More F19

[Mike Hillis]

My ground is high in minerals. So my experiences with metal detectors are based upon use in high mineralization. Black sand stuff that even PI units scream on unless the coil is kept 3 or 4 inches above the ground, or unless they have a ground balance feature.

In Disc mode, 19kHz is pretty sparky in my ground. Remember this unit is sensitive enough to pick up the salt in your hand. My FE304 graph is 5 bars, and the little 5x10" DD coil ground balances out several whole numbers above the turn on preset level of 82.9 That frequency just lights up much more of my ground minerals. When ground canceled spot on, or just a tad positive I get a lot of signals just because of my level of mineralization, which many of you will probably never experience, and tiny trash. By the way, this detector likes quality headphones. It does great with the normal cheaper brands but it does really good with the quality ones. But that is nothing new, all detectors like good phones.

Also, you will want a good electronic pinpointer. I had sold my Uniprobes and boy am I missing them! I'm trying to get along with a F-Pointer I got when I bought a new detector and I tell you, that is one handicapping pinpointer. The F19 responds hard on little targets, and if you don't have a good pinpointer, you will be spending extra time on recovery and trashing your plugs. So I am definitely pinpointer shopping.

Ok, where was I....oh yeah...ground balance. In my dirt, In Disc mode, I prefer to leave it at the preset level, which make the ground balance negative. It toned it down a little and let me hear the little targets better. Cleaner. So where your ground balance settings readings are higher than the preset readings, I'd recommend leaving the ground balance negative to start with and then adjust as you get a better feel for the F19 and the affect of your minerals. Its just super sensitive and needs a little extra guidance that you can get out of the ground balance feature.

Regards EMI....For the most part it is stable. There are places where the EMI type and level will make it chatty (just they did with my Goldbug and my G2 and my Uniprobes) but I never had to lower the Gain below 80 to quiet it down. When you air test you will notice that there is not a lot of performance drop between 80 and 100. You are just pushing the audio 'intensity' further out. (Get the good headphones).

HH
Mike

 

[horikindaguy]

Mike, just curious, would this discussion hold for the G2/GBPro twins? i.e., is anything different here? (I've got a G2)

and BTW, I really think with ground like you have I'd really think about moving if at all possible.....

cheers and am enjoying your F19 commentary and am looking forward to FT getting them out to customers some day.....

 

[Rob in (Ca)]

A few years ago I ran a VLF Gold detector on a Soccer field Looking for lost Jewelry, I would swing The coil just one way and pick up 3-4 Targets in just one swing. I was hitting on tiny bits of foil the size of a needle head. I wonder with the F-19's high 19Khz frequency how it will do on Jewelry hunting ?

 

[Bill_S]

Any idea when they are going to be available?

 

[Mike Hillis]

Bill,

I read on the Bounty Hunter forum that one dealer received their F19 pre-orders on the 3rd. So it sounds like they are shipping.

HH
Mike

 

[bik-il]

Got my tracking number today.
F19 should be here Wednesday July 9th.

 

[Bill_S]

Thanks, shouldn't be long then.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi Rob,
That's the rub, isn't it. As jewelry hunters we want our detectors to hit hard on gold, but in return they also hit just as hard on the trash. The higher the frequency, the better they hit on the smallest gold, and the better they hit on the smallest trash targets, too. We all have to deal with the trade offs. I mostly deal with it by focusing my efforts at a site toward a specific type of target and then set up for that specific type of target.

The higher the site's trash content, the more selective and focused I would become and the F19 feature allows that. In fact the Disc operating mode feature set is geared primarily for the relic and jewelry hunter. You can coin hunt with it too, of course, but the operating frequency alone puts it primarily in the relic/jewelry category.

One thing I want to emphasize is the soft boundary between the ferrous/low conductors. It is not a hard, sharp, cut off point like you find on the other F series units. The expanded iron range allows a more natural transition between ferrous and non-ferrous that both the relic and jewelry hunter can use to their advantage. While testing ferrous responses, I found an earring with the back attached that was reading down around 38/39. Because the back was attached I went looking for the other one and found it about 6 feet away with the same TID number. This troubled me at first until I discovered that the post was Stainless Steel. I've grown to like this soft boundary, because I know that whatever I find with a TID between about 34 and 40 are pretty likely to be some neat items.

HH
Mike

 

[D&P-OR]

This is really some good info you are posting on the F-19 Mike & we really appreciate it.------I got 3 or 4 questions that keeps coming to my mind that I hope you will answer.-----(1) Do you feel that the F-19 is more "hyper-sensitive" than the GBP/G2? (would it read on smaller nuggies than the two mentioned detectors)?-------(2) Are you able to get as close to metal poles in tot lots as with the GBP/G2 (obviously with turned down sensitivity)?-------(3) Is the F-19 5X10 coil waterproof?--I thought I read somewhere that it was only water resistant.--I know the 5X10 on the GBP/G2 is waterproof.-------(4) Lastly----I know it's early---but---do you see this detector as possibly replacing your beloved F-5 as a jewelry hunter?---I'm really putting you "on the spot" with that last question!-----------Thanks, Del

 

[Mike Hillis]

Del,
1) Do you feel that the F-19 is more "hyper-sensitive" than the GBP/G2? (would it read on smaller nuggies than the two mentioned detectors)? No, Del, I don't. I have been told it is the same GBP platform with some feature enhancements. Basic performance functionality is unchanged as far I am aware.

2) Are you able to get as close to metal poles in tot lots as with the GBP/G2 (obviously with turned down sensitivity)? I can't answer this question as it has been too long since I last owned a GBP or a G2. But since its the same GBP platform and basic performance functionality is unchanged, the performance should be the same. Its not something I checked.

3) Is the F-19 5X10 coil waterproof?--I thought I read somewhere that it was only water resistant.--I know the 5X10 on the GBP/G2 is waterproof. Del, this is another one I can't answer. I'll try to find out for you.

4) Lastly----I know it's early---but---do you see this detector as possibly replacing your beloved F-5 as a jewelry hunter? Replace my F5 Why would you go and ask such a question? ...To be honest I have thought about it but its is way to early to tell. Give me 6 months and ask again.

HH
Mike

 

[ez4sure]

thanks for posting all the info mike is the stock coil a 5x9 DD and i assume that coils will interchange with the g2 gb and omega thanks

 

[dirtjunkie]

What are the advantages over a gb pro other than the cool camo?

 

[Mike Hillis]

Yes,
The stock coil is the 5x10" DD. The two prototypes I have been using have all had short cords on the coil. I don't know if the production unit coils will have the short corded or the long corded coils.

All my F5 DD coils work on it, (11"DD and the 5" DD). I haven't tried my concentric coils yet.

HH
Mike

 

[Mike Hillis]

see the "Some F19 information" post.

HH
Mike

 

[Mike Hillis]

Sorry Hori....,
I had replied to your qestion but I guess I didn't save it.

I think part of this discussion will carry over to the GoldBugPro.

HH
Mike