Tell us what you’re trying to find, solve or achieve. Ask about equipment, technical questions, service, repairs or anything else.
Compare C.Scope, RIDGID and Vivax locating equipment around the job you actually need to carry out.
Whether you need to avoid buried services before excavation, measure utility depth, trace an energised line or find the position of a drain camera or sonde, the right locator depends on what you are trying to find and how the signal is being created.
Different locating jobs require different equipment. Start with the target rather than choosing a locator simply by brand or model number.
Detect buried power cables and other underground services before breaking ground.
Start with C.Scope CXL4 or DXL4Follow a buried utility and obtain more information about its route and position.
C.Scope DXL4 / MXL4 or RIDGID SR rangeLocate a transmitting camera head or sonde from above ground during drainage work.
RIDGID Scout or Vivax VM-540Trace an actively energised metallic line using a compatible transmitter and receiver.
C.Scope MXL4 or RIDGID SR-20 / SR-24Each range has a slightly different strength. The best choice depends on whether your priority is utility avoidance, line tracing or sonde location.
A strong choice for buried service detection, cable avoidance and professional utility locating.
The range progresses from straightforward cable avoidance through depth measurement and into multi-frequency utility location.
Particularly useful where drainage camera, sonde and professional line locating overlap.
NaviTrack Scout provides a focused sonde locating solution, while SeekTech SR receivers add more advanced utility line tracing capability.
A straightforward option where the main task is locating a sonde or transmitting camera.
The VM-540 provides a focused alternative for drainage and inspection users who primarily need to find a transmitting point underground.
The C.Scope range lets you step up in capability depending on whether you simply need to detect services, measure depth or carry out more advanced line tracing.
Professional cable avoidance for detecting underground services before excavation.
Cable avoidance with the additional ability to measure the depth of a located signal.
The step up for more involved pipe and utility tracing applications.
Use this as a starting point for choosing the right platform around the type of locating work your team carries out.
| Requirement | CXL4 | DXL4 | MXL4 | Scout | SR-20 | SR-24 | VM-540 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable avoidance | Excellent | Excellent | Limited | — | |||
| Depth measurement | — | Sonde focused | |||||
| Sonde / camera locating | Compatible signals | Compatible signals | Excellent | Primary use | |||
| Professional line tracing | Basic | Basic | Excellent | Occasional | Excellent | Excellent | — |
| GPS / mapping workflow | Options available | Options available | Options available | — | — | Best option | — |
| Best suited to | Service avoidance | Avoidance + depth | Utility tracing | Drainage / sondes | Utilities + drainage | Advanced utilities | Sonde locating |
Exact locating capability depends on the transmitter, sonde, frequency and configuration being used. If you need to confirm compatibility with existing equipment, speak to Rausch UK before ordering.
Passive utilities can sometimes be detected directly, but accurate active tracing normally relies on creating a known signal using a transmitter, sonde or traceable rod.
Signal generator for active locating with compatible C.Scope locator systems.
View SGA4 →Portable line transmitter for energising metallic utilities for active tracing.
View ST-305 →Create a traceable point or route inside non-metallic drains, pipes and ducts.
View Sondes & Flexitrace →For active locating, think about the complete locating setup rather than the receiver alone.
Use a compatible transmitter, signal generator, sonde or traceable rod to create a detectable signal.
Follow the signal using the appropriate receiver while checking signal strength, direction and depth.
Verify the position before excavation or use the locate to identify a camera, blockage or pipe route.
Common questions when choosing underground utility and sonde locating equipment.
Tell us whether you are avoiding buried services, tracing a utility, locating a drain camera or finding the route of a pipe or duct. We can help identify the right receiver, transmitter and accessories for the job.
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