F5 not getting depth

[Digger 45]

I have been testing the f5 for depth with a 14k gold ring, i can't seem to pick it up past 3" no matter what i do, using the standard 10" coil. I have been hunting an old park for some time now with good results but not getting any silver at all and only one gold ring. Testing the 5 on other coins such as nickels does ok at 4" but need to get to at least 6" now that i have covered the surface several times. I have a 11" dd coil but not much difference. Wondering should i send the 5 in for a check up or look for another detector with more power.

Any comments on other models and makes that will hit the 5 To 6" mark?

 

[Mike Hillis]

Can I ask you to post your settings as the F5 has better depth on gold rings than it does coins.

First off, what is your ground balance setting?

What is your Gain setting?

What is your Sensitivity setting?

What is your Disc set at?

What is your Notches set at?

It really sounds like your Ground balance is set below 15. The closer the ground balance setting is to zero, the more depth you will lose on low conductors. Do your air test with the ring with the ground balance set at 82 and you'll see better results.

If your ground balance is set at 82, and you are still getting that type of depth, and the other settings are not influcencing the results then your F5 is going to need a trip to the doctor.

HH
Mike


HH
Mike

 

[Digger 45]

Ground Balance is at 82, Gain at 65 Thresh at +9 and nothing notched out.

I have tested it in the all metal mode with same results.

 

[Mike Hillis]

This is in the air, correct? Your not burying targets for these results?

Need to see the air test results to see if your detector is working correctly.

If your F5 is getting proper air test results, then we can discuss your settings to get better depth in the ground.

HH
Mike

 

[stilpony]

Hi Mike and Digger!

Just wanted you to know that there's another F5 user lurking this post! Anxious for more info!

Thanks,
Pony

p.s. Mike, my F5 is at the Fisher doctor as we speak. Had an issue with the 11DD coil and the pinpoint function of the F5 control box was sketchy, so I sent it all in. Don't mean to hijack this thread, so if you have comments, Mike, just PM me.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Digger 45]

I was burying targets for the readings.
Just did an air test, Gain on 65 disc on 10 thresh on 0 and then on +9 strong reading at 6" on the +9 it was closer to 7"

 

[Mike Hillis]

To get more depth in your ground you are going to have to move away from those settings. Raise your Gain higher and lower your Threshold as you need to in order to remain stable. Don't stay stuck on that +9 threshold.

[attachment 270760 GBampF5airtest.JPG]

HH
Mike

 

[Digger 45]

Buried the 14 k gold ring at 4" was able to set the gain at 95 gb at 72-72 disc at 10 getting a little reading at 05 and 08 but not in the 28-30 range that the ring came in on the air test. The signal was slight and sporadic, just have the bad feeling that i'm walking over good targets.

 

[rob]

I with mighty Mike on this one. I think the F5 is one hot unit (even a rival to the F70/75). Send it back for a check up...

 

[Digger 45]

Just called Fisher, i had it out today and it just wouldn't settle down, this is a park that i have hunted many of times and found rings, but hitting these spots just a constant jumping of numbers on the screen. Once again using high gain and thresh on 0 i went negative and positive with no results. Finally had to quit. Did check the coil wire which has come loose before, it was tight.

Fisher is to call me back so hopefully i will be able to send it in for a good check up.

 

[MarkCZ]

Fresh buried targets beyond 4" is a bad judgment for most if not all metal detector, no! I really can't explain why!
I know that it took over a year for a large US cent and an Indian Head Penny to get to where they were detectable with any success.
I've had the same thing happen with other fresh buried coins, sometimes they may hit for a few days and then disappear for months before a detector will hit on them again.

I've now got two Nickels buried at 7" that's been there near a year and unless I run MAX sensitivity and All Metal none of my detectors will hit on them, now the 8" Large Cents and the Indian Head penny a few feet away hit fine (same yard, same soil). Now in the same yard I have buried more shallow coins, less than 4" and I have never had a problem with them even the first day I buried them? they work just fine with any detector I've ever tried on them.

Now, I've mentioned this before on the forum and from the responses I get (or lack off) I get the idea that most just disregards me as being stupid, or just making this up. But my Brother Ron has had the same thing happen to him with a Fisher F75 and his Tejon. He buried a coin I believe it was 7", the F75 would not hit on it at all! the Tejon hit it pretty good. Then a short time later the Tejon quit hitting on it as well.

The last test gardens I did I went over the area with my 1266 clearing out any metal targets in the area before I planted the coins, same results! (I don't think this happens in sand, or on beaches).

Right now I have a 6" three coin garden that still don't work (near a year old now).
And I have the two 7" nickels that still don't work.

I also had a three coin 6" garden that NEVER worked and after a couple of years I just dug it up?

Whites Electronics claims that when you bury a metal object it disturbs the "Ground Matrix" and is not a good judge for a metal detector test. I don't know about the ground matrix, but what I do know is if I bury a coin here in West Virginia soil beyond 4" or so its not likely that a metal detector will fine it for a long time

Mark

 

[Digger 45]

I agree 100% Mark, even an air test is not like unhunted ground. It seems like you can always detect deeper there. We will see what Fisher says, Felix sounded like there might be a problem, after all i have dug 18 rings this year so the 5 has really been doing a good job, probably just need a little tweak to get it back on track.

Will let everyone know what i find out from Fisher so it may help some one else.

 

[mudpuppy]

n/t

 

[Digger 45]

Sent the 5 to Fisher and they replaced the circuit board, replaced the face and new knobs, seems to work well now with good depth.

 

[Skwerly]

oh wow, nice! too bad it was defective but it's really cool they stepped up and helped!

 

[markg]

Mike, that is very well done chart of air test. Looking forward to my loaner F5 arriving.

Do you know if the Eurotek coils will work on the F5?

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi Mark,
Yes, the Eurotek Pro coils work fine.
HH
Mike