Can I use the same housing with DCI and Underground Magnetics transmitters?

Some housings are cut for both; many are optimized for one family. The slot pattern and wall thickness affect signal attenuation differently for each transmitter. Drillworx labels every housing with its recommended transmitter list — check the spec sheet or ask for a confirmation before the job.

How do I extend signal range?

Move to a long-range transmitter and a long-range housing together. A long-range housing without the matched transmitter gains little; so does a long-range transmitter in a short-range housing. The two work as a system.

What does "side-load" mean vs. slant-head?

Side-load housings accept the transmitter through an access door on the side of the housing. Slant-head housings integrate an angled bit face with the housing body — useful for tight-radius bores where separating bit and housing would reduce steering authority.

Sonde Housings · 12 SKUs

Side Load - Vermeer Pattern

Standard 6/7-bolt housings for Vermeer machines

The side-load housing is the standard transmitter carrier for most North-American HDD crews. The sonde drops in from the side, clamps in place, and bolts onto the head with the same Vermeer-pattern fasteners used on the pilot bit upstream. Drillworx stocks the full size range and signal profile — from 3" short-range housings for tight utility work to 8" long-range housings for deep pipeline crossings.

Specifying a housing is not just a size question. Signal strength, temperature rating, and battery life all depend on matching the housing to the right DCI or Underground Magnetics transmitter. The housing wall thickness and slot pattern affect signal attenuation, so a "universal" housing is a compromise. Drillworx publishes the signal and temperature profile on every housing; ask the salesperson for your region if a matchup is not obvious.

For tight-radius bores or close-to-surface work, see the High-Flow and Slant-Head variants in the adjacent catalog subsections. For rock and hard-ground work, step to the Endurance series.

Field guidance

When to use side load - vermeer pattern

Standard utility work

Short-range 3-5" side-load housings cover the majority of residential and commercial utility crossings with the locator within 20 feet of the head.

Medium-depth pipeline

Standard-range 5-6" housings give the locator crew workable signal out to 30-40 feet of cover with current DCI Falcon transmitters.

River crossings and deep bores

Long-range 6-8" housings plus a dedicated long-range transmitter carry signal through 50+ feet of cover when the locator is above water.

Mixed-ground projects

Carry one short-range and one standard-range housing on the truck; swap transmitters and housings rather than compromising signal strength for a single setup.

Compatibility

Fitment & sizing

Bolt pattern: Vermeer 6-bolt and 7-bolt, 1/2"-13
OD range: 3" – 8"
Transmitter fit: DCI F5 / Falcon / Aurora; UM Mag 8 / Mag HF
Slot patterns: Standard, high-flow, and long-range optimized

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