Garrett Metal Detectors Metal Detectors GTAx 550 User's Manual
Contents
1. Do not disturb any pipeline particularly if it could be carrying flammable gas or liquid Use reasonable caution in digging toward any target particularly in areas you are uncertain of the ground conditions If you are unsure if you can use your metal detector in any area seek permission from the proper authorities 59 GARRETT METAL DETEGTORS www garrett com 1881 W State Street Garland Texas 75042 Toll Free 800 527 4011 Tel 972 494 6151 Fax 972 494 1881 Email sales garrett com O 2008 Garrett Electronics Inc PN 1525300 D 06082. Upper Scale of the graphic display In most cases the type of coin can also be determined by using the coin ID guide Encrustation or patina and sometimes ground mineralization may affect conductivity of the coin resulting in improper classification Recovery Whenever your detector locates a target you ll want to recover it with the least amount of digging Locating your target precisely will enable you to recover it by digging the smallest hole possible This is accomplished by pinpointing You can then utilize another function of the GTAx 550 for measuring coin depth 1 Manual Pinpointing Pinpoint targets by first drawing an imaginary X on the ground with the searchcoil at the place where maximum sound occurs You ll notice that the searchcoil must be moving slightly and that you 22 cannot maintain detection sound with the searchcoil held completely still above your target This is called manual pinpointing and for many treasure hunters proves completely satisfactory 2 Electronic Pinpointing Precise pinpointing is an important capability of your GTAx 550 When you press and hold the pinpoint touchpad the searchcoil can remain steady directly over your target Move it around slightly and maximum sound will be heard when the target is directly over your target This increase will be further reflected in the Upper Scale of your graphic display Illumination of the Lower Scale s segments from left to right will indicate
3. its normal position beneath the arm rest Place both thumbs on the lower sides of the cuff with your fingers on the front of the case Firm pressure will then disengage the case from below the armrest and allow it to slide backward 3 Slide the two covers up on the battery panel and remove them completely 4 Take out the battery holders which are not connected by wire by tilting the battery pack Each of the holders contains four AA batteries 41 5 Press out the old batteries from the holders 6 Install the new batteries Carefully observe polarity of the batteries and place them in the holders 7 Replace the holders in the detector It is important that you make certain that the rivet on each battery holder is visible in the center of the battery case If the holders are replaced incorrectly it will be difficult to install the battery covers 8 Press the battery covers down firmly Remember when the battery pack is removed for more than four minutes you will lose settings you have made in audio depth and disc All settings will automatically return to those set at the factory 42 It is recommended that you remove the batteries when the detector is not in use particularly for a period of several weeks Always take the four batteries out of each holder when storing them You can then reinsert the empty holders into your detector to prevent their being misplaced Caution Use only high quality rechargeable c
4. lower conductivity trash targets normally encountered in coin hunting such as foil nails and most pull tabs Bent pull tabs and pull tab pieces may not be eliminated from detection Successful treasure hunters however expect to dig some junk on occasion 31 Setting Discrimination Selecting Notches Using only the discrimination of its two factory set operating modes the G TAx 550 will more than satisfy the requirements of almost every treasure hunter Many will never require any other discrimination Still this detector offers more it offers precise controls that enable any treasure hunter to tailor a detection mode to his or her specific requirements by setting accept reject notches The Lower Scale of the Graphic Display contains segments Those that are displayed represent targets that will cause the detectors sound to increase when they are detected In Mode A for instance all segments shown indicate that every metal target will cause the GTAx 550 to respond audibly Specific notches can be created by adding or removing targets from acceptance in either operating mode Every target detected will always be indicated by the target ID cursor 32 There are two ways to set discrimination First method Press the and touchpads to position the blinking Upper Scale cursor above the Lower Scale segment corresponding to the particular target to be detected or ignored If the segment is displayed that particular targ
5. necessary Protect the GTAx 550 from dust and sand as much as possible e Your 7x10 PROformance searchcoilis submersible but your GTAx 550 s control housing is not Never submerge the control housing and always protect it from heavy mist rain or blowing surf e Disassemble the stem and wipe it clean after use in sandy areas 45 SPECIALIZED HUNTING For literature that will explain more about the various types of hunting possible with your GTAx 550 see the RAM Books section page 53 Although it has universal capabilities the GTAx 550 has been designed primarily as a coin hunting metal detector The greater depth and precise discrimination patterns possible with microprocessor controlled circuitry combine with the detector s light weight and ease of handling to make is a superb instrument for finding coins and metallic jewelry Finding Coins Whether you choose to hunt for coins and jewelry in a park or at the beach the Coins Mode offers discrimination that responds ideally to conditions normally encountered From time to time you will discover specific trash targets that are not being eliminated from detection by factory set discrimination Here s how to use the ACCEPT REJECT touchpad to eliminate junk targets 46 Move your searchcoil across one type of these pieces of trash metal Watch the target ID cursor for its response and push the ACCEPT REJECT touchpad You ll have no more trouble from that type of junk When
6. the depth of your target For the most effective electronic pinpointing place the searchcoil on the ground near your target s apparent location Press and hold the Pinpoint touchpad Scan back and forth across the target maintaining searchcoil contact with the ground You will notice an even more distinct audio sound when the target is directly beneath the searchcoil s center 23 You can also watch the Upper Scale illuminate from right to left to indicate signal strength The maximum reading attained toward the left will indicate exact target location Coin Depth Measurement LEE TE PT 245 amp 7 8 9 VM PINPOINT When Pinpoint button is held down the lower scale indicates the target s depth in inches Pinpoint targets as directed above After completing the pinpoint operation maximum reading on the Upper Scale and while still pressing the Pinpoint touchpad check the Lower Scale to determine coin depth in inches You will notice that coin depth always indicates the shallowest most accurate reading even though subsequent scans across the target off center show greater depth on the Lower Scale Since the final step in recovery usually entails digging you will want to develop your own method s 24 of digging targets depending on the grass soil conditions etc Always make as small a hole as possible It is quicker requires less work and makes refilling easier You should always fill your holes P
7. you use discrimination segments on your GTAx 550 to determine a proper discrimination pattern you ll spend less time digging trash and more time digging coins Some jewelry hunters however prefer to hunt with no discrimination especially on the beach Finding Relics Relics of all shapes and sizes can be found with a GTAx 550 To find them however you will want to search with all Discrimination segments turned on Zero discrimination and you must be prepared to dig metallic trash since your detector will sound off on any metal object it locates Finding Gold Gold and other precious metals can also be found in various forms with a GTAx 550 You will most likely be searching for gold nuggets which this detector can locate in streams or on dry land 47 Since the 550 is a motion detector it is capable of finding only somewhat larger nuggets at least BB size It must be emphasized that prospectors using the GTAx 550 or any other quality detector usually prefer to operate in the Zero Discrimination Mode When prospecting discrimination may reduce the amount of small nuggets found but some areas contain so much iron trash that a small amount of discrimination becomes highly desirable even necessary A special notch can eliminate a particular junk metal target if needed Hard work patience and research are three of the keys to success in electronic prospecting Research is important because it is vital that gold always
8. your automobile at 100 of its speed Outside electromagnetic 17 interference and irregular ground mineralization may sometimes require reduced sensitivity which usually results in less detection depth Do not worry about losing deep targets when you reduce this setting You will not lose any depth since you will always be operating as deeply as soil conditions permit Attempting to operate above a sensitivity level that permits a quiet and stable audio threshold may actually cause you to miss deep targets you would have found had you not pushed the detector 5 ACCEPT REJECT Permits acceptance or rejection of specific target segments shown on the Lower Scale to establish discrimination notches 6 SET AUDIO Permits using the and touchpads to regulate the audio threshold When the audio touchpad is pressed the display screen will appear use the and touchpads to adjust the threshold of sound that is constantly being 18 produced by the GTAx 550 as it scans Multiple touches and releases are necessary to increase or decrease threshold by one Upper Scale segment at a time You can search silently or at any level of constant sound It is recommended that you always operate the instrument at a minimum level of sound You can hear the audio increase sharply whenever a target is encountered Also you will be able to hear even the faint signals that sometimes occur on tiny targets or deeply buried coins W
9. E Pressing and releasing the touchpad makes it easy to alternate between the A and B Modes 4 SET DEPTH Sensitivity Permits using the and touchpads to regulate depth sensitivity of the detector When the Depth touchpad is pressed the display screen will appear with factory settings at approximately 75 as indicated on the Upper Scale You can use the and touchpads to adjust the depth sensitivity to which your detector will operate effectively After pressing the Depth touchpad press to 16 increase depth and sensitivity press to decrease A single touch and release adjusts the level in a small increment A continuous pressing results in a continuous adjustment When you have made your adjustment press Depth again to reenter your previous operating mode Although maximum depth is usually desired any detector s circuitry may be limited by the type of soils over which you are scanning electromagnetic or power line interference etc Such considerations as ground mineralization will also inhibit the detector s ability to interpret target information This Depth Sensitivity control option permits you to regulate sensitivity This will result in achieving the maximum detection depth possible in relation to any existing condition Garrett engineers designed your GTAx 550 for maximum detection depth power but you may not always be able to operate at a depth setting of 100 the same way you wouldn t operate
10. GARRETT 0 MEAL DETEGroRS Manual THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING GARRETT METAL DETECTORS Congratulations As the proud owner of the Garrett GTAx 550 you have joined an international family of treasure hunters Men women and children alike have used their Garrett detectors to find coins relics and gold nuggets that are valued in the millions of dollars So to get the most out your GTAx 550 and treasure hunting experiences be sure to carefully read through this Owner s Manual Your GTAx 550 is engineered with microprocessor based technology and is backed by 40 years of metal detection research and development by Garrett s leading team of engineers It is remarkable in its ability to locate coins jewelry and other metallic objects at exciting depths And with Garrett s revolutionary Graphic Target Analyzer GTA display that offers 2 target acceptance rejection precise discrimination and other key information you can spend more time digging treasure and less time digging trash The GTAx 550 is factory preset to begin operation in the COINS mode Simply press the POWER touchpad on your new GTAx 550 and immediately begin hunting without the troublesome interference from typical trash items or ground minerals Of course you can easily adjust the detector to operate in its other hunting mode Thank you for choosing Garrett Metal Detectors Again welcome to our treasure hunting family In becoming a part of this great tr
11. TAx 550 is located at the rear of the removable battery pack under the armrest Headphones are a valuable accessory for any metal detector to mask interference from outside noise They permit you to hear small and deep targets that might be missed when using only audio from the detector speaker Headphones are particularly essential when you are hunting where noise of people and or traffic is excessive 39 BATTERIES The GTAx 550 is equipped with two battery packs each holding four standard AA batteries The detector is also designed to use rechargeable batteries Ni MH It is recommended that top quality heavy duty or alkaline batteries be used All adjustments or settings you have entered into the detector will be replaced by the factory settings when batteries are removed for approximately four minutes or more Although standard battery packs can be used interchangeably in the detector it is recommended that both packs being used at the same time always contain the same type of battery For example don t mix carbon zinc and alkaline batteries 40 The GTAx 550 should operate 25 to 35 hours with carbon or alkaline batteries Rechargeable batteries will offer slightly less time depending upon the type used These estimates are for speaker operation Operating with headphones will extend battery life Battery Replacement 1 Turn the detector off by pressing the POWER touchpad 2 Slide the battery case back slightly from
12. Y No tools are required to assemble the GTAx 550 Hand tighten all necessary parts 1 Press the two Mounting Washers into the Lower Stem Figure 1 Figure 1 2 Slide the searchcoil onto the Stem Figure 2 Figure 2 3 Insert the Threaded Bolt through the holes of the Lower Stem and Searchcoil Hand tighten the searchcoil assembly with the remaining Wing Nut Figure 3 Figure 3 4 Depress the Spring Clip and insert the Control Housing into the Upper Stem 5 Depress the Spring Clip in the Lower Stem to adjust to the most comfortable operating length Figure 4 Figure 4 6 Wrap the Searchcoil cable snugly about the stem with the first turn of the cable over the stem Figure 5 Figure 5 7 Insert the Cable into the Connector of the Control Housing and hand tighten Figure 6 Figure 6 FEATURES ACCEPT SET REJECT AUDIO PINPOINT LAST Cain Dept MODE The GTAx 550 is designed with Garrett s exclusive Graphic Target ID technology which indicates the probable identity of a target along a horizontal scale that reads from low conductive metals e g iron on the left to high conductive metals e g silver on the right 1 Target ID Legend A Target ID Legend is located directly above the LCD screen and indicates commonly found targets and metals When a target 11 is detected the Target ID cursor will appear below the word or symbol that most likely indi
13. adition and hobby you have made the right start to successful treasure hunting TABLE OF CONTENTS GTAx 550 Parts Assembly Features Target ID Legend Upper Scale Lower Scale Batt Battery Hip Mount Touchpads Controls Power Pinpoint Set Depth Accept Reject Set Audio and Hunting with the GTAx 550 Pinpointing Coin Depth Measurement Proper Scanning Techniques Junk Targets Making Adjustments Mode A Zero Discrimination Mode B Coins Setting Discrimination Bench Tests Test Plot Construction Headphone Jack Batteries Searchcoils Recommended Accessories Maintenance Specialized Hunting Service amp Repair Recommended Reading RAM Books Order Form Specifications Mind Your Manners Warning GARRETT GTAx 5507 Lower Stem Control Housing i Upper Searchcoil LCD F Screen Touchpad Pa Controls Knop Padded Arm Cuff Spring l Washer Clip Le Threaded 4 a Bolt S shaped ee Ramrod Stem i Handle Grip je Detector Stand Headphone Jack PARTS Before assembling your GTAx 550 metal detector ensure you have the complete set of parts which include Control Housing w S Ramrod Stem Upper Stem e Lower Stem with Spring Clip Two 2 Mounting Washers One 1 Wing Nut One 1 Threaded Bolt e Searchcoil with Cable Instruction Video not shown below e Warranty Registration Card If any part is missing contact your local dealer GTAx 550 ASSEMBL
14. arbon alkaline or heavy duty batteries SEARCHCOILS The 7 x10 PROformance searchcoil that comes with your GTAx 550 is suitable for searching for almost any target in any terrain Optional searchcoils are also available for the GTAx 550 The 10 x14 DD PROformance Elliptical Use in areas with moderate to heavily mineralized soils Part No 2217200 43 The 9 x12 PROformance Use to increase detection depth and scanning width for hunting a broad target range Part No 2220700 The 4 5 Super Sniper Use in trashy locations or in tight places where a larger searchcoil will not reach Part No 2218800 When changing searchcoils only hand tighten the knobs Never use tools of any kind RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES Headphones 10 X14 DD elliptical searchcoil 9 x12 PROformance searchcoil 4 5 Super Sniper searchcoil Carry bag Coin hunter kit pouch probe digging tool Coil covers 44 MAINTENANCE Your GTAx 550 is a sensitive instrument built to withstand rugged treatment in the outdoors Use your Garrett detector to the fullest extent yet always protect and handle it with reasonable care Avoid extreme temperatures as much as possible such as storing the detector in an automobile trunk during the summer or winter months When storing longer than about one month remove the battery holders and batteries from the detector Keep the detector clean Wipe the housing after use and wash the coil when
15. be found in areas where it is known to exist More information is contained in You Can Find Gold with a Metal Detector 48 SERVICE AND REPAIR In case of difficulty read this Owner s Manual thoroughly to make certain your detector is not inoperable due to manual adjustments Press and hold the POWER button for ten 10 seconds to return to the factory recommended settings Contact your dealer for additional assistance When your detector must be returned to the factory for service make certain You have checked batteries switches and connectors Weak batteries are the most common cause of detector failure You have contacted your dealer particularly if you are not familiar with the GTAx 550 You have included a letter that fully describes the problem and conditions under which they occur Make certain to include your name address and a phone number where you can be contacted between 8 30 a m and 4 p m C S T 49 You have carefully packed the detector in its original shipping carton or other suitable box Make certain that proper insulation or packing material is used to secure all parts Do not ship stems or headphones unless they are part of the problem Be certain to return all coils Ship to Garrett Metal Detectors 1881 West State Street Garland Texas 75042 Call Garrett s Customer Service Department 800 527 4011 if you have further questions Please allow approximately one week for Garrett techn
16. cates the type of target found based on its conductivity 2 Upper Scale The Upper Scale has four purposes Indicates target discovered Indicates levels of settings Indicates maximum pinpoint signal Indicates the cursor s location for changing discrimination notches 3 Lower Scale The Lower horizontal scale or Notch Discrimination Scale indicates the discrimination pattern where the GTAx 550 will or will not produce an audible signal when a target is located No audible signal will be produced when a target is located where a notch regions of Lower Scale where no segments are visible is present The Lower Scale also indicates Coin Depth when pinpointing 5 BATT Battery Battery condition is reported continuously by the horizontal row of squares on the lower right of the GTA display Four are visible when fully charged batteries are being used When only one square remains battery life is two hours or less Although it is not necessary to change batteries until this warning flashes you should always have spares so that you will be ready When using rechargeable batteries only three squares will generally be illuminated with fully charged batteries However when only one square is visible battery life has diminished to two hours or less 6 Hip Mount Hip mount adaptability is built into the 550 Since no extension cable cord is required you never have to worry about winding it around the detector s ste
17. d Gold Panning is Easy but it is especially applicable to those interested in gold prospecting 52 RAM BOOKS ORDER FORM Please send me the following RAM books Please indicate number of copies desired _ New Successful Coin Hunting srvvrorvrr0ri0 _ Treasure Hunting for Fun and Profit _ Treasure Caches Can Be Found _ Ghost Town Treasures sossen 9 95 You Can Find Gold with a Metal Detector 9 95 _ Buried Treasures You Can Find 14 95 _ Gold of the Americas ___ New Modern Metal Detectors 04 12 95 Gold Panning is Easy srorrnrnvrvrvnonervrenrnerrr 9 95 _ How to Find Lost Treasure n se 3 95 _ How to Find Gold noose 3 95 _ How to Search Sand and Surf srervvrvrnrronrn 3 95 Free with the purchase of any other RAM book or Garrett product If you do not wish to purchase anything but would like a free copy of How to Find Lost Treasure mail 2 00 for postage handling to our address U S orders only For international orders contact international garrett com Please send payment to RAM Publishing Co 1881 West State Street Garland Texas 75042 Order form continued on back of this page 53 MAIL IN ORDER FORM Add 2 00 for first book and 1 00 for each additional book ordered maximum 3 00 for handling and shipping charges Total for books 8 25 Tax TX CA residents Handling Charge TOTAL Payment Opti
18. ecisely identify small junk targets Some larger objects such as aluminum cans may however present a good audio signal due to their composition This is normal 28 MAKING ADJUSTMENTS When you first press the POWER touchpad your GTAx 550 is ready to hunt in the B Coins operating mode with threshold depth and discrimination preset at the factory Any or all of these operating levels can be easily changed Whenever your detector is on it will return to the detection mode in which it was previously being used Mode selection will be illuminated on the graphic display You can change to the other mode simply by pressing the Last Mode touchpad In addition to the familiar Zero and Coins discrimination detection modes preset at the factory as Modes A and B the GTAx 550 permits a user to design personal modes through use of the and touchpads It is important to remember that these special modes of detection can be chosen at the discretion of the individual operator Many GTAx 550 owners will never use individual modes and will hunt only in the preset B Coins or A Zero modes 29 Relic hunters prospectors and others may adapt one of these to hunt for specific targets Any personal preference adjustments you have set in the GTAx 550 with the various operating functions will be retained when the detector is turned off Because ground and or atmospheric conditions can vary from place to place it may be necessary f
19. et will be detected If you wish to reject that type of target press the ACCEPT REJECT touchpad The segment will disappear creating a reject notch If the Lower Scale segment is not displayed press the ACCEPT REJECT touchpad to illuminate it creating an accept notch and your GTAx 550 will begin detecting targets represented by that segment Second method Pass the searchcoil over an object to be accepted or rejected as a target or pass the particular target across the face of the coil about two inches from its surface Check to make certain there is an appropriate cursor on the Upper Scale of the Graphic Display Then press ACCEPT REJECT depending upon your discrimination choice for this specific target 33 Note Each time the detector is turned off the accept reject discrimination selections will be retained in both modes All selections will be lost when you return your detector to the factory set detection calibrations by pressing and holding the POWER touchpad for 10 seconds or until it beeps There are reasons why you would want to accept or reject specific targets For example You may be looking for only one item a certain lost piece of jewelry for example You can program the GTAx 550 to reject all other types of metal targets You may be hunting in an area where you encounter large amounts of a specific type of trash You can reject just this type of trash and continue to hunt with no other discrimination detecting a
20. f Ethics that many treasure hunt clubs endorse and hobbyists follow to preserve our exciting hobby of metal detecting We encourage you to do the same I will keep informed on and obey all laws regulations and rules governing federal state and local public lands I will aid law enforcement officials whenever possible will cause no willful damage to property of any kind including fences signs and buildings I will always fill the holes I dig will not destroy property buildings or the remains of ghost towns and other deserted structures I will not leave litter or uncovered items lying around I will carry all trash and dug targets with me when leave each search area 57 I will observe the Golden Rule using good outdoor manners and conducting myself at all times in a manner which will add to the stature and public image of all people engaged in the field of metal detection WARNING When searching for treasure with your Garrett detector observe these precautions 58 Never trespass or hunt on private property without permission Avoid areas where pipelines or electric lines may be buried National and state parks monuments etc are absolutely off limits Deepseeking detectors can detect concealed pipes wiring and other potentially dangerous material When those are located the proper authorities should be notified Do not hunt in a military zone where bombs or other explosives may be buried
21. gets however may cause the audio to break up or sound erratic This is generally a response to shallow trash targets and can be remedied by raising the height of your searchcoil when scanning Another indication of a reject target is an audio 26 signal as you scan one way and no response when scanning from the other direction With Experience After you have used the GTAx 550 for only a short time you will be surprised at how proficient you have become with it Do not expect to achieve the greatest accuracy and success until you have hunted with this detector for at least 100 hours or more Dont forget to take Charles Garrett s advice to press only one touchpad and search in the factory preset Coins Mode for at least 10 hours during your learning phase Perfect practice makes more perfect treasure hunting The more you use your detector in the correct manner the more treasure you are likely to discover 27 JUNK TARGETS Your GTAx 550 in its factory set B Coins detection mode will not respond audibly to most junk items Occasionally you ll encounter targets that cause the detector to respond with a quick sharp sound not like the clear strong signal of a coin Before you dig up some of the targets that make irregular audio blips see how they register on the Upper Scale of the graphic display Learn to recognize them Because your GTAx 550 in the factory preset Mode B is set primarily to hunt coins it will also pr
22. he Graphic display that are shown when various target s are scanned across the coil 3 Begin to experiment with the and ACCEPT REJECT touchpads Notice carefully which of the 24 segments are illuminated by targets Try to imagine how these targets will affect your search for coins The possibilities are truly countless your only limit is your imagination 4 Be methodical Keep written records of your results and use them when hunting in the field 37 TEST PLOT CONSTRUCTION As you operate and use your GTAx 550 you will quickly grow more proficient in its use It is recommended that you build your own test plot Bury several items including a nail a piece of foil a pull tab a bottle cap and several coins at depths ranging from one to four inches Bury them about 18 inches apart and clearly mark the location of each target Then scan and study the detection signals Remember that newly buried objects especially coins will be somewhat more difficult to detect than items that have been buried for some time This is primarily a metallurgical phenomenon Experiment with various detection modes and pay attention to both audio and graphic display signals as you scan over your test plot Note carefully the response of your detector at various settings Practice pinpointing and locating targets precisely Use both the manual and the electronic methods of pinpointing 38 HEADPHONE JACK The headphone jack on the G
23. hen headphones are used it will usually be necessary to decrease the threshold level since sound is more audible through headphones After you have made audio adjustments press AUDIO to re enter your previous operating mode The GTAx 550 is equipped with Garrett s exclusive Belltone Coin Alert that produces a distinctive ringing tone when a target of high conductivity usually a coin is discovered AND Use these touchpads to adjust levels of threshold and depth and to move the cursor in the Upper Scale when setting the discrimination 20 HUNTING WITH THE GTAx 550 There are no dials to turn and no controls to adjust Just take the handle of your GTAx 550 and lower the searchcoil to a level of about one foot above the ground Press and release the POWER touchpad After you hear two beeps the GTAx 550 is ready for detecting in Mode B which is a factory pre set COINS mode Whenever the detector has been in use it will always return to the mode that was being used when it was turned off NOTE Only a light touch is necessary to activate a touchpad As noted the GTAx 550 begins operating with discrimination at factory set levels These settings can be changed easily but you may never want to do so It is recommended that you use these settings the first few hours of hunting with your detector 21 Target Identification Target identification of the last target over which the searchcoil passed will be indicated on the
24. icians to examine and repair your detector after they receive it plus another week for return shipping All equipment will be returned UPS or parcel post unless written authorization is given by you to ship collect by air parcel post UPS Blue air or air freight 50 RECOMMENDED READING Since Garrett s GTAx 550 is one of the world s premier coin hunting detectors you will be especially interested in The New Successful Coin Hunting by Charles Garrett filled with how to tips and success stories about finding coins The GTAx 550 is an excellent detector for finding every type of treasure and all of the RAM books are pertinent to its use Treasure hunters will also appreciate the revised version of Garrett s popular Modern Metal Detectors a basic text that will help you to understand all types of metal detection equipment and how to use them A special section of the revised edition is devoted to the use of One Touch computerized detectors For beginners the new edition of Treasure Hunting for Fun and Profit will prove especially interesting and helpful Where can you hunt How about ghost towns and deserted structures You will read about them in 51 Charles Garrett s Ghost Town Treasures Bob Marx s Buried Treasures You Can Find locates thousands of sites where treasure is known to have existed This book also includes good information about One Touch detectors such as the GTAx 550 Hobbyists of all ages will want to rea
25. ll other metal You may have your own special ideas for designing a detection mode The GTAx 550 gives you unlimited opportunities to try out any and all of your ideas 34 Special Note on Settings If you are ever unsure about the settings of your detector simply press and hold the POWER touchpad for 10 seconds or until the detector beeps to restore the detector to the factory set B Coins mode 35 BENCH TESTS Bench Tests enable you to test typical trash items and to learn about the discrimination capabilities of the GTAx 550 before taking it into the field or trying to set your own discrimination notches The following tests should be performed with the searchcoil perpendicular to a bench floor or other non metallic surface and several feet away from any metallic object 1 Select the factory preset A mode of operation with no discrimination all Lower scale segments displayed Bring various metallic targets across the bottom of the coil at a distance of about two inches All targets will cause the sound to increase which 36 represents true non discrimination operation 2 Use the Last Mode touchpad to select the alternate detection mode with its factory preset B discrimination notches On your graphic display Mode B will be illuminated Bring the same targets across the bottom of the searchcoil and listen for the sound to increase when each item is scanned Notice the specific cursor s in the Upper Scale of t
26. m or carrying it with you When you slip off the hip mount battery pack and attach it to your belt with the built in clip you reduce the weight of your detector by almost a pound The cable cord is conveniently coiled to prevent tangling When you use this hip mount feature the detector 13 weighs less than 2 pounds Yet all of the controls are still easily accessible and your GTAx 550 display is visible on the control stem of the detector The removable hip mount pack and built in coiled cable permit easy reassembly for carrying and storage When reassembling make certain the coil cored slides into its tube and is not pinched in any way between the armrest and battery compartment TOUCHPADS CONTROLS POWER PINPOINT LAST Hold to Reset Coin Depth MODE POWER Press and release the POWER touchpad to turn the detector on and off Note After turning the detector off wait 3 to 5 seconds before turning on again The POWER touchpad can also be used to reset all settings to factory preset by pressing and holding for 5 to 10 seconds or until the detectors beeps 2 PINPOINT Coin Depth Activates pinpointing function and indicates depth of coin sized targets on the Lower Scale of the Graphic Display 3 LAST MODE Returns the detector to the operating mode previously used This touchpad can be particularly helpful while scanning because it effectively converts your GTAx 550 into a dual mode detector NOT
27. ons ____ Enclosed check or money order ___I prefer to order through ____ American Express ___ MasterCard Visa ____ Discover Card Number Expiration Date of Card Phone Number Signature Required on credit card purchases Name Address City State Zip 54 SPECIFICATIONS e Detector type Very Low Frequency VLF transmitter receiver Graphic Target Analyzer GTA with multiple notch discrimination Controls Easy access touch panel Display High visibility LCD adjacent to the touch panel data accessible at any angle e Detection Frequency 7 0 kHz e Circuitry Linear transmitter receiver filter front end 10 bit data acquisition Microcomputer with 8 Kbyte memory Crystal controlled 4 MHz operation High reliability surface mount printed circuit board construction Audio Frequency 275 to 710 Hz Batteries 8 AA Battery Life approximate Alkaline 30 hours Carbon Zinc 20 hours Rechargeable 12 15 hours Humidity To 95 non condensing e Temperatures Operating 0 to 140 F Storage 20 to 150 F Construction Aluminum and high strength glass filled nylon Ramrod S stem with handle mounted 55 control display and panel Convertible hip mount with self storing cord for minimum weight and optimum balance Hip Mount e Cable Length 62 inches e Weight 3 lbs 4 oz e Shipping weight 5 Ibs 56 MIND YOUR MANNERS The following is a Code o
28. or you to adjust DEPTH Sensitivity occasionally Remember that you can instantly restore the factory set levels of all its controls Simply press and hold the POWER touchpad for approximately ten seconds or until the detector beeps Operating Mode Descriptions The GTAx 550 is a slow motion detector with precise ground balance The searchcoil can be hovered over a target for only a few seconds because of automatic circuitry It should always be kept moving slightly for proper target detection to occur except when the pinpoint touchpad is pressed Detection will then continue with the touchpad depressed even when the searchcoil is stationary 30 Mode A Zero Discrimination You will want to hunt in this detection mode which is preset with no discrimination when searching for caches or deep relics You may also wish to hunt in this mode when hunting in areas with many targets spaced closely together This will help to identify individual targets and improve recovery of coins and other treasure Gold hunting will also be carried out in a ZERO discrimination mode Because no discrimination is programmed in this mode your detector will give an audible signal announcing every piece of metal it scans over Remember you can always return to the alternate discrimination mode to quickly check a target by pressing the LAST MODE touchpad Mode B Coins Discrimination preset at the factory mode is designed to eliminate the detection of
29. roper Scanning Techniques Swing the searchcoil back and forth in front of you in a straight line Keep the searchcoil moving at a rate of about one to two feet per second Because of the sensitivity of the GTAx 550 and its PROformance searchcoil it is not necessary to operate with the searchcoil touching the ground The recommended operating method is to hold the coil at a constant height about one or two inches above the ground Detection of a metal target will be indicated by an increase in sound and indications on your display Garrett s exclusive Belltone Coin Alert will indicate you have discovered a target of high conductivity probably a coin Locate your target precisely by scanning back and forth over the target to determine where the signal is the loudest 25 The Upper Scale of the graphic display will indicate a detected target This indication will remain for five seconds or until a new target is detected whichever comes first The Target ID Guide located above the Graphic Display will help identify your detected target When scanning do not hurry Walk at a pace that is comfortable Be methodical Do not skip any areas Overlap each sweep at least 25 of the searchcoil s width Wear headphones for greater sound perception and concentrate on your scanning Erratic Sounds When a metallic object is accepted the detector s speaker or headphone sound will increase from your audio threshold level Some rejected tar
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