Proper Tools 1

[AndyD5]

Okay here's a good question! there is no question that Fluke makes some of the best stuff but if you are working for a big company they've got the expensive stuff. I had to test 152 VoIP lines punched down in 110 blocks and ran to panduit jacks with an SLT 3 tester it's the gray plastic Piece of junk that has a remote with 4 green lights on one side and a set of 4 green and 4 red on the other side it gives you nothing but the basic yes and no it doesn't accurately tell you if you have an open either. let me tell you they tried to have me test 152 lines all four pairs with one of these that only did a single pair at a time. CAN YOU SAY BUSY WORK. I told them I'd get it done I took a standard Cat5e patch cable cut the end off terminated each line individually into a loose C4 turned it on the vertical and taped them together and made a ganged together tester to test all four pairs at one time which then plugged right into the SLT 3 and the C4 prongs make contact with the prongs in the 110 block that already was equipt and completed with the C4's and the one C5. it might look ghetto but it worked. I sure wasn't gonna spend my day with a single pair tester 608 pairs and testing alone so I have to walk back and forth (guess they think I'm fat or something LOL)


Andy the Cable Guy Chandler, AZ

 

[AndyD5]

point of the thread is just like some advice what do you think is resonable expence for someone to buy their own tools. without having to make a mod tester

Andy the Cable Guy Chandler, AZ

 

[franklin97355]

It will depend on what you want to test. If you want to test shorts, opens and crosses and don't care if the pairs will pass data a microscanner or any of the devices with the lights will work. ($10 to $200 depending on bells and whistles) If you want to make sure it will pass data at 100mbs you will need to spend between $500 to $1000 and if you want to ceritfy the cable so the customer has a warranty you are looking at around $1500 to $5000.

The answer is "42"

 

[wires]

I use S110 Patch Plugs to make cables to transition from 110 punchdowns to 8P8C (RJ45 style) plugs.

Here is a link:

http://www.siemon.com/e-catalog/ECAT_GI_page.aspx?GI_ID=mpc_s110-patch-plug

Different style adapters can be found here:

http://www.independenttech.com/product_page.htm

As far as what sort of tester a "Cable Guy" should have in their tool box I consider the MicroScanner to be a good choice. There is a new model out so you might be able to find some deals on the original model.

 

[pbxn]

AS Franklin said, it depends on what scope of work you are doing. If you are just looking for something to check wiremapping (CAT5 etc) Ideal makes a cheap phone/data/catv tester in one for around a 100. You can get that along with a cheap ohm meter to test for opens, shorts, grounds etc. Ohm meters or what is sometimes called a point meter by telco guys is a great invaluable tool to testing cable faults. If you need something certify cable, you need to weigh the cost with the frequency of the certifications. If you have a job once every few months, or even once a month that requires being certified, you may consider some of these online sites that RENT testers over a big purchase. Me personally I have all of the above, point meters from my telco days, basic cable testers and a fluke, but I have been around this field in some form or fashion my whole career. Good luck and dont get caught up in the name recognition (Fluke)

 

[edfair]

I don't get into the certification arena, but for the basic tests I have 2 of the 8 line testers in the toolbox.
I had one too many cases where the battery on one went out and had to get back home to get another. Generally, at the usage frequency I have, only one will have a battery gone at a time.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[AndyD5]

Well for the time being the expensive stuff FLUKE testers we have various models at the shop we have to certify everything we do we work for the county and they use nothing but Cat6 MOD TAP only tells if there is a problem with the termination with the lights. we have to save the data on the fluke and create a CD with the CAD prints fully labeled and verified a two day job takes a week because of this. I just want to have some of my own tools I now work on stuff at a larger scale were before I did a four pair phone line in a res to now commercial nothing less than a 25 pair up too what I look at and say wow I never in all 9 years needed to know color code past the first 25. Any Ideas where to look for an in expesive giga-punch because I will be building a lot of phone rooms and data centers.

Andy the Cable Guy Chandler, AZ

 

[burtsbees]

Hey franklin---that was a good movie ("the answer is '42' ")---I can't think of it though...lol

Burt

 

[franklin97355]

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Marvin's my hero.

The answer is "42"

 

[oldtimerbob]

If you were only testing your lines for contunity,then the SLT3 was sufficent.
What you lacked was the adaptor to test all four pairs at the 110 end,the advanced kit has them (or if I remember correctly you can get them as an option),and you can get them from other supply houses also.(Amp has them,I know for sure)
IT also shows open pairs,crosses,etc (if you know how to read the sticker on the back of the unit (that is if you put it on when you purchased the thing))

A good thing about the SLT3 is that it is a passive tester.



REMEMBER: The only good things about phones nowadays is the push buttons instead of the rotoary dial and no 'party lines'.

Good Luck,
Oldtimer Bob


Has been in the cabling business for about twenty years and is now the Sr PM for a cabling company located in the Los Angeles area.

http://www.globusinc.net

Also a General Class Amatuer Radio Operator.

 

[aarenot]

OK,
It is not your job to provide any tools of any kind for your job, unless you recieved a written offer, or employment contract which specified the tools provided by you were a term of employment.

Enough said, do the job, get your hours of pay, suggest the productivity tools that would increase company productivity, and reduce costs. Then collect your paycheck.