QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

I. Supplies Needed
·A Medium – Size Nail A Quarter
·A Nickel A Zinc Penny (dated after 1982)

II. Position the Detector
Place the detector on a table, with the search coil hanging over the edge. (or better, have
  a friend hold the detector, with the coil off the ground)
b. Keep the search coil away from walls, floors, and metal objects.
c. Remove watches, rings and other jewelry or metal objects from hands and wrists.
d. Turn off appliances or lights that cause electromagnetic interference.
e. Pivot the search coil back toward the detector body.

III. Power Up
Press the ON touchpad. The detector will beep several times and the sensitivity setting
will be indicated on the right of the display. Two illuminated segments indicates 3/4 sensitivity.

IV. Wave each Object over the Search Coil (pass the flat side of the coins parallel to the coil)
a. Notice a different tone for each object.

Low Tone: Nail
Medium Tone: Nickel & Zinc Penny
High Tone: Quarter

b. Motion is required. Objects must be in motion over the search coil to be detected.

AUDIO TARGET IDENTIFICATION
While the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is very accurate in identifying buried objects, the user in the field does not always maintain the display screen in his field of vision. Therefore, we have incorporated an audio feedback mechanism to alert the user to the nature of buried objects. This audio feedback system first alerts the user to the presence and classification of objects, whose nature and location can be confirmed using the LCD display.

The detector will sound one of three different tones, depending on the type of metal detected.

BASS TONE
Ferrous objects, such as iron and steel, will induce a bass tone.
The smallest gold objects can also induce a bass tone.

MEDIUM TONE
Pull-tabs, newer pennies (post-1982), larger gold objects, zinc, small brass objects, and most bottle It's time you hit paydirt screw caps will induce medium tones. Many recent vintage foreign currencies will induce medium tones. Medium tone objects will illuminate the two center target indicators.

HIGH TONE

Silver and copper coins, larger brass objects, older pennies (pre-1982), and highly oxidized metals will induce high tones. Quarters, dimes, and other precious coins fall into this category.

BASIC OPERATION

POWERING UP

Press the ON touch pad.
All display indicators will illuminate momentarily. The inverted-pyramid depth-selection indicator on the right of the display will stay illuminated.

UNDERSTANDING THE DISPLAY

1 DEPTH SELECT
The detector default to 3/4 sensitivity, indicated by two illuminated segments. To change the depth range of the detector, and thus its sensitivity to more deeply buried objects, use the DEPTH SELECT touch pad. each touch of DEPTH SELECT toggles the detector among three different sensitivity settings.
The detector is at maximum depth capability when three depth segments are illuminated on the right of the display.

At the maximum depth setting, the detector will detect a coin-sized object buried approximately 6 1/2 inches beneath the surface. With two depth segments illuminated, the detector's depth range will be reduced to 80%, and with one depth segment illuminated, the range will be reduces to 65%.

A more detailed explanation of depth selection is found on page 14.

2 LOW BATTERY
The LOW BATTERY indicator will illuminate when the 9-volt batteries are discharged to a level of 6.8 volts.

Replace the batteries as soon as possible after receiving th e low battery indication. The detector will begin to beep erratically and operate unreliably if continuing use with discharged batteries. To save on batteries, check each battery individually, as the two batteries can discharge at different rates. When LOW BATTERY illuminates, it is possible that only one of the batteries requires replacement.

Under normal conditions, a set of batteries will last for approximately 16 hours in the field, depending upon the brand of battery.

DEPTH SELECT (Sensitivity Adjustment)
Upon power-up, the detector defaults to 3/4 sensitivity. To increase to full sensitivity, press the DEPTH SELECT touchpad once.

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
The principle use for the Sensitivity Control is to eliminate Electromagnetic Interference (EMI).

A hobby metal detector is an extremely sensitive device; the search coil creates its own magnetic field and acts like an antenna. If your detector beeps erratically when the search coil is motionless, the unit is probably detecting another electromagnetic field.

Common sources of EMI are electric power lines, both suspended and buried, motors, and household appliances like computers and microwave ovens. Some indoor electronic devices, such as dimmer switches used on household lighting, produce severe EMI and can cause the detector to beep erratically. Other metal detectors also produce their own electromagnetic fields; so if detecting with a friend, keep two metal detectors at least 20 feet apart.

If the detector beeps erratically, REDUCE THE SENSITIVITY by using the Depth Select Control.

SEVERE GROUND CONDITIONS

A secondary use for the Sensitivity Control is to reduce false detection signals caused by severe ground conditions. While your Pioneer EX contains circuitry to eliminate the signals caused by most naturally occurring ground minerals, 100% of all ground conditions cannot be anticipated. Highly magnetic soils found in mountainous and gold-prospecting locations can cause the detector to emit tones when metal objects are not present. High saline content soils and sands can also cause the detector to false.

If the detector emits false, non-repeatable, signals, REDUCE THE SENSITIVITY.

MULTIPLE TARGETS
If you suspect the presence of deeper targets beneath a shallower target, reduce the sensitivity to eliminate the detection of the deeper targets, in order to properly locate and identify the shallower target.

IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES

PINPOINTING
Accurate pinpointing takes practice and is best accomplished by "X-ing" the target area.

1. Once a buried target is indicated by a good tone response, continue sweeping the coil over the target in a narrowing side-to-side pattern.
2. Take visual note of the place on the ground where the "beep" sounds.
3. Stop the coil directly over this spot on the ground.

COIL MOVEMENT
When swinging the coil, be careful to keep it level with the ground about 1/2 inch from the surface. Never swing the coil like a pendulum.

TARGET DEPTH ESTIMATION
After verifying a desirable target, pass the coil again, but raise the coil 1" over the ground, progressively higher with each sweep. Note the coil elevation at which the signal disappears. With practice, you will be able to approximate target depth.

IN THE FIELD TECHNIQUES (continued)
Swing the search coil slowly, overlapping each sweep as you move forward. It is important to sweep the coil at a consistent speed over the ground as you search. After identifying a target, your sweep technique can help in identifying both the location and the nature of the target. If you encounter a weak signal, try moving the coil in short, rapid sweeps over the target zone; such a short rapid sweep may provide a more consistent target identification.

Most worthwhile objects will respond with a repeatable tone. If the signal does not repeat after sweeping the coil directly over the suspected target a few times, it is more than likely trash metal.

Crossing the target zone with multiple intersecting sweeps at multiple angles is another way to verify the repeatability of the signal, and the potential of the buried target. To use this method, walk around the target area in a circle, sweeping the coil across the target repeatedly, every 30 to 40 degrees of the circle, about ten different angles as you walk completely around the target. If a high-tone target completely disappears from detection at a given angle, chances are that you are detecting oxidized ferrous metals, rather than a silver or copper object. If the tone changes at different angles, you many have encountered multiple objects. If you are new to the hobby, you may want to dig all targets at first. With practice in the field, you will learn to better discern the nature of buried objects by the nature of the detector’s response.

You may encounter some false signals as you proceed. False signals occur when the detector beeps, but no metal target is present. False signals can be induced by electromagnetic interference, oxidation, or highly mineralized ground soils. If the detector beeps once, but does not repeat the signal with several additional sweeps over the same spot, there is probably no target present.

When searching very trashing ground, it is best to scan small areas with slow, short sweeps. You will be surprised just how much trash metal and foil you will find in some areas. The trashiest areas have been frequented by the most people, and frequently hold the most promise for finding the most lost valuables. To make searching easier in very trashy areas, consider purchasing the Bounty Hunter ® 4-inch Search Coil. The 4-inch coil's narrower detection field can better distinguish between two objects in close proximity.

Also, maintain the search coil positioned just above the surface of the ground, without making contact with the ground. Making contact with the ground can cause false signals.