User's Manual

DIGITAL CONTROL INCORPORATED
58 DigiTrak Falcon
™
F5

Operator’s Manual
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. The off-track locating method is only effective when the pitch
of the transmitter is 0% (0°) and traveling under flat ground.
To explain how the off-track locating method works, consider the example of an obstruction
that is on the intended bore path, as shown in the figure below. The transmitter is about to go
under the obstruction.
1. Stop drilling and find the locate line (LL) of the transmitter by putting the line in the box.
2. While holding the receiver in the same orientation, step to the side until you reach a
predetermined distance (P1). Move the receiver forward and backward until the ball
jumps between the top and bottom of the screen, then mark this location and note the
signal strength. While still holding the receiver in the same orientation, do this two more
times for off-track points P2 and P3.
Preparing for Off-Track Locating
3. Connect points P1, P2, and P3 with a line. This is the locate line. Because the LL runs
perpendicular (at a 90° angle) to the transmitter when the transmitter is level, you can
determine the heading of the drill head. By comparing the signal strength at the
Bore path
Obstruction
Predetermined
distances
P1 P2 P3
LL
Drill
Path around
obstruction