Radiodetection equipment, sold by working locators.
Orbital is an authorised Radiodetection and SPX reseller in Australia. We run this equipment on our own jobs every week — twenty-three years of field experience inside a working locating business — and we sell it into the Australian market with the advice and post-sale support that experience brings.
What we sell
RD8100M precision cable and pipe locator
The current-generation Radiodetection receiver. The instrument we use ourselves on every commercial locate. Industry-leading sensitivity, depth measurement, signal interpretation and durability. Available with the full TX series of transmitters.
TX-10 transmitter
Our preferred transmitter pairing for the RD8100M. 10W output, broad frequency range, suitable for everything from short-range residential tracing through to long-range commercial work.
Smaller TX models — TX-1 and TX-5
Lower-output transmitters for less demanding scopes, training environments, or operators with budget constraints.
RD1500 dual-frequency GPR
Ground penetrating radar for non-conductive utility detection. Dual-frequency configuration for shallow and deep targets across cohesive and non-cohesive soils. The kit we use ourselves for AS 5488 QL-B work.
Accessories and consumables
Direct connection clips, signal clamps, induction coils, marker locators, accessory cables, spare batteries and chargers, calibration units, carrying cases, replacement parts.
Custom kits
Where you need a starter package — receiver + transmitter + accessories suited to your work — talk to us at scoping. We’ll spec the right combination rather than upselling a kit you don’t need or underspecifying one you’ll outgrow inside a year.
Why buy from a working locator
Most equipment is sold by people who haven’t used it on a job site. We have, every week, for twenty-three years. That changes three things about the buying conversation:
Specification advice that holds up under real conditions
We know which transmitter pairs best with which receiver for residential work versus civil scopes. We know which accessory kit actually gets used in the field and which sits in the case unused. We know what gets the deepest signal through Logan clay and what doesn’t. We spec the gear to your actual work, not a generic catalogue.
Setup and training support
Equipment delivered with the support that gets your operator productive quickly. We run the gear ourselves so we can answer setup, calibration and field-method questions on the phone, on a site visit, or in formal training where required. Jamie Ware has trained a number of the locators currently working across the SEQ industry — the same training capability is available to equipment buyers.
Post-sale support that comes from a working operator
Calibration scheduling. Repair coordination through Radiodetection. Trade-in conversations for equipment upgrades. Honest advice when the kit is doing what it should and when it isn’t. We have the relationship with the manufacturer because we are a recognised authorised reseller, and we have the field perspective because we’re using the equipment on our own jobs.
How buying works
1. Scoping conversation
Tell us what work the equipment is for — residential locating, council asset management, civil pre-excavation locating, GPR specialist work. We recommend the right kit, with honest tradeoffs explained.
2. Quote
Fixed-price quote on the specified kit including any accessories, training, calibration and support package.
3. Order and delivery
Order placed with Radiodetection / SPX, delivery direct or via Orbital depending on item. Most current items ship within 5–10 business days from order. Larger kits or back-ordered items have longer lead times — we’ll tell you up front.
4. Handover and training
Optional handover session — in person at your premises or ours, or via video for remote operators. Covers setup, initial calibration, day-one field method and the answer to the question we get most often: “how do I tell if the signal I’m reading is the service I’m looking for?”
5. Ongoing support
Annual calibration scheduling. Repair coordination through Radiodetection where required. Trade-in conversations when you’re ready to upgrade. Equipment isn’t a one-transaction relationship; we’re set up for the long version of it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you carry stock or order-on-demand?
We hold a small range of high-volume items in Brisbane for next-day delivery. Most professional-grade Radiodetection kit is order-on-demand, shipped from the manufacturer typically within 5–10 business days. Where lead times are longer (back-ordered models, custom configurations), we tell you at quoting.
Can I trade in my old locator?
Yes, depending on the model and condition. Send us the make, model and condition; we’ll come back with a realistic trade-in value against an upgrade. Trade-in offers stay valid for a defined window so you can plan the change-over.
Do you provide training with the equipment?
Optional training is available with every equipment purchase — handover session for setup and initial method, or longer formal training where required. Jamie Ware has trained a number of the locators currently working in the SEQ industry; the same training capability is available to equipment buyers. Training is priced separately and can be arranged at point of sale or any time after.
What about repairs and calibration?
Radiodetection equipment is professionally repaired and calibrated through the manufacturer’s authorised network. We coordinate that for you — sending units in, scheduling annual calibrations, managing turnaround. For day-to-day operating questions, call us directly; the answer is usually faster than a manufacturer support ticket.
Is it better to buy or to outsource the locating work to Orbital?
Depends on the volume. If your business needs locating done weekly across multiple projects, owning the kit and a trained operator typically pays back inside a year or two. If locating is occasional, engaging Orbital as a sub-consultant is usually more efficient. We’ll give you a straight answer on this at the scoping conversation — we’d rather you make the right call than oversell equipment that sits in the cupboard.
What does it cost?
Per spec. The RD8100M + TX-10 + accessory package is the most common starter configuration; the RD1500 GPR is a higher-tier specialist purchase. Send us the work the equipment is for; we’ll come back with a fixed-price quote and any honest trade-offs on spec.
Related Orbital services
- Underground service locating — how the gear we sell is used in real field work
- Ground penetrating radar — the RD1500 we sell is the same kit we operate
- AS 5488 Subsurface Utility Engineering — context for how this equipment is used to the Australian standard
Tell us what you need the equipment for.
We’re locators who happen to sell the kit. That means honest advice on whether the spec you’re considering actually suits your work — not just upselling the catalogue. Send us the scope and we’ll come back with a fixed-price quote, realistic delivery date, and any training or support recommendations.