GAMMA 6000 User Manual
METAL DETECTOR
OWNER’S MANUAL
If you do not have prior experience
with a metal detector, we strongly
recommend that you:
1) Adjust the Sensitivity
to a low setting in the
event of false signals.
Always begin use at a
reduced sensitivity level. Expect chatter or
internal noise at high sensitivity.
2) Do not use indoors. This detector is for
outdoor use only. Many household
appliances emit electromagnetic energy,
which can interfere with the detector. If
conducting an indoor demonstration, turn
the sensitivity down and keep the search coil
away from appliances such as computers,
televisions and microwave ovens. If your
detector beeps erratically, turn off
appliances and lights.
Also keep the search coil away
from objects containing metal,
such as floors and walls.
3) Use a 9-volt ALKALINE
battery only.
Do not use Heavy Duty
Batteries.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Quick-Start Demo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Basic Of Metal Detecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9
Ground Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Trash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Identifying Buried Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Size and Depth of Buried Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
EMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Using Headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
How To Work The Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
MENU Selections
Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Disc Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Notch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
# Of Tones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
MODE Selections
Discriminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
All-Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
PinPoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15-16
Ground Balancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-19
Target Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-21
Depth And Target Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Trouble Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Code of Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
2
TERMINOLOGY
The following terms are used throughout the manual, and are standard
terminology among detectorists.
ELIMINATION
Reference to a metal being "eliminated" means that the detector will not
emit a tone, nor light up an indicator, when a specified object passes
through the coil’s detection field.
DISCRIMINATION
When the detector emits different tones for different types of metals, and
when the detector "eliminates" certain metals, we refer to this as the
detector "discriminating" among different types of metals.
Discrimination is an important feature of professional metal detectors.
Discrimination allows the user to ignore trash and otherwise undesirable
objects.
RELIC
A relic is an object of interest by reason of its age or its association with
the past. Many relics are made of iron, but can also be made of bronze
or precious metals.
IRON
Iron is a common, low-grade metal that is an undesirable target in certain
metal detecting applications. Examples of undesirable iron objects are
old cans, pipes, bolts, and nails.
Sometimes, the desired target is made of iron. Property markers, for
instance, contain iron. Valuable relics can also be composed of iron;
cannon balls, old armaments, and parts of old structures and vehicles
can also be composed of iron.
FERROUS
Metals which are made of, or contain, iron.
PINPOINTING
Pinpointing is the process of finding the exact location of a buried object.
Long-buried metals can appear exactly like the surrounding soil, and can
therefore be very hard to isolate from the soil.
PULL-TABS
Discarded pull-tabs from beverage containers are the most
bothersome trash items for treasure hunters. They come in many
different shapes and sizes. Pull-tabs can be eliminated from
detection, but some other valuable objects can have a magnetic
signature similar to pull-tabs, and will also be eliminated when
discriminating out pull-tabs.
GROUND BALANCE
Ground Balancing is the ability of the detector to ignore, or "see through,"
the earth’s naturally occurring minerals, and only sound a tone when a
metal object is detected. This Detector incorporates proprietary circuitry
to eliminate false signals from severe ground conditions
3
ASSEMBLY
Loc
kin
g
Col
lar
Loc
kin
g
Col
lar
Upp
er
Stem
Cab
le
Knurled
Kno
b
Bolt
Coi
l
S-R
od
Velcro
Strap
Vel
cro
Str
ap
Assembly is easy and requires no tools.
1 Loosen both Locking Collars by rotating 100%
●
counterclockwise
2 Insert the Upper Stem into the S-Rod and click
●
Silver Button into hole
3 Position the lower stem with the silver
●
button toward the back.
Using the bolt and knurled knob, attach
the search coil to the lower stem.
4 Press the button on the upper end of
●
the lower stem, and slide the lower
stem into the upper stem.
Adjust the stem to a length that lets you
maintain a comfortable upright posture,
with your arm relaxed at your side, and
the search coil parallel to the ground in
front of you.
5 Wind the cable securely around the
●
stems.
6 Insert the plug into the matching
●
connector on the back of the detector
body. Be sure that the key-way and pins
line up correctly.
7 Tighten both locking collars.
●
8 Secure the cable with the 2 velcro straps
●
provided, one on the lower stem close to the coil,
one on the upper stem, close to the housing.
Caution: Do not force the plug in. Excess force
will cause damage.
To disconnect the cable, pull on the plug.
Do not pull on the cable.
4
ASSEMBLY
Hand-grip
Nut
Screw
Search
Coil
Cable
Cable
Plug
Sea
rch
oil
S-Rod
armrest
Velcro
Strap
Middle
Stem
Velcro
Strap
Locking
Collar
Locking
Collar
Battery
Com
par
tment
(back side)
Headphone Jack
Optional Arm Strap
Adjusting the Arm Rest
The arm rest may be moved
forward or backwards by removing
the single screw and nut, and then
repositioning the 2-piece arm rest.
Users with shorter arms may find
the arm rest more comfortable in
the forward position. In order to
move the arm rest backwards, the
plastic plug must be removed from
the aluminum tube.
Arm Rest Strap
(optional accessory)
The strap is available for purchase
as a separate accessory. Some
users prefer to use the strap when
swing the detector vigorously, in
order to hold the detector secure
against the arm.
The detector can also be used
without the strap, with no
compromise to detector balance
and stability under most conditions.
5
BATTERIES
The detector requires a single 9-volt ALKALINE battery (battery not
included).
Rechargeable batteries can also be used.
If you wish to use rechargeable batteries, we recommend using a
Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable battery.
The battery compartment is located on the back side of the housing.
Slide the battery door to the side and remove it to expose the battery
compartment.
BATTERY LIFE
Expect 20 to 25 hours of life from a 9-volt alkaline battery.
Rechargeable batteries provide about 8 hours of usage per charge.
SPEAKER VOLUME AND BATTERY CHARGE
You may notice the speaker volume drop while one battery segment is
illuminated.
With one segment flashing, low speaker volume will be very apparent.
For loudest speaker volume, select 1 or 2 tones under the # OF TONES menu
selection.
Do not use ordinary zinc carbon batteries.
BATTERY INDICATOR
The 2-segment battery indicator has 3 stages of indication.
These indications are accurate for a 9-volt alkaline battery.
Segments Illuminated Battery Voltage
2 -segments more than 7.6 volts
1 -segment more than 6.2 volts
1 -segment flashing less than 6.2 volts
After the battery indicator begins flashing, expect the detector to shut off within
10 minutes.
A rechargeable battery will usually illuminate both segments throughout most
of its useful charge. But as soon as it drains to the 1-segment level, it will then
discharge very rapidly.
6
QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION
I. Supplies Needed
• a Nail • a Zinc Penny (dated after 1982) • a Nickel • a Quarter
II. Position the Detector
a. Place the detector on a table, with the searchcoil hanging over the edge.
Or better, have a friend hold the detector, with the searchcoil off the ground.
b. Keep the searchcoil away from walls, floors, and metal objects.
c. Remove watches, rings, and jewelry.
d. T urn off lights or appliances, whose electromagnetic
emissions may cause interference.
e. Pivot the searchcoil back.
III. Power Up
Press .
IV. Wave each object over the searchcoil.
a. Notice a different tone for each object:
Nail: Low Tone
Coins: Sound varies in pitch and volume depending on distance from coil
b. Motion is required.
Objects must be in motion over the searchcoil to be detected in this mode.
V.
Press twice to enter the DISC. LEVEL program.
Then press until “40” appears in the center of the screen.
a. The word “IRON” disappears from the display
VI. Wave the nail over the searchcoil.
a. The nail will not be detected
b. The nail has been “discriminated out.”
VII. Press until “80” appears.
a. The words FOIL, NICKEL, PULLTAB, S-CAP+ and ZINC disappear.
VIII. Wave the nickel
a. The nickel will not be detected.
IX.
Press twice to toggle down to NOTCH.
Then press three times
a. The word “NICKEL” reappears on the display
X. Wave the Nickel.
The nickel is now again detected.
The nickel has been “notched in.”
XI. Press once to toggle down to ALL-METALS
XII. Pass the quarter over the searchcoil.
Move the quarter closer to and farther away from the searchcoil. Notice
the changing depth-display values at the bottom of the screen.
XIII. Press and hold.Pass the quarter over the searchcoil
Move the quarter closer to and farther away from the searchcoil. Notice
the changing 2-digit depth-display values in the middle of the screen.
7
THE BASICS OF METAL DETECTING
A hobby metal detector is intended for locating buried metal objects. When
searching for metals, underground or on the surface, you have the following
challenges and objectives:
1. Ignoring signals caused by ground minerals.
2. Ignoring signals caused by metal objects that you do not want to find,
like pull-tabs.
3. Identifying a buried metal object before you dig it up.
4. Estimating the size and depth of objects, to facilitate digging them up.
5. Eliminating the effects of electromagnetic interference from other
electronic devices.
Your Gamma 6000 metal detector is designed with these things in mind.
1. Ground Minerals
All soils contain minerals. Signals from ground minerals can interfere with
the signals from metal objects you want to find. All soils differ, and can
differ greatly, in the type and amount of ground minerals present. You
therefore want to “calibrate” the detector to the specific ground conditions
where you are hunting. The detector incorporates a semi-automated
ground-balancing feature which will eliminate false signals from most types
of soils. But if you want to maximize the detector’s target identification
accuracy and depth of detection, use the GROUND GRAB function to
calibrate the detector to the ground where you are searching. See the
section on GROUND GRAB for details.
2. Trash
If searching for coins, which will induce higher tone sounds, you want to
ignore items like aluminum foil, nails, and pull-tabs. These undesirable
items induce lower tones. You can listen to the sounds of all objects
detected, and decide on what you want to dig up. Or you can eliminate
unwanted metals from detection by using the DISCRIMINATION feature.
3. Identifying Buried Objects
When searching in the DISCRIMINATION mode, different objects induce
different tones (high, medium, low) and are classified on the display screen
in different categories from left to right. A 2-digit numerical reading is also
provided in the middle of the display for more precise target identification.
The DISCRIMINATION mode requires motion: sweep the coil over the
metal object.
8
Loading...