RG-6 question 1

[madisonjoy]

Anyway of identifying which cable is which for rg-6?
A contractor cut-off all the labeling on my unterminated coax and i don't know what is what. On the user end the coax is terminated.

Any help is appreciated
Jim

 

[franklin97355]

You could tone the cables using a tone and probe.

 

[wires]

There are several ways.

I this is something you do on a regular basis then you can get a wire ID kit to go with many popular cable testers. My favorite tester is the Microscanner Pro. The Office/Room ID Kit MT-8203-17

http://www.flukenetworks.com/us/Cab...Scanner+Pro/Features/Optional+accessories.htm

allows identifying 6 (7 with wiremap unit and adapter) coax cables at a time. Not cheap but very usefull.

For moderate usage a toner and probe can ID one cable at a time.

If this is the only time you are going to be in this situation and you have any sort of a continuity tester (VOM, DMM or testlight with battery) then temporarly shorting one end of the coax with a jumper and finding the shorted cable with the tester is the way to go.

Good Luck!!!

 

[hbiss]

Just use a toner and probe the same way you would for UTP. You can strip an end to expose the braid and center conductor and connect the clip leads from your toner to them. If you want to get fancy make up a short piece of coax with a fitting and screw a barrel connector into it. Again, strip the other end to expose the center conductor and twist the braid back so you can connect your toner. This will be your "test adaptor" which allows you to connect to terminated cables and wall plates. Either way, you can stick the probe tip in the ends at the other end and you will find your cable.

Just make sure that any cable you check is a direct run. Splitters have zero DC resistance (dead short) and will block the toner signal.

A cheap and dirty method used by some cable guys who couldn't afford toners is to connect a battery (9v will do) to one end of the cable. Use a cheap multimeter to look for the battery voltage at the other ends. Not as fast or efficient as a toner but if you only need to do this infrequently you can't beat the cost.

-Hal

 

[skip555]

rather than the batery I have used a jumper wire with alligator clips one clip on the braid one on the center then a VOM for continuity

 

[FuturistechComm]

Spend the $60 to $100 for a toner and probe.

Fluke and Progressive are the best.

 

[franklin97355]

I love my fluke intellatone. (not in THAT way!)

 

[hbiss]

...rather than the batery I have used a jumper wire with alligator clips one clip on the braid one on the center then a VOM for continuity

That will work but how do you know if the short is from your clip lead or there is a splitter somewhere or a staple through the cable?

If you use a battery you know 9 volts isn't going to be coming from anywhere else. When you find it you found your cable. If you have a problem finding the 9 volts disconnect the battery and THEN check for continuity because you know somethings wrong.

In the real world identifying coax used for CATV and satellite is different than identifying twisted pair unless you are certain that your run is uninterrupted from end to end.

It is common to place splitters and other devices in the runs- they shouldn't be but often are. Many times these are hidden and what you may think is an uninterrupted run is not. In this case tone, continuity or voltage based testing is not going to work.

The only way to identify runs in this case is to visually follow it or put an RF signal on it and look for it with a signal level meter at the other end. Estimating attenuation and comparing it to what is being measured will also give you an indication of the condition of the cable and what is located in the line.


-Hal

 

[MetroMan]

Don't forget to label clearly once it's done. I can't count how many times I have seen techs get frustrated toning a tough job, plug in the drop/line, then walk away without tagging a damn thing. I guess they like doing it again and again.

Go Figure.

Trevor Farren
Metrotech Telecom Inc.