Directional Drilling Guidance System Operator’s Manual dci@digital-control.com www.DigiTrak.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 403-2400-21-A metric, printed on 5/23/2016 © 2016 by Digital Control Incorporated. All rights reserved. Trademarks The Aurora logo, the DCI logo, Aurora® , DigiTrak® , DigiTrak Falcon® , F5® , and Target Steering® are U.S. registered trademarks and Ball-in-the-Box™, F Series™, , and SuperCell™ are common law trademarks of Digital Control Incorporated. Patents U.S. and foreign patents apply to the product covered by this manual. For details, please visit www.DigiTrak.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Contact Us United States DCI Headquarters 19625 62nd Ave S, Suite B103 Kent, Washington 98032, USA 1.425.251.0559 / 1.800.288.3610 1.425.251.0702 fax dci@digital-control.com Australia 2/9 Frinton Street Southport QLD 4215 61.7.5531.4283 61.7.5531.2617 fax dci.australia@digital-control.com China 368 Xingle Road Huacao Town Minhang District Shanghai 201107, P.R.C. 86.21.6432.5186 86.21.6432.5187 fax dci.china@digital-control.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing a DigiTrak guidance system. We are proud of the equipment we have been designing and building in Washington State since 1990. We believe in providing a unique, high-quality product and standing behind it with world-class customer service and training. Please take the time to read this entire manual, especially the section on safety. Please also register your equipment online at access.DigiTrak.com.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Table of Contents Important Safety Instructions General Pre-Drilling Testing Interference Potential Interference Received Potential Interference Generated 1 1 2 2 2 2 Battery Pack Storage Equipment Maintenance General Transmitter Care Instructions 3 3 3 Getting Started Introduction Using This Manual Powering On 5 5 6 6 Receiver Transmitter Remote Display (Aurora) Setup Summary Run Frequency Optimizer Assign Frequency Bands Interference Check Calibrate Above Ground Rang
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Pitch Units Menu Set Time and Calendar Menu Telemetry Channel Menu Roll Offset Menu Pressure Units Menu Temperature Units Menu Language Selection Menu 20 21 21 22 23 23 23 Frequency Optimization and Transmitter Selection 24 Frequency Optimization So I Just Paired, Now What? Transmitter Selection View Frequency Optimization Transmitter Information 24 27 27 28 28 DataLog 29 Left/Right Offset Deviation Flags and Pins 30 30 31 31 Diagnostics Perform Level Check Perform
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Steering to the Target with the Remote Display Target Steering in Interference Areas Turn Target Steering Off Transmitter Batteries and Power On/Off Installing Batteries / Power On Transmitter Battery Strength Sleep Mode Transmitter Drill Head Requirements Temperature Status and Overheat Indicator Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones Transmitter Overheat Indicator (Temp Dot) Changing Frequency Bands 57 57 57 58 58 59 60 60 61 61 62 62 63 Above Ground (Pre-Bore) Tilt M
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED viii DigiTrak Falcon F5® Operator's Manual
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Important Safety Instructions General The following warnings relate generally to the operation of DigiTrak®guidance systems. This is not an exhaustive list. Always operate your DigiTrak guidance system in accordance with the manual and be aware of interference that may affect efforts to retrieve accurate data with this guidance system. Failure to do so can be hazardous.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Pre-Drilling Testing Before each drilling run, test your DigiTrak guidance system with the transmitter inside the drill head to confirm it is operating properly and providing accurate drill head location and heading information. During drilling, the depth will not be accurate unless: l l l The receiver has been properly calibrated and the calibration has been checked for accuracy so the receiver shows the correct depth.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Battery Pack Storage If you plan to store the battery packs for any period of time, please follow these guidelines: l Do not store the battery pack at temperatures greater than 45° C. l Do not store the battery pack in a fully discharged state. l Do not store the battery pack in the battery charger. l Do not store multiple batteries together where their terminals or other loose conductive materials may contact one another and cause a short circuit.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Before use, inspect the battery cap O-ring for damage that may allow water to enter the battery compartment. Replace the O-ring if the one installed becomes damaged. Do not use chemicals to clean the transmitter. Placing tape around the fiberglass tube of the transmitter, if space allows, will keep the fiberglass protected from most corrosive and abrasive environmental wear. Do not tape over the IR window as this will interfere with IR communication.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Getting Started Introduction 1. Aurora touchscreen remote display 2. Receiver 3. Transmitter 4. Li-ion/NiMH battery charger DigiTrak Falcon F5 Guidance System with Aurora® Remote Display Congratulations on your purchase of the DigiTrak Falcon F5® locating system. The Falcon wideband technology represents an important advancement in the detection of active interference at the jobsite.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Using This Manual This manual is an important tool for you as the operator of a Falcon guidance system. You can find it on the flash drive that accompanied your system or at www.DigiTrak.com. We encourage you to load it onto your mobile device and keep it handy so the information you need is always close at hand. When something is worth a little extra attention, we'll mark it with this handy Notebook icon.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Receiver 1. Install a fully charged battery pack. 2. Power on the receiver by holding the trigger briefly. 3. Click to accept the “Read the manual before using” statement. 4. First time use: from the Main > Settings menu pitch units, and telemetry channel. Settings Page 20 , set the depth units, 5. On the Main menu, set the optional Height-Above-Ground .
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 2. Power on the receiver and from the Main menu select Transmitter Selection, then Frequency Optimizer (FO) . , Frequency Optimizer Page 24 3. With the FO results active, walk the entire intended bore path with the receiver and note areas of high background noise (active interference). The higher a frequency band's bar is on the graph, the greater the interference.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Above Ground Range Check Perform an Above Ground Range check on the new optimized frequency band (or bands) before drilling. The AGR screen displays automatically after calibration. If the above-ground AGR distance at 15 m is not accurate, conduct a 15M calibration (which also uses only one point) to improve the accuracy of the aboveground distance measurement. A 15 m calibration is not necessary for drilling.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Receiver I know what a trigger switch is; can I skip this? Page 13 This section is like shaking hands with your Falcon for the first time. If you and your receiver already have a solid relationship, you can probably jump ahead to Receiver Menus. 1. Screen 2. Toggle Switch 3. Front 4. Infrared window 5. Trigger switch 6. Battery tab 7. Battery compartment 8.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Audible Tones The Falcon F5 receiver beeps to signal power on/off, confirm menu changes, and acknowledge the pass/fail status of actions. The receiver also beeps with transmitter temperature increases. Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones Page 62 Two long beeps indicate a problem with the menu option selected and a failure screen will appear until you click the trigger or remove the battery (in the case of a critical failure).
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Using the Keypad Use the keypad for setting the height-above-ground (HAG) value, a target depth for Target Steering, date and time, and for programming rod lengths and survey points in the DataLog function. 1. Display window 2. Backspace 3. Enter Standard Keypad To input a value, toggle to and select the desired digits from left to right.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Receiver Menus I am already familiar with DigiTrak receiver menus; can I skip this? Page 35 If you have used a DigiTrak F5 receiver, you are well on your way to mastering a Falcon. Read the section on the Frequency Optimizer, then skip ahead to Locating Basics. Come back and visit later as needed for reference. If this is your first DigiTrak, keep reading. To access the Main menu from the Locate screen, toggle down.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Locate Mode When the receiver is detecting a signal from a transmitter, the Locate screen provides real-time data about the transmitter’s location, temperature, pitch, roll, fluid pressure (when a fluid pressure transmitter is used), and signal strength. Locating Screens Page 36 Power Off Select Power Off from the Main menu to turn the receiver off. The receiver automatically shuts down after 15 minutes of inactivity, or after 30 minutes when in Target Steering mode.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1-Point Calibration This is the most common method of calibrating depth readings and is accomplished above ground, prior to drilling. 1. Place the receiver and the transmitter (in a drill head) parallel to each other on level ground, with both devices powered on. 2. With the receiver at the Locate screen, verify that roll and pitch values are being displayed and that a steady signal is being received from the transmitter.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Calibration can fail for one of three reasons: Transmitter signal is too low (below 300 points) Transmitter signal is too high (above 950 points) Extreme signal attenuation is in effect If calibration fails, review the items mentioned in the question titled "Why do I keep getting calibration errors?" below, read more about signal attenuation in Appendix B (if it applies), then click Retry to try calibrating again.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED View Calibration Use this feature to check the most recent calibrations for your transmitter(s). The data will include the model of transmitter, type of calibration (1-point or in-ground/2Pt), signal strength, and a timestamp. Though this window lists all transmitters compatible with the Falcon F5 receiver, only transmitters calibrated to your receiver will display data in the Signal and Timestamp columns.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Use AGR at least daily, and ideally in both frequency bands, to verify proper depth/distance measurements. 1. AGR 2. Pitch assumed zero 3. 15 m calibration Above Ground Range (AGR) If you just completed AGR after calibration, don't forget to turn Height-Above-Ground (HAG) back on, if necessary.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. To determine your desired HAG distance, hold the receiver comfortably at your side, maintaining 20 cm of separation from the front of the receiver to your torso as specified in the Safety section on page 1. Measure the distance from the bottom of the receiver to the ground. 2. From the Main menu, select HAG. The HAG menu displays with Enable HAG highlighted and the current or 24 in. default HAG setting shown in the description line at the bottom of the screen.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Settings Use this menu to set the following options: 1. Depth Units 2. Pitch Units 3. Date/Time 4. Telemetry Channel 5. Roll Offset 6. Pressure Units 7. Second page 8. Temperature Units 9. Language Settings Menus DCI recommends that you program the receiver and the remote display Depth and Pitch settings to use the same units of measure. Depth Units Menu Choose between xx" inches, x'xx" feet and inches, x.xx' decimal feet, and x.xx m metric units (meters and centimeters).
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Set Time and Calendar Menu Set the time and date on your receiver. This is necessary when you are using the DataLog function. 1. Time value (date displays here when calendar is the active function) 2. Time (shown active) 3. Calendar 4. Enter Time and Calendar Keypad Setting the Time The time function runs on a 24-hour clock. To set the time: 1. Select the time icon so it is the active function . 2. Enter the time one digit at a time from left to right.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Roll Offset Menu Enable Roll Offset 1. Select Set and enable the roll offset. 1. Set and enable the roll offset 2. Disable roll offset Roll Offset Menu 2. Ensure the drill head is at its 12:00 position and that the transmitter is on. 1. Transmitter’s true roll position with housing at 12:00 2. Set the roll offset Set Roll Offset Menu 3. Select Set the roll offset.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Disable Roll Offset Select Disable the roll offset from the Roll Offset menu. The receiver beeps four times as the screen returns to the Settings menu. The value that displays for roll on the Locate screen will now be that of the transmitter, not necessarily the drill head. Pressure Units Menu Choose between pounds per square inch (psi) and kilopascals (kPa). Temperature Units Menu Choose between Fahrenheit (F) and Celsius (C).
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Frequency Optimization and Transmitter Selection This section addresses Falcon technology's ground-breaking frequency optimizer (FO) feature, which finds the lowest-noise (optimal) group of frequencies available in each of nine bands. When the results display in graph form showing the levels of active interference in each band, choose the one or two bands you want to use, pair, and you're ready to calibrate and start drilling.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Maximum noise reading 2. Current Up band 3. Current Down band 4. Current optimized noise readings 5. Median kHz of each band 6. Band selector 7. Pair 8. Exit Frequency Optimizer Results 4. To measure noise readings from the entire intended bore, simply walk the bore with the frequency optimizer results displayed, keeping the receiver parallel to the bore path.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 7. Optional: click to select a second band, then assign as the opposite (Up or Down) band; changing both bands is not required. 8. Select Pair , then Transmitter Pairing Request pair at the same time. . If you assigned two new bands, both will 9. The receiver displays the transmitter pairing screen. Insert batteries in the transmitter, install the battery cap, and wait 15 seconds for the transmitter to fully power on. Transmitter Page 58 10.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED So I Just Paired, Now What? After pairing, the receiver proceeds to the calibration screen as a reminder that with the selection of a new frequency band, the transmitter and receiver need to be calibrated. Install the transmitter in the drill head and calibrate. Calibration Page 14 Prior to calibration, "Calibration required" is indicated on the Locate screen by an error symbol in the roll indicator in place of the roll value.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED If you select the same transmitter that is currently in use, the display continues to the Band Selection menu, where you can switch between the Up and Down bands, as well as enable or disable fluid pressure monitoring on an FT5p transmitter. 1. Up band 2. Fluid pressure 3. Down band Band Selection Menu To reach this menu directly from the Locate screen, hold the toggle right briefly. Select Locate screen.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED DataLog Use this menu to record pilot hole drill data, set up new drill jobs, view and delete drill jobs from the receiver, and upload drill jobs via Bluetooth to a computer for analysis with DCI's Log-While-Drilling (LWD) 3.0 software. 1. Set up job 2. Upload 3. Delete 4. Enable 5. Survey point 6. View jobs 7. Second page 8. Left/right offset 9. Deviation 10.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED If you are already familiar with the DataLog feature, Falcon F5 includes four new functions requested by users like you: Left/Right Offset, Deviation, Flags, and Pins. 1. Sidewalk 2. Right offset 3. Right deviation 4. Fire hydrant 5. Right pin distance 6. Set pin marking fire hydrant 7. Intended bore path 8. Actual bore path 9. Set flat marking gas line crossing 10.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Flags and Pins While recording a DataLog, at the Locate screen, toggle right to set a Flag or Pin. Match flags and pins later with entries in your drilling log book to add important detail to your Log-While-Drilling report. Flags Select a Flag when crossing any item of interest along the bore path, like a sidewalk, marked utility line, or river bank. The receiver internally assigns a sequential flag number starting at 1.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Perform Level Check This check confirms that the internal sensors that measure the inclination of the receiver are working correctly. An inaccurate sensor would cause erroneous depth and location readings. Place the receiver on generally level ground and click Continue perfectly level. . The ground does not have to be Level Test Screen 1 Rotate the receiver 180 degrees so it faces the opposite direction, as illustrated by the icon on the screen, and click Continue again.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Perform Signal Self-Test This self-test tests antenna gain calibration for all transmitter frequencies. Ensure no transmitters are powered on during this test. Perform this test only in a low-noise environment with minimal interference. The transmitter signal strength as displayed on the Locate Screen (see page 36) must be less than 55 counts. The receiver beeps four times after a successful test and displays the receiver Startup Screen (see page 11).
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED System Info This menu displays technical system information such as ID, region, and numerous firmware versions. The numbers for BT (Bluetooth®) and ID (serial number) are necessary to move DataLog files to a PC. Click to return to the Main menu. 1. Serial number 2. Region 3. Primary software 4. Bluetooth 5.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Locating Basics Are you ready? Page 39 If you're new to locating and first want to know everything about the locating screens, you've come to the right place. If you already know locators and want to jump right in and start locating with your Falcon F5 system, skip to Interference.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Locating Screens The Locate, Depth, and Predicted Depth screens are the primary screens you will use for locating. The type of depth screen that displays depends on the position of the receiver relative to the transmitter at the time of the depth reading. Do I have to know all this? Page 45 Get this down first, then you'll be ready to locate like a professional.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED The roll/pitch update meter displays the quality of roll/pitch data being received from the transmitter. When the meter is empty, no roll/pitch data is being received, and none will appear on either the receiver or the remote display. Depth and predicted depth readings may still be taken, but the receiver will assume the transmitter has a pitch of zero, as indicated by the image to the right appearing on the Depth or Predicted Depth screen.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED When the roll/pitch update meter shows low signal level or data is erratic, hold the trigger for longer than five seconds to enter Max mode, indicated by a magnifying glass around the pitch icon. 1. Depth 2. Max mode icon 3. Max mode timer 4. Tx battery strength Depth Screen in Max Mode Max mode replaces the roll/pitch update meter with the Max mode timer. As you hold the trigger and Max mode gathers data readings, the timer slowly fills up.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Ball-in-the-Box™ at FLP 2. Reference Lock indicator 3. Tx battery strength 4. Horizontal distance between transmitter and FLP 5. Predicted depth of transmitter Predicted Depth Screen at FLP with HAG On Hold the trigger for longer than five seconds to enter Max mode, as described in the previous section (use of Max mode has special requirements and restrictions). In this example, if the drill head travels an additional 1.82 m at -0.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED What is Interference? Interference can reduce the transmitter’s range or cause variable readings and possibly result in job slowdowns. Interference is classified as either active or passive. Active interference, also known as electrical interference or background noise, can have varying effects on locating equipment. Most electrical devices emit signals that can inhibit the ability to locate the transmitter accurately or get good roll/pitch readings.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED In the following figure, the red flag area denotes an increase in noise detected on the optimized band while walking the intended bore path. 1. Intended bore path 2. Red flag area 3. Background noise signal One-Person Background Signal Strength Check (Transmitter Off) Return to the area of highest interference (between the red flags above) and from the Locate screen, take a depth reading (hold the trigger) and note the signal strength.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Intended depth 2. Red flag area 3. Intended bore path Two-Person Roll/Pitch Test with Transmitter If the desired depth/data range in a red flag area is not sufficient, you may able to increase the range by performing another frequency optimization here and pairing to a new band specifically for use in this highinterference location. If you do this, check for interference in this area again using the newly-optimized band.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Locate Points (FLP & RLP) and Locate Line (LL) The Falcon receiver locates the transmitter by detecting three specific places in the transmitter’s magnetic field: the front locate point (FLP) ahead of the transmitter, the rear locate point (RLP) behind the transmitter, and the locate line above the transmitter itself.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED The line marked LL in the bird’s-eye view image suggests the receiver will display a locate line any time it is positioned on this plane. To prevent inaccurate locates and potentially dangerous conditions, it is imperative to first find the front and rear locate points. Do not rely on the peak signal along the locate line. Whenever the transmitter is pitched, the position of the locate line will be somewhat slightly ahead of or behind the transmitter’s actual position.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Marking Locate Points The locate points (FLP and RLP) and the locate line (LL) must be found and accurately marked during the locating procedure. To mark a locate point, stand with the receiver level at the locate point. Look down the vertical axis that runs through the center of the display to project a plumb line to the ground. Mark where this plumb line hits the ground. 1. Plumb line or vertical axis 2. Center of display 3. Front of receiver 4.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Finding the Front Locate Point (FLP) The locating procedure described here assumes that (a) you are facing the drill, (b) the transmitter is below ground and between you and the drill, and (c) the FLP is in front of you. 1. With the receiver on and in Locate mode, stand in front of the drill head at a distance of approximately the depth of the drill head. 2. Observe the position of the locating ball relative to the receiver box on the display.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED When setting a reference signal, do not hold the trigger unless you are Ball-in-the-Box™ at the FLP. If you are ahead of the FLP, you could set an incorrect reference that causes a ghost locate line. This typically happens when the head is shallower than 1 m. In this case, you must reference again at the FLP. If you hold the trigger for longer than five seconds, the receiver will enter Max mode, which performs differently than a normal depth reading.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 7. When the locating ball reaches the bottom of the screen, the locate line appears and the ball turns solid black to indicate your focus should now be on the LL. If the locate line does not appear and the ball flips to the top of the screen, hold the trigger while moving the receiver in a forward/backward direction over where the ball flips. This action should re-reference the receiver to the transmitter’s signal and bring up the locate line.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED If the bore path is straight, do I have to keep finding the RLP for every rod? Page 46 No. If a new FLP is directly in line with the previously marked FLPs (a straight bore line), it is unnecessary to find a new RLP since it will be directly in line with the previous marks. After the drill head moves forward another rod, find the new FLP and then the LL.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 12. Mark the ground directly below the receiver’s display screen as the RLP. A line between the RLP and FLP represents the transmitter’s heading. 13. Position the receiver at the intersection of this heading line with the LL passing through the center of the box on the display and hold the trigger to take a depth reading. This is the current location of the transmitter. Drill rig Bore path 1. HAG on 2. Corrected depth 3.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Advanced Locating When you're ready to be the expert Here are some techniques that will help you drill more productively and get past the bore that had everyone else scratching their heads and calling the home office. Tracking “On-the-Fly” Go watch some TV You can find a training video on Tracking On-the-Fly at www.youtube.com/dcikent. If you are running at 0% (0°) pitch under level ground, the predicted depth will be the actual depth.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED As the drill head advances, the FLP should travel along the receiver’s vertical crosshairs, indicating the drill head is still on line. Once the FLP is in the box, hold the trigger and confirm that the predicted depth reading is as expected. Drill rig Bore path Receiver Screen Tracking "On-the-Fly" Actual Position of Receiver and Transmitter Move ahead the length of another drill rod and wait for the FLP to continue advancing down the vertical crosshair.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Obstruction 2. Bore path 3. Path around obstruction 4. LL 5. Predetermined distance 1 6. Predetermined distance 2 7. Predetermined distance 3 8. Drill Preparing for Off-Track Locating 3. Connect points P1, P2, and P3 with a line. This is the locate line. Because the LL runs perpendicular (at a 90° angle) to the transmitter when the transmitter is level, you can determine the heading of the drill head.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Obstruction 2. Bore path 3. Path around obstruction 4. LL 5. Predetermined distance 1 6. Predetermined distance 2 7. Predetermined distance 3 8. Drill Off-Track Locating Target Steering The Target Steering® locating method allows the Falcon receiver to be placed ahead of the drill head and used as a steering target. In general, Target Steering should be used to maintain a bore path, not to correct a significantly off-course bore.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Feasible Target Steering Area The maximum distance the receiver can be placed ahead of the drill head for Target Steering is 10.7 m. Beyond this distance, depth information becomes less accurate. Within this range, starting with the drill head approximately level, the following parameters apply to depth data: l The maximum depth change is approximately 1.2 m. l The maximum pitch change is approximately 14%.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. Receiver 2. Programmed target depth 3. Transmitter in ground pointing toward target below receiver 4. Turn on programmed target depth 5. Program new target depth Target Steering Menu The Target Steering menu displays either the last set target depth or the 1.5 ft. default value. l l To use the displayed value as the desired target depth, click the trigger. To enter a new target depth, select the keypad, enter the value in the appropriate units, and select Enter .
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Place the receiver on the intended drill path beyond the FLP but within 10.7 m of the transmitter with its back end (battery pack) facing the transmitter's current location. Position the receiver with the understanding that Target Steering is designed to ensure the transmitter is perpendicular to the rear of the receiver by the time the drill head reaches the target beneath the receiver. 1. 10.7 m max 2. FLP 3. LL 4. RLP 5.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Transmitter A transmitter generates a magnetic field detected by the Falcon receiver. The transmitter and receiver must have matching regional designation numbers to communicate with each other and comply with local operating requirements. The transmitter’s regional designation number is located inside the globe icon near the serial number. The transmitter must be paired to the receiver prior to use. The standard Falcon F5 wideband transmitter measures 38.1 cmlong and 3.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Never use damaged or non-DCI lithium batteries. Never use two C-cell lithium batteries providing a combined voltage above 3.6 VDC. DCI SuperCell lithium batteries are manufactured to military specifications. The use of damaged or lower-quality lithium batteries may damage the transmitter and/or housing and will void the DCI warranty. Installing Batteries / Power On DCI transmitters power on as soon as the batteries and battery cap are properly installed.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 3. Select the startup frequency of the transmitter by installing the batteries with the transmitter pointing either up or down: Load batteries with transmitter pointing UP to power on in the last Up optimized band Load batteries with transmitter pointing DOWN to power on in the last Down optimized band Selecting the Startup Frequency of the Transmitter To power on the transmitter in the last band used, install the batteries with the transmitter horizontal. 4.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Transmitter Drill Head Requirements For maximum transmitter range and battery life, the slots in the drill head must meet minimum length and width requirements and be correctly positioned. DCI's transmitters require three slots equally spaced around the circumference of the drill head for optimal signal emission and maximum battery life. Measure slot lengths on the inside of the drill head; slots must be at least 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) wide.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones The Falcon receiver and remote display emit the following audible tones to indicate increases in the transmitter temperature: Icon Temperature Below 16° C None 16–36° C Double-beep sequence (beep-beep) for every 4° C increase in temperature. 40–44° C Two double-beep sequences (beep-beep, beep-beep) for every 4° C increase in temperature. Action is required to cool the transmitter.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Changing Frequency Bands With the receiver at the Locate screen, hold toggle right to open the Band Selection menu, where you can switch between the Up and Down frequency bands and enable or disable fluid pressure monitoring. Band Selection Page 28 Use these procedures to switch between the two optimized frequency bands, such as when performing an interference check (page 40), or an AGR test (page 17) in both bands with the transmitter in the drill head prior to drilling.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Frequency Change, Repeating Roll Sequence (RRS3) 1. Remain at any clock position (CP) for at least 40 seconds to clear all timers. 2. Make a reference mark on the drill string. 3. Complete one full clockwise rotation (±2 CP) of the reference mark within 0.5–30 sec., then wait 10–20 seconds. 4. Repeat step 3 two more times, for a total of three rotations (RRS3). 5.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Appendix A: System Specifications Power Requirements Device (Model Number) DigiTrak Falcon F5 Receiver (FAR5) DigiTrak F Series Battery Charger (FBC) DigiTrak F Series Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (FBP) Operational Voltage Operational Current 14.4 V 390 mA max Input 10–28 V Output 19.2 V 5.0 A max 1.8 A max 14.4 V (nominal) 4.5 Ah 65 Wh max DigiTrak Transmitter (BTW, BTP, BTPL) 1.2–4.2 V 1.75 A max DigiTrak Transmitter (FT2S) 1.2–4.2 V 0.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Equipment and Battery Disposal This symbol on equipment indicates that the equipment must not be disposed of with your other household waste. Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of such equipment at a designated collection point for the recycling of batteries or electrical and electronic equipment. If the equipment contains a banned substance, the label will show the pollutant (Cd = Cadmium; Hg = Mercury; Pb = Lead) near this symbol.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Appendix B: Receiver Screen Symbols Symbol Description A Attenuated Signal – Indicates signal attenuation is in effect due to the presence of excessive interference, or when locating within 1 m of the transmitter. The receiver automatically attenuates the transmitter signal when locating at shallow depths to reduce excessive signal strength.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Symbol Description Receiver Icon – Indicates the position of the receiver relative to the ground for the HAG function, depth readings, in-ground calibration, and the Target Steering function. Page 37 R RO Reference Lock – Indicates a reference signal has been obtained for displaying the locate line. Displays at the top of the Locate screen. Page 46 Roll Offset – Indicates roll offset is enabled. Displays at the bottom left of the roll indicator.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Appendix C: Projected Depth Versus Actual Depth and the Fore/Aft Offset What Happens When the Transmitter Is Steep and Deep The signal field emitted by the transmitter consists of a set of elliptical signals, or “flux lines”. The flux lines indicate the position of the transmitter.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED 1. LP (2) 2. LL 3. Fore/aft offset 4. Projected depth 5. Actual depth 6. 30% (17°) pitch Side View of Actual Depth due to Fore/Aft Offset When Steep and Deep The above figure shows a transmitter positioned in a drill string that is drilling at either a positive or a negative pitch—the pitch is positive if you are drilling left to right, negative if you are drilling right to left. The transmitter’s signal field is also pitched at the same angle as the transmitter.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Pitch → ±10% (5.7°) ±20% (11°) ±30% (17°) ±40% (22°) ±50% (27°) ±60% (31°) ±75% (37°) ±90% (42°) ±100% (45°) 1.52 m 1.52 m 1.50 m 1.45 m 1.37 m 1.32 m 1.27 m 1.17 m 1.07 m 0.76 m 3.05 m 3.02 m 2.97 m 2.87 m 2.77 m 2.64 m 2.51 m 2.31 m 2.13 m 1.52 m 4.57 m 4.55 m 4.47 m 4.32 m 4.14 m 3.96 m 3.78 m 3.48 m 3.20 m 2.29 m 6.10 m 6.07 m 5.94 m 5.74 m 5.51 m 5.28 m 5.03 m 4.65 m 4.27 m 3.05 m 7.62 m 7.59 m 7.44 m 7.19 m 6.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Pitch → ±10% (5.7°) ±20% (11°) ±30% (17°) ±40% (22°) ±50% (27°) ±60% (31°) ±75% (37°) ±90% (42°) ±100% (45°) 1.52 m 1.52 m 1.57 m 1.60 m 1.68 m 1.73 m 1.80 m 1.91 m 1.98 m 2.29 m 3.05 m 3.07 m 3.12 m 3.23 m 3.33 m 3.45 m 3.58 m 3.78 m 3.96 m 4.57 m 4.57 m 4.60 m 4.70 m 4.83 m 5.00 m 5.18 m 5.38 m 5.66 m 5.94 m 6.86 m 6.10 m 6.12 m 6.25 m 6.45 m 6.68 m 6.91 m 7.16 m 7.54 m 7.92 m 9.14 m 7.62 m 7.67 m 7.82 m 8.05 m 8.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Appendix D: Calculating Depth Based on Distance Between FLP and RLP If you know the transmitter pitch, the positions of the front locate point (FLP) and the rear locate point (RLP), and if the ground surface is level, you can still estimate the transmitter depth even if the depth information displayed on the receiver becomes unreliable. To estimate the transmitter depth, first measure the distance between the FLP and the RLP.
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Appendix E: Reference Tables Depth Increase in cm per 3-m Rod 74 Percent Depth Increase Percent Depth Increase 1 2 cm 28 81 cm 2 5 cm 29 84 cm 3 10 cm 30 86 cm 4 13 cm 31 91 cm 5 15 cm 32 94 cm 6 18 cm 33 97 cm 7 20 cm 34 99 cm 8 25 cm 35 102 cm 9 28 cm 36 104 cm 10 30 cm 37 107 cm 11 33 cm 38 109 cm 12 36 cm 39 112 cm 13 38 cm 40 114 cm 14 43 cm 41 117 cm 15 46 cm 42 117 cm 16 48 cm 43 119 cm 17 51 cm 44
DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED Depth Increase in cm per 4.
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DIGITAL C ONTROL I NCORPORATED contract, negligence, strict liability, or any other legal theory, even if DCI has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall DCI’s liability exceed the amount User has paid for the DCI product. To the extent that any applicable law does not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental, consequential or similar damages, the foregoing limitations regarding such damages shall not apply.
