Garrett Metal Detectors GTI 1500 User Manual

TM

TM

SPECIAL NOTICE

The Garrett GTI 1500 metal detector
with Treasure Imaging and Graphic Target
Analyzer truly adds a new dimension to
treasure hunting. A precision electronic
instrument designed to utilize the miracles
of high technology, especially to help find
coins, the GTI 1500 will accomplish this
task better than any other detector ever
manufactured. It can also locate jewelry,
gold nuggets or any other kind of metallic
object.

Deep-seeking sensitivity and precise dis­crimination enable this marvelous instru­ment to identify targets by size as well as
conductivity and to report actual depth of
targets of any size, not just coins.

This exciting One-Touch metal detector is
automatic and surprisingly easy to oper­ate. Yet those who have special treasure
hunting demands will find the GTI 1500
meticulously adaptable to any personal
style of detecting. Microprocessor-con­trolled circuitry truly makes this an excep­tionally deep seeking detector.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 3

Although the GTI 1500 is built to with­stand rugged treatment outdoors while
giving years of trouble-free service, always
remember that this detector is a precision
electronic instrument.

Protect it from extreme heat and cold as
well as mist, rain or blowing sand. Keep it
as clean as possible.

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CONTENTS

To The Owner 6
Assembly 9
Touch pads 13
Graphic Target Display 16
Hunting Basics 21
Operating Adjustments 27
Control Settings 29
Search Aids 35
Operating Modes 38
Setting Discrimination (Notches) 42
Treasure Imaging 47
Bench Testing 51
Operating Recommendations 53
Headphone Jack 59
Searchcoils 60
Batteries 61
Recommended Accessories 65
Maintenance 66
Specialized Hunting 68
Repair Service 72
Recommended Reading 75
RAM Book Order Form 77
Specifications 79
Mind Your Manners 81
Trademarks/Patents 83
Warning! 84

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 5

TO THE OWNER

As the proud owner of a Garrett GTI 1500,
you enter a new and exciting world of
treasure hunting. Treasure imaging and
the Graphic Target Analyzer enable you to
find coins with an ease that will take your
breath away. You will spend your hobby
hours in recovering treasure, not digging
trash.

Study this Manual to learn the basic func­tions of your new GTI 1500. Its target
identification and sizing, deep seeking and
discrimination capabilities can find coins
and any other kind of metallic treasure
with an ease that will amaze and delight
you.

Use Treasure Imaging to identify the size
of any target you locate:

• Dig only "B-size" targets to avoid cans
and similar trash while locating coins and
most rings.

• Set GTA discrimination so that you hunt
only for specific targets.

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• Use the Target ID Guide to learn what
you've found.

• Pinpoint electronically to determine loca­tion of target and learn size and depth.

• Find deeper treasures with computerized
circuitry.

Your GTI 1500, whose microprocessor­controlled circuitry has been acclaimed
and proven through countless hours of
field use, is unparalleled in the simplicity
of its operation. Just touch the POWER
touch pad and begin hunting immediately.

The GTI 1500 offers dedicated coin hunt­ers the automatic tuning adjustment pre­cision available only with computerized
controls.

When you find a target, Garrett's revolu­tionary GTA display instantly directs you to
that target's range on the Target ID Guide.
Press the TREASURE IMAGING pad to dis­cover its exact size and depth, which will
give you additional clues to its identity.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 7

Welcome again to the Garrett fraternity
of successful treasure hunting hobbyists.
Now, find your own coins and other
treasures with the GTI 1500, one of the
world’s most capable and universal metal
detectors, yet one that is amazingly easy
to operate.

8 - Garrett Metal Detectors

ASSEMBLY

Your GTI 1500 is shipped complete in one
carton:

A

B

C

D

E

F

A. Control Housing
B. Upper and Lower Stems
C. Imaging Searchcoil
D. Parts Envelope
E. Training DVD & Owner’s Manual
F. Warranty Registration Card

Make certain all of these parts are included
and are undamaged. Report any shortages
or damages immediately to your dealer.
Follow these assembly instructions. No
tools are required. Hand pressure will be
satisfactory for all tightening.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 9

Inspect contents of the clear plastic enve­lope (see above).

• One (1) knob

• Two (2) Washers

• One (1) threaded bolt

1. Attach the lower stem to the 9.5” imag­ing searchcoil. Make certain that the two
rubber washers are inserted onto the
lower stem before slipping the searchcoil
onto it.

Place the threaded bolt through the holes
in the connector and hand-tighten using
the remaining wing nut. Use no tools. (See

image A on page 11.)

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Image A Image B

2. Depress buttons in the Control Housing
stem and slide on the Upper Stem (see
Image B above).

3. Depress the buttons in the Lower Stem
and insert it into the Upper Stem. Buttons
will pop into the holes, and you can
achieve the desired stem length. The third
set of holes from the end is most com­monly used.

4. As shown

(see Image C on follow-

ing page), wrap searchcoil cable securely

around stem and connect to detector.
The first cable turn goes over the top
of the stem. The cable should be snug
but still slightly loose so that the angle

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 11

Image C Image D

of the searchcoil can be changed easily,
if required. To connect the cable to the
detector, insert the cable connector into
the connector on the control housing as
shown and rotate the collar clockwise until
secure (approximately four (4) turns).

(See Image D above.)

Hand tighten only. Your GTI 2500 is fully
equipped with eight (8) AA batteries.

12 - Garrett Metal Detectors

GTI 1500 TOUCH PADS

• Power/Hold to Reset

Turns detector ON and OFF as well as
returns it to factory settings when held.

• Menu/Scroll

Allows the Operator to scroll through the
following settings to make adjustments or
turn them ON or OFF. As you continue to
push the Menu/Scroll button, you will see

the following options:

Modes (5)

—

Coins, Jewelry, Relics, Zero, Custom

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 13

—Custom Functions Menu

Sensitivity (Depth), Threshold (Audio
Level), Frequency, Volume, Tone,
Rechargable battery

Search Aids

—

Salt Elimination, Belltone, Backlight

• Accept / Reject

Permits acceptance or rejection of specific
target segments shown on the Lower Scale
to establish discrimination notches.

• Treasure Imaging (Pinpoint)

When pressed and held, activates the
automatic pinpointing function. In this
mode the cursor indicating the target just
discovered will blink on the Upper Scale
as the target's signal strength is shown.
Depth of target will be shown on the Lower
Scale and size of the target indicated at
the bottom of the Display Screen.

• Operate

Returns to operate (hunting) mode after
any change or adjustment of controls.

• Last Mode

Returns detector to the mode (Coins,

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Jewelry, Relics, Zero, Custom) that was
previously being used.

- & +

These touch pads permit precise regula­tion of the GTI 1500 . You will note that
each press of a touch pad causes seg­ments on the Upper Scale to move either
to the right (+) or to the left (-).

The + and - touch pads enable the follow­ing regulation: Permit alternation between
the five search modes; Permit adjust­ment of levels of sensitivity, Threshold,
Frequency, Volume and Tone; Activate (+)
or turn off (-) Salt Elimination, Bell tone
target audio and Backlight; Activate (+) or
turn off (-) the NiMH battery gauge; Move
cursor in the Upper Scale when discrimina­tion is being set in the Operate mode.

Experiment with these touch pads your­self and experience the precise degree of
regulation possible with the GTI 1500.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 15

GRAPHIC TARGET DISPLAY

Target ID Guide

This guide printed above the LCD screen
shows U.S. coin denominations, gold, sil­ver and other typical metallic objects.

Upper Scale

Indicates target discovered; Indicates tar­get strength in Treasure Imaging mode;
Indicates levels of Menu control settings.

Lower Scale

Discrimination segments (notches).
Indicates depth of all targets in inches
when in Treasure Imaging mode.

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Operating Status

The complete operating status of your
detector is shown on the screen at all
times. When the TREASURE IMAGING
(pinpointing) touch pad is pressed and
held, size and depth of targets will also
be shown.

The mode in which you are searching will
always be shown on the left side of the
screen under the MODE heading.

MENU, OPERATE, IMAGE and SEARCH
AIDS are shown at the top of the screen in
its center to indicate detector status.

MENU is shown when the detector is being
regulated. OPERATE will be illuminated
whenever you have pressed the OPERATE
touch pad and are hunting, and IMAGE
when you press and hold the TREASURE
IMAGING touch pad. SEARCH AIDS is illu­minated to indicate the Search Aids that
have been activated.

On the second line are detector functions
you can regulate as desired: Sensitivity,
Threshold, Frequency, Volume, Tone and

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 17

Rechargeable (seen in lower right corner
of LCD screen). When one of these func­tions has been illuminated by use of the
MENU/SCROLL touch pad, it can be regu­lated by pressing the + or - touch pads.

Treasure Imaging

Five target sizes are shown on the color­coded Imaging diagram at the bottom of
the screen.

Size A - Solid small oval (orange): tar­gets smaller than coins, including bits of
iron or foil.

Size B - Oval extending to B grid lines
(red): all U.S. coins, most rings and small
metal trash such as pieces of pull tabs.

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Size C - Oval extending to C grid lines
(purple): targets larger than coins and
smaller than 12-oz. cans, such as large
rings, small belt buckles, jewelry and such
trash targets as screw tops, bottle caps
and complete pull tabs.

Size D - Oval extending to D grid lines
(blue): larger belt buckles, large jew­elry items, 12-oz. cans and other items of
similar size.

Size E - Oval extending to E grid lines
(green): objects larger than a 12-oz. can,
such as kettles, strongbox or big metallic
trash.

Experience with Treasure Imaging will
enable a hobbyist to identify to an amaz­ingly precise degree any target before it
is recovered. The Target ID Guide print­ed above the LCD screen showing coin
denominations, gold, silver and other typi­cal metallic objects is designed to relate
location of the Target Cursor with the size
indication to help identify discoveries.

Note - The five letters (A,B,C,D,E) on each

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 19

side of the diagram and the horizontal
color-coded lines connecting them. These
refer to the five relative sizes at the bot­tom of the Display Screen.

Relating conductivity and size to help
determine your target before digging it
is a unique feature of the GTI. The target
cursor on the Upper Scale, which indicates
the target's conductivity, will blink as you
pinpoint a target and learn its size, as
indicated at the bottom of the Display
Screen. The blinking cursor will indicate
the last target discovered before the
TREASURE IMAGING (Pinpoint) touch pad
was pressed.

Thus a "B-size" target with a coin's con­ductivity as indicated on the Target ID
Guide will most likely be a coin.

Because continued practice in relating
size and conductivity will help you identify
targets before you dig them, you will dig
more treasure and less trash.

20 - Garrett Metal Detectors

HUNTING BASICS

This OneTouch detector is today's most
advanced; yet, its basic automatic opera­tion makes it as simple to operate as
any detector ever manufactured. You can
begin hunting with it immediately. No spe­cial instructions are needed beyond what's
included in the next few pages.

More importantly, you can start finding
coins right now! Here's how to begin:

1. There are no dials to turn and no con­trols to adjust. Just grasp the handle of
your GTI 1500, and hold the searchcoil
at least three feet away from any large
metallic object.

2. Touch and release the POWER touch
pad and the GTI 1500 will begin detecting.
The GTI screen appears as shown on the
following page. You can see that you are
operating in the Coins detection mode with
Bell tone audio turned on, both preset at
the factory.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 21

3. Your GTI 1500 begins operating with all
settings at factory-set levels. Any of the
settings can be easily changed, but you
many never want to do so! It is recom­mended that you use the factory settings
the first few hours you hunt with your
detector.

Scanning

Swing the searchcoil back and forth in
front of you in a straight line or slight arc
as shown in the photograph atop the fac­ing page. Keep the searchcoil moving at a
rate of about one to three feet per second.
Maintain your coil at a height of one to
two inches. The coil should be kept level
at all times.

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Discovery

Detection of all metal targets will be
indicated by the appearance of a Target
Cursor on the Upper Scale. A cursor will
appear, as shown below, to indicate every
detected target and will remain for 4
seconds or until a new target is detected
(whichever comes first). Desirable targets
will also produce a "beep". In the illustra­tion below the Target Cursor is located at
9+, which would probably indicate a quar­ter if Treasure Imaging shows it to be a B­size target. Locate your target by scanning
back and forth over it to determine where
signals are strongest.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 23

Treasure Imaging (Pinpoint)

Press and hold this touch pad to put
your detector into a Treasure Imaging
(Pinpoint) mode so that you can locate
your target more precisely and also deter­mine its relative size and depth. Size will

be shown at the bottom of the Display
Screen, as shown above. Since you have
a B-size target and your Target Cursor is
blinking at 9+, you have probably found
a quarter.

Pinpointing and sizing through TREASURE
IMAGING can be an invaluable aid to trea­sure hunting when used properly.

To turn OFF your detector: Simply press
and release the POWER touch pad. Charles
Garrett recommends that you first become
familiar with your new detector by hunting
for at least 10 hours in the factory preset

24 - Garrett Metal Detectors

Coins mode and that you read carefully
the Warning section in this manual.

By now you are also certainly impressed
with the super sensitivity, depth capabili­ties and the target analysis of this detector
which utilizes patented DSP (Digital Signal
Processing) methods to give it advanced
detection capabilities that can be matched
by those of only one other detector, the
GTI 2500. You may have encountered an
occasional instance when your GTI 1500
seemed to present inconsistent informa­tion. This probably occurred when the
detector was attempting to analyze two
or more targets beneath its searchcoil or
when you have not properly centered the
coil over your target.

This problem of analysis occurs with all
detectors, but the GTI 1500 discovers
vastly more targets than old-style instru­ments with their limited circuitry. In addi­tion, the deep seeking power of the detec­tor may sometimes cause it to detect but
fail to identify clearly a target some dis­tance away, one over which your search­coil has not even scanned.

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 25

Correct operating techniques will enable
you to properly use all of the data pre­sented by your detector to become aware
of the precise nature of all targets.

You will quickly master these techniques
and learn why the GTI 1500 with DSP,
Treasure Imaging and controls based on
patented microprocessor technology has
more accurate discrimination and better
sensitivity and effectiveness than other
detectors.

26 - Garrett Metal Detectors

OPERATING ADJUSTMENTS

Status of each of the control selections
will be shown on the LCD Graphic Display
above the control panel touch pads. When
you touch the POWER touch pad, your GTI
1500 is ready to hunt in a Coins operating
mode with threshold, sensitivity (depth),
tone and other controls preset at the fac­tory, as shown above. As explained in
the following pages, settings can be easily
changed through regulation of the + and

- touch pads.

The GTI 1500 functions like other detec­tors and its coil must be moving slightly
for detection to occur. Microprocessor­controlled DSP circuitry of the GTI 1500,

Graphic Target Imaging 1500 - 27