Minelab X-Terra 505 Manuel d'instructions

Understanding yourby Randy Horton (AKA Digger) 

Battery Status10The rst thing I do after arriving at and analyzing a site is to turn on the detector and make sure I have sucient battery life. Some

Noise Cancel Channel11When I am condent the batteries are sucient to maintain operation, I set the Noise Cancel Channel. Some X-TERRA models do this

Threshold12Threshold settings range from -5 to 25. Having a proper Threshold setting is very important and should not be taken for granted. Where you

13Another place where a negative Threshold could come in handy is on wet sand at a saltwater beach. Here, black pebbles of basalt act as little hot ro

Sensitivity14Next, I check my Sensitivity setting. Sensitivity determines how strongly the receive circuit of a detector responds to anything under th

15On the other hand, when you are driving in foggy conditions and your view is obstructed, low beams provide a clearer line of sight. If you were to t

Volume16One X-TERRA setting that I never change is my Volume, which is always left at the maximum setting. My headphones have volume controls. So if

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Manual Ground Balance18After adjusting my Sensitivity setting, I establish the proper Ground Balance (GB). Once again, each model (with the exception

19 The theory behind manually ground balancing your detector is the same, regardless of model. Your objective is to “tune the ground phase” of your de

ContentsGreetings from DiggerProduct TimelineProduct ComparisonMinelab’s DocumentationBattery StatusNoise Cancel ChannelThresholdSensitivityVolumeManu

If your X-TERRA has the Auto GB function (X-TERRA 70 & 705), you can accomplish a proper Ground Balance by pressing the Ground Balance pad, then p

Tracking21For those models with Tracking Ground Balance, know that Tracking allows your detector to constantly update the ground phase setting, on the

Tracking Ground Balance Oset22A feature unique to the 705 is Tracking Ground Balance Oset. In simple terms, this allows the user to run in Tracking

23If I am manually setting the GB on my X-TERRAs, I will properly Ground Balance the detector and then lower the ground phase number by a few clicks o

24Understanding your X-TERRA - Ground BalanceBeach Ground BalanceFor salt water beach hunting, the X-TERRA 70 and X-TERRA 705 incorporate functionalit

 

Discrimination Patterns26Once the Volume, Threshold, Sensitivity and Ground Balance are set, it is time to decide whether you want to hunt in a Discri

27All Metal PatternPattern 1Pattern 2Pattern 3Pattern 4Understanding your X-TERRA - Discrimination X-TERRA 705 Discrimination Patterns (28 segments)Ex

Discrimination Patterns28The term notch segment relates to where the target is placed, in regard to how ferrous or non-ferrous (conductive) it is. Eac

29Also, both the 70 and 705, with 28 segments, will put all targets into one of 28 TID segments. Those 28 segments represent two digit notches. (Count

 

X-TERRA TID Chart of U.S. Coins30  

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 33Understanding your X-TERRA

34A guide for U.S. coin-shooters A metal detector does exactly what the name implies. It detects metals. Set to accept everything, you will nd nails,

Notch Discrimination on the X-TERRA Ever wonder what you're missing? Part one: Friday, September 24, 201035The X-TERRA 70 and 705 have 28 pre-det

Notch Discrimination on the X-TERRA Ever wonder what you're missing? Part two: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 Now that I’ve outlined how the ferrous

Notch Discrimination on the X-TERRA Ever wonder what you're missing? Part two: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 To get a better idea of what you might

Audio Tones38The next setting to analyze is the number of tones you want to hear. This is simply a matter of preference. And depending on the X-TERRA

39Again, the number of tones you set for your X-TERRA is simply a matter of personal preference. If you chose single tone, all targets will provide an

Greetings from DiggerUnderstanding your X-TERRA - Introduction

With “old” being a relative term, I hunt for old coins at old sites. The part of the world that I live in wasn’t settled until the mid 1850’s. So ndi

This process is fairly simple… but to implement it, your X-TERRA must be capable of operating in the Multiple Tone mode (X-TERRA 305, X-TERRA 505, X-T

Regardless of which coil is your coil of choice, make sure you center the target under the coil before working the coil toward you. And remember, for

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Coil OptionsThe X-TERRA range is a unique series of metal detectors in that they can literally switch operational frequencies by simply changing to a

45Due to the design characteristics of an X-TERRA Concentric coil, (think of a circle within a circle with the outer coil being the transmit winding a

Coil Options46With the Double-D coil, one “D” is the transmit wire winding and the other “D” is the receive wire winding. This is easier to understand

Coil Applications479-Inch 7.5 kHz Concentric CoilThe stock 9-inch 7.5 kHz Concentric coil is an excellent “all-around” coil. It is good for coin shoot

Coil Applications48Par

I hunt a lot of old farmsteads. As such, many of them are littered with broken pieces of implements and rusty nails from fences and barns. Simply put,

Product Timeline5Understanding your X-TERRA - IntroductionNovember 2005X-TERRA 30 X-TERRA 50March 2006X-TERRA 70X-TERRA 305April 2009X-TERRA 505X-TERR

Coil Applications509-Inch 18.75 kHz Concentric CoilThe 9-inch Concentric at 18.75 kHz is a bit more sensitive to the ground than the other two 9-inch

51If, however, when I properly ground balance the Concentric coil and the ground phase number is less than 28, I nd the Double-D coil will hunt deepe

When it comes to sweep speed, the X-TERRA is a very forgiving detector. You can operate with a relatively quick sweep in wide open areas, and slow dow

Although not to the degree of Concentric coils, I’ve found the eld of detection from a Double-D coil also gets “more narrow” (front to back) as targe

If your X-TERRA makes false signals when you change the direction of your sweep, you’re probably tipping the edge of your coil. Again, slow down the s

I’ve hunted some areas that were so nail infested, proper target separation required a sweep speed of no more than 6 inches per second. As someone who

Coil Design & ManufactureHow to design and manufacture an X-TERRA coil

The two design teams then combine resources to assess the prototype coils:• Manufacturing multiple prototype coils• Testing and revising electronic

Coil Design & Manufacture58Understanding your X-TERRA - CoilsCoil ManufactureDue to the wide variation in size, shape, frequency and conguration,



Product Comparison6Understanding your X-TERRA - IntroductionX-TERRA 50ApplicationCoin, Relic & JewelryX-TERRA 70Coin, Relic, Jewelry, Beach &

Applying What We’ve Learned (so far!)60OK, so now we’ve learned the basic functionality of the X-TERRA. We’ve learned the importance of an accurate se

61Choosing the Right CoilThe site I’m about to hunt has a denite bearing on the coil I will be starting out with. If it is a wide open area

The Hunt62X-TERRA SettingsAfter setting the Noise Cancel Channel, Volume level, Sensitivity, Ground Balance and making sure I’m set up in the proper D

63Target blanking is caused by the detector losing its Threshold while passing over a rejected target. If you are sweeping the coil and your X-TERRA i

Pinpointing64Pinpointing Each of the X-TERRA models oer visual and audio Pinpointing. Whenyou press the Pinpoint pad,

Pinpoint Sizing - X-TERRA 705In addition to Pinpoint Auto, the 705 also oers the option of a Pinpoint Sizing Mode. Pinpoint Sizing Mode allows the us

To Dig, or Not to Dig?66My Three Rules of Consistency

672. Consistent SoundI’ve learned the X-TERRA has a very forgiving sweep speed which I use to my advantage when determining whether to “dig or not”.

To Dig, or Not to Dig?683. Consistency of TIDHaving located a target with a consistent location and a consistent audio tone, it is time to check the T

69My Recommendation... Again, practice with coins at home. Listen for the sounds and study the TID for dierent sweep speeds and varying angles. Once

7Understanding your X-TERRA - IntroductionX-TERRA 705 X-TERRA 705 Gold PackCoin, Relic, Jewelry, Beach & Gold ProspectingX-TERRA 505Coin, Relic &

Gold Prospecting70Understanding your X-TERRA - Practical DetectingProspecting Mode on the X-TERRA 70 and X-TERRA 705 is primarily designed to nd met

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Minelab’s VFLEX Technology72VFLEX technology transforms the common analogue single frequency metal detector into a fully digital machine including a s

73Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyAlso when the detector’s transmit frequency is slightly dierent to the search coil’s tuned frequency, noise

Minelab’s VFLEX Technology74Understanding your X-TERRA - Technology

75Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyWith VFLEX the search coil contains a preamplier that boosts the received signal before noise can be introdu

++-++My Circular Discrimination Theory76Earlier, I mentioned the discrimination dierences between the three models o

77My circular discrimination theory would likely apply to all VLF detectors with notch discrimination capabilities. But for the sake of explanation, I

Now, if you consider that piece of ferrite I mentioned, and think about those deep pieces of iron you dug this summer (anticipating a silver dollar be

Q & A with Laurence79Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyDr. Laurence Statmatescu is the inventor of VFLEX technology. He worked as a nuclear p

Minelab’s Documentation8• Apply what you read to your particular circumstances. It is important to know how to set up the detector for eectively hun

Q & A with Laurence80Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyQAIf most metallic targets have both ferrous and non-ferrous properties, what triggers

Single frequency detectors, like X-TERRA, perform discrimination based on the time delay (phase) of the received (Rx) signal with respect to the trans

82Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyQA In sweeping the 3 kHz low frequency (LF) and 7.5 kHz medium frequency (MF) 9-inch Concentr

83Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyHow coils identify targets in very close proximity to the windingsIt is known that continuous wave metal dete

84Understanding your X-TERRA - TechnologyQA For many metal detectors, implementing Noise Cancel is typically a slight shift in operati

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My Settings86When people ask what settings I use, I generally tell them that they should adjust their detector for their site, using the procedure I’v

87Understanding your X-TERRA - Final WordsIn All Metal, those deep iron targets are more likely to boun

Review88Study the Instruction Manual. Know what functionality is controlled by each setting, and how proper adjustment of those settings will directl

89If you want to nd a deep “keeper” that the last person missed, keep discrimination levels low and apply the three rules of consistency; location, s

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Glossary of Terms90Understanding your X-TERRA - Final WordsConcentric coilA Concentric coil has an inner circle and an outer circle wire winding. Its

91Understanding your X-TERRA - Final WordsHot rocksHot rocks are rocks that are mineralized dierently to their surrounding ground. For example a high

Conclusion

93Understand

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