DIGITRAK F1 Falcon HDD Locating System User Guide

DIGITRAK Falcon F1 QuickStartGuide

Power On the Locator

1. Install the battery pack and hold the trigger for one second.

2. Click to acknowledge the warning.

3. Click twice to open the Main menu.

4. IR port

5. Trigger

Main Menu

1. Telemetry channel
2. Transmitter (Tx) band down
3. Tx Power Mode (left)
Locator battery strength (right)
4. Frequency Optimization (FO)
5. Tx Quick Scan Pair (QSP)| 6. Calibration
7. HAG and TrakStand
8. Settings
9. Target depth (displays when set)
10. Target Steering
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To open the Main menu from the Locate Mode screen, click the trigger. Click to move through the menu and screens. Hold the trigger briefly and release it to make a selection. Power Off is on the next screen. After 6 seconds idle, the screen returns to Locate Mode.

Steps Required Before Drilling

Optimize and Measure Active Interference

The FO scans 60+ frequencies and selects the quietest frequencies to optimize the signal for band 11.
There are two methods to optimize frequency bands: Quick Scan
Pair and Scan, Pick, and Pair. To decide which method to use, visually inspect the entire site for sources of interference, such as traffic loops and other utilities. Pay attention to the area around the deepest part of the bore for sources of interference.

Basic Method: Quick Scan Pair (QSP)
At job sites with minimum active interference, optimize band 11. The locator does not display noise during QSP optimization.

a. With the Tx off, go to the spot on the bore path with the highest suspected interference or the deepest part of the bore.
b. Select Quick Scan Pair from the Main menu.
The screen displays the band and preset power modes and is ready to pair. To learn more about interference and changing the preset power modes, see the DCI DigiGuide App.

Advanced Method: Scan, Pick, and Pair
At job sites with challenging interference, use Frequency Optimization (FO) to show the active interference (noise) as you walk the bore path.
The FO will show the previously saved and current noise level for band 11.

a. With the Tx off, select Tx/FO from the Main menu, select FO , and then select Scan.
b. Walk and scan the drill path to find areas with the highest noise levels.

FO Results

1. Currently paired Down band
2. Band numbers
3. Maximum noise reading line
4. Down band (*Quick Select option)
5. Rescan
6. Pair
7. Exit/Cancel

c. It is important to return to the point on the bore path with the highest noise. Rescan ****to optimize band 11.
d. You can do one of the following:

• To pair the newly optimized band, select Pair.
• To cancel and return to the Locating Mode screen without optimizing, select Cancel.

The lower frequencies in band 11 will be less affected by rebar and passive interference. To learn more, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “interference.”

Pair the Locator with the Transmitter (Tx)

Tx’s have two power levels: Standard and Low. Standard power operates deeper. Low power has faster data speed and longer battery life.

a. Install transmitter (Tx) batteries and endcap.
b. To change the power level, select Tx Power Mode. To learn more, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “power modes.”
c. Position the Tx’s infrared (IR) port near the locator’s IR port.

Falcon locators with programmable power mode override any other selection method when used with a V2 Tx.

d. Select Tx Pairing **** and hold the Tx in place until the checkmark appears (5 to 10 seconds) and the locator beeps.
e. After a successful pairing, the locator displays the Down band with the power mode.
f. Click to confirm the power level. The 1 pt calibration menu opens.

Calibrate

Calibrate in an interference-free environment after any pairing or Tx Power Mode change.

a. Place the Tx in housing on level ground and\ measure 10 feet from the nearest edge of the locator to the center of the transmitter.
b. Select Continue ** to calibrate. Do NOT move the locator during calibration. The AGR screen opens.
c. Check the default Above Ground Range (AGR) with a tape measure to verify depth readings on each band at least two depths (5 ft and 15 ft).
Distance readings should be within ±5%. Select Exit**.

If the roll indicator on the Locate Mode screen displays a triangle error symbol the band has not been calibrated. Go to the Calibration menu and complete a 1 pt calibration for that band.

Settings Menu

Use the Settings menu to set the depth units, pitch units, roll offset, telemetry channel, Target Steering depth, leveling, LOC security settings, contrast, and Cal history. Set the remote display to match locator settings.

Height-Above-Ground (HAG) Menu

Height-Above-Ground (HAG) is the distance from the ground to the bottom of the locator while it is held or on a TrakStand. Enabling HAG on the Main menu lets you take accurate below-ground depth measurements without having to place the locator on the ground.

Target Steering assumes the locator is on the ground unless TrakStand HAG is enabled. For more information, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “Target Steering” and “TrakStand.”

Locate Mode Screen

The Locate Mode screen appears if any menu is idle for more than 6 to 7 seconds, or immediately after a selection. To return to the Locate Mode screen from any other screen, select Cancel or Exit.

1. Locate point (ball)
2. Locator (box) with LL centered
3. Roll indicator and value
4. Roll/pitch update meter
5. Tx pitch
6. Tx Power Mode and signal strength
7. Tx temperature

The transmitter and locator must be Paired and on the same band before data will display. To learn more, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “remote displays.”

Basic Locating

1. Find the Front Locate Point (FLP) and Rear Locate Point (RLP) by centering the target ball in the box. Mark the positions.

2. At the FLP, hold the trigger for predicted depth reading. The Reference indicator R icon will appear. The Locate Line (LL) may not appear if this step is skipped.

3. Find the LL by centering the line in the box between the FLP and RLP.
   See Locate Mode screen on the previous page.

4. View depth by holding the trigger at the LL on the line between the FLP and RLP.

5. To improve depth/data readings, hold the trigger for five or more seconds to enable Max Mode. For more information, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “Max Mode.”

Signal Attenuation

If the signal strength flashes, this indicates extreme interference. The depth and locate points may be comprised and the locator will not calibrate.
If the signal strength is not flashing but an A icon appears in the roll indicator at depths shallower than 8 feet, this is normal, and you can ignore the A warning.

Transmitter Signal Field Geometry

Level Transmitter

1. Side view
2. RLP: Rear Locate Point
3. LL: Locate Line
4. FLP: Front Locate Point

Pitched Transmitter

1. Bird’s-eye view (top-down)
2. Drill rig
3. Side view (underground)
4. RLP: Rear Locate Point
5. LL: Locate Line
6. Transmitter (Tx)
7. Bore path
8. FLP: Front Locate Point

FLP and RLP are not equidistant from the LL when the transmitter is pitched. For more information, search the DCI DigiGuide App for “Steep and Deep.”

Bird’s-Eye View on Locate Mode Screen

Locate Mode Screen (Line-in-the-Box at LL)

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Actual Position of Locator and Transmitter

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1. Locate Line Yaw
2. Locator (box)
3. Locate Line (LL)
4. Attenuation
5. Tx
6. Locator

The depth and Predicted Depth Readings

Trigger held at LL

Depth Screen (Line-in-the-Box at LL)

1. Locate Point (FLP or RLP)
2. Bird’s-eye view
3. Line-in-the-Box at LL
4. HAG on
5. Max Mode timer
6. Max Mode icon
7. Roll Offset
8. Tx depth

Trigger held at FLP

Predicted Depth Screen (Ball-in-the-Box at FLP only)

1. Reference Lock indicator
2. HAG off
3. Pitch
4. Predicted depth of Tx*
5. Tx battery strength
6. The horizontal distance between Tx and FLP*

• Only valid at FLP. Invalid at RLP.

The predicted depth is the depth the transmitter is calculated to be when it reaches the Front Locate Point (FLP) if it continues on the current path and pitch.

For detailed information, install the DCI DigiGuide App from your smart device’s
App Store or download the Operator’s Manuals from digital-control.com.
Printed manuals are available upon request.
If you have questions, contact your regional DCI office or Customer Service at 1.425.251.0559 or 1.800.288.3610 US/CA.

Watch our DigiTrak training videos at www.YouTube.com/DCIKent

DCI, the DCI logo, DigiTrak, DigiTrak Falcon, F1, and Target Steering have registered trademarks, and Ballin-the-Box, Ball-in-the-Box logo, Ball logo, Box logo, DigiGuide, Falcon Logo, HAG, Max Mode, and TrakStand are common law trademarks of Digital Control Incorporated. Additional trademark registrations are pending. U.S. and foreign patents apply to the product covered by this guide. For details, please visit www.DigiTrak.com/patents.

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