Locators

I have only used shoenstadt, so I can't recommend any others. However, you can send yours in and shoenstedt will fix it, or they will take your old one in trade and give you a discount on a new one. I don't remember the exact repair price, and how much credit they gave, but we recently did exactly that: sent one in for repair, and they couldn't repair it and took it in on trade.

My next locator will be an ML-3 by Subsurface Instruments. I saw a demo a couple weeks ago, side by side with a GA52. ML-3 was much better from what I saw. From what the saleman out of the main office told me, the price would be well under $700 if I had an old locator to trade in. ML-3 has a 7 year warranty and is submersible... ie very waterproof! The only minor drawback, in my opinion, is that it needs 3 - 9 volt batteries. I just never cared much for 9 volt batteries.

These are my favorite:

http://www.chrisnik.com/hounddog_locator_1.html

I think they are a version of this one:

http://www.magnawand.com/

The innovation is that it is simple, very rugged, and it has simple feedback showing the magnetic (north/south if you will) of the item that you are "beeping up". It absolutely functions near fences.

For buried manhole lids etc, this is a very useful as well.

-David

I've used Shoenstadt, Subsurface, and CST locators. The subsurface and Shoenstadt were about equal. The CST was much harder for me to find corners with. Maybe you could get used to it, but I never did.

I have spent countless hours using a Schonstedt. Never had any complaints about it. Never tried anything else to compare it to.

CST Magna-Trak locators are great and about 2/3rds the price of Schonstedt.

Send it back to Schondstedt. They usually repair them to like new condition for about $200.

I own a Subsurface ML1M locator.

The locator in my work truck is a Schoenstedt GA52CX (the standard one).

I prefer my Subsurface, it works better around fences, especially chain link.

Using a locator is an art.

Yeh I will likely do that, my problem is that we don't have an extra one.. when 1 goes down there is a crew without a locator, so buying another one is more of a backup.

I have both and the real advantage to the subsurface is the simpleness and durability of design. But I prefer the Schonstedt because of the volume button. Next to roads is really takes patience with the Subsurface to be able to hear for a signal. The Schonstedt is way better next to noisy roads.

It is still worth repairing.

The best one is the one that uses headphones. Can get some real sensitive signals to find something at low settings with all the fences and scrap tuned out.

I want to look at the end of the probe and where it is picking up a signal. I've tried to look at a graph, flashing lights and the probe and thru the brush at the same time.

Schonstedt is the only one I know of that still has a headphone jack.

I sent one back to them and they fixed everything except the headphone jack. and there is a loose connection at a diode/filter or some inline gadget.

There are many repair shops out there.

Dunham & Morrow

http://magneticlocator.com/

Mine's about 10 years old.

Lifetime warranty. It's been back to the shop for repair twice. Each time, they first sent me a loaner, then I returned mine in the loaner shipping package and had theirs to use while mine was fixed; got mine back in about 10 days good as new.

Only cost for repair was return shipping. Damage due to neglect or abuse isn't covered, and the device is a bit less robust than the Schoenstedt (much lighter in weight) -- but hey, you should take care of your shtuff, anyway.

SS

> The best one is the one that uses headphones.
If my Schonstedt had a headphone jack, you would see the first surveyor go postal.

Does the fence ignoring feature work as well as shown in the you tube video?

I can see where you have a continuous mat of welded wire, the magnetic field may be fairly uniform. What about barb wire fences?

Looks pretty slick.

Using a locator is an art

Yep

> Does the fence ignoring feature work as well as shown in the you tube video?
>
> I can see where you have a continuous mat of welded wire, the magnetic field may be fairly uniform. What about barb wire fences?
>
> Looks pretty slick.

It has always worked well for me.

Dunham & Morrow

I purchased a Dunham & Morrow about a year ago. I use it personally.
Works very well but a little different from my old Schoney. The knobs are
on top so one hand control is not really possible. Seems to pin point better when
you have multiple objects whereas the Schoney is more sensitive with wide ranging sweeps.
It is very light. I don't really see it holding up well to typical crew abuse but that's just my opinion. Price and warranty are hard to beat.

I have always used Schonstedt. I bought a new one the other day and gave my old one to my son. Like it was stated above, using a locator is an art best learned by years of practice. My old one had the off switch and the volume knob being the same knob. The new one has the squelch knob and off switch knob the same. A little different there, but the new on appears to be more sensitive.