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Recommendations for a Decent Cable Tester(s)?
- Thread starter TDHoma
- Start date
EddieDuece
IS-IT--Management
Panascanner makes a good tester. I've also used CommScope and Fluke. All work well.
ArmstrongTelecom
Vendor
I would use one of these two flukes
DTX CableAnalyzer™ Series
Significantly reduce total time to certify with 9-second Cat 6 Autotest, Level IV Accuracy, 900 MHz, and intuitive troubleshooting. DTX - It's all about time!
DSP CableAnalyzer™ Series
Complete certification test set for copper data cabling including Cat 6 with powerful diagnostics. This product includes all accessories to certify, store and upload graphical test results data.
The difference in a nutshell is LVL 3 or 4 testing and speed of test
Daniel Armstrong
DTX CableAnalyzer™ Series
Significantly reduce total time to certify with 9-second Cat 6 Autotest, Level IV Accuracy, 900 MHz, and intuitive troubleshooting. DTX - It's all about time!
DSP CableAnalyzer™ Series
Complete certification test set for copper data cabling including Cat 6 with powerful diagnostics. This product includes all accessories to certify, store and upload graphical test results data.
The difference in a nutshell is LVL 3 or 4 testing and speed of test
Daniel Armstrong
Infinity306
IS-IT--Management
Sure, Skip.. how about when you need a 27 Foot cable for some reason? Would your suggestion then be to buy a 50 foot cable and have 23 feet of extra cable? Sorry but the use factory made cables bit gets old at times.. especially when you have the bulk cable around from other projects.. and when I need a cable to use today or tommorow I'd much rather make it on the spot then pay the premium it costs to buy a cable locally(most times you don't have the time to wait for an online order to be delivered.. Sure you can get most sizes for around $3 online.. but that's not the case from retail stores..
I would pull 24 feet of solid cable , terminate them to keystone jacks or a keystone jack on one end patch panel on the other . then use two 3' patch cords .(or 7')
, I carry a min of a dozen or so each 3', 7' , 14' and 25' factory made patch cords on the truck at all times .
if I had to go to the local oulet and pay premium I would .
point is when I'm done it will be secure and troublefree connection. if there is a problem it wont be with my connections.
when I do get a call back for a bad connection . I can put my tester on patch cord to patch cord , show the customer that it passes advise them to call their IT guy then either charge a service call or tell a good customer no charge . either way I look good and next time the IT guy blames the cable they tell him to check further
I want to start making my own cables but don't know what testers are best?"
There is no business case for a $5000 tester to make $3 cables.
The testers referenced above are for testing installations, not patch cables. If you are doing installations and need a tester then it will also come in handy for testing custom patch cables. Cart before horse...
If you are going to be working on network cables you do need some type of tester. These start at less than $100 for a basic wiremap unit with LEDs. The next level is under $500 and has fault finding and distance measurement (my fav is the MicroScanner Pro or get a used Pentascanner). At around $1000 you can get some of the Test-um type units that have neat features but use non-standards based tests. Finally at over $5k you can get the big Flukes and Agilents.
There are a lot of choices out there. It really depends on what type of work you are looking to do, your skill level and the cash flow of your business.
"I would pull 24 feet of solid cable, terminate them to keystone jacks or a keystone jack on one end patch panel on the other . then use two 3' patch cords .(or 7') "
Bull$hit. The guy needs a 27' patch cable, not a 27' permanent installation plus two patch cords.
What you are advocating is more expensive and less reliable, due to the increased connector count, than a well made custom cable.
Mindless adherence to dogma...
There is no business case for a $5000 tester to make $3 cables.
The testers referenced above are for testing installations, not patch cables. If you are doing installations and need a tester then it will also come in handy for testing custom patch cables. Cart before horse...
If you are going to be working on network cables you do need some type of tester. These start at less than $100 for a basic wiremap unit with LEDs. The next level is under $500 and has fault finding and distance measurement (my fav is the MicroScanner Pro or get a used Pentascanner). At around $1000 you can get some of the Test-um type units that have neat features but use non-standards based tests. Finally at over $5k you can get the big Flukes and Agilents.
There are a lot of choices out there. It really depends on what type of work you are looking to do, your skill level and the cash flow of your business.
"I would pull 24 feet of solid cable, terminate them to keystone jacks or a keystone jack on one end patch panel on the other . then use two 3' patch cords .(or 7') "
Bull$hit. The guy needs a 27' patch cable, not a 27' permanent installation plus two patch cords.
What you are advocating is more expensive and less reliable, due to the increased connector count, than a well made custom cable.
Mindless adherence to dogma...
less reliable how so ?
solid cable , teminated to a solid connecter then using a flexible patch cord where applicable is less reliable then a couple of plugs crimped on solid wire with a $49.00 crimp tool ..
I say Crimp on ...guys
really dosnt matter to me what you do , I've supported my self for 25 years by doing quality cabling . if it requires a few dollars more than thats what I do .
when I leave the job I wont be back on a warranty issue , if you consider that to be mindless adherence to dogma then so be it
27 foot patch cord ?
how long can a patch cord be ?
50' ?
100'?
333'?
anything beyond 25' is no longer a patch cord in my opion
Sleepsalot
MIS
Tiger Direct sells a bulk cable kit that has all the tools needed for basic cable work including the tester. It is not very expensive and does what you need. The Fluke testers are great if you have a lot of in wall cables to check. But not needed for patch type cables no matter what length you need.
Wayne
Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.
Wayne
Wayne
Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.
Wayne
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