Fisher F2 first impressions

[jerseyben]

Just picked up a used F2. Previously was using an Ace 150 and have used an Ace 250 briefly. Here are my initial thoughts:

-Depth is on the low side. My deepest target was dug at 6" but most targets came from 3-4". This is using both the 4" and 10" coils.
-It does not like large metal objects nearby. I get terrible chatter and falsing when I come anywhere near large metal objects such as playground equipment. I really need to figure out what the problem is here as I never had this issue with the Ace and it is really hurting my available detecting range.
-It is very fast and processes targets twice the speed of the Ace 150.
-It is very lightweight and is very easy to swing.
-Target Identification seems to be very accurate with 1 exception: Crushed aluminum cans kept reading as "Dime" in the 76 range. Specifically coins were VERY accurate. The F2 identified the coin correctly every time I dug one.
-Pinpointing is extremely accurate. I realized right away that my plugs were very small and I was digging my targets in the first shot every time! Honestly, this is reason enough for me to use the F2 over the Ace every time.

[slowNsteady]

Remember to reduce the sensitivity and use the 4" coil around the playground equipment. That should help you to snuggle right up to the metal poles. Don't know why you're only getting 6" with it, but I've heard this many times. I can get 8" easily with mine.... ground conditions? Coil too high off the ground? Just some thoughts. Enjoy it, it is a good little machine.

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Great post! Loved the good review! The F2 is in my opinion the best starter unit out there with room to grow. The pin pointer package and 3 coil combo packages are a great value!! Everything you need to get going!
Keep us posted on your finds!
HH! Bart

[jerseyben]

My latest spot is obviously colonial and I want to hit it hard. I have the 4", 8", and 10" coils for my F2 available. The area is littered with iron (an old farm site) but not much other trash (no pulltabs, foil, etc). You cant swing it 2 feet and not hit an iron signal. What should be a good strategy for hunting this site?

Today I used my 10" coil and discriminated iron on full sensitivity to 1 notch down in some areas. Should I stick with this set up or try the 4" coil?

[U.K. Brian]

The first grey import F2 I tried was pretty bad on the depth front but I preferred the build, pinpointing, recovery speed over the Ace.

When they were imported through a main dealer things seem to have changed. The depth increase made it a no brainer as to which had become the better machine in this price range.
I wonder if you have an original machine and they improved performance or set up later on. This seems to have happened with the Fisher 1270. An early one I tried lacked depth and stability. The next was far better and even target I.D. improved.

Perhaps worth checking with Fisher when your detector was assembled and if improvements were made.

[Bobby Bridge]

Another good review!

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Best unit out for the $!

[jerseyben]

After a few more outings with the F2 here is my ongoing impressions:

Depth is my #1 disappointment. It can really only go to about 6" with accuracy. When you detect something too deep for it, it will give you unstable readings that are all over the place and it won't see anything besides large iron past 8". This is using the 10" coil. The 4" coil is a joke and I won't bother with it any more.

If they sold a big DD coil, I would jump on it. I can't justify spending $150 for the 11" coil when I already have the 10" coil... I'm not sure why so many people complain about pinpointing with the 10" coil because I have had no problem with it.

Other than that, I dug a KGII at 4" with no problem. I knew I had something since I had a good solid reading in the Zinc range. That seems to be the F2's strong point. When you find a good target, it will tell you you have something!

I guess my issue with the interference is a defect because I called Fisher and they said they will take a look t it for free if I send it in. Luckily, it still works fine, just some falseing in certain conditions.

[liontim10]

my son just got the DD coil they use on the F4 and put it on his F2, wow what a diff, more depth, better target accuracy and better seperation. First ten minutes he had it on he found a 1896 IH in our front yard at 8 inches which is very heavily hunted. Solid VDI at 64 to 66. I was very impressed.

[slowNsteady]

my son just got the DD coil they use on the F4 and put it on his F2, wow what a diff, more depth, better target accuracy and better seperation

I had much the same experience. I bought a used F4 for not too much more than the price of the DD coil. Tried the coil on the F2 and it worked pretty good. BTW, adding an inline filter might settle the F2's chattering a bit. I had a real problem with that on mine for a while. You can get them for a couple of bucks at Radio Shack. Worked for me.