10/05/2026
DRILLING WITH PASSIVE INTERFERENCE???
Here's what you need to know 👇
Locators scan for active interference, which is anything emitting a signal that could interrupt the connection between the sonde and locator.
Common examples include:
» Traffic lights 🚦
» Power lines ⚡
» Invisible dog fences 🐶
» Radios 📻
But you may also encounter passive interference, which is anything that blocks, absorbs, or distorts the signal from the sonde to the locator.
Common examples include:
» Rebar-reinforced concrete (sidewalks, driveways) 🛣️
» Metal culverts 🚇
» Overpasses and bridges 🌉
» Chain link fences ⛓️
» Salt water 🌊
⚠️ Locators do not have any way of scanning for this type of interference ⚠️
That's why it's crucial you input whether you'll be drilling near or beneath passive interference, so your locator "knows" to account for it.
Here's how you do that on ARES:
1. First, check the bore depth shown on the screen. This represents the deepest point of your shot. ARES is preprogrammed for 10 feet (3 m). Be sure to adjust this to match the max depth of your bore.
2. Next, if you will be drilling around or beneath passive interference, enter the approximate depth you’ll be drilling at when you reach those sources. This may be the same as your bore depth, but not always.
[If you’re not drilling under rebar or passive interference, leave this section alone.]
3. Then, assign a rebar tone to either Band A or Band B. Use the on-screen guide to choose the tone (.3, .5, or .7) with the deepest bar. NOTE: It doesn’t matter which band you assign the rebar to; unlike on a Falcon, ARES does not use Up and Down bands, so choosing A or B is just your personal preference.