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1.
Ground Balancing the detector using the GROUND control.
2.
Setting the operating mode using the MODE switch.
3.
Setting the tuning mode using the TUNE switch.
4.
Setting the Sensitivity level using the SENSITIVITY control.
5.
Setting the Discrimination level using the DISC LEVEL control.
NOTE: Ground Balancing should be done while in All Metal Mode and Auto Tune Mode. Setting the Discrimination Level and the Sensitivity
Level should be done while operating in Discriminate Mode.
Ground Balancing
Ground Balancing is not a difficult procedure, but it is critical if you desire maximum depth and stability. It is especially important if you plan
to gold nugget hunt for match head sized or smaller nuggets in a highly mineralized ground.
NOTE: No matter where you will be searching, or whether you will be operating in the All Metal Mode or Discriminate Mode, make sure the
detector is properly Ground Balanced in the All Metal Mode with Auto Tune Mode first.
Start with these control settings:
DISC LEVEL control set to MIN
l
SENSITIVITY control set to POW OFF
l
TUNE switch set to AUTO
l
MODE switch set to ALL METAL
l
GROUND control set to the middle of its range
l
turn it 5 complete turns counterclockwise then,
turn it 2 complete turns clockwise and stop
Next:
Turn the SENSITIVITY control set to 10
l
Wait 3 to 4 seconds until the Audio Battery test is complete.
Raise the searchcoil to 6 to 8 inches above the ground, level and parallel to the ground. While listening to the threshold sound, lower the
searchcoil quickly to the ground level and listen to what the threshold sound does.
One of three things will happen to the sound: 1) the sound will increase, 2) the sound will go silent, or 3) the sound will remain the same.
Which one of these happens will determine what you need to do to properly Ground Balance your detector for the area you are at.
1) If the threshold sound gets louder when you lower the searchcoil, it means the GROUND knob needs to go the left.
2) If the detector goes silent and you lose the threshold sound momentarily, then you will need to turn the GROUND knob to the right.
3) If there is no change in the threshold sound as you lower the searchcoil to the ground, then you just happen to already have the proper
ground balance and can proceed to hunt.
Start out using slight turns of the GROUND knob, the distance of the movement being equivalent to about one hour on a clock face. The
entire effective area of this control is 3 ¾ turns from minimum to maximum, so if you start Ground Balancing in the middle of the effective range it
will only take about two complete turns in either direction to be at one end of the effective range.
NOTE: There are three important things to remember when Ground Balancing with this method.
First, you are in the Auto Tune mode and once you hesitate at ground level for a second or two, the detector will retune the threshold
automatically. Therefore, when you lower the searchcoil toward the ground, you are only listening for the initial change in volume.
Second, make you are Ground Balancing in a clean area and not lowering the searchcoil down over a piece of metal.
Third, when you raise the searchcoil be sure that you DO NOT tilt the searchcoil at an angle.
By continually "pumping" the searchcoil from 6 to 8 inches above the ground to ground level and back up in the air again while turning the
GROUND knob in the appropriate direction, you will very quickly reach the point where there is the absolute minimal change in threshold sound
during the pumping. When you have reached that point you are "Ground Balanced" and can begin searching the area.
NOTE: Changing ground mineralization may make occasional small adjustments to the GROUND knob necessary to maintain peak
performance.
Selecting the proper operating mode
The µMAX Bandido offers two operating modes, All Metal Mode and Discriminate Mode.
The Discriminate Mode is "Silent Search" operating mode. This means that the detector will make no sound until it encounters a metal target.
This mode requires that the searchcoil be moving slightly for target detection.
The All Metal Mode, however, is a "no motion" operation mode. This means that the detector will emit a continuous "threshold sound" until it
encounters a metal target at which time the sound will noticeably increase. This mode does not require motion so the searchcoil can be held still
for target detection if needed.
The All Metal Mode, as the name implies, will detect all types of metal targets. When operating in this mode you will find unwanted "trash"
metal objects such as nails, foil, pull tabs, etc., just as you would with any high performance detector. The All Metal Mode is preferred for hunting
relics, artifacts and other objects that are made of non precious metals especially iron. This mode is also good for beach hunting where the sand
allows easy digging and time wasted on digging up trash metal objects is not a major concern.
The All Metal Mode must be used for gold nugget hunting, since the response to small gold items is so close to iron. For most nugget hunting,
the All Metal Mode & Auto Tune Mode combination will provide the best performance although some special attention for hot rocks may be
necessary (see Selecting he proper tuning mode ).
The Discriminate Mode will allow you to control the detector's response to most of the common trash metal objects found in school yards,
parks, and beaches. Discriminate mode is generally used for "coin shooting" such areas where you prefer to avoid wasting time digging up
common trash metal. The Discrimination Level you select will determine what types of metal your detector will ignore.
In many other metal detectors, the All Metal Mode offers greater depth up to 30% over the Discrimination Mode. Not so with the µMAX
detectors. The new µMAX circuitry with MAXBoost overcomes this common problem and delivers superior sensitivity and better depth in both
operating modes.
Selecting the proper tuning mode
The Auto Tune Mode (TUNE AUTO) on the µMAX Bandido is a fast automatic tuning that takes just 2 to 3 seconds to automatically adjust
itself. The Auto Tune quickly retunes the detector to its established threshold following a target response.
Auto Tune Mode also keeps the detector's signal from drifting. This tuning mode offers maximum stability while searching in All Metal Mode
and is recommend for gold nugget hunting.
The Normal Tuning Mode (TUNE NORM) will hold a target's signal without retuning for as long as the searchcoil is held stationary directly
over the target. Some drift may occur in this mode, but is quickly remedied by manually retuning using the MODE switch (MODE RETUNE). For
precise pinpointing, identifying target size, line tracing and ore sampling in All Metal Mode, use the Normal Tune Mode.
Fast automatic tuning can cause an "overshoot signal" on "hot rocks" that is, a momentary silence as the searchcoil sweeps over an extremely
mineralized rock, followed by a loud "boing" sound when the searchcoil passes clear of it. This sound is so different from a good target response
sound, that it is easily recognized. (The only problem with just ignoring these sounds overshoot signals is that a small gold nugget may be hiding
beneath the hot rock). Also, the Auto Tuning Mode will cause a "nulling " of the threshold sound when the searchcoil sweeps over a very strong
metal target.
Setting the Sensitivity Level
In lightly to moderately mineralized ground, you can usually set the SENSITIVITY control as high as 8 to 10 (normal maximum setting). In the
right conditions you can move the SENSITIVITY into the MAXBoost area for increased depth.
To adjust the Sensitivity Level to your search conditions, first set the operating mode to DISC and turn the SENSITIVITY control clockwise as
far as possible until the detector just begins to "chirp" intermittently. If the chirping is too frequent, simply turn the control counterclockwise just
enough to cause the chirping to subside. Once set, this control should not require readjusting unless site conditions change.
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