An Adventure in
Treasure Hunting
MINELAB
The Minelab Musketeer
Advantage
Instruction Manual
Contents
Page No.
Introduction .....................................................................................................4
List of Parts ....................................................................................................5
Accessories ....................................................................................................6
Assembling Your Musketeer Advantage.........................................................7
Batteries.........................................................................................................10
Treasure Hunting Tips...................................................................................13
Environmental Concerns ...............................................................................14
Detector Care ...............................................................................................15
Trouble-shooting Guide .......................................................................16
Specifications ................................................................................................17
Warranty and Service ...................................................................................18
Minelab Service Repair Form .......................................................................19
4901-0038-1.0 February 2002
Instruction Manual Page 3
W ARNING
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
MINELAB ELECTRONICS PTY LTD
RIGHTS TECHNICAL DATA OR
RESTRICTED RIGHTS DATA OR BOTH.
© Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd
This work is copyright. Apart from any use
as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968,
no part may be reproduced by any process
without written permission from
Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd,
118 Hayward Avenue,
T orrensville, SA 5031,
Australia.
Page 4 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Introduction
Congratulations on purchasing the Musketeer Advantage. This metal detector
has been designed for general-purpose treasure hunting and the main features
include lightweight construction, sharp target response, simplified
controls for easy operation, and substantial depth capabilities.
Your Advantage detector is designed to locate valuable metal objects in high
trash areas. These conditions are commonly encountered by treasure hunters in
places that have been inhabited for long periods or by armies using the areas as
camping grounds or battlefields.
The Advantage detector has been designed to serve the needs of both the
speed hunter and the slow motion hunter. Units may be moved at a “rapid hunt”
pace or at a much more “leisurely” pace while enjoying the sharp target
response in either mode – without sacrificing depth capabilities. You will be
surprised at how well the depth capabilities of the Advantage will challenge
units currently on the market!
The operating frequency of your Advantage has been set at 5 kHz. This
frequency has been chosen for its high level of sensitivity to large ferrous
targets as well as coins, jewellery, and other valuable non-ferrous objects, while
still being able to accurately discriminate against trash.
With the Advantage detector, Minelab has set out to provide you with a high
performance, easily operated, lightweight detector, which is available at a
realistic price. To be a successful treasure hunter you must completely
understand your detector’s features and operation, research your intended hunt
area, and respect the environment while you are hunting. We at Minelab are
confident that the Advantage will provide you with hours of enjoyment for all
types of hunting; whether it is on the beach, in the country, or in a competition
hunt.
If you have any questions or comments we would like to hear from you.
Please contact your local Authorised Minelab Dealer or write to us directly.
We wish you every success in your treasure hunting.
Instruction Manual Page 5
List of Parts
The box in which your Musketeer Advantage is shipped should contain the
following items. When you first receive your Musketeer Advantage, please
check that all of these items are in the box:
Part Description Part Number
Advantage Control Box
TS800 Slimline Coil 2021-0045
Or TS1000 Slimline Coil 2021-0046
Two-Piece Shaft Assembly 8012-0022
Black Armrest 8011-0002
Armrest Cover 8001-0013
Alkaline Battery Pack 0311-0021
Nylon Bolt 1.5” x 1/4” (1 off) 4001-0001
Nylon Bolt 2” x 1/4” (2 off) 4001-0003
Nylon Wing Nut 1/4” (3 of f) 4002-0003
Teardrop Washer (4 off) 4005-0006
Velcro Tape - Felt 8507-0001
Velcro Tape - Hook 8507-0002
Warranty Card 5303-0001
This Instruction Manual 4901-0038
Page 6 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Accessories
To further enhance your Advantage and give you greater capacity and
versatility , the following items are available for you to purchase:
Part Description Part Number
• TS800 Slimline Coil 2021-0045
• TS1000 Slimline Coil 2021-0046
• Rechargeable NiMH Battery Pack 0311-0019
• Mains NiMH Charger Region Specific*
• 12V NiMH Vehicle Battery Charger 0302-0038
• Control Box Hip Mount Bag 3001-0034
• RPG Headphones 4523-0018
• Blue Minelab Cap 5306-0013
• Blue Minelab Polo Shirt, Blue Minelab Jacket Size Specific*
* Ask dealer for correct part number
Instruction Manual Page 7
Assembling Your Musketeer Advantage
Please follow these simple instructions to assemble your new Musketeer
Advantage. Refer to the drawings to identify parts and how they are
positioned. If you have any difficulties, please contact your dealer for further
instructions.
Armrest / Upper Shaft Assembly
a) Remove the black nylon bolt and wing nut
(1) from the armrest (2).
b) With the cup of the armrest positioned up
(so that your arm rests in the cup and your
hand comfortably grips the foam handgrip),
slide the armrest (2) onto the end of the
black upper shaft (3).
c) Push the nylon bolt (1) through the holes
and tighten the wing nut by hand.
Figure 1 - Armrest
Assembly
Lower Shaft Assembly
a) Unscrew the wing nut and remove the bolt (7) that is through the lower
fibreglass shaft (5). Ensure the washers do not fall out (6).
b) Remove the wing nut, bolt (7) and washers from the coil (8). These are
spare parts.
c) With the teardrop washers in place, push
the lower shaft (5) into the bracket on the
coil so that the holes line up.
NOTE:
Ensure that the stainless steel spring clip
located near the top of the fibreglass shaft
is pointing toward the rear of the coil.
d) Push the black nylon bolt (7) through the
holes in the bracket on the coil from the
cable entry side, then place the washer and
wing nut on the other end of the bolt and
tighten it by hand.
Figure 2 - The coil and
lower shaft assembly
Page 8 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Completing the Shaft Assembly
a) Slide the lower shaft assembly (5) into the upper shaft (3). Note that the
black plastic locking nut (9) may need to be loosened to get the lower shaft
assembly in place.
b) Set the length of the shaft by locking the stainless steel spring clip into one
of the holes provided, then tighten the plastic locking ring by hand.
Figure 3 - Completing the shaft assembly
Shaft Mount
a) Position the control box so that the recess
in the control box (11) is aligned with the
leading edge of the mounting clip (12).
Push the foward section of the control box
upwards until the trigger “clicks” indicating
the control box is secured.
b) Firmly wind between 17 and 20 turns of
the cable around the shaft until it reaches
the control box.
NOTE:
Leave enough slack at the bottom of the cable near the coil to adjust the
coil position without straining the coil cable.
c) Connect the cable connector (10) to the plug on the rear of the control box.
d) Use Velcro tabs to secure cable in the correct position on the shaft
maintaining slack at coil and control box
Figure 4 - Mounting the
control box
Instruction Manual Page 9
Hipmount
Hipmounting is an alternative to mounting the detector on the shaft and it
significantly reduces the strain on your arm, enabling you to search for longer
periods of time without undue fatigue.
T o hipmount the detector you will be required to purchase the hipmount bag
from your dealer.
a) Check that there are charged batteries in
the control box (11).
b) Put the control box into the hipmount bag
(13) as shown in Fig 5
c) Place the hipmount bag in your preferred
working configuration. The hipmount bag
can be worn on the belt, or over the
shoulder.
d) Wind about 5 turns of the cable around the
shaft. This will reduce the amount of
excess cable.
NOTE:
Leave enough slack at the bottom of the cable near the coil to adjust the
coil position without straining the coil cable.
Figure 5 - Control box in
hipmount bag
e) Use Velcro tabs to secure the cable in position at the base of the shaft and
where the cable leaves the shaft.
f) Connect the cable connector to the rear of the control box.
Instruction Manual Page 10
Batteries
Your Musketeer Advantage is supplied with a 12-volt battery pack to hold 8
“AA” alkaline batteries. If you have not already done so, you can purchase a
rechargeable 12-volt NiMH battery pack, a mains charger and a car charger
from your authorised Minelab dealer.
Installation of Alkaline Batteries
Ensure the detector is switched “Off” before opening the battery compartment.
a) Remove battery pack from control box pulling back both release tabs on
the battery pack housing.
b) Slide open the lid on the battery pack.
c) Place 8 “AA” alkaline batteries (14)
into the base of the alkaline pack (15).
Ensure they are aligned as shown in Fig 6
and as indicated inside the compartment.
d) Slide the lid closed.
e) Place the base of the battery pack at the
rear of the battery compartment (A). Push
the front edge of the battery pack firmly
into position (B). The two battery clips will
“click” into position to securely hold your
battery pack in place (Fig 7).
CAUTION
High quality alkaline batteries should be used instead of standard
carbon batteries as they will power your Advantage longer. The use of
headphones will further extend battery life.
Figure 6 - Alkaline
battery installation
Page 11 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Installation of NiMH Battery Pack
a) Ensure your NiMH pack is fully charged.
b) Place the base of the battery pack at the
rear of the battery compartment (A). Push
the front edge of the battery pack into
position (B). The two battery clips will
“click” into position to hold the battery
pack in place (Fig 7).
NOTE:
The NiMH battery pack is factory sealed
and does not open.
Figure 7 - Battery
pack installation
Low Battery Warning and NiMH Recharging
When the batteries are reaching the point at which they will no longer operate
the Advantage will emit a distinct sharp “pip” from the speaker, approximately
every 30 seconds. When this tone is heard, it is recommended that the NiMH
battery pack be recharged or alkaline batteries be replaced as soon as possible
to avoid missing any targets.
The NiMH battery pack can be recharged using either a mains powered
charger or a 12V charger that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of your
vehicle. These accessories are available from your authorised Minelab dealer.
CAUTION
Check the mains charger voltage. Only use the appropriate mains
charger for the country you are in.
Instruction Manual Page 12
Using Your NiMH Chargers
a) Plug the charger into the socket on the rechargeable battery pack.
b) Plug the charger into the power source and switch on.
c) A red light will appear on the char ger, indicating that it has power (car
charger only).
d) A green light will appear on the battery pack during charging.
e) A completely flat battery pack will take approximately 12 - 14 hours to fully
charge.
f) The green light on the battery pack will extinguish once it is fully charged.
g) A fully charged NiMH pack will give between 15 and 20 hours detecting
time, depending on the number of targets found.
Figure 8 - Car & mains battery chargers
Instruction Manual Page 13
Treasure Hunting Tips
Your Musketeer Advantage detector will perform at its best when the coil is
kept in contact with the ground. If you are not yet an experienced operator, you
should practice maintaining a constant coil height at the extremity of each
swing; maintaining contact with the ground will make this easier. This is
important as variation in coil height at the end of each swing can cause
confusing sounds and will reduce detection depth.
Figure 12 - Sweeping the Coil
NOTE:
Each sweep of the coil should overlap the previous one by 25%. This will
ensure good ground coverage.
Keeping the coil in contact with the ground will increase detection depth and
response to small objects.
Page 14 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Environmental Concerns
Firstly , it should be pointed out that treasure hunting with a metal detector is the
most environmentally friendly way to recover coins, rings and other treasure
items. However, it is important to leave an area that you have searched in the
same condition as you found it.
All holes that have been dug must be properly refilled. Not only is it
environmentally unacceptable to not fill in your holes, it is also very dangerous.
There are special tools to enable you to recover targets easily from grassed
areas without digging large holes; talk to your detector shop or club for the
preferred method of digging up your target.
T ake away and properly dispose of any junk that you find or produce, such as
nails, tin cans, or flat batteries. Leaving an area “scarred” can result in action
being taken to prevent the use of metal detectors, which spoils this fascinating
hobby for others as well as yourself.
Instruction Manual Page 15
Detector Care
The Advantage is a high-quality electronic instrument, finely engineered and
packaged in a durable housing. T aking proper care of it is mostly common
sense.
• Do not leave batteries in the control box when the detector is not in
use for a period exceeding two weeks. Damage caused by leaking
batteries would be severe and would void the warranty.
• Batteries. Flat or faulty batteries cause many detector problems. Ensure
that you use only quality alkaline batteries and that they are replaced when
the warning signal indicated through the headphones or speaker is heard.
• If temperatures are very high, do not leave the detector in direct
sunlight for longer than necessary. Covering it when not in use will help
protect it. Try to avoid leaving it in a closed trunk or in a car sitting in
sunlight.
• While the control box has been designed to be water-resistant, it is not
waterproof. Avoid wetting it unnecessarily. Use the hipmount bag to
prevent water and dust ingress. Never allow the box to come into
contact with gasoline or other oil-based liquids.
• Keep the unit clean and dry and avoid getting sand and grit into the
shafts or the tightening nuts. Do not use solvents to clean the detector. Use
a damp cloth with mild soap detergent.
• Cables. Ensure the coil cable is in good condition and not subject to undue
stress.
Page 16 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Trouble-shooting Guide
Fault Solution
No Sound Ensure the unit is turned “On”
Check battery orientation and battery connections
Ensure battery pack is correctly fitted
Check headphones and their connection
Erratic Noises Check battery charge and battery connections
Ensure coil plug is tightened firmly
Reduce the sensitivity by turning counter-clockwise
Switch out of “Fix” ground balance position
Check and adjust the ground balance
Check headphones and their connection and lead
Check for sand or grit between coil cover and coil
No Target Response Ensure unit is turned “On”
Check battery charge and battery connections
Check coil connection
Check headphones and their connection
In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to return your detector to
Minelab for service, please fill out the Minelab Service Repair Form on
page 27 and enclose it with the detector. Please supply as much detail as
possible about the fault as this will assist our service engineers to rectify the
problem quickly and efficiently .
Instruction Manual Page 17
Specifications
These specifications are subject to change without notice.
Length Extended 53" (1350 mm)
Unextended 47" (1190 mm)
Weight Control Box (excl. Batteries) 530 g
TS800 Slimline Coil 500 g
TS1000 Slimline Coil 650 g
Batteries Alkaline Cells Eight 1.5V “AA”*
NiMH Battery Pack 12V, 1000 mAhr
Coil Options TS800 Slimline “Double D” waterproof
TS1000 Slimline “Double D” waterproof
Headphones Impedance 8 - 32 ohms
Jack – Stereo / Mono ¼"
Frequency Transmission, sinewave 5 kHz
Ground Rejection Fixed
Manual Ground Adjust Pot 1 turn
Search Modes Discriminate, All Metals / Ground Adjust Enable,
All Metals / Pinpoint
Controls On / Off, Sensitivity Pot and switch
Ground Adjust Pot and switch
DiscriminateLevel Adjust Pot 1 turn
All Metals / Discriminate Switch 2 Pos.
Pinpoint Swit c h 3 P o s .
Warranty Control Box 2 years
Coil 1 year
Patents AUS 595835, others pending.
* Not included
Page 18 The Minelab Musketeer Advantage
Warranty and Service
Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd warrants (subject to certain conditions) that its
products are free from defect in materials and workmanship.
Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd also warrants that this product is fit for the purpose
it is designed for as stated in this manual.
See Waranty Card for clauses and conditions.
Instruction Manual Page 19
Minelab Service Repair Form
Today’s Date:...........................................................
Detector Model: .............................................. Serial No.: .................................
Purchased From: .................................................................................................
Purchase Date: ........................................................
Part(s) Supplied for Service: ...............................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Description of Fault:............................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Owner’s Name: ..................................................................................................
Address: ..............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Phone: Day ( )...................................... Home ( ) ..............................
Fax: ( )........................................................Email: .....................................
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