Hello All, newbie from New Mexico. I have never done any detecting before but I am pretty sure I will like it. It will also get me out of the house and get some exercise besides walking on concrete sidewalks. I have a very bad back and the concrete makes it hurt bad after just a couple of blocks. I read somewhere that the F5 is a good beginner detector and once you get to know the machine it's also a good intermediate detector. So I am planning on ordering one next week.