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Page created December, 2010

This model could be termed a modern remake of the old VLF/TR detector. It looks eerily similar to Bounty Hunter's current "VLF" model. I'd give this unit a close lookover and would probably grab it if I saw it at a yard sale, just on the off-chance that it's functionally related to one of the older venerable BH "Big Bud" models. My "equivalents" list says it might be derived from the Tracker III. It's all descended from the same heritage in any event.

Here's the newer version manual in pdf format

63-3013VLF_TR (pdf, 540K)

What follows is probably written for the earlier, boxy version:

Metal Detector

(630-3013) Features Faxback Doc. # 63882

With your RadioShack Metal Detector, you can hunt for coins, relics,

jewelry, gold and silver just about anywhere. The Metal Detector is

versatile and easy to use. Its features include:

Three-Tone Audio - sounds distinctive tones for different types of

Discrimination metals, to make target identification easier.

Analog Meter - shows the probable type of metal being detected.

Auto Tune - lets you tune your detector quickly for accuracy.

Arm Support - lets you carry and operate your detector

comfortably.

Waterproof Search Coil - lets you use the detector to search under water.

(The search coil is waterproof but the detector's

control housing is not waterproof.)

Adjustable Stem - lets you adjust the detector's length for

comfortable use.

Headphone Jack - lets you connect headphones (not supplied) to the

detector.

Low Battery Indicator - lets you know when it is time to replace the

batteries.

Treasure Hunter's Code Of Ethics

All treasure hunters might be judged by the example you set, Here are a

few basic rules you should follow while using your detector.

Always get permission before searching any site.

Respect the rights and property of others.

Observe all national, state, and local laws while treasure hunting.

Never destroy historical or archaeological treasures. If you are not

sure about an object you have found, contact a museum or historical

society in your area.

Leave the land and vegetation as it was. Fill in any holes you dig.

Use your detector only in safe areas

Dispose of any junk you find, only in approved areas. Do not leave it

for the next treasure hunter to find.

To enjoy your Metal Detector for many years, follow these suggestions.

Keep the metal detector dry; if it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately.

Use and store the metal detector only in normal temperature

environments.

Handle the metal detector carefully; do not drop it.

Keep the metal detector away from dust and dirt.

Wipe the Metal Detector with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it

looking new.

Modifying or tampering with the metal detector's internal components can

cause a malfunction and might invalidate its warranty. If your Metal

Detector is not performing as it should, take it to your local RadioShack

store for assistance.

The search coil supplied with the detector is waterproof and can be

submerged in either fresh or salt water. However, do not let water enter

the detector's control housing. After using the search coil in salt water,

rinse it with fresh water to prevent corrosion of the metal parts.

A Quick Look at Your Metal Detector's operating controls.

MODE - lets you select from OFF, VLF, TR1, TR2. (See

"Turning On the Detector" below.

GROUND - Compensates for false signals from mineralized soil.

(See "Adjusting Ground" below.)

VOLUME - lets you adjust the volume of alert tones.

DISCRIMINATION - lets you adjust the metal detector's ability to

distinguish between different types of metal. (See

"Adjusting Discrimination" below.)

Analog Meter - Shows strength of signals being received by the metal

detector.

LOW BATT indicator - lights when the battery is getting low and needs

replacing.

Sensitivity - lets you adjust the detection depth. (See "Adjusting

Sensitivity" below).

TUNING - Adjusts the balance between the receiver and

transmitter. (See "Tuning the Detector" below.)

Operation

Your RadioShack Metal Detector distinguishes between ferrous and non

ferrous metals. Ferrous metals contain iron, while non-ferrous metals

such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, aluminum, lead, and zinc do not.

When the detector senses a metallic object, the meter reading changes and

the detector sounds one of three tones. The tone depends on what metal is

detected. The higher the tone's pitch, the stronger the detection.

Preparing The Detector

Turning On the Detector

Hold the detector in a comfortable position, then rotate MODE to the

desired position.

VLF (Very Low Frequency) - to adjust TUNE and GROUND. (See "Adjusting

Ground" and "Tuning the Detector" below.)

TR1 (Transmit 1) - to detect extreme differences in metals, such

as iron and gold. The difference between iron

and gold shows on the meter (iron in the

ferrous section, gold in the non-ferrous

section).

TR2 (Transmit 2) - to detect finer distinctions between metals,

such as aluminum and gold (see "Adjusting

Discrimination" below).

Tuning the Detector

Tune fine-tunes the balance between the detector's receiver and

transmitter circuitry to provide consistent pointer and tone indications.

Follow these steps to set TUNE.

1. Rotate VOLUME to the 10 o'clock position.

2. Set MODE to VLF.

3. Set GROUND, DISCRIMINATION, and SENSITIVITY to mid-range.

4. Hold the search coil at least 1 foot away from the ground and any

metal object, hold down the red button on the handle and slowly rotate

TUNE until the analog meter pointer resets at or near 0.

As you search, you can fine-tune the detector using the other controls

(see "Fine-Tuning the Detector" below).

Note: Press the red button on the handle at any time during operation to

automatically return the pointer to the center of the analog meter.

Testing And Using The Detector

To learn how the detector reacts to different metals, you should test it

before you use it the first time. You can test the detector indoors or

outdoors.

Indoor Testing

1. Remove any watches, rings, or other metal jewelry you are wearing,

then place the detector on a wooden or plastic table.

2. Adjust the search coil's angle so the flat part faces the ceiling.

Note: Never test the detector on a floor inside a building. Most

buildings have metal of some kind in the floor, which might

interfere with the objects you are testing or mask the signal

completely.

3. Set MODE to TR1.

4. Move a sample of the material you want the detector to find (such as a

gold ring or a coin) about 2 inches above the search coil.

Notes: The search coil will not detect without motion. You must move the

object since you are not sweeping with the detector at this time.

If you are using a coin, the detector detects it more easily if you

hold it so a flat side (not the edge) is parallel with the flat

side of the search coil.

If the detector detects the material, the pointer moves to FERROUS or NON

FERROUS while the detector determines the type of metal it is detecting.

If it detects non-ferrous metal, it also sounds a tone.

If the detector does not detect the material, check the LOW BATT indicator

and verify that the search coil is properly connected. Also you might need

to fine-tune the detector. See "Fine-Tuning the Detector" below.

Outdoor Testing and Use

1. Find an area on the ground outside where there is no metal.

2. Place a sample of material you want the detector to find (such as a

gold ring or a coin) on the ground. (If you are using valuable metal

such as gold to test the detector, mark the area where you place the

item, to help you find it later. Do not place it in tall grass or

weeds.

3. Set MODE to TR1.

4. While holding the search coil level about 1-2 inches above the ground,

slowly move the search coil over the area where you placed the sample,

sweeping the search coil in a side-to side motion.

Search Coil Sweeping Hints:

Never sweep the search coil as if it were a pendulum. Raising the search

coil while sweeping or at the end of a sweep causes false readings.

Sweep slowly; hurrying makes you miss targets.

If the detector detects the item, it sounds a tone and the pointer moves

to the type of metal it found. When you detect metal, switch MODE TR1 to

TR2 to determine the quality of the metal.

If the detector does not detect the material, make sure you are moving the

search coil correctly.

Notes: The detector responds with a strong signal when it detects most

valuable metal objects. If a signal does not repeat after you

sweep the search coil over the target a few times, the target is

probably junk metal.

False signals can be caused by areas containing large amounts of

trash, electrical interference, or large irregular pieces of junk

metal. False signals are usually broken or non-repeatable.

5. Try finding other metal in the area. When you find a metal item, wait

a few seconds after the tone stops before continuing to allow the

detector time to reset (or, press the red button on the handle to

return the pointer to the center of the analog meter).

Fine-Tuning The Detector

After you become familiar with how your detector works, you can fine-tune

it to make it less sensitive to interference and more selective in what it

finds.

Adjusting Sensitivity

To adjust the search coil's ability to detect objects at different depths

in the soil, rotate Sensitivity between MIN and MAX. For maximum detection

depth, leave SENSITIVITY set as high as possible. If the detector makes a

"chattering" noise, decrease SENSITIVITY until the chatter stops.

Adjusting Ground

Setting GROUND takes a little time but is critical for accurate operation.

GROUND tunes out false signals from mineralized soil. Follow these steps

to set GROUND.

1. Set MODE to VLF and lower the search coil to 1/2 to 2 inches above the

ground.

2. If the pointer swings to the right (Non-ferrous), turn GROUND to

NORMAL. If the pointer swings to left (Ferrous), turn GROUND to

BASALT.

3. Raise the search coil about 1 foot from the ground and press the red

button on the handle. The pointer returns to the center.

4. Repeat Steps 1-3 until the pointer stays close to the center each time

you lower the search coil to the ground.

After you set GROUND, the detector is set for the soil type at that

particular site. Do not reset it until you use the detector at a different

site.

Adjusting Discrimination

Discrimination is the detector's ability to differentiate between types of

metal. The detector's DISCRIMINATION setting determines whether the

detector will distinguish between different types of ferrous and non

ferrous metals.

If MODE is set to TR2, start with DISCRIMINATION set to mid-range. While

you use the detector, adjust DISCRIMINATION to the best position. As you

set DISCRIMINATION higher, the detector becomes more sensitive to the

differences between large aluminum and gold pieces, for example, but some

small valuable pieces such as coins and small rings, might be overlooked.

As you set DISCRIMINATION to higher levels, the detector first does not

detect small places of silver paper, then thick foil, and finally metal

objects like pull tabs from aluminum cans.

Note: Each time you use the detector in a different area you must readjust

DISCRIMINATION. Each search location presents new challenges.

False Signals

Because your detector is extremely sensitive, trash-induced signals and

other sources of interference might cause signals that seem confusing.

The key to handling these types of signals is to dig for only those

targets that emit a strong, repeatable signal. As you sweep the search

coil back and forth over the ground, learn to recognize the difference

between signals that occur at random and signals that are stable and

repeatable.

To reduce false signals when searching areas containing large amounts of

trash, scan only a small area at a time using slow, short overlapping

sweeps.

Detection Hints

No detector is 100 percent accurate. Various conditions influence metal

detection. The detector's reaction depends on a number of factors:

The angle at which the object rests in the ground.

The depth of the object.

The amount of iron in the object.

The size of the object.

Pinpointing A Target

Accurately pinpointing a target makes digging it up easier. This takes

practice, and we suggest you practice finding and digging up small metal

objects on your own property before you search other locations.

Sometimes, targets are difficult to accurately locate due to the sweep

direction. Try changing your sweep direction to pinpoint a target.

1. When the detector locates a buried target, continue sweeping the

search coil over the target, in a narrowing side-to-side motion.

2. Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector

beeps.

3. Stop the search coil directly over this spot on the ground. Then move

the search coil straight away from you and straight back toward you a

couple of times.

4. Make a visual note of the exact spot on the ground where the detector

beeps.

5. Repeat Steps 1-3 at a right angle to the original search line, making

an "X" pattern. The target will be directly below the "X" at the point

of the loudest response.

Notes: If trash in an area is so heavy and you get false signals, slow

your sweep speed and use shorter sweeps.

Recently buried coins might not respond the same as coins buried

for a long period of time because of oxidation.

Some nails, nuts, bolts, and other iron objects (such as old bottle

caps) oxidize and create a "halo" effect. A halo effect is caused

by a mixture of natural elements in the ground and the oxidation

created by different metals. Because of the metal mixtures, target

signals might not be in a "fixed" position. This effect makes these

objects very hard to detect accurately. (See "Fine-Tuning the

Detector" above.)

Assembling The Detector

Assembling your detector is easy and requires no special tools. Just

follow these steps.

1. Turn the stem's lock nut clockwise until it loosens.

2. Lengthen or shorten the stem so when you stand upright with the

detector in your hand, the search coil is level with and about 1/2 to

2 inches above the ground with your arm relaxed at your side.

3. Turn the stem's lock nut counterclockwise to lock it in place.

4. Unscrew the knobs on the search coil and remove the knobs and

connector. Insert the stem and align the holes on the search coil

bracket and the stem. Push the connector through the holes, then

replace and tighten the knobs.

5. Wind the search coil cable around the stem. Leave enough slack in the

cable to let you adjust the search coil when you are hunting on uneven

ground.

6. Insert the search coil's plug into the search coil jack on the

detector's control housing so the pins on the plug are aligned with

the holes in the jack.

CAUTIONS: The search coil's plug fits into the connector only one way. Do

not force the plug or you could damage it.

To disconnect the search coil's cable from the detector, grasp

the plug and pull it out of the connector. Never pull on the

cable.

7. Loosen the knob at the search coil's end, then adjust the search coil

to the desired angle. (The search coil should be parallel with the

ground.) Tighten the knob just enough to keep the search coil from

rotating or wobbling.

CAUTION: Do not over-tighten the search coil or use tools such as

pliers to tighten it.

8. Loosen the knob at the base of the handle, insert the arm support, and

tighten the knob.

Installing Batteries

Your detector requires two 9V alkaline batteries (not supplied) for power.

For the best performance and longest life we recommend RadioShack alkaline

batteries.

CAUTIONS: Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended

type.

Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries

(standard, alkaline, or rechargeable) or rechargeable batteries

of different capacities.

1. If the detector is on, turn MODE to OFF.

Note: When you turn the mode switch to OFF, the LOW BATT indicator

flashes once.

2. Press the right battery compartment cover's tab and slide the cover

off in the direction of the arrow.

3. Place a 9-volt battery into the battery compartment on top of the

ribbon, matching the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside.

4. Replace the right battery compartment cover.

5. Press the left battery compartment cover's tab and slide the cover off

in the direction of the arrow.

6. Place a 9-volt battery into the battery compartment on top of the

ribbon, matching the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside.

7. Replace the left battery compartment cover.

WARNING: Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or

bury them.

CAUTION: If you do not plan to use the detector for a week or more, remove

the batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy

electronic parts.

Notes: For better life, exchange the two batteries periodically.

You can extend battery life by using headphones, which require less

power than the built-in speaker. See "Using Headphones," below.

If the LOW BATT indicator lights during normal use or the detector does

not function properly, replace the batteries. If it still does not

function properly, you might need to reset the detector.

Using Headphones

You can connect a pair of stereo headphones (not supplied) to the detector

so you can listen to it privately. Using headphones also saves battery

power and makes it easier to identify subtle changes in the sounds you

hear, for better detection results. Your local RadioShack store has a wide

selection of headphones.

To connect headphones to the detector, insert the headphones' 1/8-inch

plug into the PHONE jack on the side of the control housing.

The detector's internal speaker disconnects when you connect headphones.

Listening Safely

To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use headphones.

Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After

you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level.

Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-volume

listening can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Once you set the volume, do not increase it. Over time, your ears adapt

to the volume level so a volume level that does not cause discomfort

might still damage your hearing.

Traffic Safety

Do not wear headphones while operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle

This can create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.

Even though some headphones let you hear some outside sounds when

listening at normal volume levels, they still can present a traffic

hazard.

If your detector is not working as it should, follow these suggestions to

see if you can eliminate the problem. If you can't, take the detector to

your local RadioShack store for assistance.

Problem Suggestion

The detector displays or The sensitivity might be set too high. Adjust

sounds false signals. SENSITIVITY.

You might be sweeping the detector's search

coil too fast or at the wrong angle. Sweep

the search coil more slowly and hold the

detector correctly. See "Testing and Using

the Detector" and "Pinpointing a Target" on

Faxback Doc. # 63884.

The detector might sound a false signal if it

detects heavily oxidized metals. Try

pinpointing the target from several different

angles (see "Pinpointing a Target" on Faxback

Doc. # 63884). If the detector does not

display and sound the same signal each time,

the target is probably heavily oxidized metal

The display does not show There might be more than one target in the

The correct metal type when area you are searching.

the detector finds a target.

Or, the detector sounds The target might be a type of metal that the

More than one type of tone detector does not recognize.

when it finds a target.

If the target is heavily oxidized, the

detector might not display the correct metal

type. This is not a malfunction.

The sensitivity might be set too high. Adjust

SENSITIVITY.

Reference # Cat.No. Description NP Part #

------------------------------------------------------------------------

D5 11318532 DIODE 1N4002 RECT 600V.1A 1N4002

D3 11318615 DIODE 1N4148 GP SI 1N4148

D6 11319035 DIODE 1N5232B ZN 500MW 1N5232B

11319035 DO35T 1N5232B

U5 11389285 IC 4053BE DIP 16 T SWITCH 4053BE

Q7 11377975 XSTR 9012 SI PNP 9012

Q5 11377991 XSTR 9013 SI NPN AF/RF 9013

11377991 TO92(T) 9013

Q1 11378007 XSTR 9014C SI NPN AF/RF 9014C

11378007 TO92(T) 9014C

Q3 11378031 XSTR 9015C SI LO-PWR PNP 9015C

11378031 TO92(T) 9015C

12219200 9V BATTERY(X2) B2300875

U1 11390481 IC,CA3140 OP AMP 8 PIN CA3140A

11390481 8P DIP CA3140A

12 12308342 COVER BATTERY DB90744

10 12308326 NUT LOCK HC90893

3 12308284 HANDLE HL90189

19 12308375 ARM SUPPORT HL90190

4 12308292 BUTTON B CONTROL K91947

12308292 SENSITIVITY K91947

5 12308300 BUTTON S CONTROL MODE K91948

12308300 MODE K91948

6 12308771 BUTTON M CONTROL VOL/TUNI K91949

12308771 VOL/TUNING K91949

15 12308367 KNOB FIXING K91950

D7 11929049 PK2 DI ZN 1N5242B 12.0V 5 KIT0061

11929049 DO35T KIT0061

D4 12308714 LED DIODE LED 3 RED L90477

IC6 10895951 IC LM324N DIP14 T QUAD OP LM324N

10895951 14P DIP LM324N

M3013 12308243 METER M90113

IC3 11392230 IC MC14069UB DIP14 T INVE MC14069

12308789 MANUAL SERVICE 63-3013 MS6303013

12308797 MANUAL USERS 63-3013 MU6303013

IC2 10898351 IC,CD4007BE DIP 14 T MX4701

RV1 12308722 POT 10K GROUND P90366

RV2 12308730 POT 200K DISCRIMINATION P90367

RV3 12308748 POT 10K VOLUME P90368

RV4 12308755 POT 50K TUNING P90369

RV5 12308581 POT B50K SENSITIVITY P90370

S1 12308763 SWITCH RS-251-3-4K15P S90589

12308763 MODE/OFF/VLF/TR1/TR2 S90589

SP1 12308250 SPEAKER 16 OHM 0.25W SP90291

12308250 16 OHM 0.25W SP90291

63-3013-M.B. 12308706 PCB MAIN XB91398

1 12308268 COVER TOP Z93095

2 12308276 COVER BOTTOM Z93096

7 12308318 SHAFT M ALUMINIUM Z93097

11 12308334 SHAFT L ALUMINIUM Z93098

14 12308359 COIL ASSY SEARCH Z93099

20 12308383 SHAFT S ALUMINIUM Z93100

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