Please help with Radio Shack VLF 63-3003

[greg_m]

I recently bought my first metal detector, a used Radio Shack VLF Discriminator, model 63-3003 (shown in the attached photo for clarification). I'm new to this, so I don't really know what to expect.

The manual vaguely explains set-up, but doesn't clearly describe what the detector should do at all times. I hope someone who has this same model can help me figure out whether mine is working correctly or not.

Here are a few questions that I have so far:

1.) The manual (p. 21) says "The threshold tone may vary slightly while you search..." This gives me the impression that I should always hear some "threshold" tone. But I don't. The unit is entirely silent until the coil is very close to a metal target, at which point I hear a fixed pitch tone, which gets louder as I get closer to the target. Q: Should there be a constant tone, or is my unit working correctly?

2.) The manual talks about the meter deflecting to the left with ferrous targets, and to the right with non-ferrous. But my unit never deflects to the left! It stays centered until I am very close to a target, then always deflects to the right ("non-ferrous"), even if the target is a steel washer, rebar, etc. Q: Have I misunderstood the instructions, am I doing something wrong, or does this indicate the unit is malfunctioning?

3.) How far away should I be able to detect a target? For example, I have tested with a bunch of keys on a keyring, testing on an asphalt parking lot, a cement sidewalk, on a grassy lawn, and held in my hand. In every case, there is absolutely no response from the detector until I am about 4" or closer to the target. Q: Is four inches a reasonable maximum range for this particular model detector, or is something wrong?

I would especially appreciate any help from someone who is familiar with this particular model. If you can answer any of my questions, please indicate whether you have the same machine, or whether you're just answering based on general knowledge of other detectors.

THANKS IN ADVANCE for any help with the above, and have a great day!

 

[Sven]

I took a look at your manual and it's not written that well.

If you download the manual for the 3013, it maybe clearer for you.
I just sold a 3013 and it was easy to set-up and use. Controls are similar to your model.
The 3013 had no problem picking up a penny to about 5".

http://www.treasure-cove.com/user-manual/TC-1013manual.pdf

See if this manual helps you more.

Your threshold will vary if you raise and lower the coil from the distance you tuned the coil for, in TR disc. mode.
Your threshold may vary depending upon ground conditions in VLF mode.

Initial tuning.
Disc control at 50%
Sensitivity control at 50%
Test to norm
Volume 75%
Switch to VLF mode

Raise coil two feet off the ground, press red button on handle and hold, now turn tune until the needle adjusts to center position, or slightly to the the right of center until you get a slight tone.

release red button, drop coil to within 1-2" off the ground, if the slight tone goes away, rotate ground knob to the right a tad, raise coil again, press button, release. drop coil to the ground again. You keep doing this until you hear the same tone when the coil is raised off the ground and just above the ground. The needle should remain near center. If the sound increases when lowering the coil, adjust ground knob to the left. One you have tuned the detector, you can hunt, the coil must be in motion to detect a target.

As for TR/Disc mode. Tuning. Switch to TR to determine target is good. Hold coil as close to the ground as possible, you must keep the coil level. Press the red button until you hear the detector tune itself. You should hear the slight threshold tone as in VLF. Release button and sweep coil slowly over the target. A good target will give you a sound and the needle should swing right for coins, gold, silver, brass, copper depending where you have the disc. control set. Nails, iron, hot rocks, should swing the needle to the left. You can also tune the coil a couple inches off the ground and lower it, the tone will go silent. If you are tuned for 2", if you raise the coil above that height, the tone will increase. This is just what TR mode does in simple terms. That is why it is important to keep the coil at the height it was tuned for in TR mode.

Hope this helps some. Monte wrote up a good ground balance tuning post somewhere, just can't find it at the moment.

 

[joe dirt_1]

The Radio Shack detectors aren't going to give you much in the way of depth or information on the meter. It sounds as though you might be much happier with a detector that doesn't have a meter to confuse you. A simple beep and dig detector like the Tesoro Silver

 

[Melbeta]

I recently bought my first metal detector, a used Radio Shack VLF Discriminator, model 63-3003 (shown in the attached photo for clarification). I'm new to this, so I don't really know what to expect.

The manual vaguely explains set-up, but doesn't clearly describe what the detector should do at all times. I hope someone who has this same model can help me figure out whether mine is working correctly or not.

Here are a few questions that I have so far:

1.) The manual (p. 21) says "The threshold tone may vary slightly while you search..." This gives me the impression that I should always hear some "threshold" tone. But I don't. The unit is entirely silent until the coil is very close to a metal target, at which point I hear a fixed pitch tone, which gets louder as I get closer to the target. Q: Should there be a constant tone, or is my unit working correctly?

Greg, Those detectors are not high quality detectors. Not knocking them, just telling you the truth. When setting the ground cancel, if you set it so when you put the coil on the ground, it has a slight louder audio hum, that is being described as "setting it slightly positive" regarding the ground. That way, you will hear a "threshold tone" audio. If you set it so that the audio disappears when the coil hits the ground, you have set it "slightly negative", and will not hear any "threshold audio".


2.) The manual talks about the meter deflecting to the left with ferrous targets, and to the right with non-ferrous. But my unit never deflects to the left! It stays centered until I am very close to a target, then always deflects to the right ("non-ferrous"), even if the target is a steel washer, rebar, etc. Q: Have I misunderstood the instructions, am I doing something wrong, or does this indicate the unit is malfunctioning?

I do not believe that meter is really at "target identification" meter. That being said, it is a "centered needle meter", and when it is energized, the needle will deflect to the right. Only if you hit a very large object, that is more mineralized then metalized, such as a large deposit of black sand, would you see it deflect to the left. So do not be deceived by the needle, it is running correctly. Any metal will deflect to the right, no matter what the metal composition.

3.) How far away should I be able to detect a target? For example, I have tested with a bunch of keys on a keyring, testing on an asphalt parking lot, a cement sidewalk, on a grassy lawn, and held in my hand. In every case, there is absolutely no response from the detector until I am about 4" or closer to the target. Q: Is four inches a reasonable maximum range for this particular model detector, or is something wrong?

Being a inexpensive detector, it will not have the depth of better more expensive detectors. IT is a beginners detector. Learn it, then later on, give it to you kids to play with, and then buy a better detector. But use it to gain experience first, so that you will be more knowledgable on what a detector will do, and what a detector will not do. That way you will be regarded as "an informed buyer" and will know more when you go looking. It is best to buy a detector in person, then to buy one by mail order, that way you can see what it does and what it does not do.

I would especially appreciate any help from someone who is familiar with this particular model. If you can answer any of my questions, please indicate whether you have the same machine, or whether you're just answering based on general knowledge of other detectors.

THANKS IN ADVANCE for any help with the above, and have a great day!

 

[blue dunbar]

Remember one thing about getting a signal the closer you get to an object. The field put out by your detector is in the shape of a cone like the one that you get a snow cone in. It is (basically) the size of your coil (round coils) at the top and gets narrower toward the lower depth it will go. Depending on the machine and the target, you will get different distances from the target where a signal will occur before actually being over the target itself. Training in the field is the only true "school" to learn your detector.

 

[Marcus Detectus]

This brings back memories of my first detector. It was a $19.95 Radio Shack that took a 9V battery in the 2 piece screwed together handle with a little tiny built in speaker and did not take headphones. The whole thing looked like a transister radio with a loop on a stick stuck in one end of it. I mean cheapo.

I bought it as a lark to see at least what MDing was about. I think I saw a guy at the beach with one, I don't remember, it was about 1972 or 3. I read the Manual, (1 page) and gave it a test. it just had an little slide switch for off and on, that's it. I put a penny on the floor and placed the Los Angeles phone directory over it. And it worked. I was able to find the penny and I guess I naturally moved the coil like I do today without knowing it was what I was supposed to do.

I took it to a local park just for fun and the dumb thing would find coins. Many were just hidden in the grass, someone here referred to it as the "thatch". I played with it a few times but just never got the "bug" back then to advance further. I guess at that time, seeing the better detectors that took 6 to 10 batteries (and some used all 9Vs) I just thought it was too expensive. But I'll never forget that little red handled "toy" that actually did what it was supposed to. Maybe that's why my first "real" jump into detecting was with the Tesoro Compadre and it's simplicity. But it's a machine that works so I stayed and stepped up to the Conquistador Umax which is still what I can afford and use.