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Bandido OPERATOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your new TESORO Metal Detector was designed to provide you with many happy hours of enjoyment in the most
rewarding hobby I can think of – treasure hunting. Ahead of you lie fascinating and exciting experiences as you step into the
past – uncovering artifacts lost by past generations. I wish we could share these experiences with you, and we wish you the
best of success.
Your TESORO Metal Detector is capable of meeting your needs in any conceivable treasure hunting situation. As with
any detector, operating skill and familiarity with this instrument are probably the limiting factors in determining how successful
you will be. We recommend that you read this manual and understand fully before attempting to use the instrument in the
field. As you become more familiar with your detector through practice, your rate of success will increase dramatically.
The TESORO Metal Detector is a precision electronic instrument, which will last for years if properly cared for. Treat it
right and it won't let you down.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Bandido is a TransmitterReceiver (TR) type of detector that operates in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) portion of the
Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum. It provides true mineral free operation in both the All Metal and Discriminate modes. The
Discriminate mode is motion based, but the amount of motion required is so slight that pinpointing is easily accomplished in
this mode. The All Metal mode is not a motion based type, and so is excellent for searching as well as pinpointing.
The Bandido was designed to be a true All Purpose type of detector. It is sensitive to small gold particles, is powerful
enough to serve as a relic and cache hunter, and is plenty fast enough for competition hunting. It is equipped with an 8"
concentric coil, although other coil sizes and types are available.
The Bandido can be assembled as a pole mounted arm rest unit, or as a body mount unit. It can be converted easily
without tools.
As with any detector, the familiarity of the user with the instrument will have a great deal to do with how successful the
treasure hunter is. We recommend that you read and understand this manual fully before attempting to use the instrument in
the field.
Be sure to fill out and mail your warranty registration card to validate your warranty.
ASSEMBLY
The Bandido can be assembled in either of two configurations or easily converted from one to the other. The electronic
control housing can be mounted on the arm rest pole, or can be body mounted. Installation of the lower pole and coil is the
same for either configuration.
1. Depress the two buttons on the upper end of the lower stem, and slide it into the upper stem. Push the lower stem
up so that the buttons click into the third set of holes from the end of the upper stem.
2. Insert the pole tip between the mounting ears of the searchcoil, after removing the screw and thumb nut. Align the
holes in the pole tip and those in the mounting ears. Be sure the rubber friction washers are in place.
3. Insert the coil mounting screw through the coil and pole tip. The screw head should be on the side of the searchcoil
where the cable comes out.
4. Install the thumb nut on the screw and tighten by hand.
5. Wind the searchcoil cable around the pole.
POLE MOUNT
1. The control housing is already mounted on the pole, as shipped from the factory, so all that is necessary is to insert
the searchcoil connector into the control housing connector, and tighten finger tight.
2. Use the two velcro straps to hold the cable tight against the pole.
BODY MOUNT
Good Hunting! Jack Gifford
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- Page 1 Product Bandido OPERATOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL Detectors Coils Accessories CONGRATULATIONS! Catalog Your new TESORO Metal Detector was designed to provide you with many happy hours of enjoyment in the most Dealers rewarding hobby I can think of – treasure hunting. Ahead of you lie fascinating and exciting experiences as you step into the Information past – uncovering artifacts lost by past generations. I wish we could share these experiences with you, and we wish you the best of success. Frequently Asked Your TESORO Metal Detector is capable of meeting your needs in any conceivable treasure hunting situation. As with Questions any detector, operating skill and familiarity with this instrument are probably the limiting factors in determining how successful About Tesoro you will be. We recommend that you read this manual and understand fully before attempting to use the instrument in the field. As you become more familiar with your detector through practice, your rate of success will increase dramatically. Manuals The TESORO Metal Detector is a precision electronic instrument, which will last for years if properly cared for. Treat it Field Tests right and it won't let you down. Articles Good Hunting! Jack Gifford Testimonials Customer Finds GENERAL DESCRIPTION Forums Service The Bandido is a TransmitterReceiver (TR) type of detector that operates in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) portion of the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum. It provides true mineral free operation in both the All Metal and Discriminate modes. The Warranty Repair Discriminate mode is motion based, but the amount of motion required is so slight that pinpointing is easily accomplished in this mode. The All Metal mode is not a motion based type, and so is excellent for searching as well as pinpointing. Contact Us The Bandido was designed to be a true All Purpose type of detector. It is sensitive to small gold particles, is powerful ...
- Page 2 1 1/2" speaker Headphone Compatibility 1/4" stereo earphone jack Weight (may vary slightly) 3 lbs. 9 volts DC Battery Requirement 2 ea. 9V alkaline batteries Battery Life (typical) 15 to 30 hours Optimum Temperature Range 30° to 100° F Optimum Humidity 0 to 75% R.H. All Metal Operating Modes Discriminate TESORO Electronics, Inc., reserves the right to modify or improve the design without further notice. CONTROLS The Bandido has five controls on its front panel, and a threshold adjust on its rear panel. The front panel controls are all readily adjusted with the index finger of the hand holding the detector. 1. THESHOLD CONTROL. This control is placed on the back panel of the detector, since it requires very little usage. Once the control is adjusted to the desired threshold, it will not require frequent resetting. 2. GROUND ADJUST CONTROL. This control adjusts the All Metal mode sampling so that the Bandido ignores the normal ground mineralization. This control is a ten turn device, and it is sometimes difficult to feel when the end of the turn range is reached. The setting of this control is the most critical adjustment to do, but it is a very simple adjustment to make. Study the manual section on TUNING to be sure you learn how to properly adjust this control. 3. ON/OFF, BATTERY TEST, SENSITIVITY CONTROL. The primary function of this control is to reduce the detectors sensitivity to those influences that could make the operation more difficult for you. This control also is used to turn the power on and off. Turning the knob completely counterclockwise until it clicks disconnects the batteries from the circuit. When the knob is first turned on (clockwise), the detector will automatically test its batteries, and give you an audible indication of their connection. NOTE: This test should be performed with the Mode Switch in the Discriminate position. Fresh batteries will cause a loud audio response which will gradually decay into silence over a period of about 4 or 5 seconds. As the batteries age and become weaker, the initial audio response will be weaker, and will decay quicker. When the response is just a short buzz instead of a long beep, or when there is no audio response, it's time for new batteries. It is recommended to always use alkaline batteries. Many things can cause the response of the detector to become erratic as you are using it. Normally you will not hear any...
- Page 3 NOTE: The All Metal mode as a small degree of auto tuning to help narrow the detector's response to the target when you are pinpointing. It will depend on which tuning mode the Tune Select toggle is in. To retune the unit to threshold for either mode, just push the Mode Switch up to the Retune position momentarily. 5. DISCRIMINATE LEVEL. This control is used to adjust the detector's response to unwanted metallic trash when used in the Discriminate mode. At the lowest setting "0", the detector will eliminate most iron objects, but will still respond in a positive manner to light foil, bottle caps, pull tabs and most other metallic items. As the knob setting is increased, response to more of these metallic trash items is reversed so that these objects give no response. The figure below gives the control settings where some of the commonly found trash items can be rejected. TUNING No detector, regardless of how powerful it is, can provide optimum depth if it is improperly tuned. In fact, the more powerful a detector is, the more critical the tuning becomes. Less powerful units are more tolerant of operator misadjustment, but are not capable of the depth of a properly tuned high power detector such as the Bandido. To achieve maximum performance from your Bandido be sure to properly adjust the GROUND ADJUST and TUNING controls in the All Metal mode. The settings of these controls will also affect the detector's performance in the Discrim mode, so be sure to adjust them properly, even if you only plan to operate the detector in the Discrim mode. TUNING IN THE ALL METAL MODE 1. Put the Mode Switch in the All Metal position. With the Sensitivity control in the Max position. Be sure that the threshold control is adjusted to just yield a faint beginning of sound signal. Hold the searchcoil about one foot from the ground, and if the threshold has changed, momentarily lift the Mode Switch to retune back to threshold. Then rapidly lower the search coil to about two inches above the ground. 2. If there is no change in the threshold sound, you are properly tuned. If the sound increases or decreases, it will recover slowly due to the auto tune, therefore you must lower the search coil rapidly each time. If the sound decreased, turn the Ground Adjust about one half turn clockwise. If the sound increased, turn the Ground Adjust about one half turn counter clockwise. When you turn the Ground Adjust control, the threshold sound may get either louder or go quiet. That is normal, and means nothing to the tuning procedure. as the searchcoil nears the ground, after lifting the searchcoil back into the air. Push Retune momentarily then quickly lower the searchcoil towards the ground again. 3. Move the searchcoil back up to about one foot above the ground, and momentarily push the Mode switch into the Retune position to reestablish the threshold sound. Repeat the step of rapidly lowering the searchcoil to the ground. Readjust the Ground Adjust control as indicated by the change in the threshold as the coil approaches the ground. ...
- Page 4 Remember that the auto tuning in the All Metal mode will cause a nulling of the threshold sound if you pass the searchcoil over a very strong metallic target. The Discriminate mode will allow you to control the detector's response to most of the common metallic trash items found in most schools, parks, and beaches. This mode is generally used for coin shotting such areas in order to avoid having to dig most of this common trash. The Discriminate Level control is used to adjust the response to these trash items. Each detector can vary somewhat due to the manufacturing tolerances, so you should experiment with your detector and become familiar with the rejection levels for these trash items with your detector. Earlier motion detectors that are operated with the "Threshold" sound would give the user a definite indication of metallic trash by either nulling completely or by generating short, choppy sounds. Since the Discriminate mode 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 and check the area you are searching to get an idea of how much trash is really there. In extremely heavy trash areas, it may be desirable to switch to a smaller search coil, even through doing so will cause a loss of depth. The smaller coil will allow you a better chance of finding coins between the close pieces of trash. FIELD USE The detector should be held in a position that is comfortable for you. Swing the detector from side to side in about a three foot arc, overlapping succeeding strokes well. This motion is called a “sweep.” The 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 in Discriminate may even cause a loss of depth in heavily mineralized locations. It would be helpful to bury some coins and trash metal junk items in an area that you know is clear of other metal objects, and then try the unit in its various modes. Check the area in All Metal Mode first to be sure its clear of trash then bury the targets at least a foot apart, and from 2 to 6 inches deep to start. Make a map of the test bed to be sure you know what each target is and how deep it is. Practice on these targets to familiarize yourself with your detector’s target response. This will also help you learn the proper sweep rate for DISC operation. In All Metal mode operation, keep the detector tuned so that there is just a slight buzzing of a sound. This is easy to do because the ground minerals do not affect the All Metal mode if properly adjusted. 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 they are hurrying. Try to avoid this, as any increase in height 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 bottom (an optional coil scuff cover will protect against this.) Sweep the coil as close to the ground as possible without touching. Hitting the ground or rocks may cause a false signal much like a desired target would. Sweeping the coil too high above the ground results in a loss of depth. When operating in the Discriminate Mode, some “false signals” may be caused by 1) heavy concentrations of trash metal ...
- Page 5 If there is any doubt whether a target is good or not, DIG IT. For this same reason, in the Discriminate Mode, it is best not to use a higher DISC LEVEL setting than necessary. Nickels and most smaller rings are rejected when the DISC LEVEL is set to reject pull tabs on any metal detector that is a TR Discriminator like the Badido. If you don ’t dig any junk at all, you are surely passing up a lot of good finds as well. Set the DISC LEVEL only high enough to suit the conditions where you are searching. PINPOINTING The sweep speed of the Bandido is slow enough to allow pinpointing in the Discriminate Mode, but will require a little more practice. Move the coil slowly from side to side and then from front to back over the target. Raising the coil slightly and slowing the sweep speed will narrow down the detection area enough that it's easy to tell where the coil center is at the instant of the sound. Another easy method is to sweep the coil from side to side across the target in very short sweeps, as you slowly move forward and backward across the target. Slow down the sweep rate and shorten the sweeps until you just barely get a response at one spot. The target will be directly below the coil center at this response time. The easiest way to pinpoint for most people will be to switch to the All Metal/Normal Tune mode, since no motion is required. To pinpoint a target that doesn't saturate the audio, just move the coil forward and back, and side to side until you get the strongest sound. The target will be directly below the coil center. If the audio saturates over a large area, simply push the tuning mode switch to the retune position momentarily over the area to detune the detector. This will narrow its field of response to allow you to once again seek the area of strongest response. It may be necessary to retune more than once with this technique. RECOMMENDED RECOVERY METHODS Always obtain permission from the person in charge before hunting on private property, schoolyards, parks, churchs, or state parks. Even when relic hunting in the woods, NEER LEAVE A HOLE!, or damage anything on the property. PROTECT YOUR HOBBY FILL ALL HOLES BATTERY REPLACEMENT The Bandido has an automatic battery test sequence with each initial power tun on. To check the batteries, simply turn the Bandido of for about five seconds, and then turn it back on. The battery test circuit will engage for about 3 to 5 seconds, with the audio output loudness indicating the remaining battery strength. As the batteries age, this tone will get quieter, and when you hear only a brief buzz or not output at all, it's time to replace the batteries. To replace the batteries, pull the large knobs on the battery door on the rear of the unit. The entire door will pop out. Remove the batteries from the detector, and then remove the leads. Replace the new batteries into the detector, observing the polarity indicators on the clip leads. Install the battery door back onto the chassis, and push th nylon fasteners into the holes on the chassis, making sure that the plungers are still pulled out. Then push the plungers back in to lock the door in place. We recommend when you replace the batteries, that you change both at the same time, and that you always use good quality alkaline batteries. GENERAL CARE AND USE If the detector is to be stored for a long period of time, it is best to remove the battery pack from the detector. This will ...
- Page 6 HAPPY HUNTING, and thank you for purchasing a TESORO. WARRANTY SERVICE Your Tesoro metal detector is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, the terms of which are listed below. If your metal detector should require service, you may return it to the Tesoro factory, or tone of the factory authorized service centers. Contact the factory for the name and address of the nearest service center. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the factory. LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state. This instrument is warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship as long as it is owned by the original consumer purchaser. This warranty is not transferable, and is valid only if the warranty registration card has been completed and mailed within 10 days of purchase. During the first two years, TESORO will, at its option, repair or replace any instrument covered by this warranty, without charge, except for transportation charges, at its factory in Prescott, Arizona, or at one of its authorized repair centers. After two years from date of purchase, TESORO will replace defective parts at no charge except a nominal labor change and transportation charges. This warranty excludes batteries, damage caused by leaky batteries, cable breakage due to flexing on body mount units, and wear of the searchcoil housing. Also excluded are instruments which have been abused, altered, or repaired by an unauthorized party. If warrant service should be necessary, contact the factor for nearest repair center. Under the copyright laws this documentation may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic or machine readable form, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Tesoro Electronics Incorporated, except for the private use of a Bandido owner or operator, or in a manner otherwise described in this documentation. © 19951996 Tesoro Electronics Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States. Home Tesoro Electronics, Inc. 715 White Spar Road Prescott, AZ, USA 86303 19287712646 ...
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