A system for positioning a power tong unit at a desired position along the longitude of an electrically conductive tubular, comprising: a) an electric coil operatively connected to a source of electric current, thereby creating an electro-magnetic field therearound, said electric coil adapted to be placed radially with respect to and sufficiently close to an electrically conductive tubular so that said electro-magnetic field is influenced by the presence of said tubular; b) a means for creating relative movement between said electric coil and said tubular in a direction substantially parallel to the longitude of said tubular, while said electric coil remains at a substantially constant distance from an outer surface of said tubular; c) a means for detecting a change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil in response to movement of said electric coil in a direction parallel to the longitude of said tubular, said means for detecting comprising a digital processor, and wherein said change in said electro-magnetic field comprises a change in at least one of impedance, current, and phase angle of said electric current and wherein said change results from a plurality of attributes of said tubular within said electro-magnetic field, said change comprising data from which a position of said connection end may be determined; wherein the digital processor is configured to measure at least one of impedance, current, and phase angle of the electric current through the electric coil; d) a power tong unit, comprising a power tong and/or a backup unit; e) a means for positioning said power tong unit at a desired position along a line parallel to the longitude of said tubular, said means for positioning operatively coupled to said means for detecting a change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil, and thereby positioning said power tong unit at said height above said datum corresponding to said connection end in response to a said change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil; characterized in that the system further comprises f) a portfolio of surface profile attributes, stored in a database, detectable by evaluation of impedance data from said coil, wherein said surface profile attributes may be distinguished from impedance data signifying said connection end or other defined attribute of said tubular, whereby said connection end may be identified with greater accuracy by said surface profile attributes being distinguished from said impedance data signifying said connection end and said power tong/backup unit positioned accordingly relative to said connection end or other defined attribute of said tubular, by movement of said power tong/backup unit or said tubular. a) an electric coil operatively connected to a source of electric current, thereby creating an electro-magnetic field therearound, said electric coil adapted to be placed radially with respect to and sufficiently close to an electrically conductive tubular so that said electro-magnetic field is influenced by the presence of said tubular; b) a means for creating relative movement between said electric coil and said tubular in a direction substantially parallel to the longitude of said tubular, while said electric coil remains at a substantially constant distance from an outer surface of said tubular; c) a means for detecting a change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil in response to movement of said electric coil in a direction parallel to the longitude of said tubular, said means for detecting comprising a digital processor, and wherein said change in said electro-magnetic field comprises a change in at least one of impedance, current, and phase angle of said electric current and wherein said change results from a plurality of attributes of said tubular within said electro-magnetic field, said change comprising data from which a position of said connection end may be determined; wherein the digital processor is configured to measure at least one of impedance, current, and phase angle of the electric current through the electric coil; d) a power tong unit, comprising a power tong and/or a backup unit; e) a means for positioning said power tong unit at a desired position along a line parallel to the longitude of said tubular, said means for positioning operatively coupled to said means for detecting a change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil, and thereby positioning said power tong unit at said height above said datum corresponding to said connection end in response to a said change in said electro-magnetic field of said electric coil; characterized in that the system further comprises f) a portfolio of surface profile attributes, stored in a database, detectable by evaluation of impedance data from said coil, wherein said surface profile attributes may be distinguished from impedance data signifying said connection end or other defined attribute of said tubular, whereby said connection end may be identified with greater accuracy by said surface profile attributes being distinguished from said impedance data signifying said connection end and said power tong/backup unit positioned accordingly relative to said connection end or other defined attribute of said tubular, by movement of said power tong/backup unit or said tubular.