My f5 is four years old and all of a sudden it just started jumping all around, showing all kinds of numbers, going crazy. I replaced the batteries and changed coils, still does it. It started while detecting and won't stop. Wondering if there is a factory reset or if anyone has some idea of what to do.
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Is there a factory reset for the F5?
- Thread starter Digger 45
- Start date
still looking 52
Well-known member
I also own the f5 and is similar in age as yours, never had this kind of problem your talking about. As far as I know there is no factory reset on the f5, if there is one I'm not aware of it. Sounds like you've done a couple of things that could have fixed it, one other thing you might try is change your frequencies and see what that does, also back off your sensitive and see if that helps. If that doesn't work call 1st Texas(Fisher) and ask them for help, those guys will point you in the right direction.
WV62
Well-known member
Take your F5 to someplace that it has worked well in the past, check all connections, make sure you have good batteries. Fire it up and don't set it to real hot settings and see what it does. If you still have the problem I would make that call to FT and send her in for check-up and repair if needed.
I don't think the F5 retains any settings when turned off so I think there is no reset.
Good luck,
Ron in WV
I don't think the F5 retains any settings when turned off so I think there is no reset.
Good luck,
Ron in WV
dfmike
Well-known member
When you changed batteries, did you just try another battery of the same make ? I remember mine getting very unreliable with one make of battery. I don't remember which brand it was but I know it was cheap. Try another kind of "regular" alkaline, not the super heavy duty ones like Quantum and Max. Also, use one that fits easily inside the box without undue force. I find on mine Energizers don't fit well and Duracell's do.
Did the box or coil connection to box get wet ?
Did the box or coil connection to box get wet ?
I have tried most all of these, the box and coil did not get wet, have tried three coils and still the same, with the coils up in the air the numbers just jump around constantly, have been using cheap batteries for a while, use to us Duracell so i will go back to that and see it that cure the problem, funny if i go negative 9 it settles down but doesn't seem to pick up coins at more than 2". I will reply back after trying different things. Thanks for the info everyone
MarkCZ
Well-known member
Digger 45 said:
"Negative 9" are you saying a threshold setting of - 9 (minus 9)
Where is, or was your sensitivity setting?
Try this, (With new good quality batteries)
Set both your threshold and sensitivity to more moderate settings,
threshold = -4 (minus 4)
sensitivity = 50
and see what happens. If that settles it down then work those two back up a tad at a time, first add a little sensitivity (to 60) if that's still good then move the threshold up to -3.
Pretty hot settings for the F5 and the 11" DD coil would be, (probably about the same for the 10" concentric coil)
threshold @ -2
sensitivity @ 70-80
Hot settings for the 5" DD coil would be,
Threshold 0
sensitivity 85 to 90
I've found in most of my machines that there isn't anything to gain by having LARGE swing differences between the threshold and the sensitivity so, for stability I almost always work these two controls together or move one (threshold first) and if I need more then I roll back on the other,
But, its getting down to if batteries and settings don't correct the problem the detector will most likely need some medical attention by a First Texas doctor. They have a very good turn around and most times fair repair cost.
Mark
dfmike
Well-known member
Mark, I run mine at 95 sensitivity and 0 thresh almost all the time. Sometimes I'll even up the threshold into positive values and get very little falsing or chatting just about everywhere I go no matter what the coil.
To the OP: Has it gone weird on you indoors only or outdoors at home ? It seems obvious but maybe try it some place where it has a good chance of being free from outside electronic interference. I'm thinking deep in the sticks somewhere.
To the OP: Has it gone weird on you indoors only or outdoors at home ? It seems obvious but maybe try it some place where it has a good chance of being free from outside electronic interference. I'm thinking deep in the sticks somewhere.
MarkCZ
Well-known member
dfmike said:
My post wasn't to give him a MAX setting, but rather some settings to help with his F5 stability issues and some pretty hot settings to where it should be going pretty deep and bordering EMI problems. Finding MAX settings is going to be different for different locations, HOT summer days, cool fall mornings, city vs country.
Strong WIFI seems to mess with my detectors,
At my house around 6:00pm somebody throws on an EMI switch and totally knocks out any metal detector, I have NO idea what it is or where its coming from, but it started maybe three or four years ago.
We have a local city park and at night I can run MAX settings and all is well, I can go back to the same spot the next day when it 90 degrees and I can't make 60% of max!
He'll have to find his OWN max settings, but after he gets his F5 under control.
Mark
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
Sounds like normal EMI to me. What does it do if you lower threshold to -3 or -4?
A threshold setting of 0 is wide open to everything. See what choking it down with a -3 or -4 does. if that quiets it down, then raise it up toward zero unit it gets noisy again, then back it off to where it doesn't. Or leave it set at +9.
HH
Mike
A threshold setting of 0 is wide open to everything. See what choking it down with a -3 or -4 does. if that quiets it down, then raise it up toward zero unit it gets noisy again, then back it off to where it doesn't. Or leave it set at +9.
HH
Mike
MarkCZ
Well-known member
Mike Hillis said:
That's seems to be part of the issue, in a earlier post he stated he had it to settle down @ negative 9 (- 9) but the unit didn't have any depth on a coin. Now, he found out that its more stable at a threshold of positive 9 (+9) which if EMI is the issue a max positive threshold should make the detector more sensitive to EMI (more unstable) not better.
Mark
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
Hi Mark,
Yeah but I was thinking that since it was stable at +9, he had put it into that ++9 setting, which is like a -2 setting but with the audio boost.
HH
Mike
Yeah but I was thinking that since it was stable at +9, he had put it into that ++9 setting, which is like a -2 setting but with the audio boost.
HH
Mike
Hello Digger 45,
If you've had your F5 for four yrs., I'm guessing you already encountered EMI, bad ground mineralization etc. I'm sure you know all the normal remedies to mitigate such causes of instability. Since the F5 is a combination of analog and digital, I wouldn't think any master reset exists, since manual knob controls are part of it's control mechanism.
It sound like you've covered all the basis as far as diagnosing and fixing the cause of your machines countinued instability, including three coil changes. I'm sure you've changed locations, where EMI, and bad ground have been ruled out. At this point since you cannot get your machine to operate normally under normal settings, in which it SHOULD operate as expected, to keep your sanity, call a factory technician. Get their advice, you may have to send it in.
If you've had your F5 for four yrs., I'm guessing you already encountered EMI, bad ground mineralization etc. I'm sure you know all the normal remedies to mitigate such causes of instability. Since the F5 is a combination of analog and digital, I wouldn't think any master reset exists, since manual knob controls are part of it's control mechanism.
It sound like you've covered all the basis as far as diagnosing and fixing the cause of your machines countinued instability, including three coil changes. I'm sure you've changed locations, where EMI, and bad ground have been ruled out. At this point since you cannot get your machine to operate normally under normal settings, in which it SHOULD operate as expected, to keep your sanity, call a factory technician. Get their advice, you may have to send it in.
I have been doing a lot of testing up to now i think i will do some hunts in different areas and see how it works, before in different areas it sounded off the same so i don't think EMI is the problem but i won't completely know until i do some hunts.
Thanks all for the help, will get back to all soon.
Thanks all for the help, will get back to all soon.
James/Washington
Active member
I do not know of a factory reset. But, as crazy as this seems, if you are hunting coins and jewelry, try these settings'
1. use fresh batteries
2. do a ground balance
3. set in disc mode
4. set your notch for your type hunting
5. Set gain to MAX. Yes, MAX
6. Set Disc to MAX. Yes MAX
7. Set tones to d2
You may notice slight noise when coil is off the ground but it WILL go quiet while swinging. I know the gain and disc settings do not sound right, but do give it a try.
1. use fresh batteries
2. do a ground balance
3. set in disc mode
4. set your notch for your type hunting
5. Set gain to MAX. Yes, MAX
6. Set Disc to MAX. Yes MAX
7. Set tones to d2
You may notice slight noise when coil is off the ground but it WILL go quiet while swinging. I know the gain and disc settings do not sound right, but do give it a try.