Steve from Ohio
New member
Here is what I have found. Do a complete reset. Push in the MENU button along with the GROUND GRAB button while turning on the machine. Hold the two buttons down for about 30 seconds and the screen will read 88 with all the bars on the side on. This will reset the programs and sometimes make the machine behave like it was designed.
You also must ground balance the machine by using the ground grab button. Lift the coil about 6 inches above ground and push the Ground Grab button. Lift the coil up and down several times until you get a constant number which will indicate the type of soil you are over. The bars above DIRT will also indicate the type of soil. When doing a system reset, always ground balance.
For the extreme depths, the best program is AUTOTUNE. The speed to be in is SL or slow. I always start out with SENSITIVITY set at 99 and if the machine is unstable, I adjust that number down. You can also play with the THRESHOLD setting to adjust the F-70 if it becomes unstable. Playing with the adjustments for SENSITIVITY and THRESHOLD is your best bet to eliminate instability. I like to keep the SENSITIVITY up as high as I can and adjust the THRESHOLD lower to get stability.
If they do not work, then adjust the HZ frequency button by playing with those numbers.
I like to jump between AUTOTUNE and the DE mode by making program one the DE mode and program 2 the AUTOTUNE mode. I can jump between the two if I choose. That way I have a discrimination mode and an all metal mode available at all times.
The DE mode is nice because if I am looking for clads, it will fit the bill. Very fast and when adjusted correctly, very stable. Don't expect more than 8 inches in the DE mode, at least that is what I have found here in Ohio.
AUTOTUNE requires more patience and a slower swing to work well. You will notice when in AUTOTUNE, if you swing too fast, the machine will react but the coil will be far from the target when it reacts. So a slow swing is mandatory.
In AUTOTUNE and adjusted for the conditions, I have been getting readings at 12 inches on a quarter and 8 inches on a dime. Of course soil conditions will play a part in the ability of the F-70 to perform.
In air testing, I have been getting 19 inches on a quarter and 14 inches on a dime. Air testing is not real world, but I have found that air tests can be a good indicator of the "possibility" of depth perception of the machine.
Is the F-70 a machine to get? So far, my experience is that it is light, easy to swing, fun to use, and for the price a good deal. It does require a little bit of learning to use correctly. The F-70 will get you finds that older technology would miss. It will compete with more expensive machines with more bells and whistles.
So far I like the machine enough to say I will keep it.
You also must ground balance the machine by using the ground grab button. Lift the coil about 6 inches above ground and push the Ground Grab button. Lift the coil up and down several times until you get a constant number which will indicate the type of soil you are over. The bars above DIRT will also indicate the type of soil. When doing a system reset, always ground balance.
For the extreme depths, the best program is AUTOTUNE. The speed to be in is SL or slow. I always start out with SENSITIVITY set at 99 and if the machine is unstable, I adjust that number down. You can also play with the THRESHOLD setting to adjust the F-70 if it becomes unstable. Playing with the adjustments for SENSITIVITY and THRESHOLD is your best bet to eliminate instability. I like to keep the SENSITIVITY up as high as I can and adjust the THRESHOLD lower to get stability.
If they do not work, then adjust the HZ frequency button by playing with those numbers.
I like to jump between AUTOTUNE and the DE mode by making program one the DE mode and program 2 the AUTOTUNE mode. I can jump between the two if I choose. That way I have a discrimination mode and an all metal mode available at all times.
The DE mode is nice because if I am looking for clads, it will fit the bill. Very fast and when adjusted correctly, very stable. Don't expect more than 8 inches in the DE mode, at least that is what I have found here in Ohio.
AUTOTUNE requires more patience and a slower swing to work well. You will notice when in AUTOTUNE, if you swing too fast, the machine will react but the coil will be far from the target when it reacts. So a slow swing is mandatory.
In AUTOTUNE and adjusted for the conditions, I have been getting readings at 12 inches on a quarter and 8 inches on a dime. Of course soil conditions will play a part in the ability of the F-70 to perform.
In air testing, I have been getting 19 inches on a quarter and 14 inches on a dime. Air testing is not real world, but I have found that air tests can be a good indicator of the "possibility" of depth perception of the machine.
Is the F-70 a machine to get? So far, my experience is that it is light, easy to swing, fun to use, and for the price a good deal. It does require a little bit of learning to use correctly. The F-70 will get you finds that older technology would miss. It will compete with more expensive machines with more bells and whistles.
So far I like the machine enough to say I will keep it.