Abstract: A system for locating defects on a single-wire earth-return (SWER) network can include a network, a plurality of data collection units, and a server communicably coupled to the plurality of data collection units via the network. Each data collection unit can be positioned at a distribution transformer of the SWER network and configured to measure broadband signals originating from a defect along the SWER network; convert the broadband signals to a digital signal; extract parameters from the digital signal; and transmit the extracted parameters over the network. The server can be configured to receive the extracted parameters from each of the plurality of data collection units; and determine a location of the defect based on the extracted parameters.