User's Manual

DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED
2 DigiTrak Falcon
™
F5

Operator’s Manual
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.
 The transmitter has been located correctly and accurately and the receiver is directly
above the transmitter in the drill head underground or at the front locate point.
 The receiver is placed on the ground or held at the correct height-above-ground distance,
which has been set correctly.
Always test calibration after you have stopped drilling for any length of time.
Interference
Active interference levels can change with time and location, passive interference (which the
system does not detect) may be present, and performance may vary as a result. The Falcon
system measures active interference at a given point in time and space, and the frequency
optimizer selects frequencies based on these measurements. Noise measurements and
frequency selections by the system are not a substitute for prudent operator judgment. If
performance drops while drilling, consider switching to the other selected band, using Max
mode, or re-optimizing.
Potential Interference Received
Interference can cause inaccuracies in the measurement of depth and loss of the
transmitter’s pitch, roll, or heading. Always perform a background noise check using your
receiver (locator), as well as a visual inspection for possible sources of interference, prior to
drilling.
A background noise check will not identify all sources of interference, as it can only pick up
sources that are active, not passive. Interference, as well as a partial list of sources of
interference, are discussed in the section Interference on page 43.
Never rely on data that does not display quickly and/or remain stable.
Potential Interference Generated
Because this equipment may generate, use, and radiate radio frequency energy, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur at a particular location. If this equipment does
interfere with radio or television reception, which can be determined by powering the
equipment off and on, try to correct the interference using one or more of the following
measures:
 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the receiver and affected equipment.
 Consult the dealer, DCI, or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
 Connect the equipment to an outlet on a different circuit.