A receiver is used to do what?

• A. Detect corrosion
• B. Transmit a signal
• C. Detect and trace the electromagnetic field induced along the pipe by the transmitter
• D. Ground the line

Answer: (C)

In locating buried utilities, a receiver detects and traces the electromagnetic field induced along the pipe by the transmitter. The transmitter injects a signal into the line, creating a magnetic field that runs along and around the pipe. The receiver senses this field at the surface, letting you follow the pipe’s path and estimate depth as you move the instrument over the ground. Corrosion detection isn’t the role of the receiver, and transmitting or grounding the line are actions handled by other parts of the locating process, not by the receiver.