AzViper
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2012
- Messages
- 2,038
- Reaction score
- 2,251
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- 0
- Detector(s) used
- Fisher Gold Bug Pro, Nokta FORS Gold, Garrett ATX, Sun Ray Gold Pro Headphones, Royal Pick, Etc.
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
I was set to go out last Saturday for my first swinging of the FORS but again I was side tracked. My brother ended up at the Mayo Clinic is Scottsdale, Az having emergency surgery to repair some damage leftover from his 16 hour surgery nearly a year ago for throat cancer. Hopefully this Saturday 11/8/2014 I will be able to get out.
Pictured with Sun Ray Pro Gold Headphones. (Not Included)
First Impression:
Upon opening the box that the FORS was inside revealed a very nice heavy nylon case that can be used as a backpack with individual compartments for all the MD gear, nice touch to keep everything from banging around against each other.
The Pro package came three different size coils of 15.5” x 13.3”, 11.2” x 7.0”, and 5.2” x 4.7”. The mid-size coil came with solid and open coil covers while the large coil had just the open face cover and the small coil had a solid cover as expected. To keep the small dirt, fine gold, and dust out from between the coil and covers will require taping and sealing, not a big deal as I want to have the coils removable for replacement.
Once assembled the FORS felt very well balance with the mid-size coil. To assemble the MD required two nylon bolts and thumb nuts. The user has a few choices to assemble the MD control box either forward or backwards from the pivot point of the handle this placing the forearm rest in a few different locations on the forearm.
The Philips headphone that came with the package is non-adjustable in regards to the volume. Personally I like to be able to adjust the volume on the ear cups individually to fit my needs as the human ears do not receive signals evenly. My personal choice is headphones by (Sun Ray Pro Gold). For those who are using the included headphones you need not panic as the main control box the volume level can be controlled but you cannot make volume adjustment on the left side or right side independently.
The batteries and charger are made by Varta. The batteries are 2400 Mah of which is near the max for the AA size battery. The charger is small and compact. The user has a choice to charge the batteries from a wall outlet, car outlet, portable battery, or computer with the included USB cable. The charger is a European design but the included adapter works well in the USA. This is a nice feature as I like to carry portable battery to charge my cell phone and now will be able to charge an extra set of batteries while in the field.
The entire assembled FORS feels very comfortable. It’s very obvious that Nokta has placed lots of thought into the entire design and attention to details, very impressive.
Using a postal scale that has been tested at United States Postal Service I recorded the FORS Gold coils and then the entire system.
5.2”x4.7” DD coil weighed 11.5oz or 326.02g
11.2”x7.0” DD coil weighed 1lb 1.6oz or 498.95g
15.5”x13.3” DD coil weighed 1lb 10.2oz or 742.76g.
FORS Gold using the 5.2”x4.7” DD coil weighs 4.01 lbs or 1kg - 871.07g
FORS Gold using the 11.2”x7.0” DD coil weighs 4lbs 6.3oz or 1kg - 992.97g
FORS Gold using the 15.5”x13.3” DD coil weighs 4lbs 14.9oz or 2kg - 236.78g
I know these weight differs from Nokta publish weight on their website and or the manual I received of the FORS using the 11.2”x7.0” DD coil, I double checked these weights. Nokta says the FORS weigh 3.9LBS or 1.87kg and I recorded the weight at 4lbs 6.3oz or 1kg - 992.97g. This may very well be due to the manufacturing process has changed in material, but the FORS feels very light and balance.
The FORS shaft length can be adjusted a total 9.750 inches or 24.765cm in 2.125 inch or 5.3975cm increments. A nice added touch would have been to offer adjustments in 1 inch or 2.54cm increments. The lower section of the shaft is your typical nylon type plastic so not to impede with the coil.
The FORS has a 2 year warranty and the card is signed by a staff member. The manual comes in a number of languages as does the included DVD. The DVD covers the Parts & Assembly, Device Introduction, Screens & Menu, Ground Balance, Search Modes, and Field Video. Again I have to mention that Nokta has gone to great lengths in providing a quality product while the menu of the control box is straight forward to understand and use. KelleyCo who is the distributor for Nokta does handle the warranty work in house form what I read on their website. The manual I received some of the pages the info. was missing due to the cutting of the pages. This did not affect the English pages but the pages that followed the English section.
The armrest was not wide enough for my forearm, this may be something that Nokta may want to address as I had to bend the forearm rest outward to fit my forearm. What really bent was the rail that the two piece forearm bracket attaches to. Also the included nylon belt was not long enough to go over my forearm then secure to the Velcro, the belt needs to be 4 inches longer for those that have large forearms such as I do.
Sorry for the delay as I have had the FORS for a few months and had plan to put this up. Just consumed with whats been going on in my life.
Pictured with Sun Ray Pro Gold Headphones. (Not Included)
First Impression:
Upon opening the box that the FORS was inside revealed a very nice heavy nylon case that can be used as a backpack with individual compartments for all the MD gear, nice touch to keep everything from banging around against each other.
The Pro package came three different size coils of 15.5” x 13.3”, 11.2” x 7.0”, and 5.2” x 4.7”. The mid-size coil came with solid and open coil covers while the large coil had just the open face cover and the small coil had a solid cover as expected. To keep the small dirt, fine gold, and dust out from between the coil and covers will require taping and sealing, not a big deal as I want to have the coils removable for replacement.
Once assembled the FORS felt very well balance with the mid-size coil. To assemble the MD required two nylon bolts and thumb nuts. The user has a few choices to assemble the MD control box either forward or backwards from the pivot point of the handle this placing the forearm rest in a few different locations on the forearm.
The Philips headphone that came with the package is non-adjustable in regards to the volume. Personally I like to be able to adjust the volume on the ear cups individually to fit my needs as the human ears do not receive signals evenly. My personal choice is headphones by (Sun Ray Pro Gold). For those who are using the included headphones you need not panic as the main control box the volume level can be controlled but you cannot make volume adjustment on the left side or right side independently.
The batteries and charger are made by Varta. The batteries are 2400 Mah of which is near the max for the AA size battery. The charger is small and compact. The user has a choice to charge the batteries from a wall outlet, car outlet, portable battery, or computer with the included USB cable. The charger is a European design but the included adapter works well in the USA. This is a nice feature as I like to carry portable battery to charge my cell phone and now will be able to charge an extra set of batteries while in the field.
The entire assembled FORS feels very comfortable. It’s very obvious that Nokta has placed lots of thought into the entire design and attention to details, very impressive.
Using a postal scale that has been tested at United States Postal Service I recorded the FORS Gold coils and then the entire system.
5.2”x4.7” DD coil weighed 11.5oz or 326.02g
11.2”x7.0” DD coil weighed 1lb 1.6oz or 498.95g
15.5”x13.3” DD coil weighed 1lb 10.2oz or 742.76g.
FORS Gold using the 5.2”x4.7” DD coil weighs 4.01 lbs or 1kg - 871.07g
FORS Gold using the 11.2”x7.0” DD coil weighs 4lbs 6.3oz or 1kg - 992.97g
FORS Gold using the 15.5”x13.3” DD coil weighs 4lbs 14.9oz or 2kg - 236.78g
I know these weight differs from Nokta publish weight on their website and or the manual I received of the FORS using the 11.2”x7.0” DD coil, I double checked these weights. Nokta says the FORS weigh 3.9LBS or 1.87kg and I recorded the weight at 4lbs 6.3oz or 1kg - 992.97g. This may very well be due to the manufacturing process has changed in material, but the FORS feels very light and balance.
The FORS shaft length can be adjusted a total 9.750 inches or 24.765cm in 2.125 inch or 5.3975cm increments. A nice added touch would have been to offer adjustments in 1 inch or 2.54cm increments. The lower section of the shaft is your typical nylon type plastic so not to impede with the coil.
The FORS has a 2 year warranty and the card is signed by a staff member. The manual comes in a number of languages as does the included DVD. The DVD covers the Parts & Assembly, Device Introduction, Screens & Menu, Ground Balance, Search Modes, and Field Video. Again I have to mention that Nokta has gone to great lengths in providing a quality product while the menu of the control box is straight forward to understand and use. KelleyCo who is the distributor for Nokta does handle the warranty work in house form what I read on their website. The manual I received some of the pages the info. was missing due to the cutting of the pages. This did not affect the English pages but the pages that followed the English section.
The armrest was not wide enough for my forearm, this may be something that Nokta may want to address as I had to bend the forearm rest outward to fit my forearm. What really bent was the rail that the two piece forearm bracket attaches to. Also the included nylon belt was not long enough to go over my forearm then secure to the Velcro, the belt needs to be 4 inches longer for those that have large forearms such as I do.
Sorry for the delay as I have had the FORS for a few months and had plan to put this up. Just consumed with whats been going on in my life.
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