Most operators use the Ground stake that comes with their transmitter. In doing so it is important to sink the ground stake deeply into the soil. Planting the stake deeper increases the chance for reaching moist soil and exposes more of the metal stake to the dirt. Take precautions though to not hit a buried conductor with your ground stake. You can do a passive search with your receiver as one of many ways to help identify unknown utility line locations.

If necessary, longer, wider ground stakes can be used as well as shovels and other digging tools. A long screwdriver may be handy if you have nothing else.

Be careful to NOT to hit any underground utilities with your ground stake!

Like the antenna on a car, exposing more metal captures more signal.