Chuck et al, Thoughts on Peak & Null vs Peak only locators like Cat & Genny
On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 2:38 PM Chuck McCown via AF <af@af.afmug.com> wrote: > Drilling locators are a total different beast than underground cable > locators. > > *From:* Josh Luthman > *Sent:* Wednesday, December 28, 2022 12:31 PM > *To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units > > Carl, > > Our favorite locator is the ViperMag. I think it was ~3000 retail. As to > its accuracy, based on my one time usage last week I spotted the drill > sticks 100% and got the distance within inches. My locator tech says it's > 100x better than the old one when there's noise (nearby other utilities). > > On Tue, Dec 27, 2022 at 6:21 PM Carl Peterson <cpeter...@portnetworks.com> > wrote: > >> How about this one? Not sure what the new price would be. >> >> >> https://www.ebay.com/itm/225308461851?hash=item34756e4b1b:g:1Q4AAOSwsQpityvJ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoGDhdpMkHwHcr%2BvCGwtdhgoKuhWkl29e3dky%2FBRCjSbcavCSO%2FxS%2FOj3ur8IMQrLU9nTSS5jxh1tGbzExnZkLl0ByukyENiu4m%2BjhsDyyBTYdqpHctfm3wplh6OljUR5p2r52f0ADK56LGN4R3c3XaKY8Jiv9Z0pQI4qClIVyOcGYD3Us3yHVvj3gtrWqqaeKNhiHdquQ9vLEuuTiiRWQvY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-TFtduqYQ >> >> On Tue, Dec 27, 2022 at 5:18 PM Chuck McCown via AF <af@af.afmug.com> >> wrote: >> >>> >>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/295441271797?hash=item44c9ac0bf5:g:FygAAOSwHUFjq0Fi&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8EoM%2BACrrWy8doADxOvuYO6McooUnEQT32vIgmMCHxSNW7AFx45Ldlayxo1UF19OgeMhNeiXhx6aeua%2FVkOuaMh276DpXIFBRYOW6ZIHNDHI28906bMAomYZI8WsZJ%2Bze0pJtR1BsN7p7rVxkOUgvBwHQnbPRMW2etIqpj%2FAebmujtKv6pJsoyFexvukHQPKXGZDJB0OxJBapGnHc89pM7aeZtYBRxXE87946w1wr1Dl%2BoKiZI4mbQaCcAV%2FnOr8eRwqRkoApcPdjSO%2B%2FwYN%2FIqi%2BZnoXwN6jDfU420OM07xHxOsQBd0U4rkjQanZcsb0Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMovD-3aph >>> >>> >>> *From:* Carl Peterson >>> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 27, 2022 4:14 PM >>> *To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group >>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units >>> >>> Thanks Chuck, >>> >>> That helps, I think. I'm at the point where I just need to make a >>> decision but 4K isn't enough to make the decision I want to make. >>> >>> On Tue, Dec 27, 2022 at 5:07 PM Chuck McCown via AF <af@af.afmug.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Most if not all of them locate the signal based on current flowing on a >>>> conductor. So you put a signal on a trace wire or cable shield. Ground >>>> the far end. The transmitter is connected to the cable and a ground rod. >>>> That flow of signal sets up the magnetic field and that is what the locator >>>> works off of. If you have trace current then all of them will do a good >>>> job. The type of soil doesn’t make much difference. The super cheap ones >>>> will find it as easy and the super expensive units. Finding a reliable >>>> depth is more difficult. The only brand I have every used where I could >>>> trust the depth was a Metrotel. But even the cheapest unit can find depth >>>> by locating a null, orienting the pick up coil at 45 degrees and then >>>> finding the null off to the side of the of the cable. Distance from the >>>> center null to the side null is the depth. >>>> >>>> The higher the power the farther you can locate. But that just means >>>> you don’t have to move the transmitter so much. In my experience I am >>>> generally within a quarter mile of the transmitter or less and all of them >>>> will do that distance. >>>> >>>> Some of them will also passively locate 60 cycle power. Some of them >>>> locate based on radio signals picked up by wires and pipes and >>>> re-radiated. I have had limited success with that on high pressure gas. >>>> >>>> Many of them have an RF mode where you connect to some object to track >>>> but the far end is not grounded. So you just have a capacitive coupling >>>> between the thing you want to locate and the earth. Not much current flows >>>> so you do not get much distance. For example a fish tape down a plastic >>>> duct is located this way. But you will only get dozens or perhaps hundreds >>>> of feed if you are lucky. >>>> >>>> Multiple frequencies have their uses. Older units were down in the >>>> audible range like 800 Hz. You can go a very long way with those >>>> frequecies. But they also bleed off to other cables and pipes. Higher >>>> frequencies are better to get finer resolution but they do not transmit as >>>> far. 82 or 84KHz is a popular frequency. >>>> >>>> Some brands put a coded signal out so only their receiver can pick up >>>> the signal. Rycom is one of those. >>>> >>>> *From:* Carl Peterson >>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 27, 2022 3:30 PM >>>> *To:* AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group >>>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units >>>> >>>> Thoughts on a used R7200 off of ebay vs something like a new Ridgid >>>> SR-24? Trying to do this with a 4K budget. Is a locator either good or bad >>>> or is there a middle ground where they don't work well. >>>> >>>> On Thu, Dec 8, 2022 at 3:30 PM Steve Jones <thatoneguyst...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> there is also the vermeer lin of locators. massive option set, LM42 >>>>> is pretty efficient and can find most things in the ISP domain. SPX25 is >>>>> good for locating shallower thing. stuff like the 10x15 or 20x22 utility >>>>> locator are surprisingly accurate for it having to be pretty pinpoint. But >>>>> if you really want to be certain about finding the utilities on a smaller >>>>> ISP budget, youd want to look at Bobcat brand locators, those will find >>>>> everything. >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Dec 8, 2022 at 3:17 PM Carl Peterson < >>>>> cpeter...@portnetworks.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Any consensus on locators? We need to buy a new one too. The only >>>>>> one I really know is the T5. We don't do a ton of locates so it doesn't >>>>>> need to be too high end. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2022 at 2:34 PM Jason McKemie < >>>>>> j.mcke...@veloxinetbroadband.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I'm looking at getting one of these: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/sr-24-line-locator-with-bluetooth-and-gps >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Dec 2, 2022 at 8:59 AM Nate Burke <n...@blastcomm.com> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I'm looking to pickup a 2nd locating unit. Without visiting a >>>>>>>> bunch of >>>>>>>> websites and wading through tech docs, does anyone have >>>>>>>> recommendations? USIC around here uses a blue unit, but they're >>>>>>>> always >>>>>>>> so covered with spray paint I can't see the name/model. We have an >>>>>>>> Amprobe AT-3500 today. Looks like Amprobe has a newer model out, >>>>>>>> that's >>>>>>>> cheaper than the AT-3500 >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Mainly need to locate either a tracer wire (alligator clips) or >>>>>>>> traceable fiber (Clamp) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> AF mailing list >>>>>>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>>>>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> AF mailing list >>>>>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>>>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>> Carl Peterson >>>>>> >>>>>> *PORT NETWORKS* >>>>>> >>>>>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553 >>>>>> >>>>>> Baltimore, MD 21202 >>>>>> >>>>>> (410) 637-3707 >>>>>> -- >>>>>> AF mailing list >>>>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> AF mailing list >>>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Carl Peterson >>>> >>>> *PORT NETWORKS* >>>> >>>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553 >>>> >>>> Baltimore, MD 21202 >>>> >>>> (410) 637-3707 >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> -- >>>> AF mailing list >>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>> -- >>>> AF mailing list >>>> AF@af.afmug.com >>>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Carl Peterson >>> >>> *PORT NETWORKS* >>> >>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553 >>> >>> Baltimore, MD 21202 >>> >>> (410) 637-3707 >>> ------------------------------ >>> -- >>> AF mailing list >>> AF@af.afmug.com >>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>> -- >>> AF mailing list >>> AF@af.afmug.com >>> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >>> >> >> >> -- >> >> Carl Peterson >> >> *PORT NETWORKS* >> >> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553 >> >> Baltimore, MD 21202 >> >> (410) 637-3707 >> -- >> AF mailing list >> AF@af.afmug.com >> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com >> > ------------------------------ > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com > > -- > AF mailing list > AF@af.afmug.com > http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com > -- Carl Peterson *PORT NETWORKS* 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553 Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 637-3707
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