Fisher Labs F5 Operating 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 2 large pockets. FISHER APRON
Fisher T-Shirt* – 100% cotton with

Fisher

®

Logo. Sizes – LG, XL & XXL

Fisher Baseball Cap –

One size fits all.

Replacement/Accessory Search 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

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SSeettttiinngg UUp

p

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

3

3

BBaatttteerriiees

s

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

4

4

HHeeaaddpphhoonnee JJaacckk .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..4

4

QQuuiicckk--SSttaarrtt DDeemmo

o

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

55--6

6

CCoonnttrrooll PPaanneell .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..77--111

1

PPhhaassee LLoocckk .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..7

7

TToonneess .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..7

7

NNoottcchh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..7

7

FFrreeqquueennccyy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8

8

PPiinnppooiinntt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8

8

GGnndd BBaall .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..9

9

GGaaiinn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..9

9

TThhrreesshhoolldd .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..110

0

DDiissccrriimm .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1100--111

1

GGrroouunndd BBaallaanncciinng

g

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

1122--114

4

GGrroouunndd BBaallaanncciinngg --TTeecchhnniiccaall IInnffoorrmmaattiioon

n

. . . . . . . . .

1133--114

4

AAuuddiioo TTaarrggeett IIddeennttiiffiiccaattiioonn SSyysstteemm .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..115

5

DDeepptthh aanndd TTaarrggeett DDiissppllaayy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1166--117

7

TTaarrggeett RReeaaddoouutt TTaabbllee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..117

7

UUnnddeerrssttaannddiinngg tthhee DDiissppllaayy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1188--119

9

MMooddee IInnddiiccaattiioonn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

TTaarrggeett CCaatteeggoorriieess .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

DDiissccrriimmiinnaattiioonn IInnddiiccaattoorrss .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

TTaarrggeett IIDD .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

DDeepptthh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

CCoonnffiiddeennccee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..118

8

BBaatttteerryy IInnddiiccaattoorr .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

%% FFe

e

3

3

O

O

4

4

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

PPhhaassee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

SSeettttiinngg .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..119

9

SSeeaarrcchh TTeecchhnniiqquuees

s

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

220

0

TTaarrggeett VVeerriiffiiccaattiioonn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..220

0

PPiinnppooiinnttiinngg wwiitthh mmoottiioonn mmooddeess .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..220

0

TTaarrggeett PPiinnppooiinnttiinngg ((NNoo mmoottiioonn)

)

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

221

1

UUnniitt SSppeecciiffiiccaattiioonns

s

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

222

2

WWaarrrraanntty

y

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

223

3

223

3

55--YYEEAARR LLIIMMIITTEEDD WWAARRRRAANNTTY

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.

PPrrooooff ooff PPuurrcchhaassee iiss rreeqquuiirreedd ttoo mmaakkee aa ccllaaiimm uunnddeerr tthhiiss wwaarrrraannttyy.

.

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: [phone] ext.118

Fax: [phone]

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 • [phone]

Copyright© 2011

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or parts thereof,in any form.

Fisher®is a registered trademark of Fisher Research Labs

www.fisherlab.com

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

3

3

SETTING UP

No tools required.

l

1

1

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

l

2

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

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

4

Wind the cable securely around the stem.

l

5

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

6

After the stem length is adjusted
to your height, tighten the two
locking collars to stabilize the
stems.

l

7

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.

222

2

UNIT SPECIFICATIONS:

MMeecchhaanniiccaall::

S-rod with electronics housing on rod, 3-piece
breakdown construction, nonmetallic telescoping lower rod,
adjustable position arm rest

WWeeiigghhtt::

3.0 lbs (1.38 kg) with batteries installed

SSttaannddaarrdd sseeaarrcchh ccooiill::

10 inch (25 cm) open-frame elliptical

concentric, waterproof

BBaatttteerriieess::

two 9 volt rectangular alkaline (will run on one)

OOppeerraattiinngg pprriinncciippllee::

VLF induction balance

OOppeerraattiinngg ffrreeqquueennccyy::

nominal 7.8 kHz, microprocessor controlled

7731.9Hz, 7810Hz, 7888.1Hz

BBaassiicc sseennssiittiivviittyy::

2.5 x 109root Hertz (detectivity)

LLaagg ccooeeffffiicciieenntt::

92 milliseconds

RReeaaccttiivvee oovveerrllooaadd::

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

RReessiissttiivvee oovveerrllooaadd::

600 micro-cgs (with standard search coil)

GGrroouunndd bbaallaannccee rraannggee::

from ferrite to salt water inclusive

DDiissccrriimmiinnaattiioonn ggrroouunndd ssuupppprreessssiioonn::

combination of 2ndand 3rdorder

methods

TTaarrggeett IIDD ggrroouunndd ssuupppprreessssiioonn::

3rdorder

BBaatttteerryy lliiffee::

40+ hours on good quality alkalines

OOppeerraattiinngg tteemmpp rraannggee::

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

OOppeerraattiinngg hhuummiiddiittyy rraannggee::

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

4

TTwwoo 99--VVoolltt bbaatttteerriieess aarre

e

ssuupppplliieedd wwiitthh tthhee FF55.

.

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.

DDoo nnoott mmiixx oolldd aanndd nneew

w

bbaatttteerriieess.

.

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

221

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.

PPiinnppooiinntt aass ffoolllloowwss:

:

11.

.

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

22.

.

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.

NNaarrrrooww IItt DDoowwnn:

:

11..

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.

22..

Release the PINPOINT touch pad.

33.

.

Press-and-hold PINPOINT pad again.

44.

.

Repeat this narrowing procedure to narrow the field of detection

further.

NNoottee::

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