How many people here are running the Fisher F5?

[WisconsinMD]

Just taking a poll to see how many out here are running the Fisher F5 and how it compares to other detectors you have or have tried. I read some post when I first came here mostly from the guru of the F5 testing, Mike Hillis among others who are well knowledged with this detector. Some really great info on back dated post. But seems the F5 post have died out was hoping from what I read, it's still being praised as a great detector or not.

Interested in the best settings you found for beach hunting or on land. I know it all has to do with your environment and location so through that into your post. And if you mostly set it up for coin shooting or relic hunting or whatever your searching for. Just trying to get a grip as a good setting for beach hunting in Florida....is it march yet? hehe can't wait to go!

 

[Mike Hillis]

I don't live near any beaches but I like to hunt jewelry in turf, sand and the chips. The F5 has been the best jewelry hunter I have ever used. It has the sensitivity needed for hunting small low conductors, great ferrous/non ferrous discrimination, and I really like it's ground handling ability. The feature set and controls are just right for me.

I have tried some higher freq units for micro jewelry hunting, like the GoldStrike, the Xterra 70 with the HF coil, the DFX, Tesoro units, but the F5 with the high positive threshold settings and the 5" DD coil will find the same stuff even in the discrimination mode. Its wild. I can hunt bb and smaller size targets all day long with the stock coil, but the 5" coil excels. A chain hunter extraordinaire.

Don't tell my wife but I could probably be happy with the F5 as my only unit. Especially if I had a Cleansweep or Bigfoot type coil for it. Those type of coils are just so much more efficient at ground coverage. But since I don't, yet, I'll always have to keep a unit with that type of coil on it. Yesterday it was a Golden/Cleansweep combo. Today its another DFX/Bigfoot combo.

I haven't posted much about the F5 lately as I've been putting in time with the Omega. Thats what it has felt like too, putting in time, as I'd rather be hunting with the F5.

Good luck with your decision.
HH
Mike

 

[Steve missouri]

Mike: I'm with you, out of twenty detectors I currently have, the F-5 is my go to detector 90% of the time. If you learn what it will do, and how to set it, The F-5 will do everything I want in the area I live in.

 

[autopilot42]

I enjoy my F-5 alot. The separate gain and threshold allow you to set the machine for any hunting situation. The real-time phase readout is a plus that many higher end machines don't offer along with the mineralization meter. The machine runs quiet in the wet saltwater sand, good all around detector


Bob

 

[gb50]

Mike or Steve or anyone - what's your take on the 'depth' of the F5?

I love mine, but a measured 6" on a nickel sized coin is the deepest I've gone. This was in the field - I've never done a garden test.

I'm not that concerned about it, just like to know what others have been able to get out of their F5, especially those with an arsenal of other machines.

Alternatively, why do you reach for your F5 over other detectors you own?

 

[Terry in PA]

Do you think the F5 could get the same amazing depth With the 11" DD coil that has been reported about the Omega with the DD coil? I had thought about going to the Omega for that reason.

 

[Terry in PA]

I have dug pennies and dimes at 7-8 inches and that's no crap. Now the tones were a soft lite tone but that tells me there's a deep one down there.

 

[autopilot42]

Terry I have noticed only slight depth gain with the DD over the stock. It does turn the machine into a new detector because fast recovery with the DD coil. I put my stock back on two weeks ago and I did not like the results. I was in heavy iron so I went back to the DD because of the great target separation. I have the 5" inch and the separation is better yet but you loose alot of coverage an depth. For me the 11 DD is the perfect fit, you do loose some of the sweet tone indication but the separation is worth it. With the 11" DD I dont think you will get alot of increase in depth from my experience.

Bob

 

[WisconsinMD]

gb50 not sure what part of the country your hunting in or if on land or in wet/dry sand. So I read it all depends on the ground your hunting on but my friends and I are going to be going to Florida here for a week or 2 and will be taking out my F5 for its maiden run. I plan on just hunting the beaches in all metals mode and dig everything I hear. Figure either I'm gonna do well or I will clean up the East coast for the natives lol So I will report my findings and the depths I get on my targets. I cant wait to go I'm just excited to give this hobby a try and what better place than sunny Florida to start it off

We will be leaving cold Wisconsin on the 13th so look for my updates around the 16th - 17th hope to have some goodies to show. So if any one out here see's 3 guys running around looking all confused and out of place stop and say hi. We will be the ones in shorts and short sleeve t-shirts in the 60+ degree weather hehe yeah 60+ degree weather up here is a heatwave this time of the year lol

 

[themartaman]

Where in Florida????

 

[WisconsinMD]

Think were starting off in St. Petersburg then to treasure Island the heading to the east coast probably start off in St. Augustine and

work our way south along the coast hoping to hit a couple beaches each day and hoping to get down to Miami area then back to St.

Petersburg. That's where my friends parents live that have the MD's that my 2 friends will be using. So mostly the East coast we will be

attempting to find some treasures. All 3 of us our new to the hobby. I committed to the hobby by purchasing one the other 2 I hope will

have a great time and commit to buying theres when we get back so I have someone to go with. We will see how it goes lol. So save

us some finds guys hehe either way were gonna have fun I'm sure.

 

[themartaman]

You will most likely do better on gulf coast. When you get back over there try around Clearwater Beach. Happy Hunting

 

[WisconsinMD]

ok thanks themartaman I'll see how we do since we will be gulf side right away

 

[woodwizard]

hate to burst your idea of sunny fl but I lived there for close to 25 yrs and march is capable of temps it the 30s at nite.agree on gulf coast being better but don't just concentrate on big tourist beaches as thats where all snow birds flock..ya may do better around tarpon on up to crystal river area-hit small local visited beaches lots of them along Hwy 19.on east coast around Sebastion inlet is good and while in that area take in them ship wreck museum on A1A.its near the state park -name starts with an M -macreddey or some thing like that.best to get to Tampa area then to get to east coast take Hwy 60 across into Vero beach-once your pass Brandon area it will be all country driving with little traffic.if ya camp just pass the turnpike over pass on left is a place called Big Cypress-free camping.once in Vero ya get N on A1A and you follow it up toward.Sebastion and onward to St Augustine.have fun and good luck