Fisher "F" Series Forum

Does it increase performance to ground balance prior to using either of the discrimination modes on the F4,or is the ground balance preset in the disc modes as on the F2? (I know ground balance is required prior to using the autotune mode) Thanks for any info.

Preset in disc. However you'll still want GB set to get the best depth in pinpoint.

--Dave J.

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Dave J.
Preset in disc. However you'll still want GB set to get the best depth in pinpoint.

--Dave J.

So your saying the F4 is just an F2 with auto-tune.

That would be a big rip off if the ground balance didn't carry over to Disc and A/M modes.

One of the hazards of posting on forums, is that occasionally some dude will claim I said something that I didn't say. Often while actually quoting my post so everyone can see the discrepancy!

The F4 is a good metal detector, but not the only metal detector on the planet. If a dude doesn't want to buy an F4 for whatever reasons (even mistaken ones), heck, there's lots of other machines available, even from El Paso.

--Dave J.

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Dave J.
Preset in disc. However you'll still want GB set to get the best depth in pinpoint.

--Dave J.

I love the F2 but I always wished it could be ground balanced so I bought the F4. Sweet machine by the way.

I seem to be misunderstanding your comment, because ground balance is really the only difference between the two, and your saying it's only good for pin pointing. If what you say is true that doesn't justify the extra $$$$$.

I searched the manual and it doesn't really come right out and say Ground Balance transfers over to Disc and A/M but I got the impression it does. page 12

He is saying that in Discrimination mode the ground balance is preset, but in the Auto tune " all metals" you need to ground balance before you use it. When you pinpoint with the detector you are using the all metals mode, so ground balancing can help out even if you are in the discrimination search mode.

The manual doesn't seem to tell you this. It does say to ground balance for best depth and target ID etc.., but in auto tune there is no ID, so I can see how someone would be confused. I thought the ground balance worked for both modes as well.

---

White's DFX, Teknetics Omega,Minelab E-Trac,Garrett AT Pro,2 Garrett Pro Pointers, & a bunch of dirt stained jeans. Lol



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2012 07:30PM by MrBranton33.

I normally would of dismissed Dave J statement about the F4's ground balance being preset, except I read his info, and he is the Chief Designer: Bounty Hunter, Teknetics, and Fisher brand metal detectors.

So is it true, Disc mode is preset and ground balance only works in Auto-Tune and P/P?

Searching in Auto Tune is a frustrating experience.

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Dave J.
Preset in disc. However you'll still want GB set to get the best depth in pinpoint.

--Dave J.

A designer, so I would tend to believe him, but...

Two people in this thread contacted First Texas and they both received the same answer back.
The F4 WILL RETAIN the manual GB settings if you GB in auto tune and then switch to disc.

It will revert back to preset settings in disc if you turn the unit off and then back on.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?37,1271379

The last poster seems to prove that this is true in his experience.

Confusing.
I wonder what the real deal is?

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Vaquero, F2, Compadre, Compass Judge 2 and 2 Propointers in case I lose one!
2013 totals...$93.62...2 gold rings, 1 gold chain and 4 pieces of silver!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2012 12:00PM by REVIER.

Thanks for all of the info. I have an F2 that I use in low/no mineralized florida soil,it works great. I still do yearly Virginia relic hunts,and have never tried the F2 there because of the "hot ground". I was thinking of buying an F4, and giving my son the F2. (we would have all of the coils!). Do you think the F4 would be a good choice for VA relic hunting? Has anyone relic hunted with one in " autotune" mode,and just switched to all metal disc mode to get an idea of what the target may be? Thanks.

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tmattei
Thanks for all of the info. I have an F2 that I use in low/no mineralized florida soil,it works great. I still do yearly Virginia relic hunts,and have never tried the F2 there because of the "hot ground". I was thinking of buying an F4, and giving my son the F2. (we would have all of the coils!). Do you think the F4 would be a good choice for VA relic hunting? Has anyone relic hunted with one in " autotune" mode,and just switched to all metal disc mode to get an idea of what the target may be? Thanks.

Having all the coils for both machines is a big plus not to mention the cost savings. Hunting in Auto-Tune is no fun, it sounds off all most constantly, you have no idea what it's detecting or what the depth my be, just lifting the coil an inch causes it to sound off. It's reacting to the ground conditions that's why Auto-Tune is really meant to ground balance the machine and not to hunt with. One of the things that's nice about the F4 is you can switch between Disc and A/M modes with a push of a button and not loose your settings. Using the DD coil in A/M has excellent depth and target separation, it would make a really nice relic hunter.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2012 12:14PM by Dude.

If Dave J states it preset in discrimination mode then it's just that! preset.

But, on "Quality" entry level detector if done right will work VERY WELL in most normal places, yes, that is to say there is exceptions.
Let me explain.
Where I live I would consider to be normal soil conditions and over the years I have had a good number of detectors that had manual ground balance controls of one sort or another (analog or digital).
Well all the analog units had "Quick Start" preset reference point clearly marked off. Well totally ignoring the marks and doing "Proper Ground Balancing" I always found that I would end up either on the mark, or just touching one side or the other of the mark, no MATTER where I hunt (but in West Virginia).

So, I could see that on entry level detectors a FIXED ground balance for the price could work very well in most average conditions.
As we advance in the hobby the entry level detectors end up as back up units, or
Tot-Lot units,
Loaners,
or just sold and replaced with a higher priced detector with more advanced features.

Now, that being said.
I more than once have been frustrated with operating/instruction manuals that leave me uncertain about some point of information. When the information about a topic is missed or not so clear then many time we read right past it and just retain our own thinking like, it has a ground balance knob, then it ground balances the unit in ALL modes! Just keep in mind, that the designers were VERY clear in their minds about the circuitry even though it may not be clear to the operator.

Mark

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MarkCZ
If Dave J states it preset in discrimination mode then it's just that! preset.

If so, sounds like Dave J. should have a group meeting with the rest of the people at First Texas so that one day they could all be on the same page on the information they are disseminating.

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Vaquero, F2, Compadre, Compass Judge 2 and 2 Propointers in case I lose one!
2013 totals...$93.62...2 gold rings, 1 gold chain and 4 pieces of silver!

I live in West Virginia and have an F2 are the ground conditions here that hard to account for as in metal detecting? I'm new to this whole hobby and I've only been doing it now since June of this past year. I too was wondering if a machine with a Ground Balance would be a good thing here in WV, because of the clay rich soil or maybe a coil like the DD that I've read helps with some of the mineralization. Like I said before I'm new to this and really don't have much clue to what would be good soil vs. mineralized soil, I understand that there are quite a few areas here that do have coal in the ground, not where I'm at though, it is mainly natural gas that it is more plentiful. Any tips or helpful information would be greatly welcomed.