CONQUISTADOR
OPERATOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your new Tesoro Conquistador metal detector is part of a new series of detectors designed to provide you with many happy hours of enjoyment in the most rewarding hobby I can think of—treasure hunting. Ahead of you lie fascinating and exciting experiences as you step into the past—uncovering artifacts lost by past generations, or as you take pleasure in the great outdoors with family and friends searching for precious metals. I wish we could share these experiences with you, and all of us at Tesoro wish you the best of success.

Your Tesoro detector is capable of meeting your needs in a wide range of treasure hunting situations. As with any other metal detector, familiarity with this instrument is probably the limiting factor in determining how successful you can be. I recommend that you read this manual and fully understand how to operate this detector before attempting to use it in the field. As you become more familiar with your detector through practice, your rate of success will increase dramatically.

The Conquistador is a precision electronic instrument that will last for years if properly cared for. Treat it right and it won’t let you down.

Good Hunting! Jack Gifford

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Conquistador is the first Tesoro metal detector that combines our MicroMAX technology with the ability to shift the operating frequency. With the advances in worldwide technology, such as power and data lines, an expansion of mobile radio and cell phone usage and the growing popularity of metal detectors, the chances of working in areas of radio frequency interference are increasing. The Conquistador will help you work in those areas without any impediments. By shifting the frequency slightly, the majority of interference problems can be eliminated.

The Conquistador's wide range of controls are varied enough to give the experienced detectorist the ability to tune the detector to his exact usage but are simple enough that the beginner can feel confident as well. The Conquistador features a factory preset ground balance for turn-on-and-go use. It also has an adjustable sensitivity, discriminate and threshold knobs and a true non-motion all metal circuit.

The Conquistador was designed to work as an all-around metal detector, but with the addition of an accessory coil, it can be customized to meet your exact needs. A guide to selecting the proper optional coil is included in the section “Optional Accessories.”

GETTING STARTED - UNPACKING THE BOX

Fully assembled, including upper pole stem with handle grip, padded arm bracket and control housing.

Fully assembled with nylon pole tip complete with two thick friction washers, mounting screw, lock washer and thumb nut.

INSTALLING THE BATTERY

Your Conquistador is equipped with an automatic battery test circuit so that you can always be sure you are getting top performance. The battery should be checked after the detector has been on for about 10 minutes and then periodically when used for long durations.

To install or replace the battery, first make sure the SENSITIVITY control is set to POWER OFF—turned completely counterclockwise past the “click.” Remove the battery door from the back of the control housing. Do this by pressing your thumb firmly on the louvered square—at the bottom of the battery door—and sliding the battery door upward in the direction of the arrow.

Check the polarity on the battery and on the diagram inside the battery compartment. Make sure that they match and simply drop a fresh 9 volt alkaline battery into the compartment.

Replace the battery door by sliding it into place making sure the upper mount slots are in line and the lock tongue is snapped in place.

(Above photo depicts the Silver Sabre µMax model; however, battery installation is the same for the Conquistador.)

ASSEMBLING YOUR DETECTOR

1) On the lower pole assembly, remove the mounting screw and thumb nut from the black nylon pole tip.

2) Insert the pole tip between the mounting ears of the searchcoil and align the holes of the pole tip and washers with those of the mounting ears. Note: The pole tip should fit very snugly into the mounting ears.

3) Insert the mounting screw through the holes in the mounting ears and pole tip—entering from the side opposite the cable connection.

4) Install the thumb nut on the mounting screw and tighten by hand.
Note: Do not overtighten the thumb nut. It should be snug, but not too difficult to loosen up.

5) On the middle pole assembly, depress the two spring buttons and slide the middle pole assembly into the upper pole assembly until the spring buttons click into the holes, thus locking the two assemblies into place. Tighten the pole lock to secure the two assemblies together.

6) Slide lower pole into middle pole until spring buttons click into the first set of adjustment holes. Turn pole lock to tighten, thus locking the assembly into place.

7) Wrap the cable around the pole leaving enough slack near the searchcoil to permit searchcoil adjustment.
Note: Do not allow the cable to flop loosely over the searchcoil. Since the detector is sensitive enough to “see” the tiny wires in the cable, a floppy cable can cause false signals as the searchcoil senses the moving wires.

8) Plug the male cable end into the female connector on the control housing and tighten the cable thumb nut. You are finished!
Note: You will want to adjust the pole length and the search- coil angle to your preference.

(Above photos are shown using the Bandido II µMax model; however, assembly procedures are the same for the Conquistador.)

ADJUSTING THE POLE & SEARCHCOIL

The pole length should be adjusted so that the detector does not become uncomfortable or tiring after long periods of use. The detector grip should rest in your hand with your arm relaxed, your elbow straight but not locked, and with the pole extending out in front of you at the approximate angle shown in the photo.

You should be able to swing the detector back and forth in front of you—using relaxed shoulder movement—while keeping the searchcoil as close to the ground as possible. This swinging movement is often called a “sweep.”

The searchcoil should not touch the ground during your sweep. The pole length should be adjusted to allow this without having to lift the detector with your elbow or shoulder. The searchcoil should rest about one inch above the ground while you are standing erect. The angle of the searchcoil should allow the bottom to be parallel to the ground.

The pole length is adjusted by depressing the spring buttons and extending or shortening the pole until the spring buttons click into the set of holes that give you the most comfortable pole length.

To adjust the searchcoil angle, simply loosen the searchcoil thumb nut slightly and move the searchcoil into the desired position. Tighten the searchcoil thumb nut by hand so that the searchcoil will hold in place.

QUICKSTART

The Quickstart is designed to teach you how to use your new Conquistador. It provides a quick and easy means of learning all the functions of your detector and the concepts behind all the functions.

You will need the following items:

Here’s what you will do:

Prepare for the Quickstart

Place your assembled Conquistador on the nonmetal surface as shown in the photo. Make sure there are no metal objects near the coil and remove any jewelry from your hands and wrists.

Start with the control settings as shown in the photo:

Perform Audio Battery Test

Turn the SENSITIVITY from Power Off to 10 on the dial. You should hear a loud beep that will last for several seconds. This is your battery test. The length and volume of the beep will let you know the status of your batteries. A low volume or short beep is a warning sign of weak batteries that should be replaced as soon as possible.

Adjust THRESHOLD

After the battery test, your detector will be operating in the All Metal mode. This mode usually has a slight hum or threshold sound. Its purpose is to give you a reference point to judge targets by. Some targets are small enough or deep enough that they will not be able to generate an audio tone by themselves. By monitoring a threshold, you will already have a small signal so changes in the signal are easier to hear. However, if the threshold is set too loud, small changes will not be heard. Therefore, a low steady threshold setting is ideal.

You will be able to adjust your threshold level by turning the THRESHOLD knob clockwise to somewhere between the 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions. As each detector is slightly different, turn the knob up and down to find the best setting for you and your machine.

Perform Air Test in All Metal Mode

Once you have set the correct threshold hum, you are ready to perform an air test in the All Metal mode. Changes in the volume of the threshold will determine signal strength. Try waving your targets in front of the coil. Start from a distance of 10 to 12 inches away from the coil and slowly work your way in. Then try starting 6 inches from the left or right side of your coil and working your way to the center of the coil. Notice the changes in the audio signal. Your strongest signal will always be closest to the center of the coil, but additional information can also be learned by the signal strength. A smaller or deeper target will give a less noticeable change in the threshold than a larger or shallower target will give. Take some time and try all of your targets at different depths to find out how your detector sounds.

Retune All Metal Mode

The retune portion of the Mode switch is spring loaded and when pushed and released will go back to the center position. The retune switch is used on two different occasions. First, after hitting a large target in all metal, the threshold may go silent or null out for several seconds while the circuitry attempts to retune itself. In this case you can simply push the retune switch to the left and let go. The threshold will return to the preset level. The other time to use the retune is while pinpointing. Pinpointing is the time when you will slow your sweep and try to determine the exact location of your target. It is best to make an “X” over the target. Start by reducing your normal sweep to find the best response from left to right, then check the target at a 90º angle. This can be done by turning your entire body to the side of the target or by pushing your detector forwards and backwards over the target to find the strongest signal. Watching where the two strongest signals overlap will give you the place to dig your target. This can be done in the DISC Mode, but the best results are in the ALL METAL Mode using the following technique. With your detector in the ALL METAL Mode, find the strongest signal possible and hold the coil over that spot. Then quickly push and release the retune switch. As you move your coil away from the target, your threshold will go silent. Then as you move your coil over the target, the detector will make an audio signal directly over the target. You can practice this in the air by leaving your coil still and moving the targets back and forth across the coil. Take some time and try this technique.

Adjust the SENSITIVITY

We are now ready to switch the detector into the Discriminate Mode.

Go to the mode switch and flip it all the way to the right and into the DISC position. The first thing that you will notice is that the threshold hum stops. The discriminate circuit uses a silent search mode, meaning that no sound will be heard until the coil goes over a target. The most common use of the detector will be to hunt in the DISC Mode and switch to ALL METAL to pinpoint a target. This will give you the advantage of ignoring unwanted targets and not having to listen to the threshold hum until you are ready to recover a target.

The all metal circuit uses a single channel to detect various metals. The discriminate circuit uses two different channels, then amplifies and filters the signals and then compares the two to determine whether or not to beep at a target. While this is a great advantage for ignoring unwanted targets, it can make the circuitry more susceptible to interference. A number of outside conditions such as power lines, highly mineralized soil and wet salt sand can cause interference. The SENSITIVITY knob is used to raise or lower the power to the operational amplifiers, which changes the gain. Gain is the measurement of how much a signal is amplified. The higher the gain the more depth and sensitivity to small objects a detector has. Unfortunately, any small interference that is amplified can cause the detector to become erratic. The SENSITIVITY control is used to find the best gain setting in any location without letting the detector become unstable.

The SENSITIVITY knob is numbered from MIN to 10 and then has an orange area called the Max Boost zone. For most normal hunting, anywhere in the numbered zone will work very well. However, the Max Boost will allow you to increase the power to the operational amplifiers to the point of overload. An overload situation will not hurt your detector, but it will maximize the gain that is used by your detector. This can in certain conditions, such as low mineralization in the soil, cause your detector to penetrate deeper into the ground and become more sensitive to small objects.

Take some time to try waving targets in front of the coil with different sensitivity settings. Notice that the higher the sensitivity setting, the farther away from the coil the target can be and still get a response.

Perform Air Test in DISC Mode

As discussed before, the Discriminate Mode is used to filter unwanted targets from good targets. The principle behind this is pretty simple. The detector sends out a signal and then receives it back creating a small electronic field. As metal passes through the field that the detector generates, it causes a change in the received signal. The amount of change that each type of metal causes is fairly constant; therefore, we can tune our detectors to miss the targets that we don’t want to find. The change is based on the type of conductivity that each target has. The general list of conductive targets is as follows: iron, foil, nickels, gold jewelry, pull tabs, screw caps, pennies and silver coins starting with dimes and working up to silver dollars. This list is meant to be a guide only. There is a point that some gold rings and some pull tabs overlap. Also, the depth of the target and its orientation in the ground can change the received signal. A coin that is flat to the coil will produce a better signal than a coin that is on edge. Take some time now to try different combinations of depth and orientation of your targets and find out how your detector responds.

We are now ready to discriminate targets from each other. We will start with the DISC LEVEL at MIN. All four targets—the iron, nickel, pull tab and quarter—will respond with a good audio signal. Next, we will turn the DISC LEVEL up to approximately 2 or 3. This should be high enough to knock out the iron target and still get a positive response on the nickel, pull tab and quarter. When you are done with the iron target, turn the DISC LEVEL to approximately 4 or 5. This level is high enough to knock out the nickel. At this time the iron target and the nickel should give no response, while the pull tab and quarter will give a solid response. Next, turn the DISC LEVEL to approximately 7 or 8. At this time only the quarter should respond with an audio signal. Now roll the DISC LEVEL all the way to MAX. Notice that the quarter is still responding. The discrimination will not go high enough to lose most silver coins.

This air test was designed to show you how your Discriminate Mode works. Each machine may be a little different than all the others, so you may want to take some time and try different targets to find the responses of your machine. At a later date, you may also build a test garden to test your detector in the field.

Adjust FREQUENCY SHIFT Control

The Conquistador was designed with a frequency shifter built right into the machine. A frequency shifter is used to help control the detector’s stability in areas of interference. The most common place that you will experience interference is during a competition-style hunt. This comes from too many detectors in a small area. If the detectors are on the same transmit and receive frequency, they begin to “talk” to each other. Crosstalk will happen when two or more machines are on the same frequency and their signals get garbled between them.

Frequency Shift set at Norm

By using the frequency shifter, you will be able to slightly shift your detector's frequency to stop the crosstalk. Sometimes you may experience interference from outside sources such as high tension power lines or other radio frequency devices. Using your frequency shifter at this time may help as well.

Frequency Shift set at Shift 1

Turn your DISC LEVEL to MIN and make sure that the FREQUENCY SHIFT is in the NORM or center position. Pass a few targets in front of the coil. Notice the tone of the audio frequency. Now pull the trigger switch backward to the SHIFT 1 position. As you wave your targets in front of the coil notice how the audio tone has changed. The operating frequency and the audio tone are directly related and when one changes so will the other. The audio signal change will be the only indicator that you have shifted frequencies. Now push the FREQUENCY SHIFT switch all the way forward into the SHIFT 2 position. When you check your targets, the audio tone will be different than the other two settings.

Frequency Shift set at Shift 2

The NORM position is where the detector is set for the best all-around function. You will get the best depth and sensitivity in this mode. When you shift from the NORM to either the SHIFT 1 or the SHIFT 2, you may affect the depth and sensitivity of your machine. While this change is slight, it will allow you to work in areas that you were unable to work in previously. Always attempt to work in the NORM Mode first.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have just finished the Quickstart for your new Conquistador metal detector and in the process have learned quite a lot about your detector. But experience is the teacher. I would recommend that you get out and practice with your detector as much as possible. Any time spent using your detector will give you valuable experience.

OPERATING TECHNIQUES - FIELD USE

Handling Your Detector

The detector should be held in a position that is comfortable for you as shown in the "Adjusting the Pole & Searchcoil" section in "Getting Started." Swing the detector from side to side in about a three foot arc, overlapping succeeding strokes well. This motion is called a “sweep.” The Conquistador was designed to get maximum depth without the frantic pace required of earlier motion detectors, so go at a pace that is comfortable for you. In fact, trying to hunt too fast may even cause a loss of depth in heavily mineralized locations.

Regardless of which mode you are using, try to keep your searchcoil height constant and close to the ground. Most people tend to raise the coil at the end of a sweep—much like a pendulum—especially if in a hurry. Try to avoid this, as any increase in height from the ground will cause a corresponding loss of depth.

In areas with well-kept lawns, the easiest way to maintain a constant searchcoil height is to allow the coil to rest on the grass as you sweep from side to side. In rough and rocky areas, it is best not to “scrub” the coil on the ground, as the rocks will act like abrasives and wear away the coil bottom (an optional coil scuff cover will protect against this). Sweep the coil as close to the ground as possible without touching. Hitting the ground or rocks may cause a false signal much like a desired target would. Sweeping the coil too high above the ground results in a loss of depth.

Planting a Test Garden

To better learn how your detector will perform in the field, it would be helpful to bury some coins and trash metal items in an area that you know is clear of other metal objects. Check the area with DISC LEVEL set at MIN to be sure it's clear of trash, then bury the targets at least 1 foot apart and from 2 to 4 inches deep to start. Make a map of the area to be sure you know what each target is and how deep it is. Practice on these targets to familiarize yourself with your detector’s target response. This will also help you learn the proper sweep speed for best operation. This type of practice area is often called a “test garden” or “test bed” and is one of the best tools to help you develop your metal detecting skills.

Recognizing False Signals in Discriminate Mode

When operating in the Discriminate Mode, some “false signals” may be caused by 1) heavy concentrations of trash metal objects, 2) very large trash metal objects, or 3) electrical interference. These signals are generally short, choppy sounds and sound different than “good signals” (good target response sounds).

At the end of your sweep, as you reverse the coil direction, the detector is most susceptible to trash-induced noise. There are two ways to tell whether these sounds are good deep signals or trash “noise.” The first is by repeatability. Trash-induced noises will not be regular as you sweep the coil over the suspected target several times, whereas a good target response will be repeatable. The second method is to switch to ALL METAL Mode and check the target response sound. If the response is weak, it may well be a deep, good target. But if the response is very strong, it is probably trash. Note that a coin close to the surface can give a double beep sound, but it is regular and repeatable. Raising the coil an inch or two will restore the single beep on surface targets.

When searching in the Discriminate Mode, it is best not to use a higher DISC LEVEL setting than necessary. Nickels and most smaller rings are rejected when the DISC LEVEL is set to reject pull tabs on any metal detector that is a TR Discriminator like the Conquistador. If you don’t dig any junk at all, you are surely passing up a lot of good finds as well. Set the DISC LEVEL only high enough to suit the conditions where you are searching. If there is any doubt whether a target is good or not, dig it.

Recovering a Target

If the target is shallow and the soil is soft, you may be able to “probe” and find the exact location of the target before you dig it. Since filling all holes after you recover the target is so important, digging a small precise hole is best. If the target is deep, you may need to dig a larger hole. As you dig, occasionally check the hole with your detector to see if you have moved the object, can probe it or have already dug it. Be sure to fill all holes after you recover the target. Two methods are shown below that work most everywhere. Be sure to protect your hobby by leaving the site cleaner than you found it and with all holes filled!

• Operate your detector exactly as recommended in this Operator Instruction Manual.
• Use only high-quality alkaline batteries of the correct voltage. Never substitute a different voltage. When using a Ni-Cad battery, always use a separate convertible pack with the proper voltage output for the detector’s design.
• Remove the battery from the detector after each use. This will prevent damage to the detector if the battery leaks.
• The searchcoil cable is hard-wired to the searchcoil and protected by a strain relief. It is very important that the strain relief remains intact and should never be adjusted or tampered with.
• Keep cables properly wound around the pole stems and protect them during use. Floppy, pinched, or cables that become snagged during use may short, causing erratic noises or unnecessary replacement of the searchcoil.
• Sweep the searchcoil carefully, especially when using around rocks and building foundations. Avoid hitting the searchcoil against hard, solid objects and surfaces.
• Keep your searchcoil slightly off of the ground during the sweep, especially when using in gravel or hard, rocky dirt.
• Always use a properly designed protective scuff cover on the searchcoil. (See "Optional Accessories" in the next section.)
• Remove and clean out scuff covers periodically to avoid buildup of mineralized dirt particles which will affect performance.
• The searchcoil is waterproof and can be submerged in either fresh or salt water. After the searchcoil is used in salt water, rinse it and the lower stem assembly well with fresh water to prevent corrosion of the metal parts.
• The searchcoil is waterproof but the electronics are not, so always prevent any moisture or water from entering the control housing and never allow the cable connectors to become submerged in water.
• If working in or near water, or if there is a possibility of rain, use a protective weather resistant pouch or plastic bag to cover the control housing. Make sure it can "breathe" in order to ensure against condensation buildup inside.
• After each use, clean the detector with a soft cloth to remove dust, moisture, or other contaminants.
• When transporting the detector in a car during hot weather, store it on the floor of the passenger compartment if possible. Using a carry bag gives additional protection. In any case, never allow the detector to roll around unprotected in the trunk or back of a pickup truck.
• Protect your detector from dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures during storage.
• When shipping, use the original factory carton or similar heavy-duty container and provide a minimum one inch of padding around all parts.
• Treat your detector as you would any sensitive electronic instrument. Though ruggedly constructed and designed to withstand the demands of normal treasure hunting, proper care is essential.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

Tesoro metal detectors and genuine Tesoro accessories are sold only through independent Tesoro Authorized Dealers, who are almost always metal detectorists themselves. They can answer your questions about your Tesoro detector, what accessories may be helpful and about metal detecting in general.

See your Tesoro Authorized Dealer for more information and prices on optional accessories.

Scuff Covers

We highly recommend using a scuff cover to protect your searchcoil at all times. The scuff cover for the Conquistador fitted with the 8" searchcoil is Tesoro Part # SCUF-8R-B.

Searchcoils

The 8" concentric searchcoil provided with the Conquistador is designed for best all-around performance. Optional searchcoils may add to your detector's performance.

Smaller searchcoils give better “target separation”—that is, more distinct target response for metal objects buried closely together—which is very useful when hunting trashy sites. Very small searchcoils can deliver the best response and depth to small targets such as fine gold chains with some sacrifice in depth on larger objects. Larger searchcoils give a wider sweep, covering more ground, and provide greater depth especially on larger objects; however, they may not detect some very small objects such as half dimes and will have difficulty in very trashy areas.

Wide scan searchcoils ignore ground mineralization better than concentric searchcoils and may offer improved performance in extreme ground conditions.

Selecting the right optional searchcoil depends on factors such as what you are searching for and search site conditions. No one searchcoil is better than all the rest. Several optional interchangeable searchcoils are available for the Conquistador. They are all easy to mount and require no special tools. See the following list of these searchcoils with the Tesoro part # and description.

Tesoro Searchcoils

Optional scuff covers are also available for any Tesoro searchcoil.

Headphones

Most metal detectorists prefer to use headphones instead of the detector's built-in speaker. Headphones help block out background noise (such as wind) and make it easier to hear faint signals. Headphones with a built-in volume control will allow you to adjust the sound volume to your preference.

SPECIFICATIONS

METAL DETECTORIST'S CODE OF ETHICS

WARRANTY SERVICE

Your Tesoro metal detector is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, the terms of which are listed below. If your metal detector should require service, you may return it to the Tesoro factory at the address below.

LIMITED WARRANTY DESCRIPTION

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

This instrument is warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship as long as it is owned by the original consumer purchaser. This warranty is not transferable and is valid only if the warranty registration card has been completed and mailed within 10 days of purchase.

TESORO will, at its option, repair or replace any instrument covered by this warranty, without charge, except for transportation charges, at its factory in Prescott, Arizona.

This warranty excludes batteries, damage caused by leaky batteries, cable breakage due to flexing on body mount units, and wear of the searchcoil housing. Also excluded are instruments which have been abused, altered, or repaired by an unauthorized party.

Under the copyright laws this documentation may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic or machine-readable form, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Tesoro Electronics Incorporated, except in the manner described in this documentation.

© 2001 Tesoro Electronics Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.