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F5 software update

M

marcomo

Well-known member
Del asked me the following question on the Tesoro forum, I'm answering it here where it's more appropriate.


marcomo----Excellent report on the pros & cons of the F5.---I didn't know that about the 66 upgrade.----When you got yours back--do you get any (or now very little) chatter when the coil isn't in motion?-----How about when you lay it down to dig--do you get chatter then (with your upgraded machine)?---I believe that was/is a common problem that's experienced with both the F5's & Omegas. (or at least some of them).---Just curious if you still get that "chatter" (in those cases) after you got your F5 back?--------Thanks, Del


Del - Since the F5 came back it has been a dramatic improvement in EMI interference. The chatter when the coil is not moving has been mitigated. I can't say for sure it was the software upgrade, but something was done to make the machine much more stable.
 
marcomo-----Thanks for your response to my question.---When you say chatter being mitigated--are you referring to when you lay the detector down to dig (as well)?---In other words--when you got your F5 back. the "chatter" problem was resolved both when the coil was held still AND when the detector was laid down to dig/recover a target?--Did I understand you right on this?-----I find this most interesting (especially in a resolution to the chatter "problem" when the detector is laid down to recover a target).---As that has been something of a irritateing "pain in the rear" on both the F5 and Omega. :) ---------Del
 
My f5 is one of the first ones and it has 61 for the software. I new the newer ones had 62 for the software but was unaware of the 66 update. I had called FT and they said they were not offering the update from 61 to 62. I guess the only way you would get it was if you had to send your machine in for repair. Maybe that might be a different story if they are all the way up to 66 now? If any one has more info it would be appreciated. For those who are not aware to check the firmware one the F5 hold the pinpoint down and turn the machine on and in the lower left it will display foe a moment and the go to normal startup.

Take care
Bob
 
Del - Yes, much more stable in both situations.

Bob - Sorry for my stupid error. It had been a long time since I checked and my software is the 62 now and was 61 with the original unit.

Want to emphasize that I didn't send the unit in for a software upgrade. I sent it in because of the EMI issue that was well beyond what apparently was the norm. When I got the unit back it was the 62 version as opposed to the 61 it had been before.
 
marcomo---Honest mistake on the upgrade number--no problem.-----I'm sure the info you've given here has been helpful to a lot of people--I know it has to me! :thumbup: -------Del
 
Marcomo, Did you notice if your F5's threshold tone was smoother or was it the same after your repair/upgrade. I have also noticed with my F5 if it gets to chattery if you max the gain and threshold in disc mode it settles down and becomes stable. They must have something buried in the software for this. Just wondering?

Thanks
Bob
 
That's a new one to me, Bob. Max the gain and threshold and the F5 becomes smooth? Very interesting, I'm going to have to try this next time it's appropriate. I'm sorry to say I'm not sure about the difference in the before and after threshold tone.

Del - Looks like you're going for the Golden, I am a big Tesoro fan so I'm very interested to hear your opinions when you get one. Keep us updated on the Tesoro forum.

A negative I've heard about the Golden is it's not as deep as some. Some have said the tones are too close together, but I have pretty good aural discrimination so I don't think that would be a problem for me.

No bragging or false modesty: as a dirt fisher I am so-so. What I'm really good at is getting permission to hunt properties, and I'm pretty good at thinking outside the box and researching to find places to hunt. When you are working yards, most of the time they have never been hunted before so it's not like say hunting at old parks that have been pounded to death. While top-of-the-line depth is important in some applications, you don't need a super deep detector to make good finds when you're working virgin territory.

There are a lot of things I like about the Tesoros I've had, and a 4-tone model could offset not having visual ID. To quote his words, I'm an accidental jewelry finder not a primary jewelry hunter like Mike Hillis, but when he says tones rule I have to admit I feel the same way.
 
My f5 has been back 4 times to Fisher for chatter problems, touch the coil wire where it gos into the
detector box it chatters like crazy, swing it to fast it chatters turn thresh up more then half way chatters same with gain.
They replaced coil twice, fix connector by box. Sometimes you can turn it on it will be ok for awhile. Oh yes they replaced
the detector once. But I fixed the problem Sent it back got a refund from my credit card company. I will stay with my old cz5a.
PS This defector was less then 4 weeks old.
 
I have done this will all 3 coils and it seems to act the same. What set me off to this was another poster that said he ran his wide open all the time. My machine seems to chatter at the half way point on threshold and gain but if it is lower or higher it runs very smooth. I did try to wiggle the connector but it does not make a difference, go figure?

Bob
 
A setting of over 0 on threshold on all metal makes my machine sound with chatter. I think this is normal. I can run hotter in the discrimination modes, almost wide open in clean air.
Your car tacho probably tops out at about 8 or 9000 RPM. do you run at those revs?.
 
That is what the 6.2 software update fixes. The inconsistent threshold in the all metal mode.
The issue is that version 6.1, when in the all metal mode, with 0 and/or some degree of positive threshold settings, the machine will pickup internal circuit noise. This isn't EMI. EMI is different. EMI will vary based upon site conditions. This doesn't vary at all and is fairly light. This would be in addition to any EMI. Fisher will only update the software on repair jobs. Its not a big deal and many won't even notice it much unless they look for it or are prospecting with the F5.

I have the 6.1 version. In the all metal mode I hear the circuit noise (inconsistent threshold tone) at some settings. Hasn't been a real bother to me but to some who are used to detectors that have rock steady thresholds (like the Whites units) it may be hard to get used to. Particularly for the "run it wide open regardless of site condition" crowd.

I listen to my detector. If I want a 0 threshold setting and the F5 tells me that, at this site, a 35 gain setting is all I'm going to get with a 0 threshold setting, guess what, I set my gain at 35 and start swinging. If the low gain setting freaks me out, I raise the gain and lower the threshold. The F5 has many gain/threshold combinations to achieve the same result, but bottom line, the site conditions, not you, determine what kind of performance you are going to get out the machine. It does no good to crank the thing to max and 1) not hear good targets over the EMI responses, and 2) have the ground hide targets because you are overdriving the gain.

Regarding maxed out threshold settings, yes, if you turn the threshold pass the 9 setting ( you turn the knob to the stop) you enter into a area of performance loss. I don't know if it was done on purpose for the the newbies or if it is just a side effect of the type of pot being used :shrug: Knocks close to 3" off your max depth if I remember correctly.

The best thing about the F5 is that the separate gain and threshold settings allow for multiple combinations to achieve the same result. All these things are discovered by bench testing and validated in the ground.

HH
Mike
 
Sounds like 90% operator error, 10% factory. From what you posted, Fisher bent over backwards for you, even replacing the detector with another unit. Yet you still have the problem. What do you think the cause is ?

Rissa
 
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