Fisher M-SCOPE 1270 - Manual (Page 12)

SEARCH TECHNIQUES
Good searching techniques are every bit as important as having
a good detector.
1. Adjust your SENSITIVITY control. Only experience will tell you how to
set it in every situation. As general rule, turn up the sensitivity to achieve
maximum depth and detection of small items. You will also get a wider
search scan. Conditions may arise where you’ll need to reduce sensitivity:
(a) when near larger metal objects, (b) when ground mineralization cause
“false signals”, (c) when near sources of interference, such as power lines or
radio towers, (d) when silent search is desired. Minimum sensitivity is
when the knob is turned to “1”, or fully counterclockwise. Maximum sensi-
tivity is when the knob is turned to “10”, or fully clockwise.
2. Decide how much discrimination (trash rejection) you want. In certain
areas you may wish to detect all metals, but in others, you want to discrimi-
nate unwanted targets. Only you will be able to determine your particular
situation. Remember that a lot of “good” targets are not necessarily silver
and copper. For example, many gold targets can be missed when discrimi-
nating aluminum.
3. Search slow and systematically in a tight semi-circle as shown in figure 3.
4. Keep the search coil as close to the ground, and as parallel as possible
(see figure 4). The closer you are to the target, the easier it is to detect.
5. Take your time, and overlap your sweeps by at least 50%.
6. Search an area thoroughly, taking note of where you have already been.
7. Keep the search coil moving at a comfortable rate. Remember, the 1270
is a motion detector. A sweep rate of about 4 feet per second will suffice,
but make sure your arm is comfortable. “Whipping” the 1270 search coil is
not necessary.
PINPOINTING
The 1270 is a slow motion detector, and after some practice, you
may find that you won’t even use the TRIGGER SWITCH pinpoint
mode.
SLOW MOTION PINPOINT
When the 1270 “beeps”, you have passed over a metal target with the search
coil. Swing the 1270 search coil left and right, then forward and back,
making an “X” over the “beep” area. The target will be directly below the
center of the search coil. Because the 1270 is a “motion” detector, with prac-
tice, this may be the only mode of pinpointing you will need.
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