Fisher labs F5 User manual

ACCESSORIES

Gold

Prospecting Kits

FOR COMPLETE DETAILS VISIT WWW.FISHERLAB.COM • 1-800-685-5050

Fisher Padded Carry Bag

Rugged double stitched construction. Includes handy

exterior pocket for extra batteries or small accessories.

103693000C

Fisher Stereo Headphones

Use with Fisher metal detectors. Lightweight and adjustable with

true stereo sound,adjustable volume, 1/8 jack with 1/4 adaptor,

4’ cable. 9720950000

Fisher Pin Pointer

Pinpoints the exact location of buried metal objects. Audio signal

indicator and vibrator. Runs on 1– 9-Volt Battery. FPOINT

Metal Sand Scoop

Large galvanized metal scoop with filtering holes. Strong Rubberized grip.

SAND SCOOP

Lesche Knife

Made from high quality heat-treated tempered steel. The ultimate digging tool.

Comes with a durable sheath. 12" in length with a 7" serrated blade.

LESCHE KNIFE

Fisher Apron –Natural canvas with 2large pockets. FISHERAPRON

Fisher T-Shirt*–100% cotton with

Fisher®Logo. Sizes –LG,XL& XXL

Fisher Baseball Cap –

One size fits all.

Replacement/AccessorySearch Coils

10”Concentric Standard Coil (replacement)–10COIL-F5

5” Biaxial Accessory Coil -5COIL-F5

8”Concentric Accessory Coil -8COIL-7B13

11”Biaxial Accessory Coil -11COIL-F5

Coil Covers

Specially made to protect your coil from abrasion and damage.

10”Concentric Standard Coil Cover –F70COVER

5” Biaxial Accessory Coil Cover–5COVER-CZ3

8”Concentric Accessory Coil Cover –8COVER-7

11”Biaxial Accessory Coil Cover –COVER-11DD

F5-manual-SPREADS(24pg).qx 7/13/11 1:41 PM Page 1

Also available

with 11”DD coil

(Item# F5-11DD)

Use ALKALINE

Batteries ONLY

• Large Display Screen

• Continual Visual Indication of

Important Parameters:

Target Identification

Target Confidence

Target Depth

Ground Phase

Detector’s Internal Ground Setting

• Three Search Modes

Discrimination

All Metals Autotune

Static PinPoint

• Computerized and Manual

Ground Balancing

• Waterproof 93

/4” open-frame

concentric elliptical search coil

• Controls

Ground Balance Frequency

Discrimination Notch

Threshold Tones

Gain Phase Lock

Pinpoint

MF5B Rev2 071411

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

S

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2

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(

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)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2

3

2

3

5

-

Y

E

A

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E

D

W

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N

T

Y

The F5 metal detector is warranted against defects in materials and

workmanship under normal use for five years from the date of purchase

to the original owner.

Damage due to neglect, accidental damage or misuse of this product is

not covered under this warranty. Decisions regarding abuse or misuse of

the detector are made solely at the discretion of the manufacturer.

P

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.

Liability under this Warranty is limited to replacing or repairing, at our

option, the metal detector returned, shipping cost prepaid to Fisher Labs.

Shipping cost to Fisher Labs is the responsibility of the consumer.

To return your detector for service, please first contact Fisher Labs for a

Return Authorization (RA) Number. Reference the RA number on your

package and return the detector within 15 days of calling to:

Fisher Labs

1465-H Henry Brennan Dr.

El Paso, TX 79936

Phone: 915-225-0333 ext.118

Fax: 915-225-0336

Warranty coverage does not include the cost of transporting the detector

back to an owner who is located outside of the United States of America.

NOTE TO CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A.

This warranty may vary in other countries, check with your distributor for details.

Factory warranty follows the channel of distribution.

Warranty does not cover shipping costs.

According to FCC part 15.21 Changes or Modifications made to this device not expressly approved

by the party responsible for compliance could void the users authority to operate this equipment.

1465-H Henry Brennan, El Paso, TX 79936 • (915) 225-0333

Fisher®is a registered trademark of Fisher Research Labs

www.fisherlab.com

4.qx 6/30/11 4:16 PM Page 2

3

SETTING UP

No tools required.

l

1

Insert the lower stem (plastic tube) into the middle stem.

l

2

Position the stems with the silver buttons toward the

back.

Using the bolt and knob, attach the search coil to

the lower stem.

l

3

Press the button on the middle stem, and slide the

stem assembly into the s-rod.

Adjust the stem to a length that lets you

maintain a comfortable upright posture, with

your arm relaxed at your side, and the search

coil parallel to the ground in front of you.

l

4

Wind the cable securely around the stem.

l

5

Insert the plug into the matching

connector on the right underside of the

detector body. Be sure that the key-way

and pins line up correctly.

l

6

After the stem length is adjusted

to your height, tighten the two

locking collars to stabilize the

stems.

l

7

Secure the cable to the stem

with Velcro strips at the top and

bottom. Secure one at the bottom of the plastic tube, and one to the

aluminum tube, close to the detector housing. It is important to secure

the cable; a loose cable may result in erratic sounds.

Arm Rest Adjustment

If you wish to change the position of

the arm rest, remove the screw and

move the arm rest to one of the

alternate hole locations.

Caution: Do not force the plug in.

Excess force will cause

damage.

To disconnect the cable, pull

on the plug.

Do not pull on the cable.

2

UNIT SPECIFICATIONS:

M

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l

:

S-rod with electronics housing on rod, 3-piece

breakdown construction, nonmetallic telescoping lower rod,

adjustable position arm rest

W

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t

:

3.0 lbs (1.38 kg) with batteries installed

S

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:

10 inch (25 cm) open-frame elliptical

concentric, waterproof

B

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:

two 9 volt rectangular alkaline (will run on one)

O

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:

VLF induction balance

O

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f

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q

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:

nominal 7.8 kHz, microprocessor controlled

7731.9Hz, 7810Hz, 7888.1Hz

B

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s

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s

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y

:

2.5 x 109root Hertz (detectivity)

L

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:

92 milliseconds

R

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:

5,000 micro-cgs (with standard search coil)

R

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:

600 micro-cgs (with standard search coil)

G

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:

from ferrite to salt water inclusive

D

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s

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p

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:

combination of 2nd and 3rd order

methods

T

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:

3rd order

B

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r

y

l

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:

40+ hours on good quality alkalines

O

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m

p

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:

14 to 122 degrees F (-10 to +50 C)

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:

0 - 90% noncondensing

This device has been designed to operate with the antennas listed below, and having a

maximum gain of 3 dB. Antennas not included in this list or having a gain greater than 3 dB are

strictly prohibited for use with this device. The required antenna impedance is 43 ohms.

10COIL-F5, 11COIL-F5, 5COIL-F5

The following statement is not relevant to metal detectors but is printed here to satisfy

legal notification requirement:

“To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain should be

so chosen that the equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is not more than that

permitted for successful communication.”

4.qx 6/30/11 4:16 PM Page 3

4

T

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F

5

.

The batteries have been

inserted backwards in the

compartment for storage

during transportation.

Please remove batteries,

turn them around, and install

correctly.

Use A

A

L

K

A

L

I

N

E

batteries

only.

D

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w

b

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.

To install the batteries:

l

1

Remove the battery cover

by disengaging the clip at the

back.

D

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h

i

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e

d

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u

p

w

a

r

d

; pull

straight back

l

2

Align the polarity of the batteries correctly, with the positive "+"

toward the coil plug connection, as indicated by the + indicator

on the housing.

l

3

Insert (2) 9-Volt A

A

L

K

A

L

I

N

E

batteries, with the contacts pointed inward,

and press down on the back of the batteries to snap them into place.

Some brands of batteries will require moderate force to clear the

retaining tabs.

l

4

Replace the battery door.

Most metal detector problems are due to improperly installed

batteries, or the use of non-alkaline or discharged batteries. I

I

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s

.

BATTERIES

2

1

USING HEADPHONES

Using headphones (not supplied) improves

battery life, and prevents the sounds from

annoying bystanders.

It also allows you to hear subtle changes in the

sound more clearly, particularly if searching in a

noisy location. For safety reasons, do not use

headphones near traffic or where other

dangers are present. This device is to be used

with interconnecting cables/headphone

cables shorter than three meters.

TARGET PINPOINTING

(in PINPOINT mode)

After you have identified a target using a motion mode of detection,

press-and-hold the PINPOINT pad to identify the target’s exact

location. This technique can yield more information about the target’s

shape and size and also find its exact location to facilitate extraction.

P

i

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f

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s

:

1

.

Position the search coil just barely off the ground, and to the side of

the target.

2

.

Now move the search coil slowly across the target, and you can

locate it by the sound. The target is located directly under where

the sound is loudest.

N

a

r

o

w

I

t

D

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w

n

:

1

.

To narrow the response further, position the center of the search coil

near the center of the response pattern, but not directly over the

center.

2

.

Release the PINPOINT touch pad.

3

.

Press-and-hold PINPOINT pad again.

4

.

Repeat this narrowing procedure to narrow the field of detection

further.

N

o

t

e

:

Depth indication is less accurate after

narrowing.

COIL DRIFT

If you plan to use the PINPOINT mode for continuous searching, realize that

drift will occur over time, causing the detector to gain or lose sensitivity.

Periodic retuning of the detector is required to minimize drift; release and

press PINPOINT again to retune.

TREASURE HUNTER’S CODE OF ETHICS:

• Always check Federal, State, County and local laws before searching.

• Respect private property and do not enter private property without the

owner’s permission.

• Take care to refill all holes and leave no damage.

• Remove and dispose of any and all trash and litter found.

• Appreciate and protect our inheritance of natural resources, wildlife and

private property.

• Act as an ambassador for the hobby, use thoughtfulness, consideration

and courtesy at all times.

• Never destroy historical or archaeological treasures.

• All treasure hunters may be judged by the example you set; always

conduct yourself with courtesy and consideration of others

4.qx 6/30/11 4:16 PM Page 4

QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

1

.

S

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s

N

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d

• A Nail • A Zinc Penny (dated after 1982)

• A Nickel • A Quarter

2

.

P

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r

a. Place the detector on a

table, with the search

coil hanging over the

edge. (or better, have a

friend hold the detector,

with the coil off the

ground).

b. Keep the search coil

away from walls, floors,

and metal objects.

c. Remove watches, rings

and other jewelry or metal objects from hands and wrists.

d. Turn off appliances or lights that cause electromagnetic

interference.

e. Pivot the search coil back toward the detector body.

3

.

P

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r

U

p

a. Click on the On/Off/Gain knob

b. Set Gain Knob at the 12:00 position

c. Rotate threshold knob to setting= -3

4

.

A

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M

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e

Click on “Discrim” knob and keep to

left, at lowest setting.

5

.

W

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• Notice the low tone for the nail.

6

.

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• Notice that pitch and volume increase as non-ferrous objects get

closer to the search coil.

7

.

P

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T

O

N

E

S

t

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a

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Number of tones setting changes to d3.

8

.

W

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Notice the 3 different tones

• Low tone: nail

• Medium tone: nickel and zinc penny

• High tone: quarter

TARGET

ID

DEPTH

VL L M H

% Fe3O

4

6 7 8 9

BATTERY VOLTS

35

15

25

55

65

75

85

99

GND DATA

STATUS

5

2

0

SEARCH TECHNIQUES

(in DISC mode)

T

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After detecting a target, do the

following:

1

.

Walk around the target in a

circle.

2

.

While circling the target,

continue sweeping the search

coil across the target.

3

.

Sweep once every 30° or 40° of

the circle.

If the tone does not change

and the target ID value is

consistent as you circle the

target, you can be highly

confident of the target’s

identification.

If the tone or target ID

changes as you circle the

target, you may have multiple

targets or an irregularly shaped

object.

If the tone completely

disappears at different angles,

the target may be trash or a

low-value metal.

If you are new to the hobby, dig all targets. With practice in the

field, you will soon identify audible and visual target feedback with

certain types of metal objects.

P

i

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:

1

.

Sweep over target in narrowing side-to-side pattern.

2

.

Take visual note of spot on ground where “beep” occurs.

3

.

Step 90° to the side of the target.

4

.

Sweep coil over same area, at 90° to 1st sweep pattern.

5

.

This pinpoints the target location with an “X”.

COIL MOVEMENT

When swinging the coil, be

careful to keep it level with

the ground about 1/2 inch

from the surface. Never swing

the coil like a pendulum.

WRONG

CORRECT

F5-manual-SPREADS(24pg).qx 6/7/10 11:07 AM Page 5

6

9

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Notice that the nail is not detected.

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— Notice that now only the quarter is detected.

— The other objects have been “discriminated out”

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5

¢

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After a few seconds, the flashing stops

Notice that there is now no slash over the 5¢ icon

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.

Notice that the nickel is now detected. You have “notched in”

the nickel.

In categories covered with a slash, objects will not be detected.

1

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Hold an object over the search coil.

All metal objects are now detected.

The object’s DEPTH is displayed, in inches, in the center

of the display.

Pitch and volume increase as objects get closer to the coil.

QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

(continued)

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UNDERSTANDING THE DISPLAY

(continued)

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Segments indicate the battery voltage, as printed on the display.

%

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e

3

O

4

This bar graph displays the magnetic mineralization factor, or magnetic

susceptibility, of the soil. The depth to which objects can be accurately

identified is strongly influenced by the magnetic susceptibility of the soil. High

Fe3O4values have a greater effect on detection depth in the Discrimination

mode than in the All Metal mode. For the most accurate Fe3O4reading,

pump the search coil as though you were ground canceling.

The % of Fe3O4ground minerals are displayed as follows:

H – high

M – medium

L – low

VL – very low

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The two-digit PHASE number displayed on the screen indicates the type of

ground mineralization. The number is continuously displayed in all

detection modes except Pinpoint, and is continually updated. Ground

conditions can change within a given search area, sometimes slowly, and

sometimes quite abruptly. This number cannot be adjusted by the user.

Some typical ground mineralization types are:

0 – 10 Wet salt and alkali

5 – 25 Metallic iron

26 – 39 Very few soils in this range -- occasionally

some saltwater beaches

40 – 75 Red, yellow, and brown iron-bearing clay minerals

75 – 95 Magnetite and other black iron minerals

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This 2-digit number on the bottom-left of the display can represent any

of the following:

• Internal Ground Balance setting (GND BAL): from 00 to 99

• Gain: 20 values from 5 to 99 in steps of 5

• Threshold: 19 values from -9 to 9

• Discrimination Setting: from 0 to 65

• Frequency: 1, 2, or 3

• Audio Tones Selection: d1, d2, d3, d4 or A1, A2, A3, A4

If the user is not moving any knobs or pressing any touchpads, then the

number represents the internal ground balance setting, and “GND

BAL” is illuminated.

“GND BAL” disappears when the user selects a control, and the

SETTING then represents the current value for the activated knob or

touch pad.

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:

PHASE LOCK

Pressing “Phase Lock” will update the internal

ground balance setting.

We recommend pumping the coil, as described

in the GROUND BALANCING section of the

manual, when using this control. Be aware that

a momentary press of the PHASE LOCK button

will automatically transfer the currently

displayed PHASE value to the GROUND SETTING.

TONES

In Discrimination mode, the F5 indicates target type by audio tone.

The TONES button allows the user to select one

of four different ways to group target types by

tone.

Your selection depends on personal preference

and search objectives. For example, coin

shooters usually select d3 or d4. Relic hunters

might select d1 or d2, depending on search

area conditions.

In All-Metals mode, the TONES button allows the user to vary the pitch of

the base tone.

See page 16 for a detailed description of the tones provided for each

selection.

NOTCH

The purpose of the NOTCH function is to

change the detection status of a target

category.

• If a category was not eliminated from

detection before being “notched,” then

notching the category will eliminate it from

detection.

• If a category was eliminated from detection

before being “notched,” (i.e. a “-- ”

covered the icon), then notching the category will return the

category to detection.

Touch Pad controls continued on next page

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CONTROL PANEL

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UNDERSTANDING THE DISPLAY

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There are 8 categories, indicated at the top of the display.

When the search coil passes over a metal object in DISCRIMINATION

or ALL METALS mode, a rectangular-shaped icon will light up over the

category which describes the metal object.

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When a “—” appears over the target category descriptions, all of the

targets in that category have been eliminated from detection.

Rotate the DISCRIM knob to choose the discrimination setting.

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A 2-digit number will appear when passing over a metal object in

DISCRIMINATION or ALL METALS mode. This 2-digit number

corresponds to the target categories at the top of the display.

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When holding the PINPOINT touch pad, the 2-digit number in the center

of the display shows the distance to the object, in inches. This depth

indicator is calibrated to coin-sized objects. If the buried object is other

than a coin, the depth indicator provides a relative depth indication.

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While the Target ID provides a target identification, it is not possible to

always be 100% accurate of the buried object’s classification due to

the large variety of buried metal objects. To assist with target

identification refer to this confidence meter.

If the detector is highly confident an object’s classification, all 5 bars

will illuminate.

One bar illuminated indicates a very low level of confidence in the

target identification.

TARGETTARGET

IDID

DEPTHDEPTH

CONFIDENCE

GND

BAL

PHASE

VL L M H

% Fe3O

4

6 7 8 9

SETTING

BATTERY VOLTS

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The search mode is

briefly displayed in the

center of the screen

each time you

change modes, as

follows:

All Metals

Discrimination

Pinpoint

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CONTROL PANEL

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Upon the 1st press of NOTCH, a “-- ” will flash over the “Fe” symbol.

Each subsequent press will move the flashing “-- ” to the right.

The following target categories can be notched in or out:

Fe, Foil, 5¢, Tab, Zinc, 50+

After the 50+ category, pressing NOTCH will exit the NOTCH function.

To select a category for notching, press NOTCH until the flashing “-- ”

appears over that category’s icon. After a few seconds, the flashing “-- ”

will time out and the current target category will be notched.

Practice pressing NOTCH a few times and its function will become obvious.

The NOTCH feature is not available in Auto Tune Mode.

FREQUENCY

Use this control if detector behaves erratically

and you suspect electromagnetic

interference from some other electronic

device. The control will change the detector’s

operating frequency. Press until you find one

of the frequencies which minimizes the

interference.

Choices are:

1 – default frequency

2 – 1st alternate frequency

3 – 2nd alternate frequency

Changing frequency may require you to change the ground balance

setting. See section on ground balancing.

PINPOINT

This touchpad, in the middle of the panel,

activates the PINPOINT mode.

Press-and-Hold this touchpad for static

detection.

Volume and pitch increase with increase in

signal strength.

Target DEPTH, in inches, will be indicated in

the middle of the display.

The depth indicator is calibrated to coin-sized

objects. Objects other than coins will indicate

relative depth readings.

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DEPTH AND TARGET DISPLAY

DEPTH INDICATOR:

The Depth Indicator is calibrated for

coin-sized objects. It indicates the

probable depth of the target, in

inches.

While holding the PinPoint touch pad,

and passing over a metal object

“depth” will appear next to the two-digit

number in the middle of the screen.

TWO DIGIT TARGET INDICATOR

The Two-digit target indicator, in the

middle of the LCD display, provides a

specific target value to help identify

buried targets more accurately. With

practice in the field, you will learn to

associate target values with the

probable identification of buried objects.

The target value can vary each time the

coil passes over the target, depending

upon the angle of the object and the

distance from the coil.

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The table below lists some common approximate target value equivalents.

With experience in the field, you will recognize many types of metal objects

by their numeric value.

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0-15 Iron

20-24 Pull-Tab Tail (broken off), Aluminum Foil

30-32 Nickel, Old style pull tab

36-42 Pull-Tab (new style), Ring Pull

58-60 Zinc Penny

70 Dime & Copper Cent

80 Quarter

88 Half Dollar

92 Silver Dollar

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GND BAL — Ground Balance

Control Knob

Rotate GND BAL to change

the detector’s internal Ground

Balance Setting.

By calibrating the detector to

the actual Ground Phase of

the soil you are searching, you

will cancel out signals from the

earth’s naturally occurring

minerals, thereby improving your ability to detect buried metal objects.

The default ground setting is 82.

The knob has no minimum or maximum set point; it rotates

continuously without a stop.

The faster you turn the knob, the more quickly the ground setting

changes. To make small changes to the ground setting, move the

knob slowly, one click at a time.

There are over 1,000 different ground balance settings, but only 100

different numbers are displayed on the screen, as 2-digit numbers

from 00 to 99. The displayed setting will change by one number for

roughly 10 clicks of the knob.

See section on Ground Balancing for a detailed description.

GAIN

The gain control increases, or multiplies, the signal from a buried metal

object.

Rotate the GAIN knob clockwise in order to increase the size of signals

generated. For maximum

detection of the smallest or

most deeply buried objects,

increase the gain. To minimize

the weakest signals, set the

gain at a low level.

There are 20 gain settings. 5 is

the lowest; 99 is the highest.

9

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DEPTH AND TARGET DISPLAY

READING THE DISPLAY

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shows

the PROBABLE identification of the

targeted metal, as well as the

PROBABLE depth of the target, in

inches.

The detector will normally register a

repeating, unchanging target

identification when a buried target

has been located and identified. If,

upon repeated passes over the same

spot, the target identification reads

inconsistently, the target is probably a

trash item, oxidized metal, or too

deep to be classified accurately. With

practice, you will learn to unearth

only the more repeatable signals.

The segment identifications are highly

accurate when detecting the objects

described on the screen. However, if

you register in a given category for an

unknown buried object, you could be

detecting a metallic object other

than the object described on the

screen, but with the same metallic

signature. Also, the greater the

distance between the target and the

coil, the less accurate the target

identification.

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Gold objects will

register on the left side of the LCD

scale. Gold is categorized depending

on its size. The smaller the gold object,

the further to the left it will register.

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will register under

Fe or Foil.

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will usually

register under 5¢ or Tab.

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will usually

register under Tab or Zinc.

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:

Silver objects will

normally register to the right of the

scale, under Dime, Quarter, or 50+,

depending on the size of the object.

The larger the object, the farther to

the right it will register.

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:

Fe is the scientific designation

for Iron. Most iron objects will fall into

the Fe category. Very large iron

objects like a manhole cover will

usually fall into the 50+ category.

5

¢

:

Nickels and most newer pull-tabs

will register here.

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:

Older pull-tabs and ring-pulls

from beverage cans usually will

register here. Many gold rings will also

register here.

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/

1

¢

:

Newer pennies (post-1982)

will register here. Many non-U.S. coins

will also register here.

Screw caps from glass bottles will

register here. Large gold rings, like a

class ring, could also register here.

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:

Dimes and pre-1982 copper

pennies will register here.

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:

The target indications are

visual references. Many other types of

metal can fall under any one of these

categories. While the F5 will eliminate

or indicate the presence of most

common trash items, it is impossible to

accurately classify ALL buried objects.

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CONTROL PANEL

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THRESHOLD

The THRESHOLD control function

varies, depending on the mode

selected.

In DISCRIMINATION MODE,

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threshold values

suppress sensitivity. The lower the

value, the greater the

suppression. This control can be

used to eliminate electrical interference or to eliminate response from

small trash objects.

In discrimination mode, p

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threshold values amplify the audio

response of weak target signals. Positive threshold selections make

weak targets easier to hear (if, for example detecting in a noisy

location). If it is necessary to reduce sensitivity, reduce GAIN while

maintaining positive threshold values.

In AUTOTUNE MODE, the threshold control can be used in two ways.

For searching at maximum sensitivity, set threshold into the positive

region, with a comfortable background hum volume level. Then

reduce gain if necessary to reduce chatter.

For silence searching, set threshold to a negative number, and also

reduce gain if necessary. Silent searching will result in the loss of

some sensitivity.

Threshold values range from -9 to 9. With the knob at the 12:00-

position, threshold will be between -1and -3.

DISCRIM (Mode Selection)

• Click into the far-left position,

and the detector enters ALL

METALS mode.

• Click to the right, without

rotating, and the detector

enters DISCRIMINATION mode,

with multi-tone audio target

identification, and no metals

eliminated from detection.

• Rotate the knob to the right

to eliminate unwanted

metals from detection.

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AUDIO TARGET IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

Different types of metals will induce different types of sounds,

depending on your TONES setting.

There are 4 choices in DISCRIMINATION MODE:

d

1

.

Medium-to-high pitch tone, varying in proportion to

target signal strength. Large shallow objects will

produce a squeal. The variable audio pitch provides

you more information about the detected object.

Volume and Pitch increase with increase in signal

strength.

d

2

.

Iron produces a low-pitch tone regardless signal

strength. Volume varies in proportion to signal

strength. Non-ferrous targets respond as in d1.

d

3

.

Three different audio tones.

Low Tone: Iron

High Tone: Foil, 5¢, Tab and Zinc

Very High Tone: Dime, 25¢, and 50+

d

4

.

Four Different audio tones

Low Tone: Iron

Medium Tone: Foil, Tab, and Zinc

High Tone: 5¢

Very High Tone: Dime, 25¢ and 50+

The default setting is d2.

To choose from the above selections, press the TONES touch pad.

Each press of the TONES touch pad cycles to the next selection.

There are 4 choices in ALL-METALS MODE

A1, A2, A3, A4 - pitch varies with each setting.

F5-manual-SPREADS(24pg).qx 6/7/10 11:07 AM Page 10

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As you rotate the DISCRIM knob:

• The SETTING value will indicate the target-ID number to be

“discriminated out,” or eliminated from detection. All targets with

an ID less than or equal to the SETTING value will not be detected.

• A “-- ” will appear over icons for those categories being

discriminated out.

Note that the “-- ” will appear when all numbers within that category

are discriminated out.

For example, if the DISCRIM knob is set at a SETTING of 55, a “-- ” will

appear over “TAB.” Those objects in the tab category with values from

36 to 55 will not be detected. Objects with values of 56 and up will be

detected.

The audio and visual target discrimination systems are independent of

one another. In some situations, targets eliminated from visual

detection will still produce an audible response. Also, the audible

target identification may differ from the visual. The audio discrimiation

system provides more information about the target than the visual

system. Understanding the nuance of the detector’s audio feedback

requires some experience.

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The setting for each control is displayed as a

2-digit number on the bottom left of the screen.

Each time you turn a control knob, or press FREQ

or TONES, the setting for that control is

immediately displayed above the word “SETTING.”

This 2-digit display value will revert back to the

Ground Balance setting after a control is not

adjusted for a few seconds.

When the SETTING value represents the Ground Balance setting,

“GND BAL” will be displayed next to the number.

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The position of the GAIN, THRESHOLD, and DISCRIM control knobs always

indicates the setting of these controls.

The GND BAL setting, as well as the FREQ, TONES, and NOTCH values, are

not permanently saved to memory and will reset to default values when

the detector is powered off.

CONTROL PANEL

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GND DATA

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GROUND BALANCING

–

Technical Information

(continued)

P

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E

continued

balancing. When the phase readout

(verified by pumping the coil over the

ground) is indicating numbers which are

consistently above or below your present

ground balance setting (indicated on the

lower left of the display), you will probably

want to readjust your ground balance.

This is especially important if you’re

operating in All Metals mode.

The Phase readout requires that the search coil be in motion. The most

repeatable measurements can be achieved by “pumping” the search

coil up and down over the soil surface. The presence of metal or “hot

rocks” will result in inaccurate readings. If motion of the search coil

stops, the phase readout will produce meaningless readings.

The numeric scale does not indicate actual degrees, but rather the

scaling of the signals used to balance the ground signal. These signals

are scaled to give the greatest phase resolution in nonconductive soils

high in magnetite, where the greatest resolution is needed.

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99 loss angle of -1.5 degrees

upper limit of ferrite balance tolerance band

83 loss angle = 0 degrees; nominal ferrite balance

71 loss angle = 1.5 degrees

lower limit of ferrite balance tolerance band

60 loss angle = 3.6 degrees

50 loss angle = 6.0 degrees

40 loss angle = 9.6 degrees

30 loss angle = 15.3 degrees

20 loss angle = 25.8 degrees

10 loss angle = 47 degrees

0 loss angle = 90 degrees

Electrical ferrite and magnetite (a naturally occurring form of ferrite) will

usually read about 83. However, due to calibration drift due to time and

temperature change, or the use of different search coils, ferrite may read

anywhere within the total tolerance band of 71 to 99 without significant

impairment of operation. Freshly weathered rocky soils and sands (other

than white beach sand) will usually read higher than 65. Silt and loam soils

will usually read above 55. Red clay soils will usually read above 45 but

lower than 75. Soils reading between 10 and 45 are usually low in

mineralization as indicated by the Fe

3

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4

bargraph, are usually electrically

conductive, and are often high in smectite clays. Soils in the range of 0 to

10 are rarely encountered other than in a moist saline or alkali environment

with little or no iron mineralization. White sands will usually give no reading.

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GROUND BALANCING

What is Ground Balancing?

Why do I need to Ground Balance?

All soils contain minerals. Signals from ground minerals

are often tens or hundreds of times as strong as the

signal from a buried metal object. The magnetism of

iron minerals, found in nearly all soils, causes one

type of interfering signal. Dissolved mineral salts,

found in some soils, are electrically conductive,

causing another type of interfering signal.

Ground Balancing is the process by which the metal detector cancels

the unwanted signals coming from the ground minerals while still

detecting the signals from buried metal objects. This is accomplished

by matching the detector’s ground balance setting to the phase of

the ground signal.

When the detector is calibrated to the soil, the result will be deeper target

detection, quieter operation, and more accurate target identification.

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Ground Balancing procedure with the “Phase Lock” touchpad.

1

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Turn the F5 on and select AM (All-Metals) mode.

2

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Find a clear piece of ground with no metal

present, using All-Metals or Pinpoint mode.

(Note: Pinpoint preferred)

3

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Set the threshold to a slight background hum.

(Note: default setting of “0” is adequate)

4

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Press and hold the Phase Lock touch pad, and

pump coil over clean ground.

(Note: pump coil from 1” off ground to 6-8” off ground)

5

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When the phase value “settles down” to only one or two numbers

in variation, release the Phase Lock touch pad while still pumping

the coil. Note that the Audio Response to the ground changed

and “EVENED OUT” when you released the button. Also note that

the Gnd Bal setting changed to match the Phase Value, giving

you a visual AND audio Ground Balance confirmation. After

balancing, you can hunt in All-Metals... or return to Disc Mode.

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GND DATA

STATUS

To maintain the best ground balance setting for your detector, the GND

BAL setting on the left of the screen should always approximate the

PHASE value on the right of the screen.

The most accurate PHASE value is the value displayed when “pumping”

the coil over the ground in an area free of metal.

GROUND BALANCING – Technical Information

Understanding ground conditions assists the user in setting up the

machine, knowing when to readjust ground balance, and in

understanding the responses of the machine while searching. The

Fisher F5 provides two kinds of ground data: 1

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the amount of

mineralization (the greater the amount of mineralization, the greater the

loss of detection depth & ID accuracy; this loss is more pronounced in

Discrimination Mode) 2

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the type of mineralization (which affects mostly

where the ground balance should be set).

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The Fe3O44-segment bar graph indicates the amount of ground

mineralization, independent of type, expressed as an equivalent volume

concentration of magnetite (Fe3O4). It updates every second. It is

sensitive to motion and will give the most accurate readings if you

“pump” the search coil up and down several times over the ground. The

presence of metal or “hot rocks” will cause the readings to be inaccurate.

If you stop moving the search coil, the bar graph will go blank.

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H — HIGH 0.4 - 1.6 1,000 - 4,000

M — MEDIUM 0.1 - 0.4 250 - 1,000

L — LOW 0.025 - 0.1 60 - 250

VL — VERY LOW 0.006 - .025 15 - 60

none - - less than .006 less than 15

Magnetic susceptibility is expressed in micro-cgs units. In a salt water

environment in the absence of iron minerals, the bar graph indicates

relative electrical conductivity.

In soils with greater than 4,000 micro-cgs units magnetic susceptibility, the

signal from the soil may saturate (“overload”) the circuits. This will not harm

the detector but the machine will not be usable in that condition. The

solution is to hold the search coil several inches above the soil surface so

it isn’t “seeing as much dirt”. By listening and watching you will know how

high you need to hold the search coil in order to avoid overload.

The highest magnetic susceptibilities are usually found in soils developed

over igneous rocks, in alluvial ‘black sand” streaks on beaches, and in

red clay soils of humid climates.

The lowest magnetic susceptibilities are usually found in white beach sands

of tropical and subtropical regions, and soils developed over limestone.

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The phase readout at the bottom-right of the screen provides a two-

digit 0 - 99 numeric indication of the magnetic “loss angle” of the

soil minerals. The numerical scale is the same one used for ground

F5-manual-SPREADS(24pg).qx 6/7/10 11:07 AM Page 12

Fisher Labs F5 User manual

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