Rd8000

**Goldenboy** · June 21st, 2008, 08:19 PM

I don't know anyone who's used the RD7000 or RD8000 yet but I guess RD got the hint that their reciever was waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy to heavy. In the brochure it says it's 28 percent lighter than the 4000. I'd be hesitant to buy one because it's a first year model with a lot of new technology built in.
RD8000 INFO

**beyond help** · June 21st, 2008, 09:19 PM

They should have taken the hint from Rycom years ago.

**bixbix78** · July 29th, 2008, 02:47 PM

I spoke with an RD rep a few weeks ago...Sounds like SMP has 3 in the field (Mn, Tx, and Indy all in testing). RD said they were going to sell them to us @ the same price as the T3 4000's..Finally an RD I might actually use.

**wet_boots101** · July 29th, 2008, 05:27 PM

WOOT!!! You can change the transmitter's frequencies from the receiver via Bluetooth!!! That is SO AWESOME! I have thought about that for the LONGEST time and now someone goes out and does it for real!

Let ME test one out here in IL, bitches!!!

I tell you, friends, the days until x-ray glasses get invented are numbered!

**yahoo** · July 29th, 2008, 07:33 PM

the only way that thing will become lighter is .............take some batteries out of it????

**sprayandpray** · July 29th, 2008, 07:36 PM

I'd like to try one - just hope they lightened up the transmitter also. The RD 4000 transmitter really was/is a boat anchor!

**KGossett** · July 29th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Radiodetection will have one at the trade show in Atlanta. I am having one sent to me next week to try out. I will let every one know how it is.

**GWJ_CAS** · August 4th, 2008, 07:26 PM

We checked out the RD8000 at the Rodeo...pretty cool unit, 10 watter with 8 D cells in the transmitter, 2 D cells in the receiver (nice to only have to carry one typr of battery). The receiver is very light even with 2 D cells...Bluetooth feature is great, can change frequencies from up to 1400' away, provides nice visual and audible confirmation tones when changing settings via Bluetooth. Nice directional "compass" on screen and simultaneous Peak-Null is also useful.
The base of the transmitter opens to reveal the screw-auger type ground rod and ground lead extension, nice use of the space in the transmitter shell. Even the bag setup was well thought out.

It worked well in testing conditions, but we did not see anyone using it in the rodeo, and it was not available for Locate From Hell...We will be getting a demo unit in a couple of weeks, I will post our reviews immediately following..

**testtech** · August 5th, 2008, 08:08 PM

I hope to have a demo on Monday. I will compare the 4000 with the 8000. If you have any specific questions or test situations, let me know and perhaps I can get answers.

**sprayandpray** · August 5th, 2008, 08:21 PM

Be sure and check the most important feature-Does it have Power/Passive Mode and how well does that work??

**TBONE** · August 5th, 2008, 08:42 PM

Looks pretty cool but Im with Spray if it doesent have passive and radio dont bother

**wet_boots101** · August 6th, 2008, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by TBONE

Looks pretty cool but Im with Spray if it doesent have passive and radio dont bother

Click on the link that Goldenboy posted. You can download a PDF of the brochure and it says in there YES it does have both. Actually, something called passive avoidance is an additional mode which is basically radio & power working at the same time. VERY COOL. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

**testtech** · August 15th, 2008, 09:16 PM

I used the 4000 and 8000 side by side. I worked with it for about an hour on some simple utilities, so my evaluation is not based on a comprehensive evaluation of numerous locate situations.

Bottom line--the 8000 probably will not locate anything that cannot be found by the 4000. The 8000 is an evolutionary, not revolutionary advance. It is more easily used than the 4000 but you will not want to retire a 4000 in favor of an 8000.

The 8000 does have better signal strength for induction, however, this is probably not significant for most locates. The sensitivity seems to be about equal to the 4000. The 8000 is lighter. The 8000 provides automatic depth readings when the instrument is oriented in line and directly over the target. The blue tooth control of transmit frequency is great but did not work consistently. The 8000 is capable of simultaneous peak and null operation so you get directional arrows and signal strength. The 8000 does not have automatic gain. I understand their reasoning for not using auto gain, but I think it should be a user selected feature.

The 8000 has both 60 Hz and radio passive frequencies. It also has a a combination passive that combines both.

The frustrating sensitivity paddle has been replaced with up and down signal strength buttons. The new buttons give better control.

Like the 4000, the 8000 signal display flashes wildly when you start to run out of signal strength and then run up the gain. I would prefer that the instrument measure the signal strength and issue a low signal strength warning.

In total, the 8000 provides an improved user interface--more convenience, some savings in locate time. It is a worth while improvement over the 4000. However, as I mentioned above, I do not think it will improve performance where greater signal strength or electronic magic to deal with congestion or interference is required.

**bixbix78** · November 27th, 2008, 09:46 AM

The story~Transmitter sucks in cold weather. It won't turn on unless it's under the floorboards, bad for you Golden. However, I like that it induces on a ton of freqs~940h up to 200k, although I would still keep the 810. I like the null tone as it sounds like a "London police siren" different audible tone if left or right of target line. It makes null more user friendly (faster) when burning back on a long locate. Signal strength~RD8000@ 80 gain= RD4000 @ 55 gain. I don't understand why RD would alter the sensitivity, as it took some time to get used to running @ an 80 gain instead of 45, not abig big deal though.. Passive review~ "Passive avoidance" sounded great but nothing of interest (It has a different peak tone compared to the rd4000's 60 cycle). CATV passive mode works ok. CPS passive worked on gas. However, the passives are still not as good on paralelling conductors (within 2-4 feet) as the subsite's 60h and 60P are. Sometimes the RD worked, sometimes it didn't pick up either, and sometimes it 60'ed a ghost tone in the center of the 2 conductors. Peak low freq signal~ I don't know if anyone else has this problem but I really dislike the peak lag time on RD's low freqs. I'm always well over the target before peaking out on rd's low freqs. It almost makes them unusable for me as it slows me down too much for my liking. Overall I'd agree with Testtech...Better than the 4000 but still not perfect.