Instruction manual

ManualsBrandsMinelab ManualsBusiness equipmentX-Terra 50

Introduction

It has to be said that Minelab are no

slouches when it comes to making fine

metal detectors. However, it can also be

said that some of the models they have

produced are robust machines but a tad

on the heavy side. All that has changed,

as they have just introduced a brand-

new range of truly lightweight models.

These are called the X-Terra, using

brand new technology termed “V-Flex”.

There are two models presently avail-

able: the X-Terra 30 and the X-Terra 50

(which has more features and advanced

user functions).

Despite coming rather late into pro-

viding lightweight detectors utilising a

single frequency (the Musketeer aside)

it is good that Minelab have listened to

their customers and provided the one

thing that searchers everywhere want –

lightweight detectors.

The performance levels of some

traditional VLF single frequency

machines, especially those with meter

ID systems, can leave a lot to be

desired. With the older VLF system,

one of the drawbacks was accurately

identifying targets at even a modest 4in

in-ground depth. They also lacked lock-

on with positive and consistent values

on a meter that, due to ground miner-

alisation, could at times show a

negative value for a positive target and

ultimately cause some confusion in the

field.

Minelab engineers looked at these

problematic areas and went about the

task of improving the existing technol-

ogy, coming up with a new improved

system that they have called “V-Flex”.

V-Flex Explained

V-Flex uses state of the art digital

and mixed-signal components to

enhance standard single frequency VLF

technology by replacing most of the

analogue circuitry with digital signal

processing. The small amount of ana-

logue circuitry still employed has been

very carefully designed and calibrated

to obtain the outstanding sensitivity,

stability and the repeatability required

to match the performance of the pro-

cessing in the digital domain. This

radical departure from traditional

approaches to metal detector design

has been made possible by advances in

electronics that power personal digital

devices such as mobile cell phones and

tiny portable audio devices such as the

new I-Pods.

What does this mean for the X-Terra

user?

For the X-Terra owner this precision

means dependable performance and

improved immunity to environmental

conditions, such as ground mineralisa-

tion, electromagnetic interference, and

temperature variations.

V-Flex requires search coils that are

hand-built and calibrated to a very high

standard. Each time the detector starts

up a primary microprocessor in the

control box begins the digital signal

processing and a secondary micro-

processor inside the search coil

recognises:

1. The coil type configuration - con-

centric or DD

2. Coil size

3. Frequency of that coil.

So it is not the detector that oper-

ates at a set frequency but the actual

search coil that denotes the frequency

chosen from a very low to a very high

kHz setting. So you have a truly “future

proof” detector that you can upgrade as

often as you want as more accessory

coils become available for the detector.

It is also very useful that all you have to

do to obtain different results on differ-

ent soils/sites is to use an alternative

search coil. For example, if you want to

search deeper for larger objects use a

low frequency coil. If you want to

search to a shallow depth and make

very small finds (in stubble rows, for

example) use a higher frequency coil.

By the way, the origin of the new

machine’s name is interesting. It came

about by “Ex = of/out” and “Terra =

land”. So we have, “X-Terra = from the

land”

Instruction Manual

This is a very nice pocket-sized book

of about 60 pages so you can take it

with you in the field. It is very compre-

hensive and describes the two models -

X-Terra 30 and X-Terra 50 - in great

detail. It is packed throughout with

illustrations and explanations on all the

controls. There are some major differ-

ences between the two models and you

should refer to the manual to check.

For this test I will be discussing my

experiences with the X-Terra 50.

January 2006 TREASURE HUNTING 47

Des Dunne

Detector

Field Test

Minelab X-Terra 50

Field Application Specialist

Minelab International

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Detector Field Test Minelab X-Terra 50 Des Dunne Field Application Specialist Minelab International Introduction It has to be said that Minelab are no slouches when it comes to making fine metal detectors. However, it can also be said that some of the models they have produced are robust machines but a tad on the heavy side. All that has changed, as they have just introduced a brandnew range of truly lightweight models. These are called the X-Terra, using brand new technology termed “V-Flex”.
PAGE 2
X-Terra Controls The machine couldn’t be simpler! Furthermore, there are some really clever features built into the operation of the machine that you are bound to notice - but more on that later. For now let’s examine the control panel. Power. This turns the unit on and off. It also erases patterns and enables factory preset. Power for the X-Terra is supplied by four 1.5 volt AA cells that are held inside the control box via a hinged door. These should power XTerra for 25 hours (alkaline cells).
PAGE 3
Fig.1. numbers, either minus or positive, for the entire range of targets that X-Terra can locate. Each time you locate a target you will see a numeric value for that target on the screen. The block assigned to the conductivity of that value will move either up or down to, and stop at that numeric value; it will then flash three times.
PAGE 4
Des Dunne Fig.5. After becoming more familiar with the machine I experimented with higher sensitivities. Set to Sensitivity 18, a beverage can came up from 20in. Some small toy cars and other larger items came up from foot plus depths (Fig.1.). Fig.6. Foreshore A river foreshore was next searched. Finds were not prolific but I was impressed with the way that X-Terra rejected iron and remained perfectly quiet and stable.