Is there a factory reset for the F5?

[MarkCZ]

Threshold is on +9 and the gain is on 99

It still sounds like your F5 has an issue, because your not supposed to HAVE to run at MAX for it to be usable. Max settings are typically only attainable in certain conditions and certainly not were possible EMI issues exist. For some reason throwing the controls beyond the normal operating range either high or low is a way of skipping around the instability of the normal operating range. In that case, your F5 is severely limited in its full rage of operation.

Mark

 

[MI-AuAg]

Threshold is on +9 and the gain is on 99

It still sounds like your F5 has an issue, because your not supposed to HAVE to run at MAX for it to be usable. Max settings are typically only attainable in certain conditions and certainly not were possible EMI issues exist. For some reason throwing the controls beyond the normal operating range either high or low is a way of skipping around the instability of the normal operating range. In that case, your F5 is severely limited in its full rage of operation.

Mark

I totally agree Mark. If operating a machine in bad EMI situations, or where stability is an issue, backing off the settings is usually the remedy. If the only way to get it to run stable is to max out settings doesn't seem right. Absent any interference issues, the machine should easily run smoothly at normal, average settings.

 

[Mike Hillis]

The thing is, normal, average settings on the F5 is with the threshold set in the negative region below 0. A threshold setting of 0 is wide open and if you leave it at 0 or above, detector stability is obtained by adjusting the Gain. If you set the Gain to a particular setting and desire to leave it there, then stability is obtained by adjusting the Threshold.

If you set your threshold at 0 or higher and cannot get stability with a Gain setting, Or if you set your Gain to a certain level and cannot get stability by adjusting the threshold, then you most likely have a detector problem that requires a trip to the factory.
However, if you can obtain stability in both methods, then I'd say your detector is fine. You are just getting a dose of EMI.

The only way you can run a 99 Gain with any positive Threshold setting is by going to the ++9 Threshold setting or by moving into an area with absolutely no EMI.

EMI is an ever present, sometimes changing, urban scourge to a metal detector and a 0 or higher Threshold setting with sometimes even moderate Gain setting is going to let you know it.

So to really tell if there is an issue is go to the area and see what Gain setting is required to stabilize at 0 threshold, and then set your gain to, say 75, and see what Threshold setting is required to stabilize.that gain setting.
Those two sets of settings would tell me if you had an machine issue or are just experiencing an EMI environmental issue.

HH
Mike

 

[James/Washington]

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.

In your max settings were do you have the "Threshold"?
I have made a mistake in #6!!! Instead of Disc, it should have been 'Thresh'. Man, I am sorry. I even proof read it and didn't catch my mistake. Sorry!
Mark

 

[James/Washington]

[size=x-large]Sorry for my mistake guys! #6 should be 'Thresh', not 'disc'[/size]

 

[Digger 45]

Took the f5 to a park that i go to today and it ran about normal, looks like EMI. I was able to run Gain at 70 and threshold at 0 a couple of times i had to go -1 on the threshold but could not run ++9 at all way too hot for that park.

So it looks like another EMI problem that has to be adjusted out.

 

[MarkCZ]

Took the f5 to a park that i go to today and it ran about normal, looks like EMI. I was able to run Gain at 70 and threshold at 0 a couple of times i had to go -1 on the threshold but could not run ++9 at all way too hot for that park.

So it looks like another EMI problem that has to be adjusted out.

Well, it sounds like today you were able to adjust it to a level of operational anyway and that's good.
Lets see if we can clear the air a bit about the "Threshold" and the plus and minus of it and I expect Mike to chime in on this as well.
I've not owned an F5, I did own an Omega which is a little bit more of an automated F5 but the two are build offs of the same platform. Both my brothers have owned or still owns an F5, I've owned a few others detectors that have had an adjustable threshold (modern description of threshold anyway)
I have a downloaded version of the F5 manual in my computer that I fall back on whenever I'm trying to help others.

Lets go with modern terms of the threshold in use with detectors that are classed "Silent Search" models or types, like the F5, Omega, F70, Coinstrike, and so on. To use them in the silent search operation is to have the threshold set @ (0) or any minus number below that, this keeps out the "hum or electronic noise of the detector itself (old units actually produced an "audible tone" that was adjustable) running the threshold into the plus number range in some manuals is termed "Operating In The Noise" some manuals state that doing this isn't recommended except for the most seasoned treasure hunters. Running in the noise which for me sounds like static or mild EMI tends to add to the confusion of the detector noise, ground noise, EMI, and weak or faint target responses, this is why running in the noise is best suited for the 'Elite' most experienced hunters and with a lot of time spent running that model of detector. I don't see anything in the F5 manual that states that at some point in the positive threshold number range that it reverts back to SILENT SEARCH, so @ a positive 9 (+9) your more into the noise than @ +3 or +4
Running these units into the noise also makes the audio amp VERY JUMPY with almost anything because the audio circuit is already triggered (producing audio to the operator) so anything and everything going on in the circuits changes this produced noise, up and down. So, if electrical interference (EMI) is present your going to be hearing it in the mix as well.
If the EMI is strong enough it can bleed over a VERY wide frequency range, or if its weak but close to the operating frequency of the detector it can make detecting near impossible no matter what you do, but if its mild EMI adjusting the threshold back out of the noise can help to sort out what's EMI with the detector noise eliminated and the audio amp less jumpy you can often times adjust out enough of the EMI effects to continue to hunt.
I believe that your F5 with the Gain @ 70 and the threshold @ -2 or -3 is still running pretty hot for MOST coin hunting in places where the area hasn't been back filled anyway.
For shallow clad hunting I'm certain that moderate settings like Gain @ 40 and the threshold @ -5 will get you good depth on coins. They are some people that no matter what they are hunting they think they have to RUN MAXED out and in many cases that's just not true. Also, I've found that it the dog days of summer when its really hot and dry that my detector depth falls off a lot. When this happens those prime old coin area its best to hunt in the very early morning or a day or so after a good rain, you'll have less solar interference, you'll have less WIFI interference, the detector will be more stable and you'll get the most depth possible. Early spring and or late fall are GREAT times as well. Full sun, 90 plus degree heat and ALL my detectors are blown away with interference, I've started in the morning hunting an area, hunting DEEP with hot settings and by noon I had my setting so backed off trying control false signals and interference I just had to give up and call it a day. The only thing that had really changed about the area was HEAT, and full SUN! I've had this happen on many occasions!

Good Luck

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi Mark,
Regards the F5, -9 to 0 is a Threshold setting. +1 to +9 is weak target audio boost.

0 is the wide open, report "anything" setting. +1 through +9 amplify that "anything" report and makes the audio more robust.

F5 Disc mode is silent search at all settings.

HH
Mike

 

[MarkCZ]

I find it interesting at lest how the manuals that are written for the some brands of detectors over slightly different times periods state things a little differently even when writing about the same function.
Here is a read from a current Fisher model (not an F5) about its threshold function,

THRESHOLD
This control is useful in managing electrical interference and for eliminating shallow trash
objects from detection.
In Discrimination Mode, this control also acts as a target size filter.
Adjustable from -9 to 9.
9 = accepts the smallest size targets. The detector may be noisy at this setting.
-9 = The maximum amount of elimination of small targets.
The detector will operate quietest at the -9 setting.
If you wish not to detect a target of a given size, or if you are detecting a specific small
target, and wish not to detect it, then lower the threshold number.

Some writers of these manuals can go a little overboard in the literary aspect, or even lean towards magic or magical claims or into market hype in certain areas, some manuals are nothing more than recycled from another model, some like the Coinstrike manual was just confusing, the best read for certain pats of the coinstrike was to use the Gold Strike manual. (Done of which is bad, it is what it is)

I'm pretty certain that the electronic process used in the threshold function of these detectors are from the same electronic blue print.
In areas of moderate to high EMI its a general concept with detectors having this type of threshold to have to reduce the threshold to help gain detector stability.

The important thing is to know your detector well enough to know how to get the most out of it, and be able to gain control in problem EMI areas even if it means a loss in desired performance.

Mark

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi Mark,
It is not just words. Although the same name, Threshold, is being used, the functionality is different between models. The Threshold functionally you just posted came from the F70 manual. Although the F70 and F5 share a feature called Threshold and they share the same -9 to 0 to +9 adjustment range, they function differently in the Disc mode.

The F70 +9 setting is equivalent to the F5 0 setting. So where the F70 has 19 points of threshold adjustments, the F5 only has 10. (-9 to 0). The remaining positive threshold settings of the F5 ( +1 to +9 ) are more like a volume control. This setting range doesn't make it more sensitive, it just enhance the audio, makes the weak signals, well really all signals, sound more robust.

Maybe that helps.

HH
Mike

 

[Dave J.]

[size=medium][size=large][size=medium]Mr. Hillis is correct.

Those who have posted that "threshold" works differently in different models (and between different modes in the same model) are also correct.[/size][/size][/size]