Joe Beechnut OBN

1 hour ago, okara gold said:

On the average of the 5 returns of my AQ to FT under warranty the turnaround time was about 1 month. On one repair it was reaching 2 months and the reply from Felix was ... Things move slow around here.

If they had a longer warranty, I would have kept the machine and hoped for the "bugs" to be ironed out. I once requested a new machine due to the high number of returns but was denied. I am sure that you, Joe were familiar with my dealings with FT as I kept you in the loop. Oh well...Lesson learned.

On the third they should have gave you a new machine, That's Sad. 

6 hours ago, Roger said:

 

It will be interesting to see how the customer support will be when these 'Limited' very prone to failure units need repairs.

Regards,

Rog

I had no problem with customer service, used once. Turn around was quick. Second AQ had a bad coil connection on the detector side. It was a easy fix, they sent me a new machine. All took about 3 weeks, they even paid for the postage to them. My only argument with FT ... it should have been a longer warranty since many took a chance, and offered their time.

I probably would not have noticed that but look at the D2, a 5 year warranty. At one time Fisher sold many CZ20s..Lifetime warranty. 

Roger, just my opinion. I would set this one out. Being it is the first model made and issues are still there. Shipping back for warranty work, which it may happen in time, will cost to much. Plus you have the battery run time of 3.5 hours and a extra battery is 200.oo . To many Negative possible' s..

Perfect example what can happen. Got this today from a old friend in South America

Good afternoon Joe, I'm from Brazil and I'm using a fisher AQ. This is a headphone problem. If you need it below and send it to a technician to check, please ask if the connector has any resistors that may be defective. Can you translate and explain this problem?

As Steve posted...  - digging coins in the surf is a waste of my time and effort.

I agree.. The AQ does the Cherry Picking for you..❤️

4 hours ago, Tony said:

The AQ would punch even deeper if it had a longer pulse width........with a longer pulse width comes more battery drain and we all know that the measly battery capacity on the AQ meant Fisher were going to skimp on this feature. Eric built the Aquastar (and maybe the Deepstar) with an adjustable pulse width control.....this was a great feature if you wanted to go looking for the bigger and deeper gold. It cut the run time in half but was still good for about 5 hours. There is a possibility that the AQ's pulse delay control is "drifting".....what shows on the dial may not accurately represent what's going on "under the hood".

I mentioned earlier that Eric picked up "code errors" that I think may have been part of the pulse delay problem. Does switching off the detector reset the pulse delay to where it shows it should be? I'm trying to find the email where Eric talks about this.

Fisher need to offer a "recalibration" service that sorts this problem out......maybe they did on later models?

No reverts back to 7 if I remember correct and you have to adjust, Carolina told me the details. As far as the recalibration, I highly doubt they did that to any of them.

Would have been a great machine if Eric had been a part of all. And I'm Happy with mine but like I said, Each trip out you say a pray. 

On 4/4/2024 at 9:13 PM, Tony said:

The stated resolution on the Delay potentiometer is not that accurate (this is from Eric himself)....the minimum and maximum values are reasonably accurate but the settings in between are just a guide. I think your post illustrates this very well (especially as you say you notice quite a difference from 11 to 11.5). And yes, in moving salt water, 20uS is the goldilocks setting......I've been saying this for many years. 20uS tames the salt noise but can also allow a longer pulse width which is needed to energise both higher karat gold rings and bigger ones as well.

The AQs I tested did well with a 21K gold band, as far as the big rings.. the machine seemed to have sweet area, 5 grams and up, no matter the K/purity it would hit between 16 to 19 inches. Once past 19 it dropped off fast on all.

And weird is both of my AQ's did this.. In (my)rougher bay brackish waters I would go from 10.5 delay to the the next highest setting.. 11..the machines would calm down some than I would go to 11.5..hunt for about 15 minutes, than I could slowly adjust it back down too 10.5/11 and it would still be calm.

20 hours ago, tvr said:

 If only we had all the good features in a package that could be taken into the water.

I cringe every time I walk out into the water with the AQ

Just got this in my emails, they drop it to 999.00 I just may go for it.. 

Hunting the dry and wet sand I tried it but found the edge of the coil worked just as well. 

Now in the water using a floating sifter, and I come into a clay bottom area the PP'er is a life saver. Sand, rocks, gravel, shells the edge of the coil works great (Excal & the AQ PI) but dig out a few big chunks of clay and have that in the sifter?.. it takes forever to find a small target buried in that stuff. That is the only time the PP'er is needed.

7 hours ago, Tony said:

Just to clarify.....Eric had/borrowed an AQ for quite some time so he was able to cast a keen eye over the whole detector and carry out extensive testing on many parameters regarding the detector and coils. He went on build far superior 8" coils for a few people in the USA. This is also when he discovered a multitude of problems with the detector.

I have one of Erics coils, 10 inch..no doubt my favorite. Not because of who made it but I like the size. Performance is right on track for its size compared to the Fisher coils. 

I remember Carolina sent his AQ over to Eric. Maybe Carolina will share the story of getting it back, cute story. 

For sure Eric is missed. 

7 hours ago, phrunt said:

I doubt you'd be buying one anyway, postage is a bit questionable.

Free shipping in the US

9 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

I totally hope it is the end of the AQ and it is replaced with the machine we were promised and deserve. I sold my AQ for no reason other than the replacement was said to be right around the corner. Three years and I'm still waiting, but hoping that wait will not go on forever. I'm cautiously optimistic the extra wait will have been worth it.

Honestly, I do not expect to see anything else on the AQ .. one reason I got a second machine. 

Thanks for sharing.  I do not regret paying 1500.oo  for either of the machines I got and  I 'm hoping this is not the end for the AQ.. than again I got mine. 

I agree on the weight thing. If your younger, say under 50 than weight should not be a issue. Me .. when I got into the hobby I  did a lot of research on the type of hunting I was interested in, from this I made my detector choice. 

I went with the best I could find at the time (2008), I just feel I want to make the best of every moment I'm out.. even if it takes me a little longer to learn. And nothing wrong with the machines you have a opp to buy, but for a few more hundred you can get something modern.

My connection has retired so all I know is from the last unit I tested. They did make several changes, but it is not pictured on their web site. Battery, cables and head phones were improved. 

Potentiometers, I'm not sure.

On 3/13/2024 at 4:14 PM, Roger said:

I have posted this question elsewhere, so please admin/mods remove either if innaproriate.

I have converted a #802-7150 and #802-5321 battery packs now that hold 4x18650 batteries that can be used in my TDI SL in dry weather and the TDI BeachHunter when it rains.

My question is this:  With the extra voltage of the 4x18650s, will the original cable from contacts inside battery compartment of both models to the 2510 connector on main board be sufficient?

Should that cable be changed?  If so, what should the awg be?

I have not seen this issue discussed anywhere despite lots of posts on numerous forums worldwide extolling the advantages of the extra voltage.

Is it safe to use existing wire?

 

Maybe Carl can answer that one for I am not sure what the stock TDI internal wires are. Just my opinion from what I have worked with, 18 gauge is fine... and I think that is what the stock TDI batteries use? As far as internally I never had either the TDI SL or beach hunter. I do know of one BH owner who went to the 4 18650 cell battery packs and he has had no issues. I used his machine a few times out for depth testing.

This I do know ... on the Excalibur I ran a Li-po 16.8 battery, the battery wires were 18g right to the board. Wires never got warm but the board sure does. I've since went to 3 Li-ion at 12.5 volts for the Excalibur. 

If you seen the wires that went to the battery on the Fisher AQ most would freak. Stock the machine runs 16.8 volts (I think 8 NiMH batteries)... The two white looking wires have two smaller wires inside each. One for the current and the other audio. I do believe they are 20g/22g or less. I now run 4 cell 16.8v like yours on the AQ now. Guess I have close to 100 plus hours between two machines.

Just my opinion again, most 18650s have low Amps.. the ones I use most of the time are only 4.9 and 8 with such a short wire .. .. less then 6 inches from the board to the battery I would be more concerned about the heat on the board. I know that worries me on the AQ (132F), but luckily I do hunt in the water. Which I think more or less.. water cooled? Wait, now condensation is a issue..

Great hunt! And the video is great too! I see nothing wrong with it, all takes a lot of effort. Well worth the time for now you have it for life... 🏴‍☠️

Nice gold! If digging it up is all that matters you should video your hunts. Being able to relive each second when that moment comes is worth more than the gold one digs. I've been doing it for sometime now, and really enjoy reliving the forgotten memories.

Out of the 16/17 years I've been metal detecting only once did I jump on a newly introduced machine, I give them a few years. By then several have them and all the good and bad comes out. This one is no different... 

7 hours ago, TC-AZ said:

Joe Beechnut,

Correct me if I'm wrong the TDI uses an 8-cell pk. 2 rows of 4 stacked upon itself. It is rated at 14.4 or 14.8 volts nom., right?

Lastly, I myself would prefer a bigger gauge of wire, such as 14 0r 12 for the Amp draw and charging.

Like to hear some feedback on performance in the field on those batteries.

Great job. Thanks for sharing 👍 

Correct on the 8 cells I believe.

This was not my machine, I made them for a friend who has the TDI Pro. At first he wanted a 5 cell LI-ion 18650 battery pack which would have been 18 to 21 volts. But for starters, I talked him into something a little milder. We went with the full charged 16.8 volts battery pack.

I've used 14 gauge Silicon wire before on the battery side when I was doing batteries for the Fisher AQ PI, on the TDI Pro I copied what the stock battery used. I will keep you informed on the performance once Mr. Earl gets out, which I expect this coming summer?

I'm sure the combo will work much better then the stocker for it is similar to the AQ 16.8 volt 18650 batteries that I did a few years ago... 4 and 8 cell. The NiMH/ NiCd Battery pack that came with the Fisher was good for a poor 3.5 hours, (same batteries as the TDI Pro's, stock batteries)..... my shorty Li-ion 4 cell pushed it to 5.5+ hours and the 8 cell got 11+ hours. Also did a few experimental batteries for the AQ playing around with different size Li-ions. I do like the sizes 21700 and 26500 but than the weight becomes a issue.

The TDI Pro batteries were really simple, the AQ batteries I had to design a submersible pod, stock Fisher Battery on the right..

Maryland's Strick rules converted me to a "In the water hunter only"  I hated the door knocking and asking. There are many old beaches from yesteryears in the Chesapeake Bay, one just has to get to them by water.  

On 3/1/2024 at 9:21 PM, Chase Goldman said:

MD State Parks with beaches allow MDing.

 Most don't allow hunting during the summer season and if they do it's very limited. I struggle getting up early with those crazy Sandy Point summer hours . 7am to 9am. And that almost got shut down last year when a few were slipping in at 6am, Ranger passed along a message to all that hunt earlier, We catch anyone in here before 7am .. there will be no more detecting.

On 3/2/2024 at 5:38 AM, TampaBayBrad said:

I googled it up and couldn't find anything that says you can't detect the 31 miles of Maryland's Atlantic ocean beach. I bet it's a great place to detect since it's so crowded in the summer. Go at night with a headlamp to avoid the crowds.

 That would be OC Md, they have a curfew where your not allowed on the beach from 1am to 5am during the summer. It is Maryland's best beach, cost a small fortune to live there or even get a hotel. You would think with millions of visitors the hunting would be great but things have changed the last ten years, not like it use to be. The good is .. it maybe one of the few spots in Maryland you can walk out and swing without worrying about getting asked to stop.

On 2/21/2024 at 2:53 PM, masslawman said:

Extreme sand scoops but the titanium

I would recommend the SS version with CF handle. They pull a lot of sand out and 14 inches long really hits deep.. I have 2 similar.. brand .. Stealth.. both are about 7 years old now. I did go with the one with smaller slots or holes on the bottom, which I do like better than the other with all reg holes. I've dug a lot of gold with these guys. My conditions are fairly mild with clay, small rocks, oyster beds.. shells.. and sand in the mix or all... No big rocks or rocks to pry. 

Reviews and ..GOLD 

Maybe I missed a post but.......Anyone found Gold Yet? 

Think it was Aug 2017, Annapolis Md...we had a darken afternoon eclipse, not a full but I was out detecting in the water and it was a slow creepy shadow over everything... a look of its own. I just may venture out for this one also. 

Five Free days, can't go wrong with that and for sure your not missing anything here, in Maryland. Stay safe and watch those trucks!

On 2/24/2024 at 10:28 AM, CalReg said:

Nice hunt. My wife is originally from Maryland (PG County). I know there are some Civil War sites around there. Would love to hit those. Have you ever thought about hitting the beaches around Rehoboth, Dewey or Ocean City? I bet those places would produce a lot of gold and silver! Happy hunting!

I grew up in PG Co. .. Riverdale, near the BW Parkway. Than got married at 21 and lived in Bowie for 20 years, Next to Allen's Pond. As far as the Ocean beaches, this time of year things are dead. Summer the place rolls, but not like it did 16 years ago when I started. The problem, they do that beach replenishment every few years now, they survey and if it does not meet their specs, they pump that sand in.. kills the off season hunting 😬 I stopped going in 2015 but still have several friends that live there.