A method for a reduction in backfield alarms in an electronic article surveillance system having at least two transceiver pedestals (102a, 102b) defining a detection zone (108, 304) between the pedestals (102a, 102b), comprising: measuring a tag response at a first pedestal and at a second pedestal to obtain contemporaneous first and second tag responses, the first and second tag responses respectively associated with the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b); comparing the first and second tag responses to evaluate their relative signal strength and thereby discern a lesser signal strength tag response; setting a reduced level exciter drive signal for a selected one of the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b) associated with the lesser signal strength tag response; using the reduced level exciter drive signal at the pedestal (102a, 102b) associated with the lesser signal strength tag response to produce an electromagnetic exciter field in said detection zone (108, 304); monitoring to determine the occurrence of a third tag response resulting from the reduced level exciter signal; and determining the approximate location of the tag in relation to the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b) based on the first, second, and third tag responses, wherein said reduced level exciter drive signal is reduced in power level as compared to an exciter signal used to obtain said contemporaneous first and second tag responses; wherein said comparing step further comprises determining which of said pedestals (102a, 102b) has a greater signal strength tag response, and further comprising selecting said reduced level exciter drive signal to produce a detectable exciter tag response at a distance which extends up to the pedestal (102a, 102b) associated with the greater signal strength tag response and no further. measuring a tag response at a first pedestal and at a second pedestal to obtain contemporaneous first and second tag responses, the first and second tag responses respectively associated with the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b); comparing the first and second tag responses to evaluate their relative signal strength and thereby discern a lesser signal strength tag response; setting a reduced level exciter drive signal for a selected one of the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b) associated with the lesser signal strength tag response; using the reduced level exciter drive signal at the pedestal (102a, 102b) associated with the lesser signal strength tag response to produce an electromagnetic exciter field in said detection zone (108, 304); monitoring to determine the occurrence of a third tag response resulting from the reduced level exciter signal; and determining the approximate location of the tag in relation to the first and second pedestals (102a, 102b) based on the first, second, and third tag responses, wherein said reduced level exciter drive signal is reduced in power level as compared to an exciter signal used to obtain said contemporaneous first and second tag responses; wherein said comparing step further comprises determining which of said pedestals (102a, 102b) has a greater signal strength tag response, and further comprising selecting said reduced level exciter drive signal to produce a detectable exciter tag response at a distance which extends up to the pedestal (102a, 102b) associated with the greater signal strength tag response and no further.