The Fisher F-Pulse Pinpointer
The F-Pulse is Fisher's pinpointer, made in the USA by First Texas Products. It uses pulse induction, where most pinpointers use VLF, and it detects along both the tip and the shaft, so you can scrape the wall of the hole as well as probe the bottom. As you close on a target, the beep and vibration speed up. Its single button handles power, retune, sensitivity, the LED and frequency shift.
First Texas rates the F-Pulse submersible to 6 feet for up to 1 hour. It has three sensitivity levels (Low, Medium and High, with Medium as the default), each with beep and vibrate or vibrate only, and an LED flashlight that you can switch on or off. It runs on two AA batteries: about 25 hours on alkaline, about 50 hours on lithium and about 15 hours on rechargeable NiMH. It weighs about 0.4 lb (180 g) and carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty. It does not discriminate or show a target ID, and its volume is fixed, so the decision to dig stays with your detector.
F-Pulse vs. Garrett Pro-Pointer AT: Which Should You Buy?
The question is where you dig. On salt beaches, black sand and highly mineralized ground, we recommend the F-Pulse: First Texas designed it for mineralized soil and underwater use, it has manual ground cancel for that ground, and its 16 frequency-shift channels let you move it away from a detector running beside it. It also runs on AA batteries rather than a 9V.
The Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is the deeper choice. Garrett rates it waterproof to 20 ft (6 m), IP68, against the F-Pulse's 6 feet for 1 hour, so if you wade past chest depth or snorkel, the Garrett goes further. For dry parks, yards and fields, either one does the job.
Fisher F-Pulse, Best For:
- Wet salt sand and black sand beaches
- Gold prospecting in mineralized ground
- Hunters who want AA batteries rather than a 9V
- Hunting next to another detector, with frequency shift to avoid crosstalk
Garrett Pro-Pointer AT, Best For:
- Wading and snorkeling deeper than 6 feet
- Hunters who want a 20 ft (6 m) IP68 rating
- Hunters who want Garrett's 3-year warranty
Features That Matter in the Hole
Ground cancel is the setting to learn first. Fisher's manual gives two methods. For salt water and most mineralization, switch the F-Pulse on, touch the tip to the soil or submerge it, and quick-press the button; a beep confirms it. For extreme mineralization, switch it off, touch the tip to the soil away from any target, and quick-press to switch it on. A quick press away from metal also retunes it if it loses sensitivity or starts alerting on its own. Fisher says not to switch it on or retune it near metal, which overloads it.
The lost pinpointer alarm pays for itself the first time you leave the F-Pulse in a hole. After 10 minutes with no button press it enters Lost Mode: the LED flashes and it beeps every 15 seconds. If nobody picks it up, after 30 minutes it switches itself off completely, which saves the batteries. Frequency shift has 16 channels, so if you hear crosstalk with your detector, step the F-Pulse to another channel.
Waterproofing and Care
Keep the F-Pulse within its rating: submerging it deeper than 6 feet or for longer than 1 hour voids the warranty, according to Fisher's manual. Waterproofing depends on a tight seal at the battery cap, so keep the O-ring clean and lubricated. Fisher also says not to use zinc-carbon or heavy-duty batteries. After salt water we recommend a rinse in fresh water before you put it away.
Which Fisher Detectors the F-Pulse Suits
On land, the F-Pulse pairs with any Fisher detector, from the F22 and F75 to the Gold Bug Pro and Gold Bug 2, and with any other brand. For beach work it matches the Impulse AQ, which First Texas rates waterproof to about 3 ft (1 m). The 1280X and CZ-21 are submersible to 250 ft (76 m), well past the F-Pulse's 6 feet, so for diving with them choose a pinpointer rated for the depth you dive from our pinpointers collection.
Fisher F-Pulse vs. Garrett Pro-Pointer AT Comparison
| Feature | Fisher F-Pulse | Garrett Pro-Pointer AT |
|---|
| Technology | Pulse induction | 11.5 kHz |
| Waterproof | Submersible to 6 feet for 1 hour | 20 ft (6 m), IP68 |
| Sensitivity | 3 levels | 3 levels |
| Ground Handling | Manual ground cancel, 2 methods | Fast Retune, quick press |
| Frequency Shift | 16 channels | Not listed by Garrett |
| Alerts and Light | Audio and vibrate or vibrate only, LED | Audio and vibrate or vibrate only, LED |
| Battery | 2 x AA, about 25 hours alkaline | 9V, up to 30 hours alkaline |
| Weight | About 0.4 lb (180 g) | 6.5 oz (0.2 kg) |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
For more choices, read our guide to pinpointers for gold prospecting, which compares the F-Pulse with VLF pinpointers.
Why Buy Your Fisher F-Pulse from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Orders over $99 ship at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Fisher Dealer: Showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, full 2-year manufacturer warranty and product registration support.
- Help Before and After You Buy: Our staff answer setup, ground cancel and F-Pulse questions by phone or email.
FisherSale Price $129.00 Regular Price
