Depth TEST F-2 and Chinese MD 3009

I tested the new VLF Fisher F-2 ($199 + shipping) against a China made VLF detector called the MD 3009. The Chinese machine is sold on ebay under many different names. The importers order like 100 units and put any name they want on them. I understand this model has recently been upgraded to the MD 3009A.

My 3009 was purchased back about 7 years ago off ebay for a winning bid of $50+ shipping. These still auction off for this price today. My 3009 has been greatly abused by my grandkids and for the test the batteries were a year old and heavily used.

Both detectors have 8" coils.

Comparisons:

(test object dug wheat penny)

F- 2  - 4"        MD 3009 - 6"

(test object clad quarter)

F-2 - 5"          MD 3009 - 8"

The F-2 was rock solid stable and set to maximum sensitivity and zero discrimination.

The 3009 needed to be set on reduced sensitivity (4) to be stable. It would go deeper but not without lots of chatter. I also set it to discriminate out nails.

HH,

Badger

wow!  what's up with that?

 I'm gonna love the responses to this one. Did you notice, on the other Fisher forum, that they've been deleting posts (whole threads even) 'cause they haven't toed the line and said only good things about the F2/F4? Priceless. ..Willy.

I'm gonna love the responses to this one. Did you notice, on the other Fisher forum, that they've been deleting posts (whole threads even) 'cause they haven't toed the line and said only good things about the F2/F4? Priceless. ..Willy.

It is priceless...It is almost impossible to get a non biased opinion!!!

 Both non-biased and INFORMED. ..Willy.

Both non-biased and INFORMED. ..Willy.

Most people see what they want to see. A rare few see what's there.

 Well, the name calling hasn't started yet, so that's a good start. Neither have the personal attacks, you know, the "Your parents were brothers" stuff that really has nothing to do with field tests or metal detecting. ..Willy.

Well, the name calling hasn't started yet, so that's a good start. Neither have the personal attacks, you know, the "Your parents were brothers" stuff that really has nothing to do with field tests or metal detecting. ..Willy.

I think most of those persons try hard to pretend that TreasureNet is a nonentity.

Most of our wars here are over jealousy and a disdain for clad....

Lets all sit back and enjoy all the posts that say "I dug a dime at 14+ inches with the 3-inch coil...AND the tone was dead on!," etc.

Hey! I dug a 14 incher too! And then I woke up.. drank a wee bit too much Thunderchicken. ..Willy.

So far my best finds were when I was sleeping!!!!

Korban

>>>>>so far my best finds were when I was sleeping<<<<

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! Yea! I hear that! I bet you got astounding depth in those dreams too!!!!

About some posts being deleted: I have noticed that too. I just read a not so good report about the F2 and I think its been deleted as well but I don't know for what reason. Still, I have read other unfavorable posts about the F2 that are still there? So how does one figure THAT one out? If the post was deleted it may well have something to do with the relationship between the Adminstrator and the person who posted. I can't think of any other reason since I didn't see anything offensive in the negative F2 post.

Robert R

I missed the negative posts,  anyhoo, I thought the f2 was basically the same as the f4 except price,  I also heard the ace250 was pretty much on the same level as the f2,  the f4, the prismIV and the tesoro silver???

I missed the negative posts,  anyhoo, I thought the f2 was basically the same as the f4 except price,  I also heard the ace250 was pretty much on the same level as the f2,  the f4, the prismIV and the tesoro silver???

The only way to know for sure is to bury a penny and test them all side-by-side. Don't take my word or anybody else's word.

When it comes to depth and performance the only way to know for certain is to test the machines yourself.

Dealers have an obvious bias and some people want so much to believe that they see what isn't there.

But if you'd like a comment from the peanut gallery, I'd bet on the Silver uMax to top all of them. The poorest depth would be the F-2 and maybe F-4.

Badger

............Badger.........Did you get your ...Infinium.....Yet........................==Jim==

............Badger.........Did you get your ...Infinium.....Yet........................==Jim==

Not yet Jim. The dealer had to order one as he doesn't carry them in his store this time of year.

He told me I should get it this week. I sure hope so.

Did you get yours yet?

............Badger.........Did you get your ...Infinium.....Yet........................==Jim==

Not yet Jim. The dealer had to order one as he doesn't carry them in his store this time of year.

He told me I should get it this week. I sure hope so.

Did you get yours yet?

Not yet ..Badger...And we have been having some nice weather here wish i did have it....No snow and the temperature has been 35 to 40................................==Jim==

............Badger.........Did you get your ...Infinium.....Yet........................==Jim==

Not yet Jim. The dealer had to order one as he doesn't carry them in his store this time of year.

He told me I should get it this week. I sure hope so.

Did you get yours yet?

Not yet ..Badger...And we have been having some nice weather here wish i did have it....No snow and the temperature has been 35 to 40................................==Jim==

I have a feeling the Infinium hasn't been a great seller for Garrett. I would think the Excalibur has taken the bulk of the business.

If we get our machines and do some really nice videos we could help change all this.

Jim I wonder if anyone has ever seriously tried to master the Infinium on land?

Badger

Badger......I have put up post and asked that question and get no replys.I asked that John-Edmond that is a Garrett user the one from Canada about his Infinium and he got back to me.I did go on a site were they tell about the Infinium... I don't know offhand what the site was called. But some users of the Infinium talked about haveing good luck in tot lots and parks with it...The site was called ....Garrett Infinium......something like that if i can fine it i will let you know..................... ......BADGER SOME ONE GAVE ME A REPLY  IN TREASURE NET UNDER PROSPECTING THEN UNDER ..NUGGET HUNTING..CLICK ON THE FIRST SITE THEY GAVE ME Then you can read all the posts the one about tot lots was good.So you must be able to use the Infinium about any place..........==Jim==........................Badger go to the Garrett posts i got some info there from JOHN-ENMONTON he put the site up that is in nugget hunting....................

Well if you get a Fisher F2 that seems to stable and doesn't get great depth, check it's depth meter reading to see if it's acurate on coins. If it's off send it back for an adjustment. Many have complained about this and when they get it back it's like a different detector. It seems either the ground balance is preset way off or the sensitivity is set to low on so units. I have seem some that can detect at penny at 10" no problem others at 4" only. I just sent one back myself and I am a dealer. I sold it the customer brought it back I gave him a refund and sent it back to Fisher, shouldn't have to put up with this. Fisher wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a lighter note the F5 I have in stock is hot and the F75 works great so it seems it's a hit or miss buying a Fisher right now.

so it seems it's a hit or miss buying a Fisher right now

That is reason enough for me to avoid a Fisher.

Dan

It seems this issue only applies to the bottom end at Fisher, probably using the Bounty Hunter crew to setup the cheaper units. From F4 up I have had no issues, and if you don't use a Fisher you might be missing out! The F5 is sweet for a cheaper detector and the F70 & F75 have some of the best depth I have ever seen about like the old 1266X but with better discrimination.

Thank you MB
I think alot has to do with famous name brands.. and I also appreciate you taking the time to test one against the other..sometimes the bestest is not always better..  I think those that have a strong sense of technical talk know more then us regulars who dont understand technical stuff.  thanks for your honest opinion..

Thank you MB
I think alot has to do with famous name brands.. and I also appreciate you taking the time to test one against the other..sometimes the bestest is not always better..  I think those that have a strong sense of technical talk know more then us regulars who dont understand technical stuff.  thanks for your honest opinion..

Right now unless a detector has a "famous band" name it won't be taken seriously. I've written this for years now--about 80% of this hobby is psychological in nature.

That's why back a few years ago I came up with this little saying:
It's not what something is that matters--it's what we think it is that really counts.

If someone thinks they have the best machine then to them it will be the best. Very few ever test their detectors side-by-side on real buried targets.

While fresh buried doesn't replicate long time buried it does give one an accurate comparison test. If one machine gets 4 inches on a fresh buried dime and another gets 6 inches on that same dime you know which one is going to find the deeper stuff out in the real world.

Badger

I'm starting to think that each individual detector is different. I've got a little test garden site about 10x10. I've cleaned this area out to make sure there's no masking of the buried targets, and yet every single time I bring a new detector of any kind, I'll find new metal that was missed the hundred plus times before. This is true of even same models, I bought a new ace after running over my old one and the new ace found three new targets, even though I've hunted this area for 5 years with my first ace. Plus when you throw in other variable conditions like type of soil, settings, operator precision or error, heck even the color of your socks can effect different detectors, differently. 

I read that the MD3009 is a copy of a Silver sabre
in a geotech forum.

Bill

I for one will not say anything bad about a detector that I hadn't tried. I bought a made in china, Cobra Beach Magnet off ebay at a real good price. The thing is heavy but it will find just about any metal that falls under it's coil. Had to reconfigure the way the coil attached to the shaft but it does a good job. It's not an Excal but it does just fine on the beach and in the water.

wow!  what's up with that?

i have athe md 3009 in im new to mdeal deteckting but i do not know how to set my sense in discrimination lease help i caN atrrack alimion in steel but the bottle caps in gold will not show,