F5 - Modes and depth

[earthmansurfer]

I posted this on the Teknetics forum regarding the Omega 8000 but since the modes on it and the F5 are exactly the same (according to the instructions anyway, I thought it appropriate here). There wasn't much of a response on the Teknetics forum, but I think it's an important question.

I noticed when hunting the other day that in mode d2 the deeper targets (4" on up) hit softer than in mode d3. I'm wondering how you all approach hunting with the modes, in particular related to depth (e.g. Might I be missing something deeper hunting in d2? The 5" & 6" targets hit pretty well and were not hard to hear and were smaller than an American Nickel (soil GB at 65 and one bar on Fe3O4). Coming from a T2 and loving the 2+ mode, I seem stuck on the O8000 d2 mode. I did start to compare targets with the d3 mode and found that I get a lot more information on the shallower targets due to the fuller and louder sound of the d2 mode. On the other hand with the d3 mode I just got a beep but I was able to hear more clarity in that little beep on coins, compared to garbage targets. I don't know that it's necessarily better but from looking at a variety of forums it seems that people like to use tones with the beeps and not modes that are modulated relative to depth like the d2 (if I said that correctly).

What am I missing, what are the advantages, etc in your opinions?

Also, I don't know if anyone is doing it but after finding a coin (settings usually near full sens., disc 16 and with 11"DD coil) I drop off the discrimination to see what the iron level is like. This is just helping me to get a feel for the unit and of course tells me what I missed with my disc at 16, not to mention it tells me how the unit performs in and around the iron. Now, my point, if the ground is relatively clear nearby I pinpoint the target to feel it out. I can almost always see if the target is not round, which really helps me to rule out non coins. I am digging lots anyways as I want to get a feel for the machine and like guessing what the target is in a way. These 2 things have really helped me to get more familiar with the detector.

Again, I'm really having a blast with this detector and trying to make the most of the few modes it has (relative to my T2).

EMS

 

[earthmansurfer]

Some findings from a hunt this evening. I went out and started in d2 mode but for some reason I switched to d3 and I have to say it grew on me. I could definitely get more target information on the shallow targets. The clarity of the sound (thought short) in d3 mode was huge for me. I would switch to d2 mode and get a feel for the depth of course, but I did not get a feel for the quality of the target (not nearly as much, due to the modulation). When in d3 mode I was able to hear the front and tailing end of the beep as being clear or not and in that was the clue regarding if it was a coin or not. I only found one coin but the leading and tailing edge of the beep said it all.

So, regarding d2 vs d3, I am sold on d3 (and it's not for the tones, I could care less about tones as I've said the coins hit all over here in Germany and tones are not such a big deal). The reason I like d3 is that I'm able to hear how clear that signal is AND the sound is fairly louder on the deeper objects. I still see me switching between the modes as the d2 mode does give me a very good feel for deeper targets and when you are hearing a lot it's a bit harder to get that feel (though you do) in d3 mode.

 

[Alimo88]

All metal or NO d's is much much deeper than any d mode with the F5 about 40% deeper

 

[earthmansurfer]

40% deeper! Are you sure, that is amazing. My point though was on the difference between d2 and d3. Which mode do you prefer or are you an all metal guy? I actually started using all metal yesterday to get a better feel for the target, kind of like pinpointing...

 

[Alimo88]

I will be testing different D depths tomorrow, but my guess is it is only a tone change and has little effect on depth.
40% yes All metal is much deeper, test and report please

 

[earthmansurfer]

I will be testing different D depths tomorrow, but my guess is it is only a tone change and has little effect on depth.
40% yes All metal is much deeper, test and report please

d2 mode is modulated (VCO) so it is much less strong on things when deeper. It is not a tone change per say. As Mike Hillis mentioned you can use it to scan for deeper items by listening to the softer targets. Yeah the volume is slightly reduced with deeper items on d3 mode, but no where near as much as d2. On something 8"-12" I think the d2 mode could lose you a target, at least if there is another signal near by.

 

[BobbyBridge]

How come there aint any info on the D4 seting This is what im working on?

 

[earthmansurfer]

I stand corrected regarding d2 mode. Both d1 and d2 are deeper than d3/4 mode. d3 and d4 modes amplify the sound and though you get a good hit on deeper targets if there is nothing to amplify you won't hear it. I tested d2 vs d3/d4 and d2 was a bit deeper in the air. Monte over at the teknetics forum brought this to my attention. d1/2 modes have apparently have different processing than d3/4 modes.

D4 mode is the same exact as d3 but with the 4th mid high tone.

 

[Nap]

Interesting thread - I tried d4 but found it too noisy for me - maybe I didn't give it long enough. I tend to run d3 but occasionally move to d2 without knowing why - perhaps this is why (the above info) and I didn't realise.

I do wonder if the multi-tone d3 an d4 also means slower recovery after ferrous as the processor needs more time? or is it so fast with the modern electronics that this doesn't happen?

I am interested to hear how much deeper all metal is - the fab thing about the F5 of course is that you still get the numbers in all metal - brilliant! I have quite a lot of pasture over here (England) and think I shall try all metal on that as finds are more sparse, but on ploughed will use d3 .. still on the learning curve with this machine - best I've had in ten years or so, and I've had explorers and xlt, and sovereign and so on - just love it.

Hhmm - will take my time and play with the d's until I really know the differences.