Page 1
Gold Bug 2
Operating Manual
Prospector’s Metal Detector
FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY
QUALITY
Fisher detectors are renowned for their quality.
Each instrument is hand crafted with pride in the Fisher tradition.
PERFORMANCE
Fisher detectors are durable, dependable, and search deeper.
REPUTATION
Fisher produced the rst patented metal detector in 1931. For
over 70 years, the Fisher logo has been a mark of excellence.
5 - YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Fisher believes in the products they produce and backs this
belief with a 5 year limited warranty. Warranty may vary outside
the United States. See your dealer for details.
SERVICE
Fisher is committed to providing their valued customers, with
superior service. Each and every instrument is rigidly tested
and carefully inspected during assembly and before shipment.
Should you have any questions or problems, contact:
FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY
200 West Willmott Road.,
Los Banos, California 93635
Tel 209.826.3292 Fax 209.826.0416
www.sherlab.com email:info@sherlab.com
FRL#8707403-J
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Page 2
CONTENTS
About Your Gold Bug-2 ............................................................pg. 3
Setting Up ..................................................................................pg. 6
Hipmounting..............................................................................pg. 7
Control Panel ............................................................................pg. 8
Mode and Mineralization Switches ........................................pg. 10
Mode and Mineralization Switch Selection ...........................pg. 12
Turn On Procedure....................................................................pg. 14
Ground Reject Procedure ........................................................pg. 15
Searching ..................................................................................pg. 17
Pinpointing ................................................................................pg. 19
Target Recovery .......................................................................pg. 20
False Signals ..............................................................................pg. 23
Operating Tips ...........................................................................pg. 25
Coin Shooting, Beach and Relic Hunting ............................... pg. 26
Battery Replacement ...............................................................pg. 26
Maintenance ............................................................................pg. 27
Treasure Hunters’ Code of Ethics ............................................pg. 28
Where to Use Your Gold Bug-2 in the U.S. .............................. pg. 29
Specications ...........................................................................pg. 30
31
Notes:
1. Subject to improvement or modication without notice.
2. Approximate.
3. Voltage Controlled Oscillator. Volume and frequency increase as
target is approached.
4. The Gold Bug-2 is a “motion” detector. The search coil must be
moving at least slightly to detect a target.
5. Electro-Static Insulated to eliminate certain types of false signals.
SPECIFICATIONS
Fisher Research Laboratory does not warrant suitability to specic use. Fisher Research
Laboratory shall in no event be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential or indirect
damages.
Shielding .............. 100% ESI Coverage
5
Interchangeable ............................... Yes
Waterproof ........................................Yes
Cable Length ................................7 feet
Handle Mount / Hip Mount Convertible .....................................Yes
Built-in Arm Rest and Detector Stand .........................................Yes
Batteries ............................Type ............................... (2) 9V Transistor
Life-Carbon Zinc
2
..............10-20 hours
Life-Alkaline
2
......................25-35 hours
Nicads 2 .................................5-10 hours
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Page 3
ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
The Fisher Gold Bug, the predecessor to the Gold Bug-2, was
designed and engineered by Fisher engineers from the ground up
for the sole purpose of nding gold nuggets small gold nuggets,
large gold nuggets, deep gold nuggets and gold nuggets in
highly mineralized soil. Almost overnight, the Gold Bug became
the standard against which all other gold-hunting detectors were
compared.
The next generation Gold Bug, the Gold Bug-2, is not meant
to be a replacement for the original Gold Bug. Your Gold Bug-2
offers many of the successful features of the Gold Bug as well as
some new features, making it a distinctly different detector, but
still designed for the sole purpose of nding gold nuggets.
The rst and foremost of these new features is the operating
frequency of the Gold Bug-2 – 71 kHz. This ultra-high operating
frequency is extremely sensitive to small gold nuggets, and it
also offers a side benet. Because the Gold Bug-2 operates at a
different frequency, it can be operated near an original Gold Bug
without interference.
Also, a new mineralization switch on the Gold Bug-2 can be set
for high, normal and low mineralization ground conditions. When
set for high mineralization, this new circuitry allows prospectors to
hunt in areas previously off-limits due to high ground mineralization
or numerous hot rocks. Although the original Gold Bug is known
for nding small nuggets in highly mineralized soil, the Gold Bug-
2 will set new standards for both size and depth under many soil
conditions.
Iron discrimination is another new feature. In the IRON DISC
mode, you can identify hot rocks and small trash items like iron
nails and other ferrous trash before digging them. Use this mode
in extremely trashy areas to check a target for its iron content.
3
30
SPECIFICATIONS
1
Length 2 ...........................Extended ..........................................53”
Collapsed ..........................................40”
Weight 2 ............................Complete .................................... 2.9 lbs.
Control Housing........................... 1.0 lbs.
Handle and Coil .......................... 1.9 lbs.
Frequency .........................LF Search ..................................71.01 kHz
Response .................................... (VCO)3
Operating Modes .............1. All-metal Autotune (Normal) 4
2. All-metal Autotune (Audio Boost)
4
3. Iron Discrimination
4
Mineralization Settings .....1. High Mineral
(attenuated, fast autotune)
2. Normal Mineral (fast autotune)
3. Low Mineral
(gain boosted, slow autotune)
Ground Adjustment ........Manual,16-turn, vernier dual-shaft,
precision potentiometer
Control Housing ...............Dust, Moisture Resistant .................... Yes
Audio Output ...................Speaker ................ 2” Moisture Resistant
Headphone Jack ............................1/4”
stereo/mono
Manual Threshold Tuning ..................Located on rear of housing,
effective in all-metal, autotune modes
Search Coil .......................Type .......................Elliptical, Co-Planar
Size ............................10” X 5” standard,
other sizes available
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Page 4
4
ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
An audio boost mode, another new feature of the Gold Bug-2,
makes it easier to nd smaller nuggets at greater depths. Already a
successful and proven feature of the Fisher QuickSilver line of land and
underwater detectors, the audio boost mode automatically increases
the volume of any faint signal, such as a small or deep gold nugget. It
does this without increasing the volume of larger, shallower targets
.
Here are some other features of the Gold Bug-2:
• Dust and moisture resistant control box.
• Removable control housing that mounts on your hip and
reduces the weight on your arm.
• Drop-in battery compartments for easy battery
replacement.
• An elliptical, 10-inch, shielded search coil that’s lighter,
covers more ground and gets into tighter places than a
circular coil.
• Optional 6.5- and 14-inch elliptical search coils.
• Lightweight design, only 2.9 lbs. with cushioned arm rest
and foam-grip handle.
• Built-in detector stand.
• Dual-knob, coarse/ne, manual ground-adjust control.
• Double-locking, berglass-reinforced, nylon lower stem.
• Quartz-crystal locked electronics.
• Built-in Fisher quality backed by 70 years of engineering
excellence.
The rest is up to you. You’ve got the right detector, but you’ll have
to decide where to search and then put in a lot of long, hard hours
searching. And, of course, you’re going to have to learn your Gold
Bug-2, read this instruction manual carefully and practice often.
Drop us a line if you have any questions, comments or exciting gold
nugget stories. In the meantime . . .
Happy Hunting!
Fisher Research Laboratory
29
Where To Use Your Metal Detector In The U.S.
National Forest and Federal Lands—Metal detecting is allowed
only by special permit acquired from the federal government.
Each area has a district ofce.
Corps of Engineers, Lakes, Shorelines and Lands—Permission has
been granted only on predisturbed sites, such as beaches and
attached swimming areas. New Corps lakes and lands must be
okayed by the main ofce of the Army Corps of Engineers. Each
area has a district ofce.
State Parks and Lands—Some state parks are open to metal
detecting, but some are not. Always check with the park ranger
before attempting to use your detector.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lands—Some areas are open
for metal detecting, and some are not. Always check with the
district ofce.
City or County Park Lands—Most are open to metal detecting
unless notice is given by a sign or city ordinance. When in doubt,
always check with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Public School Grounds—Most are open to metal detecting unless
notice is given by a sign, city ordinance, law enforcement ofcial,
or school employee. You should always check with the school
ofce rst.
Privately Owned Lands (Private Property)—Permission is required
and it is always best to have the permission in writing.
Historically Marked Lands or Sites—Metal detecting is not allowed.
Don’t even think about it.
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Page 5
Padded arm rest
Detector stand
Foam grip
Drop-in battery
compartments
Anodized aluminum
upper stem
Snap button
7-foot search
coil cable
Lock nut
Nylon wing nut
Waterproof, ESI-shielded,
elliptical search coil
Velcro®
straps
Adjustable, ABS,
berglass-reinforced,
nylon lower stem
Threshold
control
Cable
connector
5
ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
Figure 1. Gold bug-2
28
TREASURE HUNTERS’ CODE OF ETHICS
LETS PRESERVE OUR TREASURED SPORT!
Laws governing the use of metal detectors are becoming
more and more common. In many countries, the use of metal
detectors is illegal or severely restricted. Don’t let this happen in
your area.
ALWAYS get permission to hunt on private property.
ALWAYS leave a site cleaner than you found it. Take at least
some trash with you or, if you can, take it all.
ALWAYS ll in your holes neatly whether you’re in a city park
or remote wildernessness. Leave the land as it was before you
disturbed it.
ALWAYS obey all laws relating to Treasure Hunting.
ALWAYS return valuable property if you can locate the original
owner.
ALWAYS do whatever you can to give the hobby of Treasure
Hunting the good image it needs and deserves.
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Page 6
6
SETTING UP
The Gold Bug-2 comes to you just about ready to use. There are
only three steps required: sliding the lower stem into the upper
stem, connecting the loop coil to the control housing and adjusting
the angle of the search coil. Take a look at page 3 and familiarize
yourself with the parts of the Gold Bug-2 before proceeding.
1. Unpack your new Gold Bug-2 carefully. Save the
carton and inserts – they may come in handy for
future storage or shipment.
2. Slip the lower stem into the upper stem (see previous
page for Gold Bug-2 diagram).
3. Adjust the stem length and coil
angle so that the search coil rests
at on the ground about 6 inches
in front of, and slightly to the right
of, your right foot (for left handers,
to the left of your left foot). Your arm
should be straight and relaxed with
your grip held loosely.
REMEMBER: THE LONGER THE SHAFT,
THE MORE YOU WILL HAVE TO BEND
YOUR ELBOW AND THE SOONER YOUR
ARM WILL GET TIRED. THE GOLD BUG2 IS BALANCED FOR COMFORTABLE
SEARCHING IN A TIGHT SEMICIRCLE IN
FRONT OF THE OPERATOR.
4. Tighten the lock nut and the nylon
wing nut on the search coil.
5. With the stem length properly
adjusted, wrap the loop cable
tightly around the upper stem and
secure it with the two Velcro straps.
Connect the cable connector to
the control housing.
27
MAINTENANCE
Your Gold Bug-2 doesn’t require a lot of care but there are a few
things you should do to keep it in peak operating condition.
1. If you’re not going to be using it for awhile, take
the batteries out. Acid damage cause by leaking
batteries can be severe.
2. Avoid extreme temperatures. Don’t leave it inside
a closed car sitting in the sun. Even worse, the trunk
of a car.
3. If you “scrub” the search coil on the ground, you’ll
eventually wear through the bottom. Replacement
coils are expensive. Instead, invest in an inexpensive
coil cover.
4. Although the Gold Bug-2 control housing is moisture
and dust resistant, it’s a good idea to put a plastic
bag or the optional “rain cover” over the control
housing if you’re hunting in the rain.
5. Keep your Gold Bug-2 dry and clean. Wipe off the
lower stem before sliding it into the upper stem, and
keep the lock nut free of sand and dirt.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
Your Gold Bug-2 operates on two 9V batteries that drop into
compartments at the rear of the control housing. Snapping the
door latch in place makes the battery connection.
Figure 13.
Figure 2.
Adjust the stem length and coil
angle resting the search coil
at on the ground and about 6
inches in front of your right foot
(left foot for left-handers).
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Page 7
7
Your Gold Bug-2 is light and extremely well balanced; however, if
you’re going to be swinging it for more than a few hours, you may
want to “hipmount” it by removing the control box and strapping
it to your waist. Follow this procedure:
1. Disconnect the cable from the
control housing and unwind all but
the last 12 inches or so from the
stem. Secure the lower end of the
cable with a velcro strap at least
12 inches up from the coil. CAUTION:
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH
SLACK AT THE SEARCH COIL
2. Slide the control housing off the
handle by holding the hand grip
with one hand and pulling the
housing toward you with the other
hand.
3. Reconnect th e cable to the control
housing. NOTE: It is especially important
that the cable connector be installed
tightly to prevent false signals during
hipmount use. Never tightened with
anything but your hands.
HIPMOUNTING
CAUTION: MAKE SURE THE CABLE IS NOT PULLED TIGHT AT THE
CONTROL HOUSING AND THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH SLACK AT
THE SEARCH COIL TO ADJUST IT AT ANY ANGLE.
6. With the shaft length and coil angle properly adjusted,
you should be able to move into your “search” position
(as shown on page 4) by leaning forward very slightly and
raising your arm (still straight) until the search coil is about
2 inches above the ground and 12 inches in front of your
foot. The search coil should be parallel to the ground and
may have to be slightly readjusted at this point.
7. If the arm rest is too wide or narrow, you may bend it slightly
inward or outward to meet your exact requirements.
SETTING UP
The Gold Bug-2 control housing
can be hipmounted to reduce
weight on the stem and create
nearly effortless hunting. Belt loops
are provided on the underside of
the control housing.
Figure 3.
26
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
Two 9V transistor batteries are located in separate compartments
at the rear of the Gold Bug-2 control housing. We recommend
using name-brand alkaline batteries, which usually give 25-35
hours of life. Lithium batteries may last twice as long but cost more
than twice as much. Nickel cadmium rechargeables give out
after about 7 hours. Carbon-zinc batteries may last half as long
as alkalines, at best.
1. To replace the batteries, open the battery
compartment by gently pressing down on the
battery door latches. The doors are tethered with
short, nylon string. Do not attempt to completely
remove them.
2. Tilt the housing gently, and the batteries will slide out.
3. Insert the new batteries. Make sure the contact end
goes in rst and you match the polarity markings on
the control housing.
4. To close, simply hook the lower edge of the battery
door over the inside of the battery compartment
and gently push it shut.
5. Push the latch up to make sure it has snapped in
place.
COIN SHOOTING, BEACH AND RELIC HUNTING
There’s no reason why you can’t use your Gold Bug-2 for “coinshooting” in parks, relic hunting old town sites or hunting on the
beach. True, the Gold Bug-2 was designed for prospecting, but
it’s also suitable for Treasure Hunting. Like most coin-shooting and
relic hunting machines, the Gold Bug-2’s iron discrimination mode
can be used to lter out trash targets in areas where relics and
coins are normally found.
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Page 8
8
CONTROL PANEL
1. SENS: This knob adjusts the Gold Bug-2’s sensitivity
to targets, and it doubles as a battery tester. By
increasing the sensitivity, you can detect smaller
and deeper targets, however, you’ll also pick up
more false signals in mineralized soil or in areas of
electrical interference. The sensitivity control can
also be decreased to cut down on “ground chatter”
4. Put your belt through the slots on the
underside of the housing.
5. Left handers should wear the
housing on their right hip and right
handers on their left hip.
To remove the control housing
from the stem, grasp the top of the
control box rmly and pull it directly
toward the arm rest while holding
the Gold Bug-2 handle.
NOTE: if you’re working in shallow water,
you may want to strap the control housing
on your chest in a heavy plastic bag, and
seal it tightly around the cable.
HIPMOUNTING
Figure 5.
25
OPERATING TIPS
1. We’ve already said it, but it bears repeating: take your
time, overlap your sweeps, keep your coil close to the
ground, recheck your ground adjustment often.
2. Use good headphones: Your Gold Bug-2 will detect
small, deep nuggets other detectors have missed.
But to hear the very faintest targets, you’ll need
headphones.
3. Bury a small nugget and check it at different depths,
sensitivity levels and in each mineralization and mode
setting. Pay close attention to the nugget’s response
compared to the response of hot rocks, nails and
other targets. Take a small nugget with you and do
the same thing when searching in unfamiliar soil.
4. Practice. The Gold Bug-2 is easy to use, and it’s highly
sensitive to gold. But you still have to learn how to
use it. Read this instruction manual thoroughly and
use your Gold Bug-2 often. You’ll develop your own
special techniques for optimum performance in the
type of soil you’re searching. Whatever works best for
you is right, but you’ll have to put in hours of searching
to really know what “right” is.
5. Research. Spend more time deciding where to search.
The odds are in your favor if you look where gold
has already been found. If you know of a spot that’s
yielded nuggets to other detector users, but has been
“hunted out,” that’s Gold Bug-2 territory. Chances are
you’ll nd the small or deep ones they missed.
Figure 4.
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Page 9
9
and/or electrical interference. Settings less than 5
should not be used unless you have already tried
switching to a higher mineralization setting. In the
extreme counterclockwise position, the SENS control
doubles as a battery tester. A loud tone indicates
good batteries, and a faint tone tells you it’s time to
change the batteries.
2. MODE: This is a three-position toggle switch that
can be set to IRON DISC, NORMAL or AUDIO BOOST.
(See the next section, “Mode and Mineralization
Switches,” for details.)
3. MINERALIZATION: This three-position toggle switch has
settings for varying levels of ground mineralization:
HIGH, NORMAL and LOW. (See next section, “Mode
and Mineralization Switches,” for details.)
4. HEADPHONES: This jack accepts most stereo and
mono headphones with 1/4-inch plugs. When using
headphones with a stereo/mono switch, put the
stereo/mono switch in the stereo position. Although
your Gold Bug-2 is equipped with a dust and moisture
resistant speaker, we recommend that you always
wear headphones while hunting to maximize the
number of targets you hear. Furthermore, we
recommend our Fisher Phones, which enhance faint-
target response by blocking out unwanted external
noises, such as wind and vehicle sounds. To plug
in your headphones, unplug the detachable seal
and plug in your headphone jack. When not using
headphones, be sure to keep the seal plugged into
the HEADPHONES jack to keep dust and moisture out
of the control housing.
5. VOLUME: This knob turns the power on and adjusts
the signal-response vol ume. If you’ re wea ring
headphones with independent volume controls,
set your Gold Bug-2 VOLUME control to 10 and
decrease the volume of your earphone controls to a
CONTROL PANEL
4. Junk: Nails, pull tabs, beer cans, etc. The Gold Bug-2
was designed for extreme sensitivity to small bits of
gold. That means it’s also extremely sensitive to small
bits of ferrous metal.
Solution: Hunt in the NORMAL MODE, but use the
IRON DISC Mode to check targets to see if they’re
ferrous. Fortunat ely, there ’s not much junk in
nugget country, and with practice you’ll be able to
recognize a lot of it. Nails, for example, will respond
with two beeps across the length of the nail (end
to end), but only one beep when the search coil is
swept at right angles to the length of the nail. Also,
most trash is shallow and comes in bigger sizes than
nuggets. Hence, it will sound different, especially
in the AUTO TUNE MODE. Trash will sound off over a
larger area of the coil, the tone will be louder and
the pitch will increase more, starting out at a low
beep and increasing to a loud signal.
5. Digging Tool: If you’re carrying a digging tool in one
hand, your Gold Bug-2 may sound off each time you
swing the coil beneath it.
Solution: Hold the digging tool behind your back or
up above your waist.
24
FALSE SIGNAL
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Page 10
10
CONTROL PANEL
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCHES
The mode switch on your
Gold Bug-2 offers three different
operating modes: IRON DISC,
NORMAL and AUDIO BOOST.
Each mode offers its own
advantages and di sadvan-
tages in any given situation.
It’s up to you to nd the right
setting for each of the ground
conditions you encounter.
Regardless of the MODE or
MINERALIZATION settings, your
Gold Bug-2 always operates in
a motion mode, meaning the
search coil must be in motion to
detect a target.
comfortable level. This will ensure the hottest-possible
signal from your Gold Bug-2.
6. GROUND REJECT: This dual-knob control is used
to electronically tune the search coil to prevailing
ground-mineralization conditions. The small knob
on top only makes one revolution and is used for
coarse adjustments. It has 25 xed positions. The
large knob on the bottom is for ne-tune adjustments
and is capable of 16 turns and an innite number
of positions.
7. THRESHOLD: This metal shaft is located on the rear
of the control housing. It’s purposely small and out
of the way to avoid accidental adjustment. The
threshold control adjusts the level of your threshold
tone, which is set to a continuous, faint tone.
23
FALSE SIGNALS
A false signal occures when something that shouldn’t sound like
a good target sounds like one. For example, the Gold Bug-2 may
detect metal in your boots if you swing your search coil too close
to your feet. Here’s some other sources of false signals, and here’s
what to do about them.
1. Hot Rocks: Mineralized rocks that respond like
metal.
Solutions: Most hot rocks seem to be on top of the
ground, so you can just kick them out of the way and
recheck the ground beneath them. The Gold Bug-2 will
ignore some hot rocks. Certain other types of hot rocks
have their own distinctive sound, which you’ll learn
to recognize. Or you can “tune-out” most hot rocks
in the air or on the ground by adjusting the GROUND
REJECT knob right over the rock. If it’s a nugget, you
won’t be able to tune it out unless it’s very small. Many
strong hot-rock signals will disappear rapidly when you
lower the sensitivity level, whereas a strong nugget
signal will just get weaker. Of course, the best way to
check a possible hot rock is to ip your mode switch
into “IRON DISC.”
2. Highly Mineralized Soil: Unfortunately, this is where
most nuggets are found. The Gold Bug-2 will handle
all but the very worst soil.
Solutions: Switch to the HIGH mineralization setting.
Ground adjust very carefully and often. Lower the
sensitivity. Ground adjust to a height just high enough
to eliminate most false signals and adjust your stem
length to sweep at that height.
3. Dissolved Salts: On a wet ocean beach or moist
inland soil.
Solutions: Same as highly mineralized soil.
Figure 6.
The two toggle switches on your Gold Bug-2
enable you to search in just about any kind
of ground condition. The trick is learning
which combination of settings is right for each
ground condition.
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Page 11
The MINERALIZATION switch adjusts your Gold Bug-2 for ground
conditions. It does this by decreasing or increasing the sensitivity
(or gain) of your Gold Bug-2. Unlike the SENSITIVITY control, the
MINERALIZATION switch also affects the retune speed, which is
the amount of time it takes for your Gold Bug-2 to automatically
retune itself after the search coil has passed over a target. A fast
retune speed means a quick response to targets.
The follow in g is a b ri ef de sc ripti on of the MO DE and
MINERALIZATION settings.
1. NORMAL MODE: This is an all-metals, autotune search
mode used for most nugget-hunting conditions. The
sensitivity is normal and the retune speed is fast.
2. AUDIO BOOST MODE: In this mode, your Gold Bug2 automatically amplies faint target sounds. At
volume levels above 7, faint target sounds continue
to get louder while loud, shallow target sounds
remain constant.
3. IRON DISC MODE: This mode ignores hot rocks and
small ferrous objects. It also features a very sharp target
response. An independent mode, the IRON DISC mode
is unaffected by the settings of the MINERALIZATION,
GROUND REJECT and THRESHOLD controls.
4. NORMAL MINERALIZATION: With the MINERALIZATION
toggle switch in the NORMAL position, the sensitivity
of your Gold Bug-2 is optimum for most gold-bearing
soils. The retune speed is fast.
5. LOW MINERALIZATION: This setting is used for ideal
conditions – areas with few hot rocks, little black sand,
low ground mineralization and little trash. The LOW
MINERALIZATION setting provides better sensitivity
and slower retune speed for better response to
smaller, deeper nuggets.
6. HIGH MINERALIZATION: In this position, the sensitivity of
your Gold Bug-2 is reduced to allow operation in areas
of extreme mineralization. The retune speed is fast.
11
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCHES
22
TARGET RECOVERY
you hear may be your hand. Instead, use the sprinkle
method. Test the sensitivity of your Gold Bug-2 to your
hand by waving your empty hand in front of the
search coil. If it’s a large target, you may use your
hand. The loud signal from a large target will mask
any signal produced by your hand.
5. If the target sounds small (faint and soft), sprinkle
some of the target dirt on top of the Gold Bug-2
search coil. If you get a response, you can set aside
the rest of the dirt in your hand and concentrate
on the dirt on your coil. If you get no response from
your coil, sprinkle more dirt on the coil until you hear
a signal. By repeating this process several times you
should be able to identify even a very small target.
CAUTION: Use the sprinkle method sparingly and
carefully. If you wear a hole in the top of your search
coil, it won’t be covered by our Lifetime Warranty.
6. Recheck your target area to make sure you’re not
leaving a second target behind.
7. Scrape all loose dirt back in the hole and move on
only after the area appears as it was before you
got there.
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Page 12
12
The chart below shows how your Gold Bug-2’s sensitivity and ability
to operate in mineralized soil is affected by each combination of
MINERALIZATION and MODE toggle-switch settings.
In either the AUDIO BOOST or NORMAL MODE, the Gold Bug-2’s
sensitivity decreases as you increase MINERALIZATION settings from
LOW to HIGH.
MINERALIZATION SWITCH
In general, you should start searching with the MINERALIZATION
switch set to LOW. If you are getting too much “ground
chatter” even after adjusting the GROUND REJECT in the LOW
MINERALIZATION mode, try reducing the sensitivity slightly or set
the MINERALIZATION switch to NORMAL. If that doesn’t do the
trick, set the MINERALIZATION to HIGH and readjust the GROUND
REJECT control. If there is still to much “ground chatter,” reduce
the SENSITIVITY .
In the LOW MINERALIZATION setting, the search-coil response
(retune speed) is slow and the circuit gain (amplication) is high.
In the NORMAL MINERALIZATION setting, search-coil response is
quick and the circuit gain is reduced slightly. In the HIGH setting,
response is quick and the gain is further reduced.
Moist, alkali soil conditions will usually require use of the NORMAL
or HIGH MINERALIZATION settings. Heavy, black sand conditions
will usually require the HIGH MINERALIZATION setting.
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCH SELECTION
LOW
MIN.
HI
MIN.
NORM
MIN.
LOW
MIN.
HI
MIN.
NORM
MIN.
Mode switch
in normal
Mode switch
in auto boost
Sensitivity
Low
High
Ability to work in Miner
Mineralized soil
Poor
Good
Figure 7.
21
You can nd an elusive target in a handful of dirt by
pouring it on top of your Gold Bug-2 search coil. If the
rst handful doesn’t produce a target, pinpoint your
target again and grab another, sprinkle it on the search
coil, and repeat the process until you’ve identied your
target (hopefully a gold nugget). Remember, many
gold nuggets look just like a brown clump of dirt until
you get them home and wash them off. Only your
Gold Bug-2 knows the difference in the eld.
TARGET RECOVERY
2. Your digging tool should be selected for the type of
soil you’re in. Most nuggets are found in hard, dry,
rocky ground, so a small pick axe is rst choice for
most electronic prospectors. Always carry a small
magnet to determine if your target is just a nail or
some other ferrous object. A ferrous object will stick
to the magnet, whereas a gold nugget will not.
3. Once your target has been pinpointed by crisscrossing
the target area with your search coil, lay your Gold
Bug-2 so that the search coil is within easy reach
but not close enough to detect your digging tool
as you dig.
4. If the target sounds large (a loud, sharp sound), grab
a handful of dirt that you suspect holds the target
and pass your hand in front of the search coil. If
you don’t hear a signal, discard the dirt and pick
up another, repeating the process until you hear a
signal. If the target is large, you can probably nd it
by searching your hand.
NOTE: Because of the extreme sensitivity of the Gold
Bug-2 search coil, the electrical charge of your hand
may be picked up as a target. Sounds incredible,
but it’s true. Therefore, if you pinpoint a target and
it sounds small, don’t try to identify it by passing a
handful of dirt in front of the search coil. The signal
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Page 13
13
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCH SELECTION
IRON DISCRIMINATION MODE
Don’t search in the IRON DISC mode unless the area is heavily
littered with iron trash. This mode is better used by hunting in the
NORMAL or AUDIO BOOST modes and switching to the IRON DISC
mode only to identify a strong target response. Don’t trust the IRON
DISC mode to correctly I.D. weak target sounds. Targets already
dug can also be checked for their gold content by using the
IRON DISC mode. Swing the object past the search coil, holding
it in your ngers or in a plastic scoop. If it is a “hot rock” or small
ferrous object, there will be no sound. Some iron objects chirp or
click. If it is nonferrous metal such as gold, your Gold Bug-2 will
give a solid “beep.”
Unlike the AUDIO BOOST and NORMAL modes, the IRON DISC
mode is unaffected by the SENSITIVITY control and threshold
settings. Also, unlike the other modes, the IRON DISC mode
operates without an audible threshold hum.
NOTE: Some faint static and occasional chatter is
normal in this mode. If you are running your sensitivity
too high for ground conditions (heavy mineralization,
trash and or hot rocks) you may experience a
constant, loud chatter as you sweep.
AUDIO BOOST MODE
In this mode, weak signals are louder than in the NORMAL mode,
but maximum loudness of strong signals is the same. The primary
purpose of the AUDIO BOOST mode is to help you hear weak
signals when there is interfering noise from wind, mining equipment,
vehicles, etc. Also, if you prefer using the speaker (most people
use headphones), you may prefer the AUDIO BOOST mode even
in quiet conditions.
Hunting in the AUDIO BOOST mode is best when the area has
few trash items, hot rocks and low ground mineralization. In areas
with many false signals, the AUDIO BOOST mode will amplify them
as well as signals from gold nuggets. The AUDIO BOOST mode can
also be used to recheck a disappearing signal, or to check a faint
signal to see if it sounds like a hot rock in AUDIO BOOST.
20
TARGET RECOVERY
The moment of truth!
But not so fast . . . take your time. You may have pinpointed a
target, but that doesn’t mean you can reach down and pick up a
nugget. Even if it’s lying on top of the ground, you’re going to have
to determine which of those pebbles really is a gold nugget. And
if you have to dig for it, you’ll have to determine which handful of
dirt is pay dirt. But the worst part is that most of your targets won’t
be gold. They’ll be nails, bullets, junk, hot rocks, etc. The only way
to be absolutely sure is to dig them up.
1. Your objective is to recover your target neatly and
quickly, leaving virtually no trace of your excavation.
Repeat: No trace of your excavation. If you leave the
area looking like a battleeld, blame only yourself if
it’s been declared off limits to metal detectors when
you return.
target location with your nger or digging tool.
7. For very strong signals, you may improve your
pinpointing accuracy by adding one or more of the
following steps:
1) Lift the coil until the signal is just barely heard.
2) Lower the sensitivity level.
3) Rest the coil on the ground and move it back
and forth very slowly.
8. For very weak signals, try the following:
1) Switch to the AUDIO BOOST mode.
2) Move the coil closer to the ground.
3) Increase the sensitivity level. Recheck your
ground adjustment.
4) Speed up the sweep rate slightly.
PINPOINTING
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14
TURN ON PROCEDURE
1. Set your controls as follows:
MODE: NORMAL
MINERALIZATION: LOW
SENS: 10
GROUND REJECT: 10
VOLUME: OFF
NOTE: You will probably find
that most of your searching will
be done with the MODE and
MINERALIZATION switches set
to NORMAL and the SENSITIVITY
control set at something less
than 10. If you’re working in
unfamiliar ground, however, we
recommend that you try starting
at the maximum sensitivity and LOW MINERALIZATION settings.
2. Hold the search coil waist high, away from any
nearby metal.
3. Turn the VOLUME control to 10. A short, loud
squawk is normal at turn-on, so if you’re wearing
headphones, start the volume at 0 and let the audio
settle down before you increase it to a level that’s
comfortable when the coil is passed over a large
or shallow target.
NOTE: If your headset has volume controls, set the
volume control on your Bug to “10” and your headset
volume to zero. Then adjust your headset volume
controls to a comfortable level when the coil is
passed over a large or shallow target.
4. With the search coil still in the air, rotate the
THRESHOLD control on the back of the control
housing until you hear a very faint, continuous signal.
This is the audio threshold tone you’ll need to hear
while hunting to maintain optimum performance
from your Gold Bug-2.
19
Always use the same procedure to pinpoint with the Gold Bug-2,
regardless of control settings. With a little practice you’ll be able to
zero in on most targets quickly and accurately. Use this procedure:
1. Once a buried target is indicated by the “beep” of
the Gold Bug-2, continue sweeping the search coil
from side-to-side, narrowing the search pattern.
2. When you have narrowed the sweep as much as you
can and still hear the target, stop the search coil.
3. Now move the search coil forward and then straight
back toward you a couple of times. Stop the search
coil over the area where you get the strongest
response.
4. Move the search coil slowly side-to-side one more
time, stopping at the loudest target response.
5. Your target should be below the “HOT SPOT” of the
search coil, which is marked with a bull’s eye.
6. Slowly move the coil aside, keeping your eyes on the
spot where the HOT SPOT was, and quickly mark the
PINPOINTING
mode, however, will ignore most hot rocks and small
a ferrous objects while responding to gold and other
nonferrous objects.
10. You can also use the IRON DISC mode to identify
many buried targets that produce a good, strong
signal. Once you have zeroed in on a target, switch
to IRON DISC and pass the coil over it. If you still get
a response, dig it.
NOTE: Keep in mind that the IRON DISC mode is not 100-percent
accurate. Small and/or deep nuggets giving faint target responses
will often be ignored in the IRON DISC mode. Conversely, large
iron objects, like a railroad spike, may produce a good signal in
the IRON DISC mode. Remember, when in doubt, dig!
SEARCHING
Figure 8.
The threshold signal is a soft
background tone heard when
operating the Gold Bug-2, is set
by adjusting a metal stem at the
rear of the control housing.
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Page 15
15
GROUND REJECT PROCEDURE
When your Gold Bug-2 is properly tuned or “ground balanced,”
it will have only a minimum response to ground minerals when
the search coil is raised or lowered. Precise adjustment of the
GROUND REJECT control is critical to your success. The lower
the MINE RALIZATION or the hi gher
the SENSITIVITY settings, the more
important it is to maintain proper
ground rejection.
If you change the MINERALIZATION
setting, you may have to retune
your Gold Bug-2 slightly to maintain
optimum performance. However,
the GROUND REJECT setting should
be close enough for pinpointing or
for a quick check in one of the other
modes. At worst, a change in modes
will require only a quick ne tuning.
To tune your Gold Bug-2, follow
these steps:
1. With your controls still set as
des cri b ed i n th e “Turn O n
Pr ocedu re ” ( Se e p age 12) ,
hold the search coil parallel to
and about 6 inches above the
ground.
2. Lower the coil to within an inch
or two of the ground and quickly
raise it. Note that the threshold
tone becomes louder as you
lower the coil, disappears when
you raised it and nally returns to
normal when you hold it 6 inches
above ground.
Figure 10.
Tune your G old Bug-2 by bobbing
the search coil up and down while
adjusting the G RO UN D R EJ EC T
control.
T he G RO U N D R EJ E C T
control consists of a coarse-
adjustment knob on top of a
ne-adjustment knob.
Figure 9.
18
sensitivity of your Gold Bug-2, and the retune speed
increases slightly. This increase in the retune speed
helps your Gold Bug-2 ignore abrupt changes in
ground mineralization and hot rocks, but it also results
in a slight decrease in sensitivity.
8. If, after switching to NORMAL MINERALIZATION, you
continue to hear ground chatter and false signals,
back off on the SENSITIVITY control again. Still having
problems? You must be in an area of extremely high
mineralization. The only way to hunt this area is in the
HIGH MINERALIZATION setting with the MODE switch
in NORMAL. As in the other MINERALIZATION settings,
back off on the SENSITIVITY control and readjust the
GROUND REJECT control as needed.
9. Avoid hunting in the IRON DISC mode unless the area
is so littered with ferrous trash that it’s impossible to
hunt in any other way. The IRON DISC mode will
cause your Gold Bug-2 to ignore ferrous objects and
hot rocks, but it may also cause you to miss small
gold nuggets. We
recommend that
you hunt in either the
NORMAL or AUDIO
BO OS T mo de s,
and switch to the
IRON DISC mode to
check a target that
has already been
dug. Targets often
come out of the
ground covered
with di rt, and it’s
impossible to tell if
they’re ferrous or
gold. The IRON DISC
SEARCHING
Figure 12.
Keep the bottom of your search coil parallel to the
ground while sweeping it in a tight semicircle.
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16
GROUND REJECT PROCEDURE
3. Your objective now is to adjust the GROUND REJECT
control so that there is no change or at least only a
small change in the threshold hum as you bob the
coil up and down. Start by clicking the small, center
knob back to about 8.
4. Bob the search coil up and down once again. One
of three things will happen to your threshold hum:
1) The tone will continue to get louder as you lower
the coil and disappear when you raise it.
2) The tone will disappear as you lower the coil
and sound off as you raise it.
3) The tone will remain the same or change only
slightly.
5. If the tone remains unchanged or changes only
slightly, you are probably “Ground Balanced.” You
can ne tune, if required, with the larger knob.
6. If the tone gets louder going down and fades coming
up, continue rotating the small knob counterclockwise
until the tone change is minimal when you bob the
coil. Fine tune with the large knob.
7. If the tone fades going down and increases when
the coil is raised, rotate the small knob clockwise
until the tone change is minimal, then ne tune with
the large knob.
8. With practice, you will learn to click the small knob
counterclockwise as you bob the coil. Listen for the
change in the tone to switch from the down stroke
to the up stroke. Then, while continuing to bob the
coil, rotate the large knob clockwise until the tone
becomes even or until you hear only a slight change
on both the up stroke and the down stroke.
9. If you are having trouble ground balancing, try one
or more of the following:
1) Move to another spot in case you’re over a
piece of buried metal.
2) Reduce your SENSITIVITY setting.
3) Change your MINERALIZATION setting from LOW
to NORMAL or from NORMAL to HIGH.
17
SEARCHING
1. Keep the search coil moving at a comfortable rate.
Remember that the Gold Bug-2 is a motion detector
and responds only when the search coil (or the
target) is moving.
2. Keep the search coil parallel to and as close to
the ground as possible. This is
important for maximum coverage
and depth.
3.
Overlap your sweeps at least one
half the length of the search coil.
4..Search in a methodical manner
and sweep your search coil in
a tight semicircle. Pay close
attention to where you’re going
and where you’ve been.
5. Take your time. If you walk too
fast, you won’t overlap your
sweeps, and you’ll miss a lot
of ground. If you sweep too
fast, you’ll lose sensitivity and
miss small, deep nuggets that
normally would be within the
range of your Gold Bug-2.
6..Recheck the ground adjustment frequently by raising
and lowering the search coil and listening for changes
in the threshold volume. In some nugget-bearing areas,
ground mineralization can change drastically within a
matter of feet, so check it often.
7. Try backing off the sensitivity control if you hear
too much ground chatter and false signals. If you
find you must decrease the SENSITIVITY control
below 5, it’s probably a good idea to change
the MINERALIZATION setting to NORMAL and set
the SENSITIVITY control back to 10. You also might
have to retune the GROUND REJECT control slightly.
Remember, when you switch from LOW to NORMAL
MINERALIZATION, you also slightly decrease the
Figure 11.
The Gold Bug-2 is built for balanced
searching in a tight semicircle
around the front of the operator.
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