F5's latest software version?

[patti]

Hi there!

Anyone know what is the latest software version for F5 and what it fixes compared to earlier versions? I have 62 version in my F5 and wonder if newer versions reduce F5's tendency to overload from a simple pulltab too close to the coil. This overloading is troublesome sometimes because these objects overload the unit even if they are discriminated out.

Thanks and HH,

patti

 

[BrewCity]

How do you even tell what version you have?

 

[patti]

Press the pinpoint button when powering on the unit and you see the software version flash briefly above the text SETTING in the left corner of the control panel.

patti

 

[BrewCity]

Interesting, mine is 61.

 

[BH_Landstar_]

Mine is 62, no idea what the fixes are over 61.

Mike Hillis might know, well wait for him to let is know if he does.

 

[patti]

Mine is 62, no idea what the fixes are over 61.

Mike Hillis might know, well wait for him to let is know if he does.

62 fixes unit's self induced chatter in all metal mode. Does anyone have a higher version?

HH,

patti

 

[dring219]

I have v62 on mine . havent used it enough yet to . know too much about it . BUT IT IS ONE HECK OF A GOOD DETECTOR !!!

thanks for letting us know how to check the version also . I guess the only way to get it updated , is to send it off to Fisher to have it "repaired" under warranty ? if they come out with any newer software / firmware upgrades ?

Donnie

 

[patti]

I have v62 on mine . havent used it enough yet to . know too much about it . BUT IT IS ONE HECK OF A GOOD DETECTOR !!!

thanks for letting us know how to check the version also . I guess the only way to get it updated , is to send it off to Fisher to have it "repaired" under warranty ? if they come out with any newer software / firmware upgrades ?

Donnie

Yep, it is a good detector I used mine to dig 511

 

[dring219]

i got it last Sat. , what , 3 days now . It does have the screw type connector , also , i have seen somewhere on these forums (i think) that if you have the push in type , send it in to Fisher , under warranty , and they will replace connector , or replace unit completely at no charge . You might wanna ask a dealer just to make sure .

Donnie

 

[patti]

i got it last Sat. , what , 3 days now . It does have the screw type connector , also , i have seen somewhere on these forums (i think) that if you have the push in type , send it in to Fisher , under warranty , and they will replace connector , or replace unit completely at no charge . You might wanna ask a dealer just to make sure .

Donnie

Thanks for the info! It seems that v62 is the latest firmware then and I am not missing out on any new improvements to software. I think I have to ask Fisher for the screw in type connector. I have read that too many units suffer from the push in type connector and I do not think mine is any different as it gets older and I keep switching coils all the time. I have the 11" DD and I just ordered a new 5" coil so maybe I'll be content with the current connector for the coming season and send it in for repair next winter when there is loads of snow to keep me from detecting. This season is too close to starting (next month) so I won't risk missing any detecting days by sending the unit in this winter

Thanks,

patti

 

[dring219]

at least Fisher gives 5 years on their warranty unlike one of the other companies that only offer 2 years .
That will give you plenty of time to get it worked on if u have to .

 

[patti]

at least Fisher gives 5 years on their warranty unlike one of the other companies that only offer 2 years .
That will give you plenty of time to get it worked on if u have to .

Yep, that is a great plus in favor of Fisher. One of the other companies gives only 1 year warranty! For us here in Finland that is like half a year warranty, because we have close to 5 months of snow in here so an effective detecting season is not that long.

HH,

patti

 

[BrewCity]

Not much different than Wisconsin, usually we have snow on the ground from November until March. Some times earlier and sometimes later. The next two days aren't supposed to get out of the single digits

 

[Mike Hillis]

Mine is a version 61 push-in connector type.

Patti is correct about what verison 62 does over 61.

HH
Mike

 

[marcomo]

Patti - I never had a problem with the F5 push-in connector, the biggest issue for me was no compatibility with FT's more widespread and otherwise identical Greek 7.8 coils that have the screw-in connector.

The overload feature on the F5 is by design. To get an overload on something as small as a pulltab, that's only going to happen when the tab is extremely close to the coil. Usually on top of the ground.

To answer your original question, according to the original F5 manual the three frequency variances are 7731.9, 7810 and 7888.1. The revised manual doesn't specify the variances, but I wouldn't imagine they've changed.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

 

[patti]

The overload feature on the F5 is by design. To get an overload on something as small as a pulltab, that's only going to happen when the tab is extremely close to the coil. Usually on top of the ground.

Hey Marcomo!

Thank you for the frequency info

About the overload "feature". Are you sure it is an intended feature because it cancels out discrimination settings. For example I get an overload signal when my coil is too close to a bottle cap which has been discriminated out. I could live with the feature if it gave the overload signal only for desired objects but it rings out on discriminated objects too deterring me from better objects and literally forces me to pick up those unwanted bottle caps too.

HH,

patti

 

[Mike Hillis]

Patti,
All hobby metal detectors have a "overload" feature. It is designed to let you know that it is getting a signal from something that is saturating the circuits and preventing them from working. The detector cannot function properly when it is in overload. It cannot identify or discriminate the object. If it just went quiet you would never know there was anything under your coil. So it warns you when it encounters that condition so that you can take steps to properly id the object.

When you get a overload tone on a target just lift your coil a little and re sweep it. Once you get the coil a little further away from the object, the overload will cease and the detector can then id and report it correctly based upon your settings.

Don't ignore the overloads. Check them out. I've found some nice pocket knives by checking out the overloads.

If you are hunting where there is a lot of surface trash, the overloads can get frustrating. In those types of sites it is best to hunt with your coil a couple of inches off the ground. 1) You will get less overloading, and 2) your coil foot print will be smaller allowing a better look between the objects.

HH
Mike

 

[patti]

All hobby metal detectors have a "overload" feature. It is designed to let you know that it is getting a signal from something that is saturating the circuits and preventing them from working.

I agree, all detectors have this feature but F5 just has is just a tad too sensitive for overloading itself. Fortunately this phenomenon is not so great with my 11" DD as it is with the stock coil so I can just live with it. And yes, sweeping a bit higher from the ground helps in trashy parks that I usually hunt with my F5.

This overload effect is also a useful one in some cases. For example I was once asked to find finger thick and long pieces of iron from a horse practice area and the easiest way to find them amongst other trash was to set gain and threshold to minimum and looking only for these overload rings around the area. I managed to find 9 out of 11 targets in less than 30 minutes with overload signal only So it is not completely hopeless with this ringing

And yes people, there are many of us with an F5 simply because it is one heck of a machine. I once tested it with small copper coins separated 3/4 of an inch from each other and it could detect them all with a pretty fast swing. Here is a Youtube video about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ScN4K3SLb8&feature=related

HH,

patti

 

[justforfun]

Hey let me know what the Fisher repair center says about the screw in type coil plug replacement for the push in type. I talked to them a while back because after I read some post about the problems with the faulty push in type connector. I thought maybe mine was sometimes having this problem and since it is less than a year old I should see what they say. Well they told me if your F5 has the push in type then that's what you will get again when you send it in for repair, not the newer screw in plug type and they will definitely NOT replace the whole machine with the newer version. My comment was well if it is a faulty plug why would I want another one and why don't they just fix the problem with the upgrade. I was not impressed at all and felt like it was too bad you got that type but ......... So I called back and ask to talk to one of the techs about if there was a any way I could test mine at home to see if it could be faulty before I paid the shipping to send it in. The tech told me ( this is how he would test it ) to go out GB the machine then wrap your hand around the coil cord next to the connector plug and jerk on it several times and if the numbers on the screen start behaving radically then he would say it's probably bad or if there is no change it's fine. So after I hung up I thought if it's not bad before I try that it just might be after I abuse it with that simple test. So I declined to do so. I figured out one of the reasons they won't replace the coil plug type is because they would have to replace the coil also so they might just as well give you a new machine. I would be curious to see what they tell you because I think I read in another post that someone sent his in and they replaced the old machine with a new one with the upgrade with the newer screw in type connector.

 

[kai_gold]

I recently picked up a used F5 with pushin connector and then found out about the compatibility with the greek coils. When I called fisher they said they could switch out the plug but they charge a minimum of one hour for labor plus parts. Found out they charge $50 per hour of labor. Add shipping and it wasn't worth it. So I went ahead and ordered a new one and will be selling the other one. The tech also told me they won't update the software version.