Clearing the air...

[Dan-Pa.]

Well thanks to Mikes Scotts info I became aware my F70 needed to be sent in as it was from the first batch sent out and needed revisions. Somewhere along the line the dealer was misinformed and was sold as already having the revisions so it cost me two weeks of bumping my head against a brick wall working with a faulty unit. Took about 3 weeks turnaround which wasn't bad when you dial in 9 or 10 days travel time. Fisher provided me with a RA number and sent me a Fedex label so didn't cost me as Fisher paid the freight both ways. It arrived well packed(triple boxed) and have to start from scratch again as its without a doubt a different unit. Fisher changed the software, replaced the coil and battery compartment hardware so its understandable its a different working unit and I might add at no cost to me with the exception of down time. Perusing the posts I see it compared with A. B.C. units which have been around for a while while the F70 is the new kid on the block. Sort of like comparing my expertise of CZ's after 16 years of experience against hours on a F70 I would think and all units have their plus and minus features as if there was one perfect detector that suited everyone heck everyone would have one and all the other companies would cease to exist. In addendum keep the posts coming whether good or bad and its up to the reader to make his own decisions as I see some excellent posts and others well not so good. Thanks for reading and good luck in your endeavors and if I should disagree with one of your posts kindly remember we all have our opinions and remember no dumb posts just people too dumb to post as we all learn newbie or oldbie...
Before I get any E-mails remember I mentioned no names and my intent was not to implicate anyone just sort of clear the air...

 

[Elric]

I also have an F70 which I was told by the dealer is an updated version, but I still am perplexed witht the unit. What phone number is best to contact Mike Scott? Also, if you don't mind me asking what is the difference in how your detector behaved before and after the update. Thanks.

 

[BJ in Okla.]

with the unit off and hand on the knob, look at the screen, and watch the screen, turn the unit on, to the left of 15 there will be a black dash and also in between 85 and 99 will have the same black dash, it will only be there for a couple of seconds, if you are looking at the knob when you turn you unit on, you missed it, you have to keep your eyes on the screen...
This is the fastest way to tell.
HH..BJ

 

[flbowhunter]

This test is not accurate as advised by a Fisher Cust Service rep. that is on this forum. I had a first generation f70 with the iron setting glitches etc. I was contacted by Mike Scott who took care of it by having me send the unit in to them on their dime and sent me a whole new unit "updated". My "updated" unit only has 1 black bar that comes on the left hand corner over iron when turning on. I was advised to check the unit by turning disc. to 0, the number of tones to 2F and then wave a nail in front of the coil, if you get a low iron sound so far so good, next turn off machine, turn back on and wave the nail in front of the coil again, if you still get the low iron sound you are good to go, if not, you have the non-updated machine. They yanked the other post on this same subject a few days back, so must be a touchy one. For anyone wondering how old my new f70 is, it's about 2 months old if that. I'm still waiting on a question to be answerd about the differences between the machines that have the 2 black bars come on vs. only the one over the iron indicator like mine on start up. Anybody know?

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

n/t

 

[Mr.Bill]

Even with the software change, it is possible with the first changed units, to only see the black mark on the left of the screen.

I have recently received units that display like that. They are New, Just Sent F70's. Just recently the display was set to show a black mark on both the left & the right side of the screen, so it would make it easier to tell the change was done.

The 100% reliable method is to check it with the nail discriminated in, and then out.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Mine came back with a new coil, software update, and new battery hardware which I noticed right off the bat as before update batteries were a little tricky to get in correctly and just slipped right in after the update...To put in laymans term before the update it appeared the unit had the pedal to the metal relative sens. no matter where I set even real low. Sort of reminded me of an old car I had where the gas pedal stuck and went up to 80 and blew the muffler off when I just shut the key off.Now there is a distinct difference as I can control the sens and get a stable unit depending on area I am hunting..Bet your boots, first thing I checked and yep plain as day two blocks came up when turned on both left and right. Personally If I didn't read Mikes post would still be banging my head up against the wall using a faulty detector and would advise anyone having a first run detector that only shows the left bar or none at all to send back in as those bumps on my head(mentally at least) still linger. I know mine was a first run of the unit and if yours is also take advantage of Fishers offer to check out as surely mine needed more than a glitch or software change and certainly thank Fisher for sending me back the real deal and going the extra mile to check out completely. Mr Bill if you understand what he is telling you is probably the best way to check but if you know its a first run of the unit act accordingly as mine had 3 things wrong with it and not just one...

 

[Dan-Pa.]

As you stated they sent you back a new unit if it wasn't a first run also and you are back to square one..I know mine sure runs different in the sens.so try Mr. Bills test just to be sure as there seems to be varied opinions on the subject...Personally I know mine and Tony's has two bars and indeed is an improved unit for sure at least to me...

 

[Mr.Bill]

I do believe we are putting to much emphasis on a so called "up date" that wasn't.

The software change was only necessary if you felt you need to have it. It is not going to improve performance. If your F 70 is working fine for you, continue using it, and enjoy. It does not need to be returned.

With that said, they were some coil issues with some of the F 70 coils. Dan, I do believe that was your problem to start with, and of course anyone that sends their unit in for servicing would also have it brought up to current operating specifications automatically by the service dept. That would explain your software, and battery compart.changes.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Your post is noted and is my feeling for some reason first run of the F70 had deficiencies and still say if two blocks don't come up on the meter over iron and $.50 its worth the
several weeks downtime to have Fisher check it out. By the way I have many years of detecting experience and certainly no expertise along the internals of a metal detector but mine wasn't working well and was quite evident to me so I pursued it and glad I did as detectors are expensive and working with a faulty one can be frustrating for an oldbie but if I was a newbie would I know?...In addendum Bill you have been on both sides of the fence as a detectorist and now a dealer with technical knowledge so appreciate your post and opinion but I hope my side of the story and laymans logic is appreciated also...

 

[BJ in Okla.]

When I received my new F-70, I put the F-70 through some tests in my house, never put it together.
I turned the 70 on a it picked up a dime,nickel, quarter all right.
I went into the menu to disc and backed it down to zero and it would not pick up a nail.
It would not pick up a nail in pin point mode, how are you going to find a clean spot to ground balance.
Now turn the unit off, hold down the menu and ground grab and turn it back on, you may have to do this more than once to get "88" on the screen.
Once you get "88" on the screen, let go of the menu & GG, you are have now reset the detector and then go into disc. and back it from 15 down to zero.
And my F-70 picked up the nail in disc. mode and PP mode...
Now turn the unit off,,,and then back on and I checked it with the nail, and it would not pick the nail up in disc. and PP, I went into disc and it showed Zero.
That's how I knew mine was not right.
I emailed Mike and he emailed me and then called and then Felix called.
I have to say they took care of me, sent FedEx by to pick up my F-70.
It took several days for FedEx to get the unit back to Fisher, like 10 days, this was a problem in Oklahoma City.
Once Fisher got the unit, they checked it out and sent me a new one, mine Was new and never been out side.
The new unit came double boxed and works great. Also there was a different manual with this one, it had pictures,
That should help Dan,lol, just teasing Dan.
What more could you ask for, they took great care of me.
I have read some negative posts on Fisher, but they are trying so hard to get everything right.

Question,,,how did this happen,, did the testers miss this problem ??
HH...BJ

 

[BJ in Okla.]

Dan,
I think that Tony can back you up, he told me that his acted like a different unit once he got it back from Fisher.
I never got to use mine, so I don't know.
I have only got to use mine on one hunt, 4 or 5 hrs.
I hunted in a trashy lot and was impressed. I got a copper Pennie out of iron that had been pounded by others and me with my CZ 3d and 5 " coil
I will never let my CZ's go, but the F-70 shows promise. I like the small 6" coil...
HH...BJ

 

[flbowhunter]

Thanks Mr. Bill and to everyone who posted. I feel the same that when I got the new unit Mike Scott had sent, it was indeed different than the first unit I bought. Mine works great, I was just concerned that If there was a "newer update/software chage" in the time that I got my new unit sent out and now, I wanted to have the most recent software. I'm sure everyone feels this way based on the $ amount we spent. Thanks again, good luck to all. I will try and start posting my finds when I get more time, have a new baby boy at home now, along with my 2 other boys, 8 and 5. Feels like I barely have time to shower anymore with work and football practice etc. I know many are in the same boat as me and can relate.

Mike

 

[Mr.Bill]

I like vannila, you like strawberry. It doen't mean that either of us was wrong.

There's no doubt in my mind what you said is what happened to your unit.

I guess they didn't straighten it out enough for you to keep it. I see you have it for sale. Once you get use to those CZ's it's hard to change.

Have a nice day.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

After an actual hunt its been rescinded...CZ's sure gave me a good run for years but have found a new toy....Now you know why I am emphasizing the situation as I could have made a bad mistake and wouldn't doubt still some faulty units, coils or whatever out there....
For those that don't know Bill is a stand up guy and we have been friends for years and he will laugh at this post...

 

[jmaryt]

dan!..best of luck with your new toy!..we need our toys to keep our sanity!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Mr.Bill]

n/t

 

[John(Tx)]

and mine worked just fine.....

 

[John(Tx)]

but the disc stays the same when turned off and then back on. The Fisher Rep said it was ok if the black bar over the 50 cent icon did not come on, the one over the iron icon stays on for 2-3 seconds. John

 

[flbowhunter]

That is correct, the disc should stay the same. In the non-updated ones, once you turned it off, it would revert back to automatically disc. out iron even though the black bar above iron would remain un-illuminated or show iron still discd. in. You still would not get a signal from iron. You would have to do a factory reset in order to hear it again.