GOLDMASTER® Series GMX SPORT OWNER’S GUIDE WATERPROOF GOLD DETECTOR with XGB Technology
XGB TECHNOLOGY XGB TECHNOLOGY is a patent-pending automatic ground balance system. It is purpose-built for operating a high-frequency VLF gold nugget detector in difficult ground conditions. Traditional VLF detectors struggle to balance rapidly changing ground mineralization and hot rocks. With XGB technology, the GMX is able to track small changes in soil composition as well as longer-term shifts in both ground phase and strength. This allows it to operate in ground that traditional VLFs struggle in.
Introduction White’s Electronics, Inc.’s Goldmaster® platform has served electronic prospectors well over the last 20 plus years, resulting in income for professional miners and diversion for hobbyists. With modern advances in DSP, improved ergonomics, and performance increases, the GMX SPORT represents the next generation of high-frequency induction-balance waterproof gold nugget detectors.
Quick Start
Table of Contents Assembly ............................................................................................................. 2 Batteries, FCC and CE Compliance .........................................................4 Interface .............................................................................................................. 5 Quick Start ......................................................................................................... 6 Special Notice .......................
Assembly Search Coil Non-metallic Washers Fiber Bolt & Thumbnut Camlock Fiber Rod Center Rod Search Coil Cable 1. Remove all parts from the shipping carton and check assembly diagram to ensure all parts are present. 2. Install black rubber washers on fiber lower rod; attach search coil to lower fiber rod. Use only the nonmetallic washers, fiber bolt, and fiber thumbnut provided to secure search coil loop to the lower fiber rod. 3.
Control Pod Display Control Buttons Velcro Armstrap Camlock Search Coil Connector Handgrip Battery Holder with Cap 6. Thread the velcro arm strap through the slots on the armcup. With your arm in position, fold the strap over onto the velcro so that the strap is loose enough to to pull your arm in and out of the armcup. 7. Grip the detector and sweep the search coil over the floor. If the fit feels uncomfortable, adjust the position of the lower fiber rod.
Tips on Batteries • The GMX Sport operates for up to 40 hours (without backlight) using eight quality “AA” batteries. • High-quality “AA” alkaline batteries are recommended. Rechargeable NiCad, Nickel Metal Hydride, or other similar “AA” substitutions work well. Batteries near or above 2 volts per cell and higher are not recommended. • Battery life will change with battery type, operating temperature, and backlight use.
GMX SPORT Quick Start GMX SPORT Interface Visual Target ID Target ID # Ground strength in Ground Scan mode Higher number, Better chance of gold Beep Mode On Backlight On Iron Cancel On TracLock On Volume Level Sensitivity SAT/Threshold Level Audio Mode Power On/Off SAT +/- Backlight TracLock Volume +/Threshold +/- Ground Scan Iron Cancel Sensitivity Adjust other settings Disc LO/HI Ground Grab/Exit Setting Selection Pinpoint (non-motion) NOTE: Regular text = button TAP, Italic text =
GMX SPORT Quick Start Quick Start Instructions With the GMX properly assembled and the batteries installed, follow the instructions below to start finding those nuggets! 1 Turn the GMX on by pressing the POWER button. 2 Set the VOLUME to your preference (tap Speaker icon, use Up and Down buttons). 3 Set the THRESHOLD to a faint hum (hold Speaker icon, use Up and Down buttons).
* SPECIAL NOTICE If you attempt to demonstrate or test the GMX by waving targets in the air in front of the search coil, it is ESSENTIAL to have the GROUND BALANCE button in the LOCKED setting. This is necessary because when the GMX is in the XGB setting, the search coil must SEE ground while it is passing over the target or it will think that the target IS ground and will attempt to track it out. This is the case whether you are demonstrating with or without Iron Cancel.
GMX Controls Controls Current Sensitivity Level Sensitivity Increase Sensitivity Decrease Sensitivity Control With the SENSITIVITY control, you increase the signal strength coming from the ground. You might expect increased signal strength to always find more nuggets at greater depths. However, high ground mineralization will “bounce” the signal back and mask good targets.
GMX Controls 4. The object of increasing the SENSITIVITY is to get the maximum available depth from the detector WITH-OUT causing the overload message to appear, which indicates an overload of the circuit. 5. In addition, any increase in SENSITIVITY adjustment should NOT BE at the expense of maintaining a smooth and constant THRESHOLD “hum”. False signals, beeps and bops from bits of mineralization, erratic behavior, and lapses in THRESHOLD all can be the result of running with too much SENSITIVITY. 6.
GMX Controls Volume/Threshold Adjustment Volume, Threshold Level Volume Adjust (tap) Threshold Adjust (hold) The VOLUME control on your GMX only adjusts the sound level of target sounds and confirmation beeps. It is used in conjunction with the THRESHOLD to give you the most control over the dynamic range of you detector. This control is adjusted by tapping the SPEAKER icon and then using the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust it louder or quieter.
GMX Controls V-SAT Speed Control The Variable SAT (Self Adjusting Threshold) Speed control adjusts the speed that the GMX recovers its threshold hum when the search-coil passes over changes in mineralization. This setting is adjusted by holding the MUSIC button and then adjusting the SAT up or down between 0 (off), 1 (medium), or 2 (fast). The letters “Sa” will display when adjusting V-SAT. SAT Level SAT adjust (hold) Hot rocks are mineralized rocks.
GMX Controls Target ID The GMX features two types of Target ID. The most obvious is the large numbers displayed in the center of the screen when the coil passes over a target. These two digits represent a scale from 0 to 99, with higher numbers equalling a higher chance that the target is non-ferrous. In challenging ground, or when gold is located in host rock, it’s important to dig every questionable signal.
GMX Controls Disc Setting (2 bars) Iron Cancel (Discrimination) When detecting for gold nuggets it is often best to “dig it all.” Gold can have various shapes, sizes, be embedded in iron rock, so it’s impossible to account for every nugget in the ground and only dig gold. However, in challenging conditions the electronic prospector may need to adjust the GMX to cancel out unwanted targets or heavy ground mineralization.
GMX Controls Ground Controls Gold is usually found in mineralized ground, and the GMX has XGB enabled by default when the machine is powered on. This makes it easy to get started prospecting, as the machine automatically cancels out unwanted mineralization so you can focus on listening for targets. Ground Phase in Ground Scan Ground strength in GroundScan TracLock ON However, there are times when you may want the option to LOCK the ground balance control, or even display the ground information on screen.
Controls TracLock TracLock on the GMX is the locked, “manual” ground setting. It functions similar to the original GMT. To LOCK the ground tracking to the current setting, TAP the LOCK button. A padlock will display on the screen. This will put a hold on XGB and lock the current ground phase and strength setting. This can be useful in those cases where you may find extremely tiny gold, or when you have located a faint target.
GMX SPORT Searching Searching 1 Pinpoint Technique 2 3 Due to the wide scan nature of elliptical search-coils it can be difficult to locate small targets under the physical center of the loop. Use an “X” marks the spot technique as shown in the diagram to identify the portion of ground the nugget is in.
GMX SPORT Searching Headphones The headphone jack on the GMX is located on the rear of the battery box. There is a dust cover for the headphone jack (in your parts kit) that should be used when not running headphones. Most prospectors prefer high quality stereo headphones so White’s has chosen to wire the headphone jack for stereo. If you have a mono headphone, you can purchase an adapter that will allow sound in both earpieces. Some headphones come with a switch for stereo or mono jacks.
GMX SPORT Searching Field Use & Tuning Tips Putting it all together: Once you have achieved the initial ground balance, you are ready to start searching. Move the coil just over the ground and listen for the distinct zip-zip sound produced by a target. It is wise to plant a nugget just under the soil to practice on in order to learn to recognize what it will sound like. If you don’t have a nugget, use a nickel or piece of lead (sinker or bullet).
GMX SPORT Searching Another option is to run the GMX in XGB mode, and after hearing a faint target signal, immediately locking the ground balance. Now you can double check the target from different angles without the XGB “tracking out” that target. This provides the best of both worlds - automatic tracking but the option to freeze it after acquiring a signal. If hot rocks are driving you crazy, you can also ground balance directly over the hot rock, then lock the tracking.
Problems from Low Ground Mineralization: The GMX is designed to work in an environment of heavy iron mineralization. In some instances there may be so little mineralization that the search-coil will never go quiet as it approaches the ground. In other words, there never seems to be any change or only a faint increase in hum as the coil is pumped. In this instance, lock the ground balance (lock button) and perform a ground grab before detecting.
Positive Hot Rocks: Positive hot rocks are usually red or various shades of red to almost black. They sit above your current ground balance point. They are sometimes as small as BB’s and sound just like nuggets. These positive “hot rocks” are difficult to tune out and ring up very low on your Target I.D. scale. They actually give a positive signal like metal and that is why they are so hard to differentiate. The XGB will track some of these out automatically.
GMX SPORT Searching Pinpointing or “X” ing the target: In most cases, pinpointing is easily performed by merely “X-ing” or criss-crossing. You can also use the new non-motion pinpoint mode on the GMX. The loudest part of the target will be under the center of the coil, just as with any detector. After the approximate location of the target is determined, take a handful of soil and check the hole again. Continue this process until the target is no longer in the hole, but in the hand.
GMX SPORT Searching Overload: The GMX will overload when the coil is over a large object or extremely heavy iron mineralization. Lowering the SENSITIVITY will usually cure a mineralized area, but will not do much to eliminate a real target. If the overload seems everywhere it is probably mineralization and lowering SENSITIVITY is essential. Target I.D.: The GMX has three different target identification systems. First and foremost is the audio response.
GMX Sport Information Proper care Cleaning • All elements on the GMX Sport are waterproof to a depth of 10 ft. • The detector can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Weather • • Do not expose your detector to the conditions of a car trunk during winter and/or summer extremes. Protect it from direct sunlight during storage. Storage • • • When the instrument is not in use, make sure it is turned OFF.
GMX Sport Information Service White’s reputation has been built on quality products backed by quality service. Service before and after the sale is the cornerstone of our customer relations. Before shipping detector for service: 1. Contact the dealer where you purchased. There may be a quick, simple fix or explanation that will prevent having to send the detector in for service. 2. Double check the obvious, such as batteries, and try the detector in another area to be sure there is not interference. 3.
Warranty If within two years (24 months) from the original date of purchase, your White’s detector fails due to defects in either material or workmanship, White’s will repair or replace at its option, all necessary parts without charge for parts or labor. Simply return the complete detector to the Dealer where you purchased it, or to your nearest Authorized Service Center. The unit must be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the symptoms of the failure.
