Fisher F11 Metal Detector (Open Box)

The Fisher F11 is the entry model of the Fisher F-Series, here as an open box unit with its stock 7 inch elliptical waterproof coil. It is a 7.69 kHz VLF metal detector with three search modes (Jewelry, Coin and Artifact), target ID shown as icons and segments and 4-tone audio, at 2.3 lb (1.04 kg) on one 9V battery.

Open Box: Metal detectors with damaged or opened packaging, offered at a reduced price. Full manufacturer’s warranty included. Questions about a specific unit? Call us.

What is in the box with the Fisher F11 (open box)

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

We like the F11 for its simplicity: useful target information without overwhelming a beginner. We recommend it to beginners, families and occasional detectorists searching yards, parks and relatively mild ground, and to anyone who wants to try metal detecting before investing in more advanced equipment; it is primarily a recreational coin and jewelry detector. Three preset modes and a simple display keep the learning curve short. Kids' options from other brands are in our kids' metal detectors.

Fisher F11 search modes and target ID

The three search modes are the main control on the F11. We suggest new hunters begin in a general-purpose mode such as Coin rather than leaning on aggressive discrimination. Jewelry mode suits swim areas and tot lots where rings turn up, and Artifact mode suits 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, such as pull tabs, 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. Treat that reading as an estimate, not a positive identification. Sensitivity runs from 1 to 6 and volume from 0 to 6. Start sensitivity at a stable setting rather than at maximum, especially near power lines, fences or another detector.

Pinpoint, depth and battery

The F11 starts up at sensitivity 5 and volume 4. 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.

Where the Fisher F11 works best and its limits

The F11 is built for parks, yards, school grounds, fairgrounds and dry beach sand. The stock 7 inch coil can be fully submerged, but the control housing and the coil cable plug must stay dry, and Fisher's manual points to its optional rain cover (COV-F11) for wet weather. Heavily mineralized soil and wet salt sand sit outside what the F11 is set up for; the Fisher F44 adds manual and automatic ground balance. We would not recommend the F11 for someone who regularly searches that kind of ground or wants extensive adjustment options. Within Fisher's lineup, we would look at the Fisher F75 for serious relic and coin hunting, and a Fisher Gold Bug model for natural-gold prospecting. For saltwater beaches, see our beach metal detectors.

Coil options for the Fisher F11

The stock 7 inch coil is the smaller, more maneuverable option in trashy parks, while a larger DD coil covers more ground per sweep on open fields and dry sand. We sell the Fisher 11 inch DD elliptical waterproof coil as an upgrade, and Fisher's manual also lists 9 inch and 11 inch triangulated concentric elliptical accessory coils (9COIL-EE and 11COIL-EE).

A common F11 mistake

Assuming every high tone or coin icon is a valuable coin. Aluminum and certain iron objects can produce misleading responses.

Our recommendation on the Fisher F11

Choose the F11 for a straightforward introduction to recreational metal detecting.

Fisher F11 specifications

Fisher covers the F11 with a 2-year warranty. The same detector new is the Fisher F11 metal detector.

Serious Detecting is a family-owned, authorized Fisher dealer with a showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and our staff help by phone or email.

More open box units are in our open box metal detectors collection.