Fisher F4 vs Discovery 3300 what i would like to know....

[AndyNM]

I (like many others) bought a 3300 at Radio Shack for 112$, because i always wanted to know what's behind the BH bashing. After using it i was impressed how the detector performed compared to much more expensive units. Using All Metal Mode and set the GB right it had no problems finding my buried test dime at 8" (with the standard 8" coil). Another strength is how well it IDs on nickel (VDI number 30) and the new style pull tabs (VDI number 33 to 35). With a resolution of 0 to 199 it IDs very stable. Weaknesses are battery run time (about 8 to 10 hours with headphone) and a slow recovery speed.
I use the 4" coil in trash and that coil is just an inch shy in depth compared to the 8" coil but the 4" separates much better and helps the detector to recover better between the targets.

Advantages of the F4 over the 3300 right now seem to be the 11" DD coil, a threshold based All Metal Mode, disc setting memory after pinpointing and maybe it's better made.

Here are my questions:
1. How is battery drain on the F4 ?
2. How is the depth using both detectors with the same coil in the same mode ?
3. Is the recovery speed faster on the F4 using the 8" round coil than the speed of the 3300 ?

If BH made the F4 better than the 3300 I'm in for one. The 3300 is the most underrated detector anyway.

HH,
Andy

 

[Mr.Bill]

Hi Andy

Let me try and answer your questions. I have had little time with the 3300, and not a lot more with the F-4. I hadn't had the 3300 out of the box untill I received the F-4.


1. How is battery drain on the F4 ?

This I can't answer yet. I haven't had enough time on it to deplete a set of cells yet.


2. How is the depth using both detectors with the same coil in the same mode ?

I have not been doing many side by side test. At first the F-4 using the 11" DD coil had a real hard time on some deep coins I have planted. It was not surprising, so I wasn't alarmed. I had also tried the 3300 on the same, with what I though were the same results. When I discovered I could use the 3300's 8" coil on the F-4, I deceided to give it a try on the deep burried coins. Low and behold the F-4 responded to the coins loud and clear, and with what I though was a proper ID reading. The 3300 can not respond on them at all. Now let me say this; this is at my location. I also didn't have the problems you had with the other detector a few months back either. So with that said, different places, detectors work differently.


3. Is the recovery speed faster on the F4 using the 8" round coil than the speed of the 3300 ?

Yes it is faster.

Have a nice day.

Bill

 

[AndyNM]

n/t

 

[Steve(MS)]

Hi Andy, I bought some rechargeable 9 volt batteries from Thomas Dist., true 9.6 volt,230 mah rating under 10 bucks each. They work well with the 3300, I charge them before I go detecting. I too am wondering about the recovery speed as the 3300 is slow. It does ok in non-ferrous trash but doesn't do well when there is a lot of iron as far as separation is concerned. Has anyone bought and received a F-4 yet?

 

[Eddie Currents]

[quote Mr.Bill]

When I discovered I could use the 3300's 8" coil on the F-4, I deceided to give it a try on the deep burried coins. Low and behold the F-4 responded to the coins loud and clear, and with what I though was a proper ID reading. The 3300 can not respond on them at all.
[/quote]

Hmmm ... this is very interesting. This, along with the other feature changes, suggests the F4 is more than just a 3300 with better hardware.

EC

 

[gztx]

There is a lot of attention about the F4 VS 3300. What about the F4 VS the Edge?

 

[Mr.Bill]

The reason behind the F-4 vs the 3300 is because there almost one in the same. What I mean is they heritage is from the same basic circuit.

The ID Edge is an entirely different detector. Now thats a good question.

 

[gztx]

n/t

 

[Mike Hillis]

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