any ace 250 loyalists try the f 2?

[bugg]

Hi, Im wondering if any you long time 250 users have tried the new fisher f2? What are your thoughts?
Please lets not turn the board into a pixxing contest! I'm going to buy a low priced unit and am wondering
how they compare in your world? I read the positives on the fisher board, just looking for thoughts from the
garrett gang. thanks, and remember be nice!

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

In this day and age I would think twice about doing business with any company that has an outdated webpage. The metal detector comparison page does not even have any of the "F" series listed on the chart.

 

[awhitster]

And this is the [size=large]Garrett Users Forum[/size] because we care about Whites? Not I.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

I wish I knew more about them. I tried the Fisher site a few weeks ago and they didn't have anything on them. The only site I saw that had anything about the F2 was Kellyco. Maybe they can tell you something? The Ace is one fantastic detector. It has made Garrett a lot of money. Somebody is going to come around and try to copy it.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

Here is all I could find on the new Fisher F2. It might be worth a test drive!

8-Segment visual target identification-COMPARED TO THE ACE"S 12
4-tone audio I.D. COMPARED TO THE ACE"S 3
Fast, sensitive target response
2-digit numeric target value A DEFINITE PLUS
One-touch pinpoint with numeric depth readout A DEFINITE PLUS
Coin depth indicator in motion search mode A DEFINITE PLUS ( If I am not mistaken, the ACE gives depth in pinpoint only)
8"concentric searchcoil
Light weight - only 2.6 lbs
including batteries Ergonomic S-Handle design
Notch system for accepting or rejecting target categories
Includes two 9 volt alkaline batteries A MINUS (IMHO)
5 Year Warranty A DEFINITE PLUS

I DO NOT SEE ANY PRE SET OR CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAMS.

 

[bugg]

You guys from the green team to constructively pick the f2 apart. I can go on the fisher board and read mostly positives. The best way to find out the negatives on any machine, is to have the competition go over it. Thanks guys.

 

[Uncle Willy]

I don't know anything about the machine but regardless of gadgets it will have to go a long way to beat the all around performance of the 250. I've field tested and owned Fishers and they are great machines but they ain't magic and I ain't a big fan of First Texas..

Bill

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

But conisder the source. It was found on Fisher75.com page!

" Is it better than the Ace ?"

Better on F2:

1. Faster than the Ace
2. Deeper than the Ace
3. Pinpointing is easier due to the 8" round coil
4. The F2 shafts have cam locks (not on the Ace)
5. Better target solution, 100 numbers vs 12 zones on the Ace
6.Headphone jack on the left side (right side on the Ace)
7. Lower price $199 vs 212 of the Ace
8. 4" coil and lower stem for free (i don't know how long that offer will last). The Ace 4.5 sniper coil is about $60 and a lower rod $15.
9. Better balance due to lighter coil
10. More stable at higher sensitivity settings
11. Large DD coil available (Helps in bad soil)

Better on the Ace 250 is:

1. 4 AA batteries vs two 9 volts on the F2.
2.Keeps the last settings. F2 resets to factory settings every time you turn it off.
3. Modes can be changed faster. F2 has only one mode that can be programmed.
4..Notch in or out all 12 target zones. F2 can only notch 5 target zones.

You guys know i liked that Ace 250 so much that i made the Ace 250 tips and tricks booklet for it. It is still a fine detector but the Fisher F2 pushed the value level a step further.

No doubt without the Ace 250 the F2 wouldn't be here today.

Being a left handed swinger, I kinda liked the ACE's right side headphone jack, so add that on the PLUS side if you are a lefty!

 

[nealcat]

[quote Uncle Willy]I don't know anything about the machine but regardless of gadgets it will have to go a long way to beat the all around performance of the 250. I've field tested and owned Fishers and they are great machines but they ain't magic and I ain't a big fan of First Texas..

Bill[/quote]
I have to agree with you Willy. I have had two bounty hunters, a Quickdraw IV and a Time Ranger, and neither of them worked as simply and as well as my GT1500 or my ACE250. I just can't get past thinking the F2 is just a bounty hunter in sheep's clothing. However, I have a friend who uses one of the older CZ fishers and it is a darn good machine. It is a killer on nickels. So maybe some of the old Fisher rubbed off on the new Fishers! Time and field test will tell.

 

[Oak]

For $199 for the F2, plus a free small coil and 5 year warranty ... it might be worth the gamble. I own an ACE 250, great machine for the price.

HH

Oak - sweet home Alabama

 

[John-Edmonton]

I don't like putting down other metal detectors, so I won't. However, I have had a couple of Bounty Hunters and the ACE was much better in sensitivity, ID, and much smaller. The Bounty Hunter used 2 x 9 volt batteries. 9 volt batteries are too expensive and not enough hours per unit. I even tried rechargeables, and they didn't perform good either. The cold weather really killed the 9 volts too, making them ineffective. The ACE uses 4 x "AA"s..... Nicads, NiMH, alkaline or carbon batteries. Cheap cheap cheap.

<center>

 

[Uncle Willy]

The trouble is Fisher doesn't make them anymore and they are just a glorified Bounty Hunter. Broke my heart to see the inventor of metal detectors get sucked up by BH. Fisher made quality machines. I have a current BH Prospector now with their patented automatic ground tracking system. What a joke. The detector itself is tin and cardboard.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah and the 250 ain't made of tin and cardboard.

Bill

 

[bugg]

I am interested in the f2, and reading the posts on the Fisher board, i read all kinds of positive posts from a few of the regulars.
One guy in particular , man he goes out and finds tons of coins, rants and raves about the f2 making his never sell list, and
today he lists it for sale on another forum. I wanted a bit of balance, and thats why I posted here. Tin & cardboard......hmmmmm,lol.

 

[robert roy]

I have to admit the Ace 250 isn't a bad detector. One of the things I like about it is how it LOOKS.
Just my opinion, but so many BH and other fisher machines look junky. I know its not how the
machine looks but what it can do, but for me looks is a big part of buying the machine. I took one
look at the Fisher Excell and ID EDGE and thought, what a cheap looking piece of @%#$@&!!!, even
though I have heard they are not bad machines. The Ace really is a nice looking piece of equipment.
As for Garrett's other machines, I could never get used to that sickly looking green color. Fortunately
many of these machines and other brands do preform quite well within the limites of what they are
supposed to do, regardless of their apperance.
Whites machines also look really nice and Tesoro looks decent as well. I take some pride in how I
dress as a person and I suppose I project that out on the things I like to own as well. I guess
I'm one of those odd ducks.

Regards
Robert R

 

[bugg]

What depth have you guys getting on coins in neutral soil?

Is this a dd or concentric coil.

thanks.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

It sounds like an interesting detector Neil. I like your balanced approach toward it. There are a couple of points that I'll ask questions about. Does having a hundred number resolution really make much difference? The reason that I ask, is that I looked at Whites machines (on the net) about a month back, and noticed that they bounce around between numbers so much, that they seems to be little better than a 12 notch system anyway.
The second question, is about pinpointing. Out of the 5 detectors that I've owned (a Tracker4, a sovereign,an X-Terra30,an Ace and finally, an Explorer) the Ace is definitely the most accurate pinpointing machine that I have owned. Despite the fact that the X-Terra has a round coil, it is no where near as accurate as the Ace (till I applied the sliding technique that I use on the Ace). My question is; can you gather as much info out of the pinpoint with the F2 as you can out of the Ace? Also, it would be hard for the F2 to be much more accurate than the Ace, as you would have to be spearing your target first time, every time, to be more accurate (I use a screw driver every lawn hunt as my only recovery tool). I'm not saying this to brag about the Ace, just fascinated and would be interested in your comments, if you have had the pleasure of using the F2.
I sure would like to be able to hear it's audio system.
Mick Evans.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

[quote bugg]What depth have you guys getting on coins in neutral soil?

Is this a dd or concentric coil.

thanks.[/quote]

Fl. has neutral soil and I easily got a cent at 6"+. I mean no problem, all the time. That is where I lived when I got my Ace. With stock coil I was pulling quarters at 11"+. I am in WV now and the soil is bad, some places worse than others. In a lot of places I can still get 6" on a cent with the sniper, but the id is off in bad soil. If I stayed in Fl. I don't think I would have gotten another MD'er for land. It is that good. It gives a fast response, it is deep, cheap and indestructible. It has great target separation. I am amazed at how it can get a cent with a nail on top of it. I detect a lot of demo-ed houses and have seen that happen many times. Also you turn it on and swing all day. The notching system is great and you lose no depth using any decrementing. It hits good on high as well as low conductivity targets. It hits hard on gold and it paid for itself the first month I got it. 17 rings the first year. A negative, stay away from BB's. It will drive you crazy trying to find them in the dirt.You would think it was something bigger. Get a volume control for your headsets or you will go deaf. I don't baby it. It ain't no $1000 detector, but it does the job. You know what I mean. You have an expensive MD'er and you baby your investment. I keep mine in the car. Never can tell when you find an opportune time to MD. Today I was MD'ing and it was below freezing. Those AA batteries work good in the cold. The 9 volt in my pp wasn't doing so good. Most MD'ers have a screwed up battery system in them and 9volt isn't any good either. I have gotten over 150 wheat's this year and they weren't setting on top of the ground. I have had three articles on Kellyco's website of my finds with the Ace.
In neutral soil it's good. If it had ground balance, I wouldn't have to buy any other MD'er. Some people and their pride they have to have the most expensive detector. I love showing my buddies up with my little cheap Ace 250. That is another story.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Good comment Rob. As far as the look of the other Garrett machines go; for me it is those very ugly looking arm cuffs. They look like that there is no support for your arm and they just look too chunky and industrial for my liking. If that was addressed, the machine would look pretty good. Arm cuffs like the Ace would be a lot more practical and aesthetically pleasing change.
Mick Evans.

 

[John-Edmonton]

That also adds some quality and built in costs. And that's a fact!