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F5 upgrades
- Thread starter Turtleman
- Start date
Tom - The coil connector was changed in summer of 2010 from an unthreaded push-in only type to a threaded connector.
There are two software versions that I know of, 61 and 62 I think are the numbers if I remember correctly, with 62 being the newer.
The F5 batteries are held in place by two plastic tabs and are easy to change once you get the hang of it. Unfortunately it took me breaking a tab before I got the hang of it. Hopefully this can save you from sharing my pain when removing the batteries:
When you take the battery cover off, push each 9V battery down hard (towards the faceplate) then pull back (towards the top of the control box) while still pushing down hard. If you push down hard, the battery will pull back easily. If you don't push down hard, it's easy to break the tab that holds the battery in place. Because of the nature of the tab design, inserting the batteries never seemed like a risk to break the tabs.
I would also strongly suggest avoiding off-brand alkalines since many cheapies don't control size as stringently as the name brands. Because of the tight squeeze, even an ever-so-slightly larger battery could increase the chances of breaking a tab when you remove the batteries.
Good luck to you if you decide to buy the F5.
There are two software versions that I know of, 61 and 62 I think are the numbers if I remember correctly, with 62 being the newer.
The F5 batteries are held in place by two plastic tabs and are easy to change once you get the hang of it. Unfortunately it took me breaking a tab before I got the hang of it. Hopefully this can save you from sharing my pain when removing the batteries:
When you take the battery cover off, push each 9V battery down hard (towards the faceplate) then pull back (towards the top of the control box) while still pushing down hard. If you push down hard, the battery will pull back easily. If you don't push down hard, it's easy to break the tab that holds the battery in place. Because of the nature of the tab design, inserting the batteries never seemed like a risk to break the tabs.
I would also strongly suggest avoiding off-brand alkalines since many cheapies don't control size as stringently as the name brands. Because of the tight squeeze, even an ever-so-slightly larger battery could increase the chances of breaking a tab when you remove the batteries.
Good luck to you if you decide to buy the F5.
Big Boys Hobbies
Well-known member
Marcomo hit it on the head. Holler at me if you have more questions or need pricing. I will send you a PM.
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
Hi Turtleman,
There are currently 3 software revisions to the F5.
Version 6.1 which is the original.
Version 6.2 which made a change to the all metal mode. Just took out some machine noise from the all metal mode.
Version 6.3 just out recently which made a change to the Disc mode. Just expanded the end range of high conductors a little more to give the large high conductors a little more room to respond.
I own a version 6.1 and a version 6.3.
I like both but use one vs the other based upon sites conditions. Version 6.1/6.2 give you less high tone falsing from larger oxidized peices of flat iron/steel or deep iron that ring up in the far right 50cent/$1 category. Version 6.3 has the high end range expanded a little more and allows you to hear more of these type of responses. In a nut shell, version 6.3 will report longer on very high conductors before wrapping to iron and/or will allow large iron to wrap around sooner to the high conductive range. Version 6.1 will reach a point of silence prior to achieving the wrap to iron or the wrap from iron to high conductor. All version still allow the highest category to be notched out. If there is not a lot of deep iron or tin roofing laying around I like to hunt v6.3. If I'm in areas with lots of deep or flat iron/steel then I prefer v6.1
I'm still comparing models for other changes but my oportunities to get out have been limited due to some family issues (deaths and surgeries) so I haven't been as forthcoming about the changes as may have been expected of me.
Marcomo got all the physical stuff down pat.
HH
Mike
There are currently 3 software revisions to the F5.
Version 6.1 which is the original.
Version 6.2 which made a change to the all metal mode. Just took out some machine noise from the all metal mode.
Version 6.3 just out recently which made a change to the Disc mode. Just expanded the end range of high conductors a little more to give the large high conductors a little more room to respond.
I own a version 6.1 and a version 6.3.
I like both but use one vs the other based upon sites conditions. Version 6.1/6.2 give you less high tone falsing from larger oxidized peices of flat iron/steel or deep iron that ring up in the far right 50cent/$1 category. Version 6.3 has the high end range expanded a little more and allows you to hear more of these type of responses. In a nut shell, version 6.3 will report longer on very high conductors before wrapping to iron and/or will allow large iron to wrap around sooner to the high conductive range. Version 6.1 will reach a point of silence prior to achieving the wrap to iron or the wrap from iron to high conductor. All version still allow the highest category to be notched out. If there is not a lot of deep iron or tin roofing laying around I like to hunt v6.3. If I'm in areas with lots of deep or flat iron/steel then I prefer v6.1
I'm still comparing models for other changes but my oportunities to get out have been limited due to some family issues (deaths and surgeries) so I haven't been as forthcoming about the changes as may have been expected of me.
Marcomo got all the physical stuff down pat.
HH
Mike
Thanks for all the input guys.
Went out and bought a F5 today. It has the v62 software. Took it for a short dance tonite. WOW!! That's sure different than my CZ 6A.
It's going to take some time to retrain my brain, but should be fun. I'll be rereading all your tips Mike and everyone else.
The unit grd balances pretty easy, but I don't understand why you need the grd bal knob. Doesn't the phase lock do all the work?
Dug a bunch of the pennies that I intentionally left behind with my CZ, but I will probable dig all for a while to sort out were my Canadian coins
hit. I also think I have to swing it a little slower than my CZ, which I thought would be just the opposite.
Wish me luck
Went out and bought a F5 today. It has the v62 software. Took it for a short dance tonite. WOW!! That's sure different than my CZ 6A.
It's going to take some time to retrain my brain, but should be fun. I'll be rereading all your tips Mike and everyone else.
The unit grd balances pretty easy, but I don't understand why you need the grd bal knob. Doesn't the phase lock do all the work?
Dug a bunch of the pennies that I intentionally left behind with my CZ, but I will probable dig all for a while to sort out were my Canadian coins
hit. I also think I have to swing it a little slower than my CZ, which I thought would be just the opposite.
Wish me luck
Mike - First of all, my condolences to you on the deaths and prayers for those in your family who had surgery.
Secondly, thank you for adding to the F5 Encyclopedia Hillis.
I didn't realize there is a 6.3 version of the software out now.
I'm not clear about the expanded high conductor range with the 6.3 version. Since it is still 99 numbers of resolution, does that mean the resolution was decreased somewhere on the lower conductive range? Or am I totally grasping this wrong?
Tom - The manual ground balance knob allows you to adjust the GB slightly positive (or negative) if you prefer. Also if you notice the average GB number seems to have changed slightly while you are hunting you can manually change it without having to fast grab again.
Secondly, thank you for adding to the F5 Encyclopedia Hillis.
I didn't realize there is a 6.3 version of the software out now.
I'm not clear about the expanded high conductor range with the 6.3 version. Since it is still 99 numbers of resolution, does that mean the resolution was decreased somewhere on the lower conductive range? Or am I totally grasping this wrong?
Tom - The manual ground balance knob allows you to adjust the GB slightly positive (or negative) if you prefer. Also if you notice the average GB number seems to have changed slightly while you are hunting you can manually change it without having to fast grab again.
congrats on the purchase, it is a fun machine.
our canadian coinage is all over the place, all the way from the low iron grunt, to the slightest, highest tone.......and some coins will hit both every time you sweep it! 2nees are the worst. the f5 i find is very fast at discriminating<------(not sure how else to word this), but the 2nees are just like M&Ms with the hard outer shell, and soft inner.....but the f5 will make you think youve got 2 different targets.
another hint on our coinage..........keep an eye on the numbers.......disregard the top of the screen that reads "iron, foil, and so on", they dont mean crap up here.....unless its silver, then its pretty much on the money.
our canadian coinage is all over the place, all the way from the low iron grunt, to the slightest, highest tone.......and some coins will hit both every time you sweep it! 2nees are the worst. the f5 i find is very fast at discriminating<------(not sure how else to word this), but the 2nees are just like M&Ms with the hard outer shell, and soft inner.....but the f5 will make you think youve got 2 different targets.
another hint on our coinage..........keep an eye on the numbers.......disregard the top of the screen that reads "iron, foil, and so on", they dont mean crap up here.....unless its silver, then its pretty much on the money.
Thanks PEIMIKE!!
on my cz6a my fave signal was mid tone tab. Thats were a lot of our coins fell. Low tone was good for loonies based on how they pinpointed.
Haven't found the magic yet with the f5, except penny is 58-62,63.
How have you found the depth? So far the deepest I found was a nickel at 4-6 inches.
What's your favorite set up? I'm going to have to search Mike's set up for gold.
Turtleman
on my cz6a my fave signal was mid tone tab. Thats were a lot of our coins fell. Low tone was good for loonies based on how they pinpointed.
Haven't found the magic yet with the f5, except penny is 58-62,63.
How have you found the depth? So far the deepest I found was a nickel at 4-6 inches.
What's your favorite set up? I'm going to have to search Mike's set up for gold.
Turtleman
the depth i find is realative to the soil, and EMI. i can hunt right underneath hydro wires, but ive got to adjust the machine down, and lose depth.
ive been to a couple of spots that i can run the machine pretty much wide open, and 22 casings were 12-14 inches down, but it is fun when you can run it that hot......you know when youve got a target, it sounds off nice and crisp.
my settings so far are pretty much right there with Mike Hillis"s, normally i can run the gain at 70-80, and thresh at -2...+2. its just so easy to adjust on the fly, (and convenient).
more later, off to the plastic surgeon in moncton.......lost a finger at work last month.
ive been to a couple of spots that i can run the machine pretty much wide open, and 22 casings were 12-14 inches down, but it is fun when you can run it that hot......you know when youve got a target, it sounds off nice and crisp.
my settings so far are pretty much right there with Mike Hillis"s, normally i can run the gain at 70-80, and thresh at -2...+2. its just so easy to adjust on the fly, (and convenient).
more later, off to the plastic surgeon in moncton.......lost a finger at work last month.
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
QuoteMarcomo : "I'm not clear about the expanded high conductor range with the 6.3 version. Since it is still 99 numbers of resolution, does that mean the resolution was decreased somewhere on the lower conductive range? Or am I totally grasping this wrong?"
No, nothing like that. Think of it more as expanding the high side. Think of it this way:
Version 6.1/6.2 operated as ...95, 96, 97, 98, 99,__, 1, 2, 3, 4,.....etc
Version 6.3 operates as ........95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99+, 99++, 1, 2, 3, 4, ....etc
Technically, you can never get down to zero (0) so zero doesn't fit in the equation and it is extremely rare to see a one (1) as you have to setup different to get below a Target id number of 2.
HH
Mike
No, nothing like that. Think of it more as expanding the high side. Think of it this way:
Version 6.1/6.2 operated as ...95, 96, 97, 98, 99,__, 1, 2, 3, 4,.....etc
Version 6.3 operates as ........95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99+, 99++, 1, 2, 3, 4, ....etc
Technically, you can never get down to zero (0) so zero doesn't fit in the equation and it is extremely rare to see a one (1) as you have to setup different to get below a Target id number of 2.
HH
Mike