® MX5 White’s Electronics, Inc. Sweet Home, Oregon USA Building the World’s Finest metal detectors for over 60 years.
MX5 Owner’s Manual CONTENTS Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 QuickStart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Basic Controls POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MX5 Owner’s Manual Introduction The MX5 is a high-performance metal detector based on the renowned MXT platform but with a redesigned feature set and interface. The MX5 has state-of-the-art automatic ground tracking (AutoTrac®) which maximizes performance across many different ground conditions. It also features a 20-zone discriminator with both multi-tone audio and visual target identification.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Assembly 1. Remove all parts from the shipping carton and check assembly diagram to ensure all parts are present. 2. Install black rubber washers on fiber clevis/lower rod, insert clevis lower rod onto loop ears. Use only nonmetallic washers, fiber bolt, and fiber thumb nut to secure loop/search coil to clevis/lower fiber rod. 3. Insert middle rod into curved “S” rod so that the spring clip engages. Insert lower fiber rod and lock into one of the adjustment holes in the middle rod.
MX5 Owner’s Manual cable into the jack on the front of the control box and tighten the retainer ring. 5. Grip the instrument by the handle, with your arm in the elbow cup with strap and sweep the loop/search coil over the floor. If the instrument fit feels uncomfortable, readjust clevis/lower rod length with spring clip button and camlock so that search coil can be held near the floor without stooping over. 6.
MX5 Owner’s Manual QuickStart 1. Turn on the power. 2. The MX5 has automatic ground tracking. To speed up the initial tracking process, find a spot free of targets and bob the coil up & down a few times (optional). 3. The normal default Sensitivity (SENS) level of 7 bars is reasonable for most situations. If the audio is chattery or constantly overloads, reduce the sensitivity level (SEL to highlight Sensitivity area, to change). 4.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Basic Controls The MX5 user interface is a combination of direct controls (MODE, DISC) and a select button (SEL) which is used in conjunction with the arrow keys ( and ) to adjust several parameters. POWER Besides the obvious function of turning the unit on, the POWER button can also suspend operation. Quick-press POWER to suspend the MX5 (during target retrieval, for example); during suspend the MX5 will occasionally beep, and will automatically power down after 5 minutes.
MX5 Owner’s Manual appears around the sensitivity level bars. The buttons adjust the level from minimum (1 bar) to maximum (10 bars). Normally, this determines how deep the detector will “see” a target. In general, run the sensitivity as high as possible while maintaining smooth operation. If the audio is chattery or the ground is causing overload, reduce the sensitivity. • Volume This is loudness of the target response. Range is 1-99.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Backlight The Backlight button toggles the display backlight for lowlight hunting. A screen icon indicates when backlight is on. Keep in mind that the backlight uses additional battery power and should be turned off when not needed. PINPOINT Briefly press and release the Pinpoint button to place the MX5 in Pinpoint mode; you will see flash on the screen and hear a brief double-tone. The search mode will switch to ALLMET and the 2-digit number now represents depth instead of VDI.
MX5 Owner’s Manual in both Disc and All Metal modes and the depth of the target in Pinpoint mode. VDI responses (such as the +83 example shown below) are covered in the “In Depth” section. Below 10” the VDI Depth Volume Thresh FreqO/S TracLock 1248F VDI Depth Volume Thresh FreqO/S TracLock incm 1248F numeric depth is given in ½” increments with a decimal point. The example below shows 6.5 inches. Depth readout can be switched to cm by pressing PINPOINT and SEL at the same time.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Threshold (SAT) circuit that maintains a consistent threshold level. Pinpoint mode does not use SAT and will respond even when hovering over a target. • Coin — This is the primary search mode for the MX5 for most general hunting. By default AutoTrac® is enabled and restricted to normal soil, most iron is discriminated, 8-tone mode is selected, and threshold is on. • Beach — Wet salt sand (and sometimes highly fertilized ground) is mildly conductive and difficult for most metal detectors.
MX5 Owner’s Manual In Depth VDI SCALE SILVER RING HOT ROCK +95 S VDI DOLLAR 90 I VDI stands for Visual Display HALF / LG c L 85 V Indicator and is a numeric represenQUARTER DIME 80 E tation of the target’s response. VLF R LATE CENT 75 detectors transmit a magnetic field 70 which is disrupted by nearby metal CENT 65 C targets.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Target ID & Tones The MX5 has two methods of target identification: visual and audio. The visual consists of the 2-digit VDI number that is displayed plus a cursor that appears across the top of the screen pointing at the VDI zone the target belongs in. The 20 VDI zones are labeled as follows: The span of each zone begins at the number directly above the zone and extends to the edge of the next zone.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Overload If the received signal is too large to process the MX5 will produce an overload response. This is heard as an obnoxious alarm sound, plus the display will read (“OL”). An overload can be the result of a large metal target near the surface, or from extreme ground mineralization. If it is the latter, the only recourse is to reduce the sensitivity level until the detector can operate smoothly.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Discrimination Pitfalls To avoid missing good targets it is important to understand the limitations of target ID and (because it is based on target ID) discrimination. As explained in the section on VDI, target ID is based on the phase shift of a target’s received signal. We’ve already seen that many different types of targets can share VDI responses so that rejecting certain kinds of trash will also reject potentially good targets. Depth also plays a role.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Ground Balance & Tracking Most soils contain iron-based minerals which affect metal detectors. We generally call this mineralization. These ferrous minerals usually don’t respond like metal targets but still upset the delicate balance required of VLF detectors. In fact, the signal strength from ground minerals can many times greater than that of an average buried coin. It is possible to largely null out the ground signal and leave only target signals.
MX5 Owner’s Manual s Salt Track Range Fe No n- F e us ro Pure ferrite -95 0 r r ro u Pure salt Some soils, especially coastal beaches, contain salts which appear as a conductive target. Wet salt sand and seawater are especially conductive and respond with a VDI of around +5 which is in the region of foil.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Misc Tips Sensitivity (again) There is a strong desire to always run a detector at maximum sensitivity. However, this not only increases the response to target signals, but also that of ground signals and electromagnetic interference (EMI). A common mistake is to assume that higher sensitivity will always give better depth. In air tests this is generally true, but ground results can depend on the amount and type of mineralization.
MX5 Owner’s Manual The MX5 comes standard with a 9” concentric coil. Several optional coils are available through your White’s dealer. Any of the Eclipse-series coils (made for M6/MXT/DFX/V3) will work with the MX5. Sweep Methods Proper sweep technique is important with any detector. Round coils tend to have a conical pattern of sensitivity as illustrated here.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Sizing, Pinpointing, and Digging When a target is detected move the coil well away from the target area and quick-press the Pinpoint button to switch to the Pinpoint mode. A normal sweep over the target in Pinpoint mode will give an idea of target size. If the response is narrow then it is likely a small coin-sized target. If the response is broad then it could be e.g. a beer can.
MX5 Owner’s Manual Quick Reference Power: Power on, press/hold for power off Power: Quick-press to suspend operation BEACH: Enables/disables Beach mode SEL: Rotates through Sens, Volume, Threshold, and ToneID controls BEACH + Power: Reset the current program SEL + Power: Reset all programs : Changes control settings Pinpoint: Quick-press for Pinpoint mode Pinpoint: Press/hold for All Metal mode Pinpoint + : Selects VCO audio Pinpoint + : Selects non-VCO audio Pinpoint + SEL: Toggles in/cm readout
MX5 Owner’s Manual Specifications Operating mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VLF-IB Frequency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 kHz Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coin, Beach Search modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Disc, Beach, All Metal Ground balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AutoTrac Disc Audio . . . . . . . .
MX5 Owner’s Manual Warranty If within two years (24 months) from the original date of purchase, your White’s detector fails due to defects in either material or workmanship, White’s will repair or replace at its option, all necessary parts without charge for parts or labor. Simply return the complete detector to the Dealer where you purchased it, or to your nearest Authorized Service Center. The unit must be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the symptoms of the failure.
MX5 Owner’s Manual MX5 Treasure Hunter’s Code of Ethics 1. Always check federal, state, county, and local laws before searching. 2. Always obtain the owner’s permission before accessing private property. 3. Take care to refill all holes and leave no trace. 4. Remove and dispose of any and all trash and litter found. 5. Whenever possible, return identifiable property to its rightful owner. 6. Never destroy historical or archaeological treasures. 7.
