A buried object locator , comprising: a mast ; a housing coupled to the mast or near a proximal end of the mast; a processing element disposed in the housing; a display element disposed on or within the housing; and an antenna node coupled to the mast at or near a distal end of the mast, the antenna node comprising: an antenna array support structure; an interior omnidirectional antenna array comprising three orthogonal first antenna coils nested in a spheroid shape disposed on the antenna array support structure, the first antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, wherein the first antenna coils have a common center point; and a gradient antenna array comprising four or more second antenna coils, the second antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, the second antenna coils having axes positioned substantially in the same plane that intersects the common center point of the interior omnidirectional antenna array, wherein the axis of each second antenna coil intersects the common center point of the omnidirectional antenna array; wherein the gradient antenna array is disposed about the omnidirectional antenna array. a mast ; a housing coupled to the mast or near a proximal end of the mast; a processing element disposed in the housing; a display element disposed on or within the housing; and an antenna node coupled to the mast at or near a distal end of the mast, the antenna node comprising: an antenna array support structure; an interior omnidirectional antenna array comprising three orthogonal first antenna coils nested in a spheroid shape disposed on the antenna array support structure, the first antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, wherein the first antenna coils have a common center point; and a gradient antenna array comprising four or more second antenna coils, the second antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, the second antenna coils having axes positioned substantially in the same plane that intersects the common center point of the interior omnidirectional antenna array, wherein the axis of each second antenna coil intersects the common center point of the omnidirectional antenna array; an antenna array support structure; an interior omnidirectional antenna array comprising three orthogonal first antenna coils nested in a spheroid shape disposed on the antenna array support structure, the first antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, wherein the first antenna coils have a common center point; and a gradient antenna array comprising four or more second antenna coils, the second antenna coils having a substantially circular shape and substantially the same dimension, the second antenna coils having axes positioned substantially in the same plane that intersects the common center point of the interior omnidirectional antenna array, wherein the axis of each second antenna coil intersects the common center point of the omnidirectional antenna array; wherein the gradient antenna array is disposed about the omnidirectional antenna array. <EOS>