receiving a transmitted radiofrequency signal at a receiver module disposed in or coupled to a buried object locator system transmitter, wherein the transmitted signal includes information for determining a timing reference;

generating a timing reference from the received information for determining a timing reference at the buried object locator system transmitter;

generating, in the buried object locator system transmitter, a phase-synchronized output current signal having a phase determined at least in part by the determined timing reference; providing the phase-synchronized output current signal to a coupling device for coupling to the buried object for the coupled current signal to generate a magnetic field output signal for detection by a corresponding buried utility locator;

receiving the magnetic field output signal from the buried object at the buried utility locator;

receiving another transmitted radiofrequency signal at a receiver module disposed in or coupled to the buried utility locator, wherein the another transmitted signal includes other information for determining a timing reference;

generating a second timing reference from the other received information for determining a second timing reference at the buried utility locator;

determining a second timing reference from the second timing information; and

determining information related to the current in the buried object based at least in part on the received magnetic field signal and the second timing reference based at least in part on a time difference determined from the phase of the received magnetic field signal and the second timing reference.