RD4000 capabilities

[duke]

Witnessed a senior tech "dropping the box" today on a ticket. By that I mean setting the RD4000 transmitter on the ground where he thought the fiber was, using no leads, and somehow locating a fiber.

I know this is how the Metrotech 810 works, but does an RD4000 emit a useful signal in the same way? At first I thought he was putting one over on me.

I'm the first to admit that my knowledge of locating equipment is pretty minimal. All we got in training was "direct connect, direct connect, direct connect" so everything else has been trial and error. No mention of POWER MODE in class either, not even as a troubleshooting tool. Love me some POWER MODE!

[UULC]

You can drop a RD4000. Be sure you are on 3 watt and not 10 watt. As for the fiber, as long as it has a toneable sheath. I would not take a chance unless I have direct connected located it before. You could be asking for a major damage.

[Goldenboy]

Pretty much all transmitters are capable on "inducing". It is nice to have a good starting point like an old hard mark. I'm still fairing new to dropping the box so I can't give too many tips except you may have to pothole the desired utility. I normally only induce untoneable cables and then I pothole and couple them to verify.

Good luck,

Jim

[yahoo]

i am sure that the old tech has located this area before and that he knows where it is already so it can be easily induced.....still very dangerous b.c your mind can forget and you can accidently locate something very near and more shallow......and be 2 ft off....i say lets use this for svc's only .......not gas or power...

[frostypeters]

The key with induction is the ability to isolate what you are throwing signal on.

For example, if you are trying to get a cable, instead of dropping the box on the ground, where it will throw signal on anything underneath it, try going back, to the pole & leaning it up against the "U" guard (notice the contour of the RD4000 transmitter) to isolate it & walk the signal out from there. Otherwise you are just guesing on what you are locating unless, as stated above, you have some knowledge of your surroundings.

Technique obviously gets a lot more in depth than that but when you start playing with induction, always be thinking isolation & go find an old timer & pick his brain.

[underground quester]

Witnessed a senior tech "dropping the box" today on a ticket. By that I mean setting the RD4000 transmitter on the ground where he thought the fiber was, using no leads, and somehow locating a fiber.

I know this is how the Metrotech 810 works, but does an RD4000 emit a useful signal in the same way? At first I thought he was putting one over on me.

I'm the first to admit that my knowledge of locating equipment is pretty minimal. All we got in training was "direct connect, direct connect, direct connect" so everything else has been trial and error. No mention of POWER MODE in class either, not even as a troubleshooting tool. Love me some POWER MODE!

Duke:

You can also look at www.radiodetection.ca/docs
for useful information on your machines capabilities ANd some general "how to" tips.

As everyone has stated, dropping the box should not be taken lightly as it has the capability of coming back and biting you in the butt. Know what is in the area using what ever you have, plans, computer software, platts, call a locator you know/trust who has located in the area, etc. and get reliable info.

Frosty and others make some excellent points. Heed them!

In class, they WILL tell you to ALWAYS direct connect because there trying to get you to learn the basics correctly before you move on to more advanced kinds of things in locating. As with everything in life we must learn to crawl before we walk and learn to walk before we run.

Good luck dude!

Give it all time, it will all come together for you!

[sprayandpray]

Also, the 4000 transmitters full of batteries are heavy enough for use as boat anchors

[frostypeters]

...or paperweights for giants...

[beyond help]

RD 4000's inductive? Damn that nuts. But, Yes I've done it myself. Had a fiber on an abandoned railway turned bike path. Only has 3 hookups for 40 miles. you have to induce. I've marked almost the entire stretch before, and knew where it was. RD induces like crap, wish I had an 810 to induce with.

[mr. null]

ive just began using my rd for inductive purposes. i dont feel that confident with it. im gonna pick up a pipehorn strictly for induction, today i was able to induce a tel line by placing the transmitter directly ontop of an old paint mark.

[yahoo]

can be done mr null but very dangerous.......you are asking for trouble.....very good for phone and tv drops................

[wet_boots101]

Dropping the box should really be a method of last resort, obviously. You really aren't able to control exactly what you're inducing but occasionally it works out just right.

Case in point: last week I had to locate a 750 3-phase electric cable where the termination points (in relation to where the locate needed to be done) were a switch cabinet in some hard-to-access back yard 1/2 mile north and the substation 1 1/2 miles west with obviously no access. Myself and a tenured locator marked this out with great difficulty and the electric co's assistance 3 years ago but no such help this time.

So direct connect is out... power mode is tricky because it is on a main road with a lot of other stuff (MOP gas main) which nixes my signal badly. But, a block west there is an electric manhole and this is the last line coming out of it, then crossing said road.

I put the transmitter down on top of the manhole covers, walked back to where I had to locate and I'll be damned - it worked LIKE A CHARM. It also helped that I had located everything else in the vicinity, this was the last one to get. I even got strong tone where it left the parkway and crossed the busy road - exactly where it was marked that long time ago!

So occasionally you get lucky. Process of elimination REALLY helps make inducing work. But I'd never try getting certain things this way. This is not a "quickie" way nor is it a valid "cheat."

[yahoo]

wet boots.........where you been dude????