Page 12
SEARCH MODES
IMPACT
has 12 search modes (2 static, 2 all metal and 8 discrimination) designed for different
terrains and targets. You can navigate between the modes easily by using the direction
buttons. The selected mode name will be framed on screen.
Tables outlining the search modes, recommended areas of usage and settings used in
each mode are placed at the back of this manual. You can easily detach the pages and
carry them with you during your searches.
Static Mode (STA)
This is a non-motion mode. In other words, the device will generate an audio response
when you hold the coil stationary without swinging over the target. The audio response
increases in volume as the coil approaches the target. This mode is recommended for larger
and deeper metals.
In the STA mode, the device will generate the same audio tone for all metals and it will
display the target ID on screen. At the same time, the ID scale will fill up to the right in
proportion to the signal strength.
Target ID range is 00-99. 00-40 are ferrous and 41-99 are non-ferrous metals. You can
discriminate out all IDs below a certain ID by using the Disc. setting and simply avoid
these metals in the field.
When the device detects a discriminated metal, it will not produce an audio response or an
ID. However, the ID scale will fill up to the right in proportion to the signal strength.
The threshold in this mode is internal and cannot be adjusted by the user. Changes in the
ground and temperature may lead to drifts in the threshold. Threshold drifts will be reflected
in the ID scale either in the positive way (right side) or the negative way (left side). The device
may emit an audible response in the positive drifts but not in the negative ones. When the
threshold drifts, pull the trigger once to retune the detector. Retuning periodically while
searching in this mode is recommended.
IMPORTANT!
For a more stable operation, try keeping the coil consistently at the same
height above the ground where you retuned the detector.
IMPORTANT!
If you retune the detector over a target, the threshold will drift to the negative
side and the device will no longer detect the target until the detector is retuned. In addition,
the depth of the detector will also decrease.
If the drifts are substantial and retuning does not improve the situation, increase the iSAT
setting in the Expert Settings to a level where the drifts are eliminated (
for detailed informa-
tion on iSAT please refer to page 24
). As the iSAT is increased, the device may detect weaker
signals but will not be able to detect the targets anymore if you hold the coil stationary or
sweep back and forth over the target. If the drifts still continue frequently, drop the gain to
39, decrease the iSAT and re-ground balance.
Static Delta Mode (STA (D))
In principle, it works the same as the static mode. The difference is that the static delta mode
will generate the same tone for ferrous and non-ferrous targets at fringe depths but it will
discriminate the shallow ferrous targets by emitting a low iron tone. Also, Disc. setting is not
available in this mode.
Please refer to Table 2 at the end of the manual for different settings used in STA and STA (D)
modes.
General Search (GEN)
Different than the other modes, this mode features a threshold tone which is continuously
heard in the background.
General Search (GEN) mode is used in 2 different ways in the IMPACT: 1) with the Disc. setting
disabled at 0 2) with Disc. enabled (non-zero). When the device is first turned on, Disc. setting
will be off. When the Disc. is set at 0, the device does not discriminate targets and detects
all targets (metals, mineralized rocks etc.). ID of the detected target is shown on the display
(except for negative hot rocks) and the same audio tone is provided for all targets. The audio
tone increases in pitch as the coil approaches the target. This is the typical All Metal mode
found in most detectors.
When using the Disc. Setting in this mode, the device will emit a low ferrous tone for all
targets below the Disc. Setting, and a higher tone for all targets above the Disc. setting
which changes in pitch as the coil approaches the target. Let's say you set the Disc. to 20.
The device will generate a low iron tone for all metals with 0-20 ID and a higher tone for
all targets with 21-99 ID. Upon target detection, the threshold will momentarily go silent
and only the target audio response will be heard. The duration of the threshold's silence is
directly related to the level of the iSAT.
Gain, threshold and iSAT settings in this mode are optimized to provide the best perfor-
mance on different terrains. You can modify these settings based on ground conditions.
We recommend using the GEN mode when discrimination is not important and not using
it in heavy trash areas or areas containing many hot rocks.
Audio Boost in the General Search Mode
This feature is not included in the settings on screen.
Boosts the sound of weak signals
received from small or deep targets making it easier for you to detect those uncertain
targets. It is recommended that audio boost should be used on a temporary or as-needed
basis because it will not only boost the target signal audio but it will also boost the volume
of ground noise and false signals along with the threshold hum.
Audio Boost consists of 5 levels (b1-b5). At start up, the Audio Boost level is set to low (b1). To
increase the Audio Boost level, pull the trigger and press the minus (-) button simultaneously.
Audio Boost will only work in the GEN mode.
General Search Delta (GEN (D))
In principle, it works the same as GEN mode. The difference is that the Gen (D) mode will
generate the same tone for ferrous and non-ferrous targets at fringe depths but it will
discriminate the shallow ferrous targets by emitting a low iron tone.
Please refer to Table 2 at the end of the manual for different settings used in GEN and GEN
(D) modes.
2-Tone Discrimination (DI2)
Recommended especially for relic hunting. It produces good results particularly on clean
sites which do not contain waste metal. More depth can be obtained on sites which are
rocky or those that contain waste metals by using the Disc. and Notch Filter and swinging
the search coil more slowly (one right/left pass per approximately 1 second). Disc. is set to
03 as a default value. You can modify this value according to the ID of the targets you don’t
want to detect.
In this mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with IDs between 0-15.
For targets with IDs 16-99, it produces a higher tone which increases in pitch as the coil
approaches the target. By using the Tone Break feature, you can adjust the break points of
the target response tones on the Target ID range.
3-Tone Discrimination (DI3)
This is the 3-tone discrimination mode designed for coin hunting especially in trashy sites
such as parks. In this mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with 0-15 IDs, a
medium tone for gold and non-ferrous metals with IDs 16-66 and a high tone for non-ferrous
metals with IDs 67-99 such as silver, brass and copper. By using the Tone Break feature, you
can adjust the break points of the target response tones on the Target ID range.
4-Tone Discrimination (DI4)
4-tone discrimination mode designed for coin hunting in low-medium mineralization. Due
to its high gain and depth, this mode is a bit noisier than the other modes. Noise will be
more in the air versus in the ground. Take this fact into consideration when adjusting the
gain level.
In this mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with 0-15 IDs, a medium tone
for gold and non-ferrous metals with IDs 16-30, a medium-high tone for metals with 31-66
IDs, and a high tone for non-ferrous metals with IDs 67-99. By using the Tone Break feature,
you can adjust the break points of the target response tones on the Target ID range.
99-Tone Discrimination (DI99)
Multi-tone discrimination mode designed for coin hunting in various mineralization. In this
mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with 0-15 IDs. For targets with IDs
greater than 15, the device will produce a different tone for each ID. The tone will be higher
in pitch as the conductivity of the metal increases and vice versa.
Conductive Ground (COG)
This is a special mode of the
IMPACT
developed for conductive grounds (salty wet sand
beach, grounds with alkali soil etc.). The feature of this mode presents the ability to ignore
iron and similar targets in this group and to be able to perform ground balance on any type
of ground. While the device performs ground balance in the range of 20-90 automatically
in the other discrimination modes, the device ground balances in the range of 0-90 in this
mode. This enables easier ground balancing on conductive grounds where normally ground
balance cannot be performed at all or performed with difficulty.
In this mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with IDs between 0-15.
For targets with IDs 16-99, it produces a higher tone which increases in pitch as the coil
approaches the target. By using the Tone Break feature, you can adjust the break points of
the target response tones on the Target ID range.
Different than the other modes, the Disc. is set to 15 as a default value in this mode in order
to ignore ferrous metals or ground noise.
Salt water and alkali grounds are significantly conductive due to high ionization and cause
effects similar to that of iron in detectors. These effects may make it impossible to search
for metals with a standard detector. Existence of an iron elimination feature in a detector
can improve the situation but may not be sufficient.
IMPACT
's COG mode eliminates such effects and ground noise. Aspects to be taken into
consideration while searching on conductive grounds are explained in more detail in the
section titled Searching in Shallow Water and Beach (page 29).
Deep Mode (DEEP)
Recommended especially for relic hunting, this mode is the deepest mode of the device.
Therefore, it may run relatively noisier. Noise will be more in the air versus in the ground. Take
this fact into consideration when adjusting the gain level. While searching in this mode, a
slower swing speed is required.
The discrimination ability of the DEEP mode is relatively less compared to the other modes.
Hence, its performance may vary on trashy sites versus clean ones.
In this mode, the device produces a low tone for ferrous targets with IDs between 0-40. For
gold and non-ferrous targets with IDs 41-99, it produces a higher tone which increases in
pitch as the coil approaches the target. By using the Tone Break feature, you can adjust the
break points of the target response tones on the Target ID range.
VLX1
3-tone discrimination mode designed for users who prefer a lower noise level while detecting.
Ideal for coin hunting on changing grounds and different levels of mineralization. It will
provide weaker responses for fringe depth targets as well as ground and environmental noises.
Therefore, it is suitable for use with Disc. set to 0 and at higher gain levels. If needed, a more
stable operation can be obtained by increasing the Disc. but Disc. will create a greater loss in
depth in this mode compared to others.
VLX2
Resembles the VLX1 in terms of characteristics. However, it is a deeper mode utilizing 4-tones
and it is ideal for both coin and relic hunting in changing ground conditions and all levels of
mineralization.
