The flushable beacons I have played with are pretty wide for 1.25” conduit.  I 
am sure the longer sondes will transmit a greater distance.  

From: Carl Peterson 
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2022 2:42 PM
To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group 
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units

The leica duct sonde 33 (12") is $440.  It obviously isn't the same as a HDD 
sonde but I wonder if the longer antenna coil would help.  There are also 
sondes like the Metrotech D23 which is a flexible sonde: 0.9" x 17.3" (23mm x 
456mm).   

Am I flushing money down the toilet?  Should I just buy a few $35 flushable 
sondes and tie them to the end of my duct rod? 

On Thu, Dec 29, 2022 at 2:25 PM Chuck McCown via AF <[email protected]> wrote:

  Those systems start at $12K on up for new.  And the sondes are pretty large.  
Yes they would work better if you are rodding 1.25” duct or larger.  They also 
will not take corners like a shorter beacon.  

  From: Carl Peterson 
  Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2022 8:24 AM
  To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group 
  Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units

  Thanks Chuck,  Do you think a 12" duct sonde might work better?  I am going 
to need to try to find an adapter to connect it to my rodder.   
  https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/buy/accessories/duct-sonde-33


  Steve, 
  I've seen the flushable sondes and wondered why they cost $35 when the 
regular ones cost $400 to 1K+.  Can't seem to find them in 30kHz or 640hz which 
is what our existing 150R locator says it supports.  

  On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 7:00 PM Steve Jones <[email protected]> wrote:

    theres septic sondes you can use for rodding

    On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 3:55 PM Carl Peterson <[email protected]> 
wrote:

      Speaking of Sondes...  I am looking for something I can put on the end of 
my conduit rodder.  Its a 5/16th Condux with 3/8 UNC male threads.  Assuming I 
source a sonde / beacon first and then find an adapter? 

      On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 3:34 PM Chuck McCown via AF <[email protected]> 
wrote:

        Most boring uses a sonde transmitter.  

        From: Josh Luthman 
        Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2022 1:44 PM
        To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group 
        Cc: Chuck McCown 
        Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Underground Locating units

        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 <[email protected]> 
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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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 
<[email protected]> 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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                    Baltimore, MD 21202

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                PORT NETWORKS

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                Baltimore, MD 21202

                (410) 637-3707 


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              PORT NETWORKS

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              Baltimore, MD 21202

              (410) 637-3707 


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            PORT NETWORKS

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            Baltimore, MD 21202

            (410) 637-3707 

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      PORT NETWORKS

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      Baltimore, MD 21202

      (410) 637-3707 

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  Baltimore, MD 21202

  (410) 637-3707 


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Baltimore, MD 21202

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