OPERATION
TURNING ON THE
DETECTOR
1. Hold the detector in a comfortable
position.
2. Turn on the detector by turning
SENSITIVITY clockwise until it
clicks.
i' ,-:: - ~
OFF •, ~
POWER ·- ,. . , HIGH
I SENSITHlffY
The detector beeps 3 times,
arrows point to all options on both
displays, and the LOW BAT indica-
tor lights for a few seconds. Then
an arrow points to ALL METAL on
the bottom display. ·
Note: Many detector problems are
caused by weak, dead, or improperly
connected batteries. If the detector
does not turn on, has weak volume,
will not tune properly, operates errati-
c~lly, or drifts, check both batteries.
SETTING A TARGET
MODE
Your detector has three built-in target
modes which determine what types of
metal your detector will search for and
reject.
• ALL METAL
• DISC (discrimination)
• AUTO (automatic) NOTCH
When the detector is set to a target
mode, the top display is blank until the
detector detects a specific type of met-
al. Then the arrow points to that metal
size and type.
ALL METAL
When the detector is set to ALL MET-
AL, it beeps and displays an indicator
when it detects any type of metal as
long as the metal is under the search-
coil and the searchcoil is moving. You
must sweep the searchcoil over the
metal for the detector to detect it.
The detector automatically sets itself
to this target mode when you first turn
it on. Adjusting DISC/NOTCH (see "Ad-
justing DISC/NOTCH" on Page 14) has
no effect in this mode.
9

To set the detector to the ALL METAL
target mode from another mode, raise
the searchcoil about 1 foot then press
ALL METAL on the front panel. An arrow
on the bottom display points to ALL
METAL. Then adjust SENSITIVITY (see
"Adjusting Sensitivity" on Page 13).
/~
~ll!Cll':Qll[l"y~mLIJ~.
I \
·- - ALL 'fJ o,sc \" AUTO R_
~ ETA YI &N OTC IUS
ALL METAL
DISC
When the detector is set to DISC, it
sounds a tone and displays an indica-
tor when it detects many types of met-
al, and ignores the general metal type
that you specify by adjusting DISC/
NOTCH
(see "Adjusting DISC/
NOTCH" on Page 14).
Notes:
• This target mode lets you set the
detector to ignore a wide category
of metal types. If you want to set
the detector·so it ignores only a
specific type of metal, see "Auto
Notch" on Page 11 .
• The detector does not detect iron
in this target mode.
To set the detector to the DISC target
mode, raise the searchcoil abut 1 foot
then press DISC. An arrow on the bot-
tom display points to DISC.
10
DISC
Then adjust DISC/NOTCH to select the
type of metal you want the detector to
ignore (see "Adjusting DISC/NOTCH"
on Page 14).
The following illustration shows the
types of metal the detector will ignore
as you turn DISC/NOTCH.
----
....
# # Gt,/./ .. '
, '
' '
l o I
I ~ I
1(
I u,
I

AUTO NOTCH
When the detector is set to AUTO
NOTCH, it sounds a low tone and dis-
plays an indicator when it detects nick-
els and small gold objects, and
automatically ignores most junk metal
items. It sounds a high tone when it
detects metals such as copper, silver,
and brass.
You can widen or narrow the range of
metal types that the detector will de-
tect by adjusting DISC/NOTCH on the
front of the detector (see "Adjusting
DISC/NOTCH" on Page 14).
Follow these steps to set the detector
to the AUTO NOTCH target mode.
1. Raise the searchcoil about 1 foot
then press AUTO NOTCH. An
arrow on the bottom display points
to AUTO NOTCH.
AUTO NOTCH
2. Adjust DISC/NOTCH on the front of
the detectorto widen or narrow the
range of metal types that the
detector will detect.
TESTING AND USING
THE DETECTOR
To learn how the detector reacts to dif-
ferent metals, you should test it before
you use it the first time. You can test
the detector indoors and outdoors.
Indoor Testing
1. Turn on the detector.
2. Set the tar_get mode.
3. Place the detector on a wooden or
plastic table, then remove any
watches, rings, or metal jewelry
you are wearing.
4. Adjust the searchcoil so the flat
part points toward the ceiling.
Note: Never test the detector on a
floor inside a building. Most build-
ings have metal of some kind in
the floor, which might interfere with
the objects you are testing or
mask the signal completely.
5. Slowly sweep a sample of the
material you want the detector to
find (such as a gold ring or a coin)
1-2 inches or more above the face
of the searchcoil.
11

If the detector detects the material,
it sounds a tone and an arrow
appears
on the top display next to
the type of metal it found.
If the detector does not detect the
material, make sure the target
mode is set correctly for the type
of metal you are searching for (see
"Setting a Target Mode"
on
Page 9), then repeat Step 5.
Note: If you are using a coin, the
detector will detect it more easily if
you hold it
so a flat side is parallel
with the flat side of the searchcoil
(not the edge).
Outdoor Testing and Use
1. Turn on the detector.
2. Set the target mode.
3. Find an area on the ground out-
side where there is
no metal.
4. Find a sample of the material you
want the detector to find (such as
a gold ring or a coin) and place it
on the ground. (If you are using
valuable metal such as gold
to test
the detector, mark the area where
you placed the item, to help you
find it later.
Do not place it in tall
grass or weeds).
5. While holding the searchcoil level
to the ground about
1-2 inches
above the surface, slowly move
the searchcoil over the area where
you placed the sample, sweeping
the searchcoil
in a side-to-side
motion.
12
~RIGHT ..
Searchcoil Sweeping Hints:
• Never sweep the searchcoil as
if it were a pendulum. Raising
the searchcoil while sweeping
or at the end of a sweep will
cause false readings.
• Sweep slowly -hurrying will
cause you to miss targets.
If the detector detects the item, it
sounds a tone and
an arrow
appears
on the top display next to
the type ofmetal it found.
If the detector does not detect the
item, make sure the target mode is
set correctly for the type of metal
you are searching for (see "Setting
a Target Mode"
on Page 9), then
repeat Step
5. Also, make sure
you are moving the searchcoil cor-
rectly.

Notes:
• The detector responds with a
strong signal when
it detects
most valuable metal objects. If a
signal does not repeat after you
sweep the searchcoil over the
target a few times, the target is
probably junk metal.
• False signals can be caused by
trashy ground, electrical inter-
ference, or large irregular
pieces of junk metal. False sig-
nals are usually broken or non-
repeatable.
6. Try finding other metal in the area.
When you find a metal item,
wait a
few seconds after the tone stops
before continuing, to allow the
detector time to reset.
FALSE SIGNALS
Your detector is extremely sensitive,
and will find even deeply-buried metal.
Because of this, trash-induced signals
and other sources of interference
might cause signals that seem confus-
ing. The key to handling these types of
signals is to dig for only those targets
that emit a strong, repeatable signal.
As you sweep the searchcoil back and
.J.- forth over the ground, learn to recog-
nize the difference between signals
that occur at random and signals that
are stable and repeatable.
To reduce false signals when search-
ing very trashy ground, scan only a
small area at a time using slow, short
overlapping sweeps. To help prevent
erratic signals and pinpoint targets
in
trashy areas, try a smaller searchcoil
(see "Optional Accessory" on Page 2).
FINE-TUNING THE
DETECTOR
After you become familiar with how
your detector works, you can fine tune
it
to make it less sensitive to interference
and more selective in what it finds. For
example, you can set
it so it ignores
junk metal such as pull tabs but still reg-
isters silver and copper coins.
Adjusting SENSITIVITY
(
~
OFF a )
POWER e / HIGH
•
SENstTIVf"FY
Broadcast antennas and power lines
can cause the detector to indicate
false signals and operate erratically.
Adjust SENSITIVITY
on the front of the
detector
in any target mode, to help re-
duce or eliminate these false signals.
To adjust the sensitivity, turn SENSI-
TIVITY clockwise to increase
it, or
counterclockwise to reduce
it.
13

Notes:
• SENSITIVITY also turns the detec-
tor
on and off.
• For maximum detection depth,
always leave SENSITIVITY set as
high as possible while using the
detector.
• If you set the detector's sensitivity
too high, the top display might ran-
domly display arrows and the
detector might sound false tones.
Adjusting DISC/NOTCH
Discrimination is the detector's ability
to differentiate between types of metal
and either find or ignore them. DISC/
NOTCH adjusts the detector's discrimi-
nation.
If the detector
is set to the DISC or
AUTO NOTCH target mode, adjust
DISC/NOTCH clockwise toward HIGH to
set the detector to ignore items such
as bottle caps, zinc pennies, and pull
tabs, while still detecting items such as
nickels and small gold items.
Notes:
• Adjusting DISC/NOTCH has no
effect
in the ALL METAL target
mode.
14
• If you set the detector's discrimi-
nation too high, the detector will
not detect some gold items.
PINPOINTING A TARGET
Accurately pinpointing a target while
detecting makes digging it
up easier.
Accurately pinpointing small metal ob-
jects takes practice.
We suggest that
you practice finding and digging
up
small metal objects on your own prop-
erty before you search other locations.
Follow these steps to pinpoint a target.
1. When the detector detects a bur-
ied target, continue sweeping the
searchcoil over the target
in a nar-
rowing side-to-side motion.
2. Make a visual note of the exact
spot
on the ground where the
detector beeps.
3. Stop the searchcoil directly over
this spot
on the ground. Then
move the searchcoil straight for-
ward away from you and straight
back toward you a couple of times.
4. Make a visual note of the exact
spot
on the ground where the
detector beeps.
5. If necessary, repeat Steps 1-4 to
zero
in on the exact spot on the
ground where the detector beeps.

TROUBLESHOOTING
If your detector is not working as it should, follow the suggestions below to see if
you can eliminate the problem. If you cannot, take the detector to your local Ra-
dioShack store for assistance.
PROBLEM
The detector dis;:ilays or sounds false
signals.
The display does not showthe correct
metal type when the detector finds a
target. Or, the detector sounds more
than one type of tone when it finds a
target.
SUGGESTION
• The sensitivity might be set too
high. Adjust SENSITIVITY.
• You might be sweeping the detec-
tor's searchcoil too fast or at the
wrong angle. Sweep the search-
coil more slowly and hold the
detector correctly. See "Outdoor
Testing and Use" on Page 12 and
"Pinpointing a Target" on
Page 14.
• The detector might sound a false
signal if it detects some types of
heavily oxidized metals. Try pin-
pointing the target from several
different angles (see "Pinpointing
a Target" on Page 14). If the
detector does not display and
sound the same signal each time,
the target is probably heavily oxi-
dized metal.
• There might be more than one
target in the area you are search-
ing.
• The target might be a type of
metal that the detector does not
recognize.
• If the target is heavily oxidized,
the detector might not display the
correct metal type. This is not a
malfunction.
• The sensitivity might be set too
high. Adjust SENSITIVITY.
15

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your RadioShack Discovery 2000 Metal Detector is an example of superior design
and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your detector
so you can enjoy it for years.
Use and store the detector only
in normal temperature environ-
ments. Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic de-
vices and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the detector awayfrom dust and dirt, which can cause prema-
ture wear of parts.
Handle the detector gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage
circuit boards and cases and can cause the computer to work im-
properly.
Use only fresh batteries ofthe required size and type. Old batteries
can leak chemicals that damage your detector's electronic parts.
® Wipe the detector with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking
new. Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong de-
tergents to clean it.
.,
Modifying or tampering with the detector's internal components can cause a mal-
function and might invalidate its warranty. If your detector is not performing as
it
should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
The searchcoil supplied with the detector is waterproof and may be submerged in
either fresh or salt water. However, do not let water enter the detector's chassis.
After using the searchcoil
in salt water, rinse it with fresh water to prevent corro-
sion of the metal parts.
RESETTING THE DETECTOR
If the detector does not work properly after you replace the batteries, or if it stops
working and sounds a continuous tone, you might need to reset it.
To reset the detector, turn SENSITIVITY on and off three orfour times.
16

TREASURE HUNTER'S
CODE OF ETHICS
All treasure hunters might be judged
by the example you set. Here are a
-few basic rules you should follow while
using your detector.
• Always obtain permission before
searching any site.
• Respect the rights and property of
others.
• Observe all national, state, and
local laws while treasure hunting.
• Never destroy historical or archae-
ological treasures. If you are not
sure about an object you have
found, contact a museum or his-
torical society in your area.
• Leave the land and vegetation as
it was. Fill in any holes you dig.
• Use your detector only in safe
areas.
• Dispose of any junk you find, only
in approved areas. Do not leave it
for the next treasure hunter to find.
17

RadioShack Limited Warranty
This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from date of purchase from RadioShack
company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. Within this
period,
we will repair it without charge for parts and labor. Simply bring your RadioShack sales sllp as
proof of purchase date
to any RadioShack store. Warranty does not cover transportation costs.
Nordoes it cover a product subjected to misuse or accidental damage.
EXCEPTAS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES
NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION
OF THE WRITTEN
LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. Some states
do not permit limitation or exclusion
of implied warranties; therefore, the aforesaid limitation(s)
or exclusion(s) may not apply to the
purchaser.
This wananty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have Olher rights which vary from state to Slate.
8/96
We Service What We Sell 10115
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Printed in the USA