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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II Quickstart However experienced you are at using a metal detector, it is important that you read this chapter to understand how to use the Explorer II in Quickstart mode.
The following pages in this chapter outline the basics of metal detecting and use of the Explorer II. You will learn how to interpret its responses to targets and make your own adjustments to the Figure 5.1 Quickstart’s opening screen settings.
Sweeping the coil The Explorer II will perform at its best when the coil is kept in close proximity to the ground. This will increase detection depth and Figure 5.2 Sweeping the coil response to small objects.
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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II www.minelab.com QUICKSTART DISPLAY easy reference The Quickstart display visually represents everything from target details to the Explorer II’s operating settings. Quickstart’s Smartfind display (pictured below) and alternate Digital display share many common elements. QUICKSTART DISPLAY...
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II QUICKSTART DISPLAY easy reference Sensitivity level. The sensitivity bar and Smartfind display. The shaded and unshaded numbers indicate how responsive the detector is areas of the screen are Smartfind’s preset to a target in the presence of ground noise and/or Discrimination setting.
Coins discrimination pattern functions are explained in the next few pages. Two-dimensional discrimination explained The Explorer II rates detected objects according to their conductivity (like most traditional detectors). What makes two-dimensional discrimination unique is a rating of the same object's ferrous content.
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(e.g. jewelry) and eliminate signals from unwanted material (e.g. nails). Interpreting target responses The Explorer II can be programmed Conductivity in a number of ways to discriminate • Objects with high conductivity (e.g. large silver coins, copper...
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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II www.minelab.com Introducing Discrim Discrim (an abbreviation of Discrimination) instructs the detector to accept some types of targets and reject others. It uses Smartfind's two-dimensional discrimination, allowing you to specify one or more target patterns for detection.
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Iron Mask adjustment screen. Preset Level Figure 5.5 Adjusting the Iron Mask The Explorer II's Iron Mask is set at a rating of -6. This is suitable when detecting non-ferrous metals. Detecting more ferrous objects Iron Mask Shortcut If you want target responses from more ferrous objects (e.g.
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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II www.minelab.com Operating in Iron Mask Figure 5.6 Pressing the IRON MASK shortcut button again will display a Smartfind screen resembling Figure 5.6. This display shows that the detector is ready to operate in Iron Mask. This function is programmed to reject ferrous targets and make it easier for you to Figure 5.6 Smartfind in Iron Mask...
QUICKSTART’S DIGITAL DISPLAY Digital display Figure 5.7, 5.8 When the Smartfind screen is displayed, pressing the DETECT shortcut button on the control panel switches to the Explorer II’s alternative Digital display. P0611-A Figure 5.7 Quickstart’s Digital Display The display rates both the ferrous content and the conductivity of an object with numbers from 0-31.
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II www.minelab.com MODIFYING THE DISPLAY Full screen display Figure 5.9, 5.10 If you wish to enlarge the Smartfind or Digital display during detecting, it is possible to instruct the detector to remove the display border and other screen elements leaving only the target details displayed on the full screen.
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II ADJUSTING SENSITIVITY Sensitivity control The sensitivity bar indicates how responsive the detector is to a target in the presence of ground noise and/or electromagnetic interference. The degree of sensitivity is increased by pressing the top shift button and decreased by pressing the bottom shift button (on the left side of the control panel).
ADJUSTING THRESHOLD Threshold control The Explorer II usually emits a constant tone or threshold ‘hum’ in the absence of a target. The threshold setting controls the audible level of this sound during detecting. Minelab recommends setting the threshold to a comfortable audible level in the early stages of your...
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II AUDIO RESPONSE The Explorer II emits a target audio response that varies in pitch and volume depending on what type of object it detects. Pitch of response Figure 5.13 Generally, a target that is highly conductive (e.g. a large silver coin) emits a high pitched signal.
Main Menu > AUDIO As mentioned earlier in the section on Audio Response, the Explorer II emits a target signal that varies in volume and pitch depending on the object it detects. Generally, large targets or Figure 5.14 The Audio menu targets close to the ground surface emit the loudest signal.
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II AUDIO: ADJUSTING THE VOLUME Introducing Volume Figure 5.15 Main Menu > Audio > VOLUME The VOLUME screen of the Audio menu displays two slider controls: MAX LIMIT and GAIN (Figure 5.15). NOTE To test sounds upon selection it is necessary to Figure 5.15 Volume adjustment screen...
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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II www.minelab.com Normal alisasing Figure 5.16 Volume gain settings Figure 5.17 Volume gain preset Gain Figure 5.16, 5.17 Main Menu > Audio > Volume > GAIN (adjustment) Volume gain affects the way the detector amplifies target audio responses in respect to the strength of the original signal.
Limits This sets the upper limit of all tones emitted by the Explorer II. Minelab recommends setting the upper limit to the highest frequency you are comfortable with. You can test the upper limits with a highly conductive object (e.g.
Constant Main Menu > Audio > Sounds > CONST Selecting CONST eliminates the variation of the pitch upon detection. If selected, the Explorer II will emit a consistent tone regardless of the target detected. Conductivity Main Menu > Audio > Sounds > CONDUCT Conduct is the factory preset and Minelab’s recommended option.
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THE MINELAB EXPLORER II Ferrous Main Menu > Audio > Sounds > FERROUS Selecting FERROUS adjusts the tone according to the target’s ferrous content (the horizontal axis of the Smartfind screen or the first number in the Digital display). A low ‘blaat’ tone denotes a highly ferrous object, displayed on the left of the screen and having a high ‘Fer’...
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! TESTING TARGET AUDIO RESPONSES Take some time to become familiar with how the Explorer II responds to various metal objects. This tutorial is designed for Smartfind’s Iron Mask and Discrimination functions. Repeat the procedure to familiarize yourself with both.
For example, Iron Mask is activated and the Explorer II has detected the approximate location of a non-ferrous coin but ignored the rusty nail buried nearby. Selection of Pinpoint instructs the Explorer II to respond to all metals positioned directly beneath the coil.
Using Pinpoint Figure 5.21 Once the Explorer II has found the approximate position of a target it is necessary to locate its exact position using Pinpoint. Move the search coil to one side of the approximate target STEP 1 location and press the PINPOINT shortcut button.
THE MINELAB EXPLORER II RECOVERING THE OBJECT For this procedure you’ll need: a knife or trowel, a small spade and a sheet of plastic. Once the object has been pinpointed, clear the surface of STEP 1 loose material and check again for the signal. If there is no signal then the object is amongst the surface material.
Smartfind’s two-dimensional discrimination. If you wish to detect one or more object types it is necessary to specify which the Explorer II should detect or reject. Figure 5.22 Quickstart’s Main Menu Choosing SELECT from Quickstart’s MAIN MENU (Figure 5.22) displays the SELECT target list (Figure 5.23).
SELECTING TARGETS easy reference Quickstart’s SELECT menu lists eight object types typically encountered during treasure hunting. It is up to you to select one or more to modify the Explorer II’s discrimination pattern. Smartfind thumbnail. Discrimination pattern for current selection(s) from target list.
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Figure 5.27 New discrimination pattern in Discrim mode the Explorer II is functioning in Iron Mask, the current Iron Mask Smartfind thumbnail will be displayed. As soon as a selection is made from the target list, a thumbnail of the chosen discrimination pattern will replace the Iron Mask.
ADVANCED MODE OPTION Once you have experimented with target options and the other features of Quickstart, it may be time to investigate the features of the Explorer II available to the advanced user. Moving to Advanced mode Figure 5.28, 5.29 Main Menu >...
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