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What happened to the F-5?
- Thread starter Mosley
- Start date
rick in mi
Well-known member
That will keep um guessing
I would really recommend the Teknetics Omega 8000 over the F5. I had the F5 for a year, and it was a decent machine, but the Omega (which is a newer updated version of the F5) is a much better machine IMHO (especially with the 11" DD coil). As you probably know First Texas makes both the F5 and the Omega. Check the Teknetics forum, there's plenty of chatter about the Omega 
imi_wakaranai
New member
I fully agree with the advice to check out the Omega 8000. I had my initial sights on an F5, but went with the Omega 8000 after further investigation.
Low-Boy/LCPM
Active member
I don't agree with you about the F5 the Omega trumps the F5 in Caif..better in iron faster deeper. Are you a dealer?
BuckeyeBrad
New member
One of the advantages of the F-5 is the independant (from the gain) threshold. I still have and use both of these detectors and in some situations, having the threshold and gain decoupled is a pretty big deal. Other times it isn't. The other thing is the more non-ferrous resolution of the Fisher ID "system" can be advantageous over that of the Teks which as you know has more ferrous resolution. There are also times when I prefer and think it advantageous to have the live numeric ground phase readout like the F-5 and new GB has. There are other times it's not a big deal. The better choice will depend on your hunting environment and desired targets and skill. There are some folks that, probably because of the introduction order, tried an F-5 and then later an Omega or whatever and then dumped the 5's. Is it possible that some of the mindsets of O8 being carte blance better is more about how the individual's skills improved over that time span than the actual differences of the two detectors? Unless you continue to use them fairly equally ongoingly, how would you know and be sure?
And what's the question "Are you a dealer" mean or implying? We all know Bill is a dealer and even if not, he stated thusly in his post in this very thread. Besides being a multi-line dealer, Bill is an experienced detectorist, and being a dealer, has direct access to most every detector there is. He has an opinion that he shared. You have an opinion that you share. I have an opinion that I share. None of the three are inherently more valid than the other. Some understand that and others don't,.....or lose sight of it.
And what's the question "Are you a dealer" mean or implying? We all know Bill is a dealer and even if not, he stated thusly in his post in this very thread. Besides being a multi-line dealer, Bill is an experienced detectorist, and being a dealer, has direct access to most every detector there is. He has an opinion that he shared. You have an opinion that you share. I have an opinion that I share. None of the three are inherently more valid than the other. Some understand that and others don't,.....or lose sight of it.
Low-Boy/LCPM
Active member
No reason to get mad I was just stating my reason why I like the 8000 better in my area in the gold country of Calif. I had the F5 and the F70 and the F75 all out on the same targets. I first thought the F5 was as fast as the F75 but never even close to depth. Then we tried the F70 and the F70 was deeper and faster but nothing was as good as the F75. Then I got the LTD and the F5 and 8000 and the 8000 was faster and deeper better at unmasking then the F5 in my ground. I sold the F5 and kept the 8000 and feel I have the right set up for having a backup detector in my area my ground. My friend had the F70 the F5 didn't like any of them he too lives in Calif. He sold the F70 and F5 and got the LTD and the 8000 and feels they are better then the F5 and F70 in our ground in Caif.
So we all feel different about what we like...and where we hunt...We used the reg coil on all detectors and then the 11DD on all units and the 11DD did not make a big difference on the F5 but it did on the 8000 night and day. I have posted on this forum for a long time and I have no problem with your support of any detector you use or sell. I was just trying to say how I felt! No way was I taking aim at you!...I can go to NASA TOM and say what I want it is a true open forum....Maybe I should just say nothing about how I feel about the detectors I have used and liked and the ones I have used and tested and sold?
So we all feel different about what we like...and where we hunt...We used the reg coil on all detectors and then the 11DD on all units and the 11DD did not make a big difference on the F5 but it did on the 8000 night and day. I have posted on this forum for a long time and I have no problem with your support of any detector you use or sell. I was just trying to say how I felt! No way was I taking aim at you!...I can go to NASA TOM and say what I want it is a true open forum....Maybe I should just say nothing about how I feel about the detectors I have used and liked and the ones I have used and tested and sold?
I have used my F5 in NC from OBX(outer banks) to Ashville in the mountains and no problems at all. Ground balance is just hold the button and pump the coil. Works when I ask it to. If I may ask, what has the tek that is over the fisher? (Not trying tO start a pizzing' contest, I just gt an F5 in MAY and I got it because of the ease of the learning curve). I'm sure both machines will truely impress! As fr Bill, he is a great person to deal with( very straight forward, and honest). I have said before, experiance is king in this game. If yu know the ace 250 -,inside and out.....)You will kill the novice f5 or 8000 user!!
Stop testing and trying to analyzing everything and learn to use the detector you have these are all good detectors. I use the f5 here in Virginia on lakes and salt water beaches and parks have no problem some-days I find coins down to 8" some-days I only
find coins 4-5 inches. also have Fisher 1236x2 1280, cz6 and all work just find and all have about the same depth range, some eliminate junk better (f5) (1280) and besides digging in the hard clay here in Virginia is like trying to chop threw cement.
find coins 4-5 inches. also have Fisher 1236x2 1280, cz6 and all work just find and all have about the same depth range, some eliminate junk better (f5) (1280) and besides digging in the hard clay here in Virginia is like trying to chop threw cement.
BuckeyeBrad
New member
n/t
BuckeyeBrad
New member
and I base this strictly on the difference of what you experienced and what I have with the F-5/Omega/F-75's I've had.......your particular F-5 MIGHT have been "off" a bit or mine is exceptional. Have you only had that one particular F-5 to make your comparisons and conclusions?
Low-Boy/LCPM
Active member
After I got the 8000 I would never go back to the f5 I really like the 8000 better all around if feels more like a F75 then the F5 did to me
Jackpine Savage
Active member
Brad
I realize your ground is a little bit hotter than what I'm used to hunting in but when equipped with the DD coils and optimally tuned for the conditions overall, do you see and major difference in sensitivity/target response in the high or low conductive range (small non-ferrous) targets between the two units.
Put another way, which would you use relic hunting for deep lead and cuff buttons in your ground?
And how about the 8" round concentric... You posted some good results with it on the Gamma, is it worth considering over the stock coils???
Tom
I realize your ground is a little bit hotter than what I'm used to hunting in but when equipped with the DD coils and optimally tuned for the conditions overall, do you see and major difference in sensitivity/target response in the high or low conductive range (small non-ferrous) targets between the two units.
Put another way, which would you use relic hunting for deep lead and cuff buttons in your ground?
And how about the 8" round concentric... You posted some good results with it on the Gamma, is it worth considering over the stock coils???
Tom
BuckeyeBrad
New member
'Mornin Tom, If you're talking differences between the Omega and F-5 and both using the same coils, no I don't see any appreciable difference. Slight and subtle with no clear every time winner. Now if I let my head into the equation, I "do" because I personally prefer the O8 more than not. I trust you know what I mean with that. 
IN some of this hotter ground, and it's not all that way, very few non-ferrous targets give a full time non-ferrous ID. More often than not, it'll be primarily a ferrous signature with just the occasional show of low to mid range non-ferrous. That's THE signal to dig! On the 8"ers, they are a good coil and I've seen where it really pays to mix it up with both detectors and coils when I'm repeating visits to the same site. I think they're worth considering as "an additional tool". Some folks get it in their heads that "This is my best detector and that one is my backup and that's all I use". And then there's the import cult that if they have more than one detector, they're both the same or different versions of the same thing. Been there done that and I've found over time mixing it up can definitely make a difference when dealing with stubborn finds. Of course semi-equal proficiency on whatever detectors and coils you're bringing to the party is important too. JMO.
IN some of this hotter ground, and it's not all that way, very few non-ferrous targets give a full time non-ferrous ID. More often than not, it'll be primarily a ferrous signature with just the occasional show of low to mid range non-ferrous. That's THE signal to dig! On the 8"ers, they are a good coil and I've seen where it really pays to mix it up with both detectors and coils when I'm repeating visits to the same site. I think they're worth considering as "an additional tool". Some folks get it in their heads that "This is my best detector and that one is my backup and that's all I use". And then there's the import cult that if they have more than one detector, they're both the same or different versions of the same thing. Been there done that and I've found over time mixing it up can definitely make a difference when dealing with stubborn finds. Of course semi-equal proficiency on whatever detectors and coils you're bringing to the party is important too. JMO.Hi Brad
The F5 & Omega may share the same circuit, but they are setup a bit different, beyond the obvious. You may find the audio is different on the F5, and the threshold control the F5 has does increase sensitivity. I'm sure what helped make the Omega so popular is it's simplicity in setup, and ease of use producing good results. It's almost like asking what one is better, a Stratocaster, or a Telecaster.
The F5 & Omega may share the same circuit, but they are setup a bit different, beyond the obvious. You may find the audio is different on the F5, and the threshold control the F5 has does increase sensitivity. I'm sure what helped make the Omega so popular is it's simplicity in setup, and ease of use producing good results. It's almost like asking what one is better, a Stratocaster, or a Telecaster.
I found, after using both the F5 & the O8 that I really like the O8 better. Here's why -
The modulated audio on the O8 is very helpful at conveying useful information such as target depth.
The nickel/pull tab window on the F5 was a big problem for coin shooting in trashy parks. Unfortunately the F5 had a hard time telling between nickels and pull tabs, and if you wanted to dig nickels, you ended up having to dig both segments (nickels consistently hit in the pull tab segment, and pull tabs in the nickel segment). When combined this is a large segment, ranging from 30-42 on the TID.
Actually I just checked the latest F5 manual online pdf and noticed that they NOW including pull tabs in the nickel segment:
30-32 Nickel, Old style pull tab
36-42 Pull-Tab (new style), Ring Pull
I do really like the F5 user interface, and although the Omega is VERY simple to operate, I think the F5 has a better user interface and display, even if it's a little more complicated (has a threshold adjustment).
I've taken both the F5 and O8 to the same areas to hunt, and never found anything over 6" with the F5, whereas I've made several 7-8" coin finds with the O8. In fairness both machines were not tested side by side, so I cannot say if my F5 would've hit them, but I do have my doubts as I put a ton of time in on the F5 and never made deep coin finds, but I was making them in short order with the O8. I also suspect the enhanced audio has something to do with finding the deeper coins on the O8 vs the F5. They F5 may well see them, but if it reports back an unintelligible audio signal, you may not investigate it.
Also worthy of note is that the Omega is at least a year newer then the F5 and although they share a similar hardware platform, the Omega is newer, and better refined. If you like Windows XP vs Windows 7, you may like the F5 better
The modulated audio on the O8 is very helpful at conveying useful information such as target depth.
The nickel/pull tab window on the F5 was a big problem for coin shooting in trashy parks. Unfortunately the F5 had a hard time telling between nickels and pull tabs, and if you wanted to dig nickels, you ended up having to dig both segments (nickels consistently hit in the pull tab segment, and pull tabs in the nickel segment). When combined this is a large segment, ranging from 30-42 on the TID.
Actually I just checked the latest F5 manual online pdf and noticed that they NOW including pull tabs in the nickel segment:
30-32 Nickel, Old style pull tab
36-42 Pull-Tab (new style), Ring Pull
I do really like the F5 user interface, and although the Omega is VERY simple to operate, I think the F5 has a better user interface and display, even if it's a little more complicated (has a threshold adjustment).
I've taken both the F5 and O8 to the same areas to hunt, and never found anything over 6" with the F5, whereas I've made several 7-8" coin finds with the O8. In fairness both machines were not tested side by side, so I cannot say if my F5 would've hit them, but I do have my doubts as I put a ton of time in on the F5 and never made deep coin finds, but I was making them in short order with the O8. I also suspect the enhanced audio has something to do with finding the deeper coins on the O8 vs the F5. They F5 may well see them, but if it reports back an unintelligible audio signal, you may not investigate it.
Also worthy of note is that the Omega is at least a year newer then the F5 and although they share a similar hardware platform, the Omega is newer, and better refined. If you like Windows XP vs Windows 7, you may like the F5 better