TM Directional Drilling Locating System Operator’s Manual DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED dci@digital-control.com www.DigiTrak.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 403-2300-21-B, Jul 2015 © 2015 by Digital Control Incorporated. All rights reserved. Trademarks The DCI logo, DigiTrak®, F2®, and Target Steering® are U.S. registered trademarks and Aurora™, Ball-in-the-Box™, F Series™, DigiTrak Falcon™, 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 locating 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 Locating Basics 28 Locating Screens........................................................................................... 29 Locate Screen Shortcuts ..........................................................................29 Locate Screen .........................................................................................29 Depth Screen ..........................................................................................31 Predicted Depth Screen ................
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix A: System Specifications 63 Power Requirements ..................................................................................... 63 Environmental Requirements ........................................................................ 63 Storage and Shipping Requirements............................................................. 64 Temperature...........................................................................................64 Packaging .....................
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED viii DigiTrak Falcon F2 Operator’s Manual
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Important Safety Instructions General The following warnings relate generally to the operation of DigiTrak locating systems. This is not an exhaustive list. Always operate your DigiTrak locating system in accordance with the manual and be aware of interference that may affect efforts to retrieve accurate data with this locating system. Failure to do so can be hazardous.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Pre-Drilling Testing Before each drilling run, test your DigiTrak locating 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 45° C. 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 touchscreen display Batteries, charger, and cable Transmitter Typical DigiTrak Falcon Locating System Congratulations on your purchase of a DigiTrak Falcon™ F2 walkover locating system, the most advanced method of active interference detection and avoidance available in the HDD industry today. Historically, locating systems have transmitted the underground signal on a single frequency.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED DCI’s Falcon technology is rated to a 30.5 m depth and nearly 38.1 m data (roll/pitch) range with a standard 15 in. transmitter in a quiet environment. Falcon substantially outperforms all competitors even in noisy environments. The Falcon system comes standard with the Falcon Compact Display (FCD) shown above. An optional remote display is the advanced Aurora™ touchscreen. Information on the batteries and F Series Battery Charger is located in the FBC Battery Charger manual.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Powering On 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. Note the regional designation number in the globe on the receiver startup screen. This number must match the region of the transmitter. If they don’t match, contact DCI Customer Service. 5. First time use: from the Settings menu telemetry channel. , set the depth units, pitch units, and 6.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Jobsite Setup Getting started with Falcon is easy: run the Frequency Optimizer, choose a band, pair the receiver with the transmitter, calibrate, check range, and check for active interference. These tasks are described in detail starting with Receiver Menus on page 13. Using the trigger Page 10 Click the trigger to move between menu options. Hold briefly and release to make a selection. Do nothing in a menu for five seconds to return to the Locate screen.
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. Higher frequency bands can perform better in deeper bores, plus have longer Target Steering capability.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Receiver Screen Front Trigger switch Battery tab Serial number Infrared window Battery compartment Falcon F2 Receiver – Side and Back Views General Description The DigiTrak Falcon™ F2 receiver (locator) is a handheld unit used for locating and tracking a DigiTrak Falcon F2 dual wideband transmitter. It converts signals from the transmitter to display depth, pitch, roll, temperature, and battery level, plus sends this information to the remote display on the drill rig.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Audible Tones Transmitter Temperature Warning Tones Page 60 The Falcon F2 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. 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED The contrast changed way too much, how do I change it back? Keep holding the trigger; the contrast will adjust completely dark or light, then adjust in the opposite direction. Using a Remote Display The Falcon F2 receiver is compatible with the following remote displays: Remote Display Falcon Compact Display - FCD Multi-Function Display - MFD Minimum Software Version all 3.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Receiver Menus I am already familiar with DigiTrak receiver menus; can I skip this? Page 28 If you have used a DigiTrak SE or F2 receiver, you are well on your way to mastering a Falcon. Read the second section on the Frequency Optimizer, then skip ahead to Locating Basics. Come back and visit later as needed for reference. Main Menu To access the Main menu from the Locate screen, click the trigger.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Frequency Optimizer The Frequency Optimizer (FO) feature finds the lowest-noise (optimal) group of frequencies available in each of nine bands. When the results display in graph form showing the levels in each band, choose the one or two bands you want to use, pair, and you're ready to calibrate and start drilling. You can switch the transmitter between the two optimized bands at any time, either pre-bore or mid-bore.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED When frequency optimization is complete, the receiver shows the background noise currently present in each of the nine frequency bands using an optimized selection of the lowest-noise frequencies within each band. The shorter the bar on the graph, the less interference present in that band. Maximum noise reading Band selector Current optimized noise readings Exit Median kHz of each band Frequency Optimizer Results 3.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Note If the band number you want to use is already displayed at the right edge of the screen, reassign it anyway, as the newly optimized group of frequencies in that band will be different than those in the existing group. 6. Click to select a second band, then assign as the other band (Up or Down); changing both bands is optional. With two new bands, the receiver and transmitter will begin using the Down band first. 7. Select Pair .
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 11. When the pairing is successful, the receiver/transmitter icon briefly changes to a check mark and the receiver beeps. Both the receiver and transmitter are now using the new optimized band you selected. If you assigned two new bands, the system is set to use the Down band first. If the pairing is unsuccessful, the receiver/transmitter icon will briefly change to an X and then the Transmitter Pairing screen will reappear. Try pairing a second time.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Use Height-Above-Ground (HAG) to set a height measurement on the receiver so you don’t have to set it on the ground for a depth reading. Raising the receiver above the ground also provides separation from underground interference that might otherwise reduce the transmitter’s range or cause variable readings. To prevent incorrect readings, Falcon F2 always powers up with the HAG function off (disabled).
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Turn HAG Off To set the HAG distance, click the trigger to advance to the next screen and skip the rest of this section. To turn HAG off, continue below. The Turn HAG Off screen shows the receiver on the ground. Hold the trigger briefly to turn HAG off. The receiver beeps and confirms with a checkmark to indicate HAG is now off, then returns to the Locate screen. The receiver must now be placed on the ground to obtain accurate depth readings.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Calibration and AGR Use the Calibration menu to calibrate the receiver to a transmitter and to verify the Above Ground Range (AGR). Calibration is required prior to first-time use and before using a different transmitter, receiver, drill head, or transmitter band. Calibrate each optimized band separately If you select an optimized band that has not been calibrated yet, appears in the roll indicator.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 3. At the Main menu, select Calibration and then 1PT (1-point) calibration. Receiver Calibration Screen 4. Use a tape measure to ensure the distance from the center of the transmitter to the inside edge of the receiver is 3 m as shown below, then click to begin the calibration.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 6. A successful calibration yields a checkmark above the transmitter icon and four beeps. An unsuccessful calibration yields an X above the transmitter icon and two beeps. Successful Unsuccessful The symbol indicates low signal strength, and indicates high (excessive) signal strength. Calibration will fail when the signal from the transmitter is below 300 or above 950 points.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Use AGR at least daily, and ideally in both frequency bands, to verify proper depth (distance) measurements. After Calibration If necessary, turn Height-Above-Ground (HAG) back on. Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Page 17 15 m Calibration (Optional) This feature is only used for verifying above-ground AGR distance measurements beyond 12.2 m. A 15M (15 meter) calibration does not affect depth readings on the Locate screen.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Settings Use the Settings menu to set the following options: Depth Units Menu Roll Offset Menu Pitch Units Menu Telemetry Channel Menu Transmitter Options Menu Settings Menu Click the trigger to move between options, hold briefly to select. DCI recommends that you program the receiver and the remote display Depth and Pitch settings to use the same units of measure. For each option, an arrow indicates the current setting.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Roll Offset Menu Use Roll Offset to electronically compensate the 12:00 position of the transmitter to that of the drill head. To set and enable roll offset, the receiver must be showing actual clock values. 1. Roll the drill head to the 12:00 position. The transmitter will display its actual roll value. 2. From the Settings menu, select Roll Offset . 3. Select Activate Roll Offset.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED To disable roll offset, select Disable Roll Offset from the Roll Offset menu. The receiver beeps four times as the screen returns to the Locate screen. The roll value on the Locate screen will now be that of the transmitter, not necessarily the drill head. Transmitter Options Menu The Transmitter Options menu lets you select between optimized Up and Down frequency bands.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Frequency Analyzer This function shows the current active interference levels in the optimized Up or Down frequency band. One or more bars in the optimizer graph will be higher if the receiver is near a source of active interference (as an experiment, hold the receiver near a television or computer monitor and watch the bars jump). You may optionally select a different optimized band from this screen. If so, remember to recalibrate prior to drilling.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Locating Basics Are you ready? Page 34 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 F2 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 40 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 13). Or, From the Main menu, select Settings > Transmitter Options (page 26) to see both optimized 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 Depth Screen Hold the trigger with the receiver at the locate line (LL) to display the Depth screen. Locate Points (FLP & RLP) and Locate Line (LL) Page 37 Locate point (front or rear) Height-Above-Ground (HAG) setting on Locate line (LL) Bird's-eye view Transmitter depth Tx battery strength Depth Screen at LL with HAG On When the HAG setting is disabled, the receiver will be shown on the ground and must be placed on the ground during depth readings.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 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: . Max mode timer Depth Max mode icon 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 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 reading at the front locate point (FLP) produces a valid predicted depth. Locate Points (FLP & RLP) and Locate Line (LL) Page 37 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 Passive interference can reduce or increase the amount of signal received from the transmitter, which results in incorrect depth readings, a completely blocked signal, or locates in the wrong position. Examples of passive interference include metal objects such as pipes, rebar, trench plate, chain-link fence, and vehicles. Two other examples are saltwater/salt domes and conductive earth, such as iron ore. The receiver cannot test for the presence of passive interference.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED background interference reading. For example, if this area of greatest interference produced a signal strength 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).
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Suggestions for Dealing with Interference If roll/pitch information becomes erratic or is lost while drilling, try one or more of the following: Max Mode Page 31 Try Max mode. Move the receiver away from the interference source while staying within range of the transmitter. Off-Track Locating Page 49 Physically separate the receiver from both passive and active interference to reduce or eliminate interference-related problems.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED The most accurate tracking requires the use of all three locations to determine the position, heading, and depth of the transmitter. A line passing through the FLP and RLP reveals the heading and left/right position of the transmitter. The LL determines the position of the transmitter when the receiver is properly aligned between the FLP and RLP (on the line).
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 a function of the 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 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. Start with the receiver on and in Locate mode. 2. Stand in front of the drill head at a distance of approximately the drill head depth. 3.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 5. 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) 7. 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. Drill rig Bore path Signal strength higher than at FLP Locating ball moving along vertical crosshair Receiver Locate Screen, Moving Toward LL, FLP Behind If the signal strength decreases, you may actually have just located the RLP.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 9. 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 Actual Position of Receiver and Transmitter 10. 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: 11. From the LL, facing toward the drill or last transmitter location, walk forward while keeping the ball aligned on the vertical crosshairs.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 14. Position the receiver at the intersection of this 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.
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 Preparing for Off-Track Locating 3. While still holding the receiver in the same orientation, step to the side another predetermined distance (P2) farther away. Move the receiver forward and backward until the ball jumps between the top and bottom of the screen, then mark this location. 4. While still holding the receiver in the same orientation, step to the side of the drill head another predetermined distance (P3) farther away.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Target Steering The Target Steering locating method allows the Falcon F2 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 bring a significantly off-course bore back on track. If needed, use front and rear locate methods to get back on course.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED The Target Steering procedure requires correct placement of the receiver at less than 10.7 m in front of the transmitter, on the bore path, with its back end (where the battery pack is inserted) facing the drill. When used to provide only the right/left Remote Steering signals accepted by the Falcon and Aurora remote displays, the distance between receiver and transmitter is limited only by the range of the transmitter.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Turning Target Steering Off Use the second screen in the Target Steering menu to turn target steering off. Locating target represents no target depth programmed Hold the trigger briefly to turn Target Steering off. A checkmark appears briefly next to the receiver icon. The receiver beeps four times to confirm and returns to the Locate screen.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 2. The first digit is underlined. Click to select the next digit, or hold briefly to change the value. Select to confirm setting Current selection 3. Upon selection, the value becomes boxed. Click to scroll through numeric values, then hold briefly to select. Click to select subsequent values and hold briefly to change. 4. When the target depth is set correctly, select the checkmark to confirm.
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 51 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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Transmitter A transmitter generates a magnetic field detected by the Falcon F2 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 F2 dual 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. Warning Never use damaged or non-DCI lithium batteries. Never use two C-cell lithium batteries providing a combined voltage above 3.6 VDC.
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 The Falcon F2 transmitter only performs this current draw test for five minutes after powering on. The transmitter must be installed in the drill head for this test to be valid. Different drill heads and slot arrangements will affect current draw and battery life. Sleep Mode All battery-powered DigiTrak transmitters go into sleep mode and stop transmitting to conserve battery power if they are stationary for longer than 15 minutes.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Use only the battery cap that accompanied the Falcon F2 transmitter; other battery caps may look similar but crush the batteries or make the transmitter too long to fit in a standard housing. 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 .
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Transmitter Overheat Indicator (Temp Dot) Each transmitter has a temperature overheat indicator (temp dot) on the front end cap. The temp dot has an outer yellow ring with a 3 mm white dot in the center. The white dot will change color if the transmitter is exposed to excessive heat. 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 Below Ground (Mid-Bore) Roll Methods Switching between bands on the Falcon F2 transmitter may provide better data results while drilling in a section of the bore with a high level of interference. Use these methods to change the frequency band of a transmitter mid-bore. Frequency Change, 10-2-7 1. Ensure roll offset is disabled and transmitter roll data is displayed on the receiver. Roll Offset Menu Page 25 2.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix A: System Specifications Power Requirements Device (Model Number) Operational Voltage Operational Current DigiTrak Falcon F2 Receiver (FAR2) 14.4 V 300 mA max DigiTrak SE NiMH Battery Charger (SBC) Input 100–240 VAC Output 25 V (nominal) 350 mA max 700 mA max DigiTrak SE NiMH Battery Pack (SBP) 14.4 V 2.0 Ah 29 Wh max DigiTrak F Series Battery Charger (FBC) Input 10–28 V Output 19.2 V 5.0 A max 1.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Storage and Shipping Requirements Temperature Storage and transportation temperature must remain within -40 to 65° C. Packaging Ship in original carrying case or packaging of sufficient durability to prevent mechanical shock to equipment during transportation. Approved for transportation by vehicle, boat, and aircraft. SuperCell batteries are regulated UN3090 lithium metal batteries and F Series FBP batteries are regulated UN3480 and UN3481 lithium ion batteries.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Appendix B: Receiver Screen Symbols Symbol A R RO Description Attenuated Signal – The receiver automatically enters Attenuation mode when locating at shallow depths of about 1 m or less to reduce excessive transmitter signal strength. Displays at bottom left of roll indicator. Page 30 Globe Icon – Shown on the receiver startup screen, the number inside (shown blank here) identifies the regional designation, which must match that on the transmitter battery compartment.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Symbol Description Transmitter Battery Strength/Drill Head – Depicts the remaining battery life of the transmitter when alkaline batteries are used. Also represents the position of the drill head relative to the receiver in the Depth screen. Appears for five minutes at the bottom left of the Locate screen and also on depth screens.
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% (5.7°) ±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.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED Table C3. Determining Projected Depth from Actual Depth and Pitch 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.
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 cm per 3-m Rod 72 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 CONTROL INCORPORATED Depth Increase in cm per 4.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 74 DigiTrak Falcon F2 Operator’s Manual
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED 19625 62nd Ave S, Suite B103 Kent Washington 98032, USA 425.251.0559 / 800.288.3610 dci@digital-control.com, www.DigiTrak.
DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED DCI reserves the right to make changes in design and improvements upon DCI product from time to time, and User understands that DCI shall have no obligation to upgrade any previously manufactured DCI product to include any such changes.
