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Does F4 have pre-set GB in disc mode

So are they doing this the 80's style. 90's style. or something all together different like having a fixed internal tracking system to determine what the mineralization is and then putting it in a bracket and then rejecting any and all of it no matter what it is.

So if I had to guess I would say the fixed internal tracking, not 80's style, not 90"s style. Yet I thought that was what Auto G/B was. Just wondering :shrug: . If it were set up like that, to me that would seem like some type of auto tracking G/B. Are they just calling it Preset cause, you are not manually moving a knob yet it is still being G/B. Yet it is being done internally. I can't use machines that are set to a certain balance without going back into the machine and tweaking the G/B pot like on my Golden MM and Sidewinder MM. So I can get the max depth out of it. If I put a G/B knob on them that will cancel and warranty on them. Anyway It is being done somehow internally and being called Preset.
Using the auto and G/B knob does not have anything to do with dis. Ase there seems to be two types of G/B going on. One is done in Manual, one is done internally and they call it Preset. OK If Dave said it is Preset, that is what it is
 
If you are not digging 8+ inches and don't have good ID or a good tone machine. Or the ability to tell by your audio you have a good target, you might as well go home cause, you are not going to get the good stuff. Anyway hope you guys find a lot of stuff with the F4 and F2. HH Jerry aka Tinfoil
 
I have found a lot of good stuff in the first 6 inches of soil. I'm not saying I haven't found good targets deeper - I have. Two months ago I found an Indian Head less than 1/2 in the dust under a bush. So for my type of hunting - coin and jewelry - I'm satisfied with a detector that gives me a good response down 6 inches. Most fixed detectors will do that. I have had expensive detectors but I'm happy with a $200.00 detector that can do the job. Besides it doesn't take as long to pay for it. Now if I was looking for deep relics, gold nuggets or on a salt beach I would use a detector better suited for these types of hunting. But for moderate soil a $200.00 detector will get the job done.
 
Seems to me that calling preset Ground Balance automatic might be just a little on the dishonest side (see the e-mail I got back from Fisher Labs in above post). The manual does not address this question. Maybe Fisher doesn't think it's all that important, but I do

Calling a preset GB automatic just because the user doesn't have to do anything seems to me like a used car salesman calling a junk heap with a manual transmission with only one gear working an automatic, cause with only one gear there's nothing for the operator to change!!
 
Following how this question's answer would turn out, it appears to me that ground balance to work for disc mode isn't offered on most lower priced detectors, that goes for all the brands. The lowest priced current detector that I can think of is the Vaq at 420. I agree though it would be refreshing to see a low priced one that has gb, that has been one of my gripes about detectors for some time now but maybe these are mainly to target folks just getting starting in detecting and needing something that is easy to use with fewer controls to misadjust. I have no doubt the F4 is a capable detector however even though I don't have one but I do have a 3300, which is a good bang for the buck.
 
I think the manufactures are all thinking that the lighter weight cheap ID detectors are for first time buyers. What they didn't count on is that a lot of seasoned hunters love them. In the right hands an entry level detector can be deadly! I would hope to see all manufactures add an adjustable GB for the all metal and disc mode on the lower priced detectors. But I have to say that I have had no problems with the factory set units in my soil.
 
Hey Jerry, I think the first paragraph got right to the point. It says: "On the F4, in the motion discrimination/ID mode, the ground balance is factory preset, as it is on most discriminators. The factory preset is not to "average ground" as is often supposed, but rather it's set so that between that and the discriminator, all ground can be bracketed and rejected".

The way I read it, Dave is saying that the ground balance of the F4 is factory preset when used in the discrimination/ID mode. In further explaining "where" it was set (in reference to a particular type of soil mineralization) he said that it is not set to average ground. Instead, it is set so that (by using the discrimination settings in conjunction with the preset GB), all ground can be rejected. That would indicate to me that, if I am hunting in moderately mineralized soil (or lower), the preset GB will probably provide ample mineralization cancelling. (possibly even more GB that I would select if it were variable) However, if I am in a site with above moderate or highly mineralized, I can expect to implement a certain amount of target discrimination to help nullify the effects of the ground.

Not to oversimplify, but when you think about it, ground balance adjustment is basically a manner to discriminate out the effects of mineralization. And in the case of the F4, they preset it to a level that will work in many applications. But if and when you get to a site with higher mineralization than the preset level was designed to accommodate, you can increase what we commonly regard as target discrimination to help nulify the effects of the ground.

On the other hand, I may be wrong! But I did want to respond to your post.

My question would be, "will the F4 still detect lower conductive targets (white gold, platinum etc) in highly mineralized environments IF the discrimination has been advanced to assist the preset GB in compensating for the mineralization?" In other words, will increasing the discrimination setting to a point which allows the (combination) of the preset GB and adjustable Disc to adequately compensate for high mineralization cause the user to reject ferrous and lower conductive targets?

HH Randy
 
I have only had to use slight adjustments in sensitivity or a coil change to one of the 3 that comes with it to quite the machine down, I know I may be losing some depth, but it has great depth to begin with so I may have to scale it down to only good depth for an area but it gets stuff 6"+ np.

I live in Virginia so the soil might not be as mineralized here as the places you guys are talking about, but so far the F4 is working great.
 
Mineralized, neutral? Care to share what state you live in?
Thanks for all your past responses. bugg
 
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