Fisher F11 Metal Detector

The Fisher F11 is the entry model of the Fisher F-Series: a 7.69 kHz VLF metal detector with three search modes (Jewelry, Coin and Artifact), target ID shown as icons and segments, and a 7 inch waterproof elliptical coil, at 2.3 lb (1.04 kg) on one 9V battery. Fisher sets it up for coin shooting, jewelry, relic hunting and general-purpose detecting on dry land and dry sand, and it carries a 2-year Fisher warranty.

What is in the box with the Fisher F11

Fisher's standard contents for the F11

• Fisher F11 control box and S-rod shaft
• 7 inch elliptical waterproof searchcoil
• 9V battery
• Owner’s manual

Who the Fisher F11 is for

The F11 suits first-time buyers, kids and casual hunters who want to switch on and start swinging in a park, a yard or on dry sand. Three preset modes and a simple display keep the learning curve short, and at 2.3 lb (1.04 kg) it is light enough that we would hand it to a younger hunter for an afternoon session. We would also keep one in the truck as a light backup detector, since it runs on a single 9V battery. New to detecting? Read our beginner detector guide before the first hunt.

Fisher F11 search modes and target ID

The three search modes are the main control on the F11. We would start in Coin mode in a modern park or yard, switch to Jewelry mode on swim areas and tot lots where rings turn up, and use Artifact mode on older home sites and fields where relics are the goal. Notch discrimination works by target category, so you can drop a category you keep digging as trash instead of dialing a number.

The F11 has no numeric target ID. The icons, the segment display and the 4-tone audio (bass, low, medium and high) do the work: iron gives a low tone and the Fe icon, and higher tones point to higher-conductivity targets such as coins. Sensitivity runs from 1 to 6 and volume from 0 to 6. We would set sensitivity where the detector runs quietly rather than at maximum, especially near power lines or another detector.

Our starting settings for the Fisher F11

The F11 starts up at sensitivity 5 and volume 4. The table shows where we start on common sites, and we adjust from there. Jewelry mode turns off the Fe group, and Artifact mode shows every target group, iron included. If the F11 beeps erratically or with no metal under the coil, Fisher's manual says to reduce the sensitivity; overhead and buried power lines can both cause it.

In heavy-target areas we slow the sweep so the audio has time to recover between signals.

Pinpoint, depth and battery

A 6-segment coin depth bar shows how deep a coin-sized target sits, and the push-and-hold pinpoint narrows down the target and gives a depth readout before you dig. Ground balance is preset at the factory, so there is nothing to set up for ordinary soil. One 9V alkaline battery runs the F11 for 20 to 25 hours, and Fisher recommends alkaline for that figure; we would keep a spare in the finds pouch.

Where the Fisher F11 works best and its limits

The F11 is built for parks, yards, school grounds, fairgrounds and dry beach sand. The waterproof coil can sweep damp grass and puddles, but the control box is not waterproof, so Fisher points to its optional rain cover for wet weather. Ground balance is preset, so heavily mineralized soil and wet salt sand sit outside what the F11 is set up for. For hotter ground, the Fisher F44 adds manual and automatic ground balance, and for saltwater beaches see our beach metal detectors.

Coil options for the Fisher F11

The stock 7 inch coil can be fully submerged, but the control housing and the coil cable plug must stay dry. Fisher also offers an F11-11DD configuration, which we sell as the Fisher F11 with 11 inch DD coil, and we stock the Fisher 11 inch DD elliptical waterproof coil as an upgrade for an F11 you already own. In our experience the larger DD coil covers more ground per sweep on open fields, dry beach sand and light relic sites and copes better with mineralized soil, while the stock 7 inch coil separates targets better in trashy parks. Fisher's manual also lists 9 inch and 11 inch triangulated concentric elliptical accessory coils (9COIL-EE and 11COIL-EE).

Fisher F11 compared with the rest of the F-Series

All five F-Series models share a waterproof stock coil, a 1/4 inch headphone jack and the 2-year warranty. The F22 above the F11 adds a 1 to 99 numeric target ID, a Custom mode, FeTone and a weatherproof control box, and runs on two AA batteries.

Fisher F11 specifications

Fisher covers the F11 with a 2-year warranty. Coils, covers and the F11 manual are in our Fisher F11 collection, and pinpointers for faster recovery are in our Fisher pinpointers.

Authorized Fisher dealer with a showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Full manufacturer warranty and help from our staff by phone or email.