The ViperMag is an underground cable locator.  I used it for our bore
attachment on the SPX25.  Metal is metal is metal.

On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 3:38 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)
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Carl Peterson
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *PORT NETWORKS*
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Baltimore, MD 21202
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (410) 637-3707
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Carl Peterson
>>>>
>>>> *PORT NETWORKS*
>>>>
>>>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553
>>>>
>>>> Baltimore, MD 21202
>>>>
>>>> (410) 637-3707
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Carl Peterson
>>>
>>> *PORT NETWORKS*
>>>
>>> 401 E Pratt St, Ste 2553
>>>
>>> Baltimore, MD 21202
>>>
>>> (410) 637-3707
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>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> 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
>>
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