Fisher Labs F4 Operating Manual

OPERATING
MANUAL

Use ALKALINE

Batteries ONLY

2

2

NOTES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TTeerrmmiinnoollooggy

y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

3

AAsssseemmbblly

y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

4

BBaatttteerriiees

s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

5

HHeeaaddpphhoonneess .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..5

5

QQuuiicckk--SSttaarrtt DDeemmo

o

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66--7

7

CCoonnttrrooll PPaanneell .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..88--111

1

SSeennssiittiivviittyy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8

8

AAuuttoo TTuunnee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8

8

DDiissccrriimmiinnaattiioonn CCoonnttrrooll .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..9

9

PPiinnppooiinntt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

DDiisscc .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

NNoottcchh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..111

1

GGrroouunndd BBaallaanncciinng

g

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1122--113

3

QQuuiicckk GGrroouunndd BBaallaanncciinng

g

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

113

3

44--TToonnee AAuuddiioo SSyysstteemm .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..114

4

DDeepptthh aanndd TTaarrggeett DDiissppllaayy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1155--116

6

TTaarrggeett RReeaaddoouutt TTaabbllee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..116

6

DDDD CCooiill CChhaarraacctteerriissttiiccss .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..117

7

BBoottttllee CCaapp DDiissccrriimmiinnaattiioonn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..117

7

SSwweeeett SSppoott .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..117

7

SSeennssiittiivviittyy AAddjjuussttmmeennt

t

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118

8

EElleeccttrroommaaggnneettiicc IInntteerrffeerreennccee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

SSeevveerree GGrroouunndd CCoonnddiittiioonnss .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

SSeeaarrcchh TTeecchhnniiqquuees

s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119

9

TTaarrggeett VVeerriiffiiccaattiioonn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

PPiinnppooiinnttiinngg wwiitthh mmoottiioonn mmooddeess .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

TTaarrggeett PPiinnppooiinnttiinngg ((NNoo mmoottiioonn)

)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

220

0

CCooiill DDrriifftt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

TTrreeaassuurree HHuunntteerr’’ss CCooddee ooff EEtthhiiccs

s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

221

1

CCooiill DDrriifftt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

WWaarrrraanntty

y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

221

1

CCooiill DDrriifftt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

AAcccceessssoorriiees

s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BBaacckk PPaagge

e

CCooiill DDrriifftt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

3

3

TERMINOLOGY

The following terms are used throughout the manual, and are standard
terminology among treasure hunters.

EELLIIMMIINNAATTIIOON

N

Reference to a metal being "eliminated" means that the detector will not
emit a tone, nor light up an indicator, when a specified object passes
through the searchcoil’s detection field.

DDIISSCCRRIIMMIINNAATTIIOON

N

When the detector emits different tones for different types of metals, and
when the detector "eliminates" certain metals, we refer to this as the
detector "discriminating" among different types of metals.
Discrimination is an essential feature of professional metal detectors.
Discrimination allows the user to ignore trash and other undesirable
objects.

RREELLIIC

C

A relic is an object of interest by reason of its age or its association with
the past. Many relics are made of iron, but can also be made of bronze
or precious metals.

IIRROON

N

Iron is a common, low-grade metal that is an undesirable target in certain
metal detecting applications. Examples of undesirable iron objects are
old cans, pipes, bolts and nails.
Sometimes, the desired target is made of iron. Property markers, for
instance, contain iron. Valuable relics can also be composed of iron;
cannon balls, old armaments, and parts of old structures and vehicles
can also be composed of iron.

FFEERRRROOUUS

S

Metals which are made of, or contain, iron.

PPIINNPPOOIINNTTIINNG

G

Pinpointing is the process of finding the exact location of a buried object.
Long-buried metals can appear to the eye exactly like the surrounding
soil, and can therefore be very hard to isolate from the soil.

PPUULLLL--TTAABBS

S

Discarded pull-tabs from beverage containers are an especially
bothersome trash item for treasure hunters. They come in many
different shapes and sizes. Pull-tabs can be eliminated from
detection, but some other valuable objects can have a magnetic
signature similar to pull-tabs, and will also be eliminated when
discriminating out pull-tabs.

GGRROOUUNNDD BBAALLAANNCCE

E

Ground Balancing is the ability of the detector to ignore, or "see through"
the earth’s naturally occurring minerals, and only sound a tone when a
metal object is detected. The Gold Bug incorporates proprietary circuitry
and programming to eliminate false signals from severe ground conditions.

4

4

•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

The F4 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

P

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:

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.
Warranty does not cover shipping costs.

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

ASSEMBLY

●

1 Position detector upright.

●

2 Rotate the LOCKING COLLAR fully in the

counterclockwise direction.

●

3 Insert your finger inside the tube and make sure the

INTERNAL CAM LOCK is flush with the inside of the tube.

●

4

Insert the MIDDLE STEM into the
S-ROD, with the SILVER BUTTON
pointed upward

●

5 Rotate the MIDDLE STEM until the

SILVER BUTTON locates in the hole.

●

6 Twist the LOCKING COLLAR fully in the clockwise

direction until it locks.

●

7 Repeat this process on the LOWER STEM.

●

8 Using the BOLT and KNURLED KNOB, attach

the SEARCHCOIL to the LOWER STEM.

●

9

Adjust the LOWER STEM to a length that lets you
maintain a comfortable upright posture, with your arm
relaxed at your side, and the SEARCHCOIL parallel to the
ground in front of you.

●

10

Wind the CABLE securely around the STEMS.

●

11

Connect CABLE PLUG to housing.
Do not twist the Cable or Plug. Turn Locking Ring only. Use
minimal finger pressure to start the threads. Do not cross­thread. When the Locking Ring is fully engaged over the
threaded connector, give it a firm turn to make sure that it
is very tight. When the Locking Ring is fully engaged over the
threaded connector, it may not cover all of the threads.

●

12

Tighten both LOCKING COLLARS.

S-ROD

LOCKING
COLLAR

INTERNAL

CAM LOCK

SILVER BUTTON

MIDDLE

STEM

S-ROD

MIDDLE STEM

●

2

●

3

●

4

●

4

●

5

Hand-grip

Search
Coil
Cable

Cable
Plu

g

S-R

od

Middle
Stem

Locking
Collar

Locking
Collar

Knu

rled

Kno

b

Battery
Compartment
(back side)

Headphone

Jack

Armrest

Biaxial
Searchcoil

*

*

Note: Very tall users can purchase the optional Extended Lower Stem (TUBE5X), for extended reach.

Caution:

Forcing in MIDDLE STEM with CAM LOCK raised may form a burr on
camlock. If this happens, remove burr with knife to allow insertion.

Armrest Adjustment

If you wish to change the
position of the armrest, remove
the screw and move the armrest
to one of the alternate hole
locations.

5

5

TTwwoo 99--VVoolltt bbaatttteerriieess aarre

e

ssuupppplliieedd wwiitthh tthhee FF22.

.

The batteries have been
inserted backwards in the
compartment for storage
during transportation.
Please remove batteries,
turn them around, and install
correctly.

Use

AALLKKAALLIINNE

E

batteries

only.

DO NOT MIX OLD AND
NEW BATTERIES.

To install the batteries:

l

1

1

Remove the battery cover
by disengaging the clip at the
back.

DDoo nnoott hhiinnggee ddoooorr uuppwwaarrd

d

; pull

straight back

l

2

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

3

Insert (2) 9-Volt

AALLKKAALLIINNE

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

4

Replace the battery door.

Most metal detector problems are due to improperly installed
batteries, or the use of non-alkaline or discharged batteries.

IIff tthhe

e

ddeetteeccttoorr ddooeess nnoott ttuurrnn oonn,, pplleeaassee cchheecckk tthhee bbaatttteerriieess..

BATTERIES

USING HEADPHONES

Using headphones (not included) 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.

6

6

SEARCH TECHNIQUES

TTaarrg

g

After detecting a target, do the
following:

11.

.

22.

.

33.

.

PPiinnp

p

11.

.

22.

.

33.

.

44.

.

55.

.

QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

II.. SSuupppplliieess NNeeeeddeed

d

• A Nail • A Quarter

•

•

A Pull-Tab from a beverage can • A Zinc Penny (dated after 1982)

• A Nickel

IIII.. PPoossiittiioonn tthhee DDeetteeccttoor

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 searchcoil

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.

IIIIII.. PPoowweerr UUp

p

Press the ON/OFF touch pad.

IIVV.. WWaavvee eeaacchh OObbjjeecctt oovveerr tthhee

SSeeaarrcchh CCooiil

l

a.Notice a different tone for

each object.

LLooww TToonnee:

:

Nail

LLooww MMiidd TToonnee:

:

Pull-Tab

MMeeddiiuumm TToonnee:

:

Zinc Penny

HHiigghh TToonnee:

:

Quarter

b.Motion is required. Objects

must be in motion over the
search coil to be detected.

VV.. PPrreessss tthhee DDIISSCC ttoouucchh ppaad

d

The detector will beep and
2 “R”’s will appear under
the iron indicators.

7

7

VVII..WWaavvee tthhee NNaaiill oovveerr tthhee SSeeaarrcchh CCooiil

l

a. The Nail will not be detected.
b. The Nail has been "Discriminated Out."

VVIIII.. PPrreessss tthhe

e

““DDIISSCCRRIIMMIINNAATTIIOONN

++”

”

ttoouucchh ppaadd 33 ttiimmeess.

.

Five “R”s are now
displayed.

VVIIIIII.. WWaavvee aallll oobbjjeeccttss oovveerr tthhe

e

SSeeaarrcchh CCooiil

l

The Nail and Pull-Tab will

not be detected.

The other objects will be

detected with their own distinctive tones.

IIXX.. PPrreessss tthhee NNOOTTCCHH ttoouucchh ppaadd.

.

A flashing “▲” will

appear under the IRON-1
segment.

XX.. PPrreessss tthhee DDIISSCCRRIIMMIINNAATTIIOON

N

+

+

ttoouucchh ppaadd 33 ttiimmeess.

.

The flashing “▲” will move

to the 5¢ segment.

XXII..PPrreessss tthhee NNOOTTCCHH ttoouucch

h

ppaadd aaggaaiin

n

The “R” will disappear under

5¢ segment.

XXIIII..WWaavvee tthhee nniicckkeell oovveerr tthhe

e

sseeaarrcchh ccooiill..

The nickel is detected.

XXIIIIII..WWaavvee tthhee ppeennnnyy oovveerr tthhee sseeaarrcchhccooiill..
XXIIVV..PPrreessss tthhee NNOOTTCCHHttoouucchh ppaadd ttwwiiccee.

.

The arrow under the 1¢ segment will flash & then the “R” will illuminate.

XXVV.. WWaavvee tthhee ppeennnnyy oovveerr tthhee sseeaarrcchh ccooiill aaggaaiinn.

.

The penny (the most recently detected item) is eliminated from

detection.

XXVVII.. PPrreessss tthhee PPIINNPPOOIINNTT ttoouucchh ppaadd.

.

Hold one of the metal objects motionless over the search coil.

• All Metal objects are now detected.

•

One monotone sound indicates the presence of any type of metal.

•

A 2-digit numerical display indicates approximate target depth, in inches.

QUICK-START DEMONSTRATION

(continued)

8

8

DD COIL CHARACTERISTICS

A DD coil is superior to a concentric coil, but sometimes requires a
different sweep technique.
Advantages are

If you experience multiple responses on a shallow target, you can
raise the coil, or narrow the sweep over known targets to only
intersect the center section of the coil.

BOTTLE CAPS

The disadvantage of the DD coil is its propensity to
classify steel bottle caps as coins.
If you hear a high tone in DISC mode and believe
that it is a coin, make sure it is not a bottle cap using
the following method.

SWEET SPOT

The “center” of the DD-Coil is elongated (elliptical) from top to
bottom of the coil. With some practice you will find where the center
of this ellipse lies on your coil. Use this center point as a reference in
pinpointing.

Sweep back end
of searchcoil over
suspected bottle cap.
(Low Tone = Bottle Cap)

TThhee ooppeerraattiinngg ccoonnttrroollss aarree aass ffoolllloowwss:

:

SENSITIVITY + AND –

These controls change the detector’s sensitivity;
higher settings enable detection of deeper
targets. At power-up, the detector is pre-set to
75% of maximum sensitivity. At minimum, the
sensitivity is 35% of maximum. With each press of
the + or – touch pads, the sensitivity level is
displayed on the bar graph on the left of the
display. Upon reaching the minimum or maximum
sensitivity setting, the detector will beep twice.

While higher levels of sensitivity enable detection of deeper targets,
operation at high levels of sensitivity make the detector

mmoorree ssuusscceeppttiibblle

e

ttoo eelleeccttrroommaaggnneettiicc iinntteerrffeerreennccee..

Higher sensitivity settings can also lead
to false signals in difficult ground conditions. Use lower sensitivity settings
to suppress interference or false signals from soil minerals when necessary.
IIff tthhee ddeetteeccttoorr ““CChhaatttteerrss””,, rreedduuccee sseennssiittiivviittyy.

.

AUTO TUNE (All Metal)

PPrreessss tthhiiss ppaadd aanndd ““AALLLL MMEETTAALL”” aappppeeaarrss oonn tthhee ddiissppllaay

y

This mode is a ground-balanced All Metal
motion search mode. This mode offers the
maximum amount of sensitivity under most
ground conditions. The search coil must be in
motion to detect metal. One monotone sound
is emitted. No discrimination or target
identification is possible in this mode.

Use the

SSeennssiittiivviitty

y

or

TThhrreesshhoolldd

controls to change the sensitivity or
background hum. Maximum sensitivity to buried metal objects is
achieved with a slightly audible background hum.

TToo aacchhiieevvee aann aauuddiibbllee bbaacckkggrroouunndd hhuumm:

:

11..

Press AUTO TUNE pad to enter this mode.

22..

Press

SSeennssiittiivviittyy+

+

or

-

-

pads until you reach a desired setting.
This sensitivity setting may be the highest “quiet” setting, or you may
hear a faint background hum.

33..

Press

TThhrreesshhoolldd++oor

r

-

-

pad until you reach a comfortable volume level.

The Sensitivity control works like a course adjustment in this mode.
The Threshold control works like a fine adjustment in this mode.

The AUTO TUNE mode must be ground-balanced to eliminate interfering
signals from soil minerals. See the section on ground balancing for a
description of this procedure.

CONTROL PANEL