Mike Hillis
Well-known member
I orignally posted this on Carl's board.
What drew my interest to the F2 was the $200 price on a three-piece (with cam locks) break down rod. If it hadn't been for the rod I would not have given the F2 a second glance. But the rod caught my eye and then the Id number and I thought I'd fork over the 200 bucks to buy and try. I had just ordered one of those F4 DD coils to use on a BH machine and that was the coil I wanted to try with it. So saying, I've only used it on the ground with that DD coil. I can't say anything about how it performs with the stock coil. So everything I'm writing now pertains to the F2/DD coil setup.
I will say that my initial air tests had me ready to put it on the classifieds without taking it outside. My target id numbers dropped rapidly with distance and it reminded me of another machine I couldn't wait to part with. However I'm glad I went ahead and used it on the ground because it performs much better in the ground than in the air.
Pinpointing: Since it is a preset GB machine, my ground minerals require me to lift the coil about 3"off the ground to use the no-motion pinpoint feature. It gives the depth readout in inches. I use both the audio and the display to pinpoint the deeper targets or when trying to center the coil for a better id, but mostly I just wiggle the toe of the coil to pinpoint and skip pushing the button.
Target Id: The target id numbers are large and the Id number displayed will stay on the screen until you move the coil over another target. The target conductive category tab display will fade within 2 seconds, but the ID number will stay. I like this feature a lot. I find it very helpful. The target id numbers match pretty good with the F-75. I don't have to memorize a different set of numbers when moving between detectors and that is a big plus to me.
Target Response: Good recovery speed vs. target id stability. Good enough to hunt close to metal objects and fences. I mean close. Large metal poles require the correct technique but I was able to identify and recovered coins within three inches of 2" ?? 3" size metal posts and within 1? of chain link fences without having to use the small coil. Round objects tend to lock on to one or two numbers. The 4 tones are easily distinguished and modulated with depth.
Ferrous Discrimination: Iron discrimination is huge. Iron is either on or off. Much like the Tracker IV only better. No pops or clicks. With Iron discriminated out you do not hear it. With iron in, you hear it and have Id numbers to go by. Occasional falsing based upon coil proximity.
User Interface: Nice and simple. I typically switch on/off iron disc for certain type of target responses and it's easy to do with the F2. Tab notching is as easy as using a switch, however adding additional notches isn't quite as fast. Physically it is well balanced and light..
The Depth Gage on the panel doesn't work very well with the DD coil and I ignore it.
Depth: So far I've gotten clear and stable id's on coins down to around 6" and it has performed very well as a clad and prep machine and I like it.
Andy's got closeups and more info on his site.
HH
Mike
What drew my interest to the F2 was the $200 price on a three-piece (with cam locks) break down rod. If it hadn't been for the rod I would not have given the F2 a second glance. But the rod caught my eye and then the Id number and I thought I'd fork over the 200 bucks to buy and try. I had just ordered one of those F4 DD coils to use on a BH machine and that was the coil I wanted to try with it. So saying, I've only used it on the ground with that DD coil. I can't say anything about how it performs with the stock coil. So everything I'm writing now pertains to the F2/DD coil setup.
I will say that my initial air tests had me ready to put it on the classifieds without taking it outside. My target id numbers dropped rapidly with distance and it reminded me of another machine I couldn't wait to part with. However I'm glad I went ahead and used it on the ground because it performs much better in the ground than in the air.
Pinpointing: Since it is a preset GB machine, my ground minerals require me to lift the coil about 3"off the ground to use the no-motion pinpoint feature. It gives the depth readout in inches. I use both the audio and the display to pinpoint the deeper targets or when trying to center the coil for a better id, but mostly I just wiggle the toe of the coil to pinpoint and skip pushing the button.
Target Id: The target id numbers are large and the Id number displayed will stay on the screen until you move the coil over another target. The target conductive category tab display will fade within 2 seconds, but the ID number will stay. I like this feature a lot. I find it very helpful. The target id numbers match pretty good with the F-75. I don't have to memorize a different set of numbers when moving between detectors and that is a big plus to me.
Target Response: Good recovery speed vs. target id stability. Good enough to hunt close to metal objects and fences. I mean close. Large metal poles require the correct technique but I was able to identify and recovered coins within three inches of 2" ?? 3" size metal posts and within 1? of chain link fences without having to use the small coil. Round objects tend to lock on to one or two numbers. The 4 tones are easily distinguished and modulated with depth.
Ferrous Discrimination: Iron discrimination is huge. Iron is either on or off. Much like the Tracker IV only better. No pops or clicks. With Iron discriminated out you do not hear it. With iron in, you hear it and have Id numbers to go by. Occasional falsing based upon coil proximity.
User Interface: Nice and simple. I typically switch on/off iron disc for certain type of target responses and it's easy to do with the F2. Tab notching is as easy as using a switch, however adding additional notches isn't quite as fast. Physically it is well balanced and light..
The Depth Gage on the panel doesn't work very well with the DD coil and I ignore it.
Depth: So far I've gotten clear and stable id's on coins down to around 6" and it has performed very well as a clad and prep machine and I like it.
Andy's got closeups and more info on his site.
HH
Mike
