Directional Drilling Guidance System Operator’s Manual DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED dci@digital-control.com www.DigiTrak.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 403-2400-00-A, Mar 2016 © 2015 by Digital Control Incorporated. All rights reserved. Trademarks Aurora, the DCI logo, DigiTrak®, F5®, and Target Steering® are U.S. registered trademarks and the Aurora logo, Ball-in-the-Box™, DigiTrak Falcon™, F Series™, and SuperCell™, are 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.com/patents.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Table of Contents Important Safety Instructions 1 General ........................................................................................................... 1 Pre-Drilling Testing .......................................................................................... 2 Interference ..................................................................................................... 2 Battery Pack Storage ..............................................................
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Pressure Units Menu ................................................................................26 Temperature Units Menu ..........................................................................26 Error! Bookmark not defined. Language Selection Menu .........................................................................26 Transmitter Selection and Frequency Optimization ....................................... 26 Frequency Optimization ...................................
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Installing Batteries / Power On ..................................................................65 Transmitter Battery Strength ....................................................................66 Sleep Mode ............................................................................................66 Transmitter Drill Head Requirements ............................................................ 67 Temperature Status and Overheat Indicator .................................
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED viii DigiTrak Falcon™ F5 Operator’s Manual
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED 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: The receiver has been properly calibrated and the calibration has been checked for accuracy so the receiver shows the correct depth.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Battery Pack Storage If you plan to store the battery packs for any period of time, please follow these guidelines: Do not store the battery pack at temperatures greater than 113° F. Do not store the battery pack in a fully discharged state. Do not store the battery pack in the battery charger. Do not store multiple batteries together where their terminals or other loose conductive materials may contact one another and cause a short circuit.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED General Transmitter Care Instructions Periodically clean the spring and threads inside the battery compartment as well as the spring and threads of the battery end cap to ensure a proper power connection with the batteries. Use an emery cloth or wire brush to remove any oxidation that has built up. Be careful not to damage the battery cap O-ring; remove it while cleaning if necessary.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Getting Started Introduction Receiver Aurora remote display Transmitter Li-ion/NiMH Battery charger Typical DigiTrak Falcon F5 Guidance System with Aurora Remote Display Congratulations on your purchase of the DigiTrak Falcon F5 guidance system. The Falcon wideband technology represents an important advancement in the detection of active interference at the jobsite.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED The Falcon system comes standard with a remote display, batteries, and battery charger. The separate operator's manuals for these devices are located on the flash drive that accompanied your guidance system and also at www.DigiTrak.com. 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Powering On The regional designation number in the globes on the receiver startup screen and transmitter body must match. If they don’t, contact your DigiTrak dealer. Toggle, trigger, go Page 11 At the Locate screen, toggle down to open the Main menu. Toggle in any direction to reach the icon you want. Click the trigger to make a selection. In some cases, hold the trigger for additional information, such as a depth reading at the Locate screen. Receiver 1.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Setup Summary Getting started with a Falcon F5 receiver is easy: run the frequency optimizer, walk and scan the bore path, pair the receiver with the transmitter, calibrate, check Above Ground Range, and check for active interference. It's all summarized in the following several paragraphs, with links to the details later in this manual. If you're hungry for the details now, skip to Receiver on page 10. Run the Frequency Optimizer 1.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Are high frequency bands better than low frequency bands? Different bands are better for different kinds of interference. Lower frequency bands like 7 and 11 are typically better around rebar, passive interference, and salt water. The middle frequency bands have slightly stronger signal strengths that can perform better in deeper bores, plus have longer Target Steering capability.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Receiver I know what a toggle switch is; can I skip this? Page 14 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Toggle and Trigger Switches The Falcon F5 receiver has two switches for operating the system: a toggle switch located on the top of the unit and a trigger located under the handle. Toggle Switch Use to access and navigate menus. Trigger Switch Use to turn on the receiver, select (click on) menu options, and change the screen view for depth readings.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Can I change the screen brightness? No. The display is pre-tuned for optimal contrast and visibility in all conditions. 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. Display window Backspace Enter Standard Keypad To input a value, toggle to and select the desired digits from left to right.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED If you purchased your Falcon F5 receiver by itself, your existing remote display may not include the required F5 option. If so, contact your regional DCI office or Customer Service for a software upgrade. The operator's manuals for these remote displays are located on the flash drive that accompanied your Falcon F5 guidance system and also at www.DigiTrak.com. For an MFD, use the FSD manual.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Receiver Menus I am already familiar with DigiTrak receiver menus; can I skip this? Page 26 If you have used a DigiTrak F5 receiver, you are well on your way to mastering a Falcon F5. Read the section on Frequency Optimization, then come back here later if you feel lonely. To access the Main menu from the Locate screen, toggle down. The Locate Mode icon is shown selected below; clicking the trigger would return you to the Locate screen.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Is there a faster way to get to the menu item I want? Yes, it's called screen wrapping. If you're at the top of a menu page, toggle up to jump to the bottom, or if you're at the left side, toggle left to jump to the right, and so on. To get from the top-left icon to the bottom right on the next page, you could toggle right-rightdown-down, or just left-up. Yeah. Pretty cool.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Calibration Use the Calibration menu to calibrate the receiver to a transmitter. Calibration is required prior to first-time use and before using a different transmitter, receiver, drill head, or transmitter band. Calibrate each band separately If you select an optimized band that has not been calibrated yet, appears in the roll indicator. Calibrate separately for each optimized frequency band prior to each job. Calibration affects depth readings, but not roll/pitch.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED attenuation turns off. If it does not, excessive noise may be present. Due to its higher signal strength, a 19 in. transmitter must be moved more than 10 ft. away from the receiver before attenuation will turn off. 4. At the Main menu, select Calibration, then 1 pt calibration. View Calibration 1 pt calibration Above Ground Range (AGR) If you just completed AGR after Height-Above-Groun Calibration Menu 5.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED receiver briefly displays this icon: This simply means that one band has been calibrated, but one has not. After checking AGR for the current band, remember to calibrate and check the AGR of the other band. Why do I keep getting calibration errors? Carefully review the items under "Do not calibrate if" at the beginning of this section. Try calibrating in a different location. Make sure the transmitter is on and paired (data showing on the Locate screen). Check your batteries.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 2-point), 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Use AGR at least daily, and ideally in both frequency bands, to verify proper depth/distance measurements. AGR Pitch assumed zero 50 ft. calibration Above Ground Range (AGR) If you just completed AGR after calibration, don't forget to turn HeightAbove-Ground (HAG) back on, if necessary.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 50 Foot Calibration (Optional) This feature is primarily used for demonstrations of the locating system above ground and is not necessary for drilling. Above ground range (AGR) measurements beyond 40 ft. often read shallower (shorter) than they actually are due to variations in ground conditions, and this feature calibrates these measurements to account for these variations.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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. If the HAG had previously been enabled, Disable HAG would be highlighted. Set HAG Disable HAG Enable HAG HAG Menu 3. If the HAG value shown at the bottom of the screen is acceptable, select Enable HAG. Skip the next step. 4.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Settings Use this menu to set the following options: Depth Units Pitch Units Date/Time Telemetry Channel Roll Offset Pressure Units Second page Temperature Units Language Settings Menu 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Set Time and Calendar Menu Set the time and date on your receiver. This is necessary when you are using the DataLog function. Time value (date displays here when calendar is the active function) Time (shown active) Calendar Enter arrow 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Roll Offset Menu Use Roll Offset to electronically match the 12:00 position of the transmitter to that of the drill head. Enable Roll Offset 1. Select Set and enable the roll offset. Disable roll offset Set and enable the roll offset Roll Offset Menu 2. Ensure the drill head is at its 12:00 position and that the transmitter is on. Transmitter’s true roll position with housing at 12:00 Set the roll offset Set Roll Offset Menu 3. Select Set the roll offset.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Disable Roll Offset To turn off 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Frequency Optimization To optimize and select a frequency band: 1. Ensure all transmitters are powered off or are more than 100 ft. away from the receiver. 2. Take your receiver to the point along the proposed bore that you expect to have the greatest amount of noise (active interference). 3. With the receiver parallel to the bore path, open the Main menu, select Transmitter Selection , then Frequency Optimization (FO) .
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 5. Toggle to the band you want to use and click to select. Typically this will be a band with a low interference level that did not experience high maximum noise readings along the bore path. "Up" Band Number Range in kHz 7 11 16 20 25 29 34 38 43 4.5–9.0 9.0–13.5 13.5–18 18–22.5 22.5–27 27–31.5 31.5–36 36–40.5 40.5–45 6. Select whether to assign this as the Up or Down band (the band the Tx powers on with when facing Up or Down).
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Can I exit the pairing screen and go back to the optimizer results without running it again? Yes. Toggle left and select Return to frequency graph . Maximum readings will be reset and you can continue observing the noise readings of the last optimized frequency bands. Exiting from the frequency graph will erase optimization results. When the pairing is successful, the receiver/transmitter icon briefly shows a happy green check mark and the receiver beeps.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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. 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED 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. Up band Fluid pressure Down band Band Selection Menu To reach this menu directly from the Locate screen, hold the toggle right briefly. Select to return to the Locate screen.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Model number Click to return to the Main menu. 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. Set up job Upload Delete Enable Survey Pt.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Right deviation Right offset Fire hydrant Set pin marking fire hydrant Sidewalk Right pin distance Intended bore path Set flag marking gas line crossing Actual bore path Marked gas line Flags and Pins, Offset and Deviation Left/Right Offset On the DataLog menu, L/R Offset lets you specify a given horizontal distance you intend to maintain from a feature beside the bore path, such as curb, guardrail, or surveyed path.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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-WhileDrilling 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 have to be perfectly level. . The ground does not 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Perform System Self-Test This self-test performs a system check on internal components. Ensure no transmitters are powered on during this test. The receiver beeps four times after a successful test and displays the Receiver Startup Screen shown on page 11. Click to return to the Diagnostics menu. If the receiver returns any other results, contact DCI Customer Service. Perform Signal Self-Test This self-test tests antenna gain calibration for all transmitter frequencies.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Locating Basics Are you ready? Page 43 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 down to Interference.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 49 Yes. Get this down first, then you'll be ready to locate like a professional.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED How do I check which frequency bands are assigned? The current band in use is listed at the top of the Main menu (page 14). Hold toggle right at the Locate screen to see and switch between bands. 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED When the HAG setting is disabled, the receiver will be shown on the ground and must be placed on the ground during depth readings. Height-AboveGround (HAG) Page 21 Max Mode Noise Filtering The purpose of Max mode noise filtering is to stabilize erratic roll/pitch data, depths, and locates when drilling at the very limit of the ability of the transmitter due to extreme depth or interference, which will vary by jobsite.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Predicted Depth Screen Warning Because both front and rear locate points appear identical to the receiver, an invalid depth prediction can be generated when the receiver is over the rear locate point (RLP). Only a depth reading at the front locate point (FLP) produces a valid predicted depth. Locate Points (FLP & RLP) and Locate Line (LL) Page 46 Hold the trigger at the front locate point (FLP) to display the Predicted Depth screen.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Depth Screen, Invalid Location Hold the trigger at any time during locating to display the Depth screen. No depth or predicted depth will appear if the receiver is not positioned at the locate line or front or rear locate point. However, holding the trigger more than five seconds to enter Max mode may obtain more stable roll/pitch data (use of Max mode has special requirements and restrictions).
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Conducting a thorough site investigation prior to drilling is the best method of identifying passive interference sources. To familiarize yourself with the interference potential along your intended bore path, check for background noise as discussed in the following section. Warning A receiver cannot detect sources of passive interference; this can only be accomplished with a visual inspection of the jobsite. A background noise check can only find active interference.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED reading of 175, the reading with the transmitter on at this location, and at a distance from the receiver equal to the maximum intended bore depth, should be a minimum of 325 (175 + 150). Areas where the background noise level is too high may make it difficult to obtain roll and pitch data and accurate locates and depth readings.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Suggestions for Dealing with Interference If roll/pitch information becomes erratic or is lost while drilling or during a roll/pitch check (see previous section), try one or more of the following: Max Mode Page 41 Try Max mode. Move the receiver away from the interference source while staying Off-Track Locating Page 57 within range of the transmitter.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Locate line does not equal the location of the transmitter Being over the locate line does not mean you are over the transmitter, which may be to the left or right anywhere along the locate line. You must find the front and rear locate points to find the transmitter, as is detailed on the next couple pages. The most accurate tracking requires the use of all three locations to determine the position, heading, and depth of the transmitter.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Effects of Depth, Pitch, and Topography on Distance Between FLP and RLP The deeper the transmitter is, the farther apart the FLP and RLP will be. The distance between the FLP and RLP with respect to the location of the LL is also affected by transmitter pitch and the topography. When the transmitter pitch is negative, the FLP will be farther from the LL than the RLP. When the pitch is positive, the RLP will be further from the LL than the FLP.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Page 21 If necessary, set Height-Above-Ground (HAG) and Roll Offset. Roll Offset Page 25 Go watch some TV You can find a training video on Basic Locating at www.youtube.com/dcikent. 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 4. When the ball is centered in the box (Ball-in-the-Box™), hold the trigger for at least one second so the receiver can “lock” onto the reference signal. The “R” symbol will appear at the top of the Depth screen. The locate line (LL) will not display later without this reference.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Finding the Locate Line (LL) 6. Continue walking toward the drill rig or the last known transmitter location. Keep the locating ball on the vertical crosshair and observe that the signal strength is increasing as you get closer to the transmitter. Drill rig Bore path Locating ball moving along vertical crosshair Signal strength higher than at FLP Receiver Locate Screen, Moving Toward LL, FLP Behind If the signal strength decreases, you may actually have just located the RLP.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 8. Position the receiver so the LL aligns with the horizontal crosshair. Drill rig Bore path Line-in-the-Box Receiver Locate Screen at the LL 9. Actual Position of Receiver and Transmitter Take a depth reading and mark the LL directly below the receiver’s display screen. If the FLP is to the left or right of the previous marks—indicating some steering action—locate the RLP as described in the next steps to verify proper positioning of the LL between the Locate Points.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Finding the RLP to Confirm Transmitter Heading and Position Finding the RLP will allow you to confirm the transmitter’s heading and position. Like the FLP, the RLP is represented as a ball ( ) on the receiver display. Continue locating: 10. From the LL, facing toward the drill or last transmitter location, walk forward while keeping the ball aligned on the vertical crosshairs. Notice how the signal strength decreases as you move away from the transmitter.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Advanced Locating When you're ready to push the envelope 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Off-Track Locating Go watch some TV You can find a training video on Off-Track Locating at www.youtube.com/dcikent. Use off-track locating when it is not possible to walk above the transmitter due to a surface obstruction or interference. Using the locate line’s perpendicular relationship to the transmitter, it is possible to track the transmitter’s heading and also determine if it is maintaining its intended depth.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED predetermined distances of P1, P2, and P3, as the drill head progresses, you can verify it is moving away from or maintaining the intended bore path. It is important to monitor the pitch of the transmitter to ensure the drill head is maintaining the desired depth. 4. As drilling continues, steer the drill head to maintain a constant signal strength at each of the points P1, P2, and P3.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Note After learning the concepts of Target Steering, practice its use before using on a jobsite where time and money are at a premium. If you need further assistance, please contact DCI Customer Service. Go watch some TV You can find a training animation on Target Steering at www.youtube.com/dcikent. Using the receiver for Target Steering requires a stable signal from the transmitter.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Turning Target Steering On The target depth is the depth at which you want the transmitter when it reaches the location under the receiver. To set the desired target depth on the receiver, toggle up at the Locate screen to open the Target Steering menu.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Ensure that the location you would like to steer to beneath the receiver is feasible for the bend radius of the drill string and product being installed. Feasible Target Steering Area Page 60 Place the receiver on the intended drill path beyond the FLP but within 35 ft. of the transmitter with its back end (battery pack) facing the transmitter's current location.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Turn Target Steering Off To turn off Target Steering on the receiver, toggle down from the Target Steering screen to return to the Locate screen. The receiver will now no longer act as a steering target. This also causes the remote display to exit Target Steering mode.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Transmitter A transmitter generates a magnetic field detected by the Falcon F5 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Batteries and Power On/Off DigiTrak Falcon F5 wideband transmitters require two C-cell alkaline batteries or one DCI ™ SuperCell lithium battery providing a maximum of 3.6 VDC. Alkaline batteries will last up to 20 hours, whereas a SuperCell battery will last up to 70 hours. The 19 in. BTPL transmitter requires use of a SuperCell battery due to its greater power requirements. Warning Never use damaged or non-DCI lithium batteries.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 SuperCell 3.6 V 1.5 V DOWN 1.5 V to power on in the last Up optimized band 1.5 V UP 1.5 V SuperCell 3.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED A small amount of charge will continue to drain from the batteries while the transmitter is in sleep mode so it can monitor roll position. To conserve battery life, do not leave batteries in the transmitter when they can be easily removed. Always remove batteries when the transmitter is not being used to turn it off. Note A transmitter will continue sending data for up to 10 seconds after the batteries are removed.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Temperature Status and Overheat Indicator All DigiTrak transmitters are equipped with an internal digital thermometer. The temperature displays on the bottom right of the receiver and remote display screens next to the transmitter temperature symbol . Normal drilling temperatures range from 64 to 104° F. Suspend drilling when temperatures exceed 97° F to permit cooling.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Transmitter Overheat Indicator (Temp Dot) Each transmitter has a temperature overheat indicator (temp dot) on the front end cap. The 1 temp dot has an outer yellow ring with a /8 in. white dot in the center. Black temp dot voids warranty Normal temp dot Transmitter Temp Dot If the temp dot changes to silver or gray, the transmitter has been exposed to heat but not in excess of specifications.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 5. After 10–18 seconds, all transmitter data disappears from the receiver’s screen, indicating the transmitter frequency has changed. 6. Select the new frequency band in the Band Selection Menu. The new band displays at the top of the Main menu. It may take up to 30 seconds for the transmitter to begin sending data on the new frequency; return to the Locate screen and verify that transmitter data appears on the display.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Warning A warning symbol in the roll indicator after changing bands on the receiver means the transmitter has not yet been calibrated in this band. While locate positions and roll/pitch data will be correct, depth readings will be incorrect.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix A: System Specifications Power Requirements Device (Model) Operational Voltage Operational Current DigiTrak Falcon F5 Receiver (FAR5) 14.4 V 390 mA max DigiTrak F Series Battery Charger (FBC) Input 10–28 V Output 19.2 V 5.0 A max 1.8 A max 14.4 V 4.5 Ah 65 Wh max DigiTrak F Series Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (FBP) DigiTrak Falcon F5 Transmitter (BTP, BTPL) DigiTrak Falcon F2 Transmitter (BTWL) (nominal) 1.2–4.2V 1.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED SuperCell batteries are regulated UN3090 lithium metal batteries and F Series FBP batteries are regulated UN3480 and UN3481 lithium-ion batteries. Lithium batteries are considered Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods under International Air Transportation Association (IATA) regulations; IATA regulation and Ground Transportation regulations 49 CFR 172 and 174 apply. These batteries must be packaged and shipped by trained and certified personnel only.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix B: Receiver Screen Symbols Symbol A , 74 Description Attenuation – Indicates signal attenuation is in effect due to the presence of excessive interference, or when locating within a few feet of the transmitter. The receiver automatically attenuates the transmitter signal when locating at shallow depths to reduce excessive signal strength.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Symbol R RO or Description Pitch Assumed Zero – Indicates that since no pitch data is currently available, the pitch is assumed to be zero for depth, predicted depth, and AGR calculations. Page 40 Pressure – When using a fluid pressure transmitter, the number next to this icon on the Locate screen indicates the pressure reading. If the pressure reaches an over-limit condition (from 100–250 psi), the value will appear red.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Symbol Description Warning – This error symbol indicates a failure in a self-test or a need to calibrate the receiver to one or both transmitter bands.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Fore/aft offset LP LL LP 30% (17°) pitch Actual depth Projected depth 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Table C1: Determining Actual Depth from Displayed (Projected) Depth and Pitch Pitch→ ±10% (5.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Table C2: Determining Fore/Aft Offset from Displayed (Projected) Depth and Pitch Pitch→ ±10% (5.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Table C4: Conversion Factors for Calculating Exact Projected Depth or Actual Depth Pitch → ±10% (5.7°) ±20% (11°) ±30% (17°) ±40% (22°) ±50% (27°) ±60% (31°) ±75% (37°) ±90% (42°) From Actual to Projected Depth 1.005 1.025 1.06 1.105 1.155 1.212 1.314 1.426 From Projected to Actual Depth 0.995 0.975 0.943 0.905 0.866 0.825 0.761 0.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix E: Reference Tables Depth Increase in Inches per 10-ft. Rod Percent Depth Increase Percent Depth Increase 1 1 in. 28 32 in. 2 2 in. 29 33 in. 3 4 in. 30 34 in. 4 5 in. 31 36 in. 5 6 in. 32 37 in. 6 7 in. 33 38 in. 7 8 in. 34 39 in. 8 10 in. 35 40 in. 9 11 in. 36 41 in. 10 12 in. 37 42 in. 11 13 in. 38 43 in. 12 14 in. 39 44 in. 13 15 in. 40 45 in. 14 17 in. 41 46 in. 15 18 in. 42 46 in. 16 19 in.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Depth Increase in Inches per 15-ft. Rod 84 Percent Depth Increase Percent Depth Increase 1 2 in. 28 49 in. 2 4 in. 29 50 in. 3 5 in. 30 52 in. 4 7 in. 31 53 in. 5 9 in. 32 55 in. 6 11 in. 33 56 in. 7 13 in. 34 58 in. 8 14 in. 35 59 in. 9 16 in. 36 61 in. 10 18 in. 37 62 in. 11 20 in. 38 64 in. 12 21 in. 39 65 in. 13 23 in. 40 67 in. 14 25 in. 41 68 in. 15 27 in. 42 70 in. 16 28 in. 43 71 in. 17 30 in.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED DigiTrak Falcon™ F5 Operator’s Manual 85
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DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED THE FOREGOING LIMITED WARRANTY IS DCI’S SOLE WARRANTY AND IS MADE IN PLACE OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IMPLIED WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, COURSE OF DEALING, OR USAGE OF TRADE, ALL OF WHICH ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED.
