Underground utility location devices have been used in areas such as construction and road repair for quite a long time now, and their usefulness is undeniable. They are essential tools that help the work that needs to be done in the beginning move a lot quicker, making the workers more productive and ensuring that the job gets finished sooner. As their name might have tipped you off, they are designed to locate any water pipes, power lines or other utilities buried underground. But aside from their function, what else should you know about them before you decide which model to get?
Before buying, the first thing that you need to know about a radiodetection cable locator is that it's unfortunately not as precise as some people might think. This however does not mean that the devices are useless, but simply that you need to get one that has a wider range of frequencies. The reasoning behind this is that there will often be interference underground and you won't be able to make a clear picture if you don't have good enough equipment to pick up even the faintest signals.
While on the subject of equipment, you will need to make sure that the transmitter, receiver and even the clamps of the radiodetection cable locator you are using are all top of the line. If the transmitter is faulty then the signal it sends out will also be so, if the receiver doesn't work properly then the locations of the utilities won't be reliable, and if the clamp is broken then you can't make a direct link anymore. Simply put, if even one component is defective or of poor make, then the entire device is nothing more than a big paper weight. Additionally, you can also tell the quality of the device by how clear the monitor displays the picture.
The previously stated point of getting only the best items that you can find will obviously result in having to invest a bit more money into a radiodetection locator than you might have estimated. If it's any consolation, the more pricier models also come with a high quality carry bag that comes with enough room and compartments to fit all of the gear and looks so nice that it's almost worth the extra money all on it's own. On a more serious note however, think of the extra cost not as you going over budget, but rather as you making a larger investment towards a device that is definitely more than worth it.
