Fisher M-Scope 1236-X2 Operating Manual

1236-X2

Operating Manual

Silent, Discriminating Metal Detector

FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY

CONTENTS

About Your 1236-X2 ............................................................... pg. 1

Condensed Operating Instructions ..................................... pg. 4

Setting Up ................................................................................ pg. 5

Body or Hipmounting ............................................................ pg. 7

Control Functions ...................................................................pg. 8

Discrimination Points ............................................................. pg. 10

Searching ............................................................................... pg. 12

Pinpointing..............................................................................pg. 14

No-Motion Pinpoint Mode .................................................... pg. 14

Pinpointing in the Motion Search Mode ............................ pg. 15

Target Recovery .................................................................... pg. 16

Recovery Tools ...................................................................... pg. 16

Operating Tips ........................................................................ pg. 17

False Signals ........................................................................... pg. 18

Battery Replacement ............................................................pg. 20

Maintenance ......................................................................... pg. 21

Treasure Hunter’s Code of Ethics ......................................... pg. 19

Where to Use Your Metal Detector in the U.S .................... pg. 22

Specifications ........................................................................ pg. 23

ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR

Your 1236-X2 was designed to do one thing well provide all the
quality tools necessary to help you find good, deep targets in
trashy or mineralized soil with minimum hassle. The 1236-X2 does
this by providing you a wealth of powerfully, well-designed
instrument controls and features that give you maximum
flexibility of adjustment to accommodate your unique style of
detecting. These are the controls on your 1236-X2 . . .

Sensitivity Control: Along with an increase in sensitivity to find
those deeply buried targets, we’ve provided a versatile
SENSITIVITY control to adjust the sensitivity when searching
near large metallic objects or extremely trashy areas. At the
maximum SENSITIVITY setting a slight amount of audio threshold
is provided so the faintest of target signals can be heard.

Dual Mode Discrimination: The 1236-X2 provides two powerful
modes of discrimination for you to choose as you hunt in
different environments. In both discrimination modes you can
adjust the DISC control to accept certain types of metallic
targets while simultaneously rejecting ground minerals, trash,
and other less conductive metallic targets. With the SILENCER
switch “off” the 1236-X2 operates in a classic 2nd derivative
discrimination mode that allows all pops, clicks, and partial
target responses to be heard for maximum target information.
With the SILENCER switch “on” the 1236-X2 operates in a newly
developed 3rd derivative SILENCER mode, eliminating all
pops, clicks, and partial target responses for a quieter mode of
operation. This mode of discrimination is especially useful for
eliminating excessive pops and clicks heard when searching
in extremely trashy areas.

Search Mode Motion Circuitry: In this mode of operation the
motion circuitry in the 1236-X2 responds with a 416 Hz tone as
the search coil is moved over a target. This makes the 1236-X2
less sensitive to soil mineralization and false target responses
associated with the temperature drift and aging of electronic
components.

1

2

No-Motion Pinpoint Mode With VCO Audio: At the push of a

button, the all-metal no-motion pinpoint mode kicks in with
VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) audio response for
precise target locating. A located target responds with
increasing volume and pitch. The tone gets louder and higher,
so there’s virtually no doubt when you’re directly over a
target.

VOLUME Control: For an extra measure of versatility, we’ve
included a VOLUME control so you can set the audio level to
suit your needs. You’ll no longer have to buy a special headset
with extra controls to adjust the audio level.

FREQUENCY Control: You can vary the transmit frequency of
your 1236-X2 from 5.5 KHz to 5.9 KHz. This control allows you to
eliminate electrical interference from nearby metal detectors.
A must for competition hunting.

User Setpoints And Factory Presets: The SENSITIVITY, VOLUME,
FREQUENCY, and DISC controls all have recommended user
setpoints that are indicated by a red-colored number on each
control’s number dial. These setpoints provide a useful starting
point for the new user. In addition, we’ve included a
convenient factory preset IRON discrimination setting. When
the DISC control is fully rotated counterclockwise to the IRON
position, the 1236-X2 is set to reject common iron trash and
nails.

Battery Test: A convenient battery test switch has been
incorporated into your 1236-X2 to check the relative strength
of the batteries. Rotating the SENSITIVITY control
counterclockwise to the “BATTERY” position causes the 1236-X2
to give off an audio tone with the intensity indicating the
strength of the battery. A low or absent audio tone indicates a
weak or dead battery.

ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR

3

...Built with the latest high-tech digital and analog surface
mount circuitry, it all adds up to one great state-of-the-art
metal detector with loads of versatile features. Treat it as you
would any fine instrument and you’ll be rewarded with years
of quality service and who knows how many treasures. If you
have any questions, suggestions, or interesting 1236-X2 stories,
drop us a line. In the meantime...

Happy Hunting!
Fisher Research Laboratory

ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR

4

CONDENSED OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Using the 1236-X2 is simple, but you’ll have more fun and a better
chance of making that BIG find if you have a complete
understanding of what you’re doing and why. That’s why we
recommend that you read the entire manual first. But if you just
can’t wait any longer or you’ve already used a Fisher “X”
detector, here’s some quick instructions:

1. Set the controls as follows:
FREQUENCY = 0 (center frequency = 5.7 KHz)
SENSITIVITY = 8
DISC = 4
SILENCER = ON
VOLUME = 5

2. Turn the unit on by turning the VOLUME Control

to 5.

3. Set the DISC Control to 4. As soon as you set

the DISC control, your 1236-X2 is automatically
tuned and ground adjusted for searching.

4. The Search mode (which you’re in) is a VLF-

motion discrimination mode. It will ignore ground
minerals and junk, but you’ll have to keep the
search coil moving at least slightly to detect a
target.

5. With practice you should be able to pinpoint in

the Search mode.

Figure 1. Recommended user setpoint locations.

Set VOLUME to 5

Set

FREQUENCY

to 0 (center)

Set

SENSITIVITY

to 8

Set DISC

to 4

Set SILENCER to ON

5

SETTING UP

2. Slip the lower stem into the upper handle.

3. With the search coil cable still disconnected

from the control housing, adjust the stem length
and coil angle so that the search coil rests flat on
the ground about 6 to 12 inches in front of and
slightly to the right of your right foot (to the left of
your left foot for left handers). The stem length is
adjusted by loosening the lower lock nut and
allowing the spring lock to snap into one of the
holes in the upper handle. The coil angle is
adjusted by loosening the nylon wing nut on top
of the search coil.

NOTE: Your arm should be straight and relaxed
with the hand grip held comfortably (not tight).
Remember, the longer the shaft, the greater the
strain on your arm and wrist. The 1236-X2 is
balanced for comfortable searching in a tight

Your new 1236-X2 is just about ready to go, but take a look at
the following illustration before proceeding.

1. Unpack your 1236-X2 carefully, and save the
carton: it may come in handy if you ever have to
return the instrument for service.

Arm rest

Hand

grip

Headphone

Jack

Control Panel

Built-in Detector

Stand

Upper

Handle

Spring Lock

Lock nut

Velcro®

straps

Lower stem

Search coil

Search coil

wing nut

Control

Housing

Speaker

Cable connector and

battery compartments

(on back)

Search

cable

Figure 2. 1236-X2

6

SETTING UP

semicircle around the front of the operator.

4. Hand tighten the lock nut and search coil

adjusting wing nut.

5. With the stem length properly adjusted, wrap

the search coil cable snugly around the upper
handle and secure it with velcro straps. Leave
just enough slack near the coil to allow it to be
tilted completely backward and forward.

NOTE: A loose cable near the search coil may
cause false signals, but don’t wrap it so tightly
that it pulls against the housing or the coil.

6. Reconnect the search coil cable to the control

housing. Be careful not to cross thread it and
make sure it’s snug but hand tighten only.

7. With the shaft length and coil angle properly

adjusted, lean forward slightly and raise your arm
until the coil is about 2" above (and parallel to)
the ground, 6-12 inches in front of your foot.

8. If you’re using headphones, plug into the

headphone jack on the control panel.

Figure 3. Search position

7

BODY or HIPMOUNTING

1. Disconnect the search coil cable from the

control housing and unwind all but the last 12
inches or so from the upper handle. Secure the
lower end of the cable with a Velcro® strap at
least 12 inches up from the coil.

2. Remove the control housing from the hand
grip by holding the grip with one hand and sliding
the housing toward you with the other.

3. Attach the belt loop to the control housing by
slipping it through the slots on the underside of
the control housing and pulling it toward the
control panel to lock it in place.

4. Reconnect the search coil cable to the control
housing.

5. The control housing can then be mounted on
your belt or on the optional Fisher Chest Harness.
It is especially important that the cable
connector be installed tightly (hand tightened
only) to prevent false signals during body-mount
use.

Note:

For belt mounting, left handers should wear the
housing on their right hip and right handers
should wear it on their left hip.

Once removed from the stem, the control box
can be hip or chest mounted leaving only the
stem and search coil to swing.

Figure 4a, 4b, 4c.
Hipmounting