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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.
Occasionally you may need to reduce the setting to eliminate "false signals" caused by difficult conditions. Some of the many things that can
cause the response of the detector to become erratic during regular use are very large targets, highly mineralized ground on trashy sites, intense
ground mineralization changes, CB radios, radio and TV broadcasting antennas, and nearby sources of electrical interference.
These false signals are generally short, choppy sounds that are not repeatable and therefore, can easily be distinguished from a good target
response sound. They can be distracting, though, and reducing the Sensitivity level will help reduce these signals with an accompanying loss of
target sensitivity.
Extreme conditions such as salt wet sand may require you to lower your Sensitivity setting into the 2 to 5 range. Overall, you should always set
the Sensitivity control as high as possible, while still getting smooth operation.
NOTE: The no motion All Metal Mode of the µMAX Bandido is not affected by the SENSITIVITY control.
Setting the Sensitivity Level in MAXBoost
The MAXBoost feature is a high gain boost over and above the normal maximum of 10 and indicated by the orange area on the
SENSITIVITY control. Using MAXBoost will cause no harm to your detector but, in certain conditions it can result in the annoying chirping sounds
that may make it difficult to hear a good target response sound.
In ideal conditions MAXBoost can add inches of depth to your search with no chirping. In difficult conditions the extra depth will still be there
but heavy chirping may make the feature to difficult to use. You must determine when and how much of the MAXboost feature to use for your
search site conditions.
Setting the Discrimination Level
The DISC LEVEL control is used to adjust the detector's response to unwanted trash metal when operating in the Discriminate Mode. At the
lowest setting (MIN), the detector will ignore most iron objects, but will still respond to light foil, bottle caps, pull tabs and most other metal objects.
As the Discrimination Level is increased, more of these trash metal objects are ignored and give no target response sound when inside the
searchcoil 's range.
The DISC LEVEL should be set to your desired "rejection level" for the particular area you are searching. We recommend starting at a low
setting if you are unsure of how much trash is in the area. Adjust the level higher if you find yourself digging more trash then you like. Remember
that with any metal detector, you will lose target response to small gold rings and nickels when discrimination is set at the pull tab rejection level.
So, digging some trash will increase your number of good finds.
The below diagram "DISC LEVEL Discrimination Level Settings" shows the settings where many of the common metal objects are ignored
by a typical detector. Each detector can vary a little due to manufacturing tolerance so you should experiment with your detector and become
familiar with its rejection levels for these trash metal objects.
Earlier motion detectors that operated with a continuous "threshold" sound would give the user a definite indication of trash metal by either
"nulling" completely (no sound made temporarily) or by generating short, choppy sounds. Since the µMAX Bandido's Discriminate Mode is Silent
Search and operates without threshold sound, there is no nulling to indicate that the area is extremely trashy.
When searching in the Discriminate Mode we recommend that you periodically switch to All Metal Mode and check the area you are
searching to get an idea of how much trash is really there. In extremely trashy areas it may be desirable to switch to a smaller searchcoil, even
though doing so may cause a loss of depth. The smaller coil will allow you a better chance of finding coins between the close pieces of trash.
Performing the Audio Battery Test
Your µMAX Bandido is equipped with an automatic battery test circuit so that you can always be sure you are getting top performance from it.
The battery should be checked after the detector has been on for about 10 minutes and then periodically if you are using it for long periods.
To activate the Audio Battery Test, simply turn the detector off momentarily and then back on again. If the battery is fresh, the detector should
emit a continuous and loud "Beep" sound that lasts for about 4 or 5 seconds, and then slowly fades into silence. As the battery ages, this sound is
less intense and fades out more quickly. When you hear only a brief "buzz" or no sound at all, replace the battery with a fresh one.
If you prefer, a rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (Ni Cad) battery can be substitute for the standard 9 volt alkaline battery. Individual 9 volt size
NiCad cells, as well as the chargers for them, are readily available at most electronic supply stores. They are installed into your detector in the
same manner as non rechargeable batteries. The Battery Test sound on a Ni Cad will be weaker than an alkaline in the beginning, but will not
weaken as much with use.
Controlling Audio Volume
The speaker in the µMAX does not have a volume control. The volume should be sufficient to accurately hear the target response sound in
most environments. If more or less volume is required in your particular situation we recommend using a set of good quality headphones with a
built in volume control.
FIELD USE
Handling Your Detector
The detector should be held in a position that is comfortable for you as shown in the "Adjusting the Pole & Searchcoil" section in "Getting
Started." Swing the detector from side to side in about a three foot arc, overlapping succeeding strokes well. This motion is called a "sweep." The
µMAX Bandido was designed to get maximum depth without the frantic pace required of earlier motion detectors, so go at a pace that is
comfortable for you. In fact, trying to hunt too fast may even cause a loss of depth in heavily mineralized locations.
Regardless of which mode you are using, try to keep your searchcoil height constant and close to the ground. Most people tend to raise the
coil at the end of a sweep —much like a pendulum —especially if in a hurry. Try to avoid this, as any increase in height from the ground will cause
a corresponding loss of depth.
In areas with well kept lawns, the easiest way to maintain a constant searchcoil height is to allow the coil to rest on the grass as you sweep
from side to side. In rough and rocky areas, it is best not to "scrub" the coil on the ground, as the rocks will act like abrasives and wear away the coil
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