testing pairs on 66 blocks

[crooter]

Anyone know of, or put into practice any methods of testing pairs on a 66 block going from MPOE to phone closets? Just looking for ideas to use before termination and then finding out the pairs are bad.

Thanks

 

[lopes1211]

There a RJ45 modular adapters for 66 blocks. Snaps over 4 pairs on the block, then plug the RJ45 into your cable tester on opposite ends. Lets you test 4 pair at once.

-CL

 

[crooter]

Lopes1211

That sounds pretty feasible and I think they make those for two pair as well

 

[lopes1211]

yes, they make them in 1,2,3,4 pair versions. not sure if home depot would have one but everyone in business does (greybar, alltel, anixter).

-CL

 

[skip555]

I don't think Ive ever had a bad pair on a new run , why bother testing ?

you can get the 66 blcok Testars in 1 , 2 ,3, 4,6 and 8 pair config

 

[crooter]

Skip 555
A lot of the building I am installing into have old facilities that have been used many times

after thinking it through about using my STM8 cable tester---most of the situations I run into is tall buildings that have multiple phone closets and blocks that tie like the 9th floor to the 6th and then a feed from the 6th to the 3rd and then lastly a feed from the 3rd to the MPOE---not everything is labeled so I would need to tone it to find it---(plus I would not want to leave the main testset un-attended while I am going down to the MPOE--thats $250.00 easier to loose a tone generator that the STM8)

So the only way to actually use it safely is to id the pairs going down to the MPOE by tone and making the cross connects and then going back up to the 9th and plugging in the remote and going back down the MPOE for the test.

I wish there were an easier way. I am hoping someone else has crossed this bridge

Thanks

 

[skip555]

I was assuming you where talking about new installs

you know that word assume .


sounds like you work alone , as I do

one thing that can help is multiple tones .

I have four tones I can use (all with different tones so I know which is which )

actually two brands each set one , warble one solid )

cuts down on the trips up and down

 

[crooter]

Yes -- I do work alone. I guess I better squeeze a little more out of the paycheck and buy another one or two tone generators. I guess the reason there really is nothing devised for this, is its not really a common problem.

Thanks for the suggestions

 

[comtechau]

Crooter - I'm from Oz, so this may not help.

If you are after a cable tester to use Before Termination...
Keep an eye out on E-bay for "Seaward Cable Tester WT500". It does 19 cables (9 pairs) at a time, Tx & Rx unit using alligator clips to each cable pair. Its a British made unit, but we use them in oz a bit.

Go to

http://rswww.com

and search "seaward WT500" to check out what they look like.

I have seen them go on e-Bay at times quite cheaply (compared to RRP).

 

[crooter]

Thanks Comtechau

So if I understand this correctly, I would use 4 of the "sender" cables for two pair, which produce a certain voltage, and a clip on the other end which will connect to the receiver and show the voltage going down those pairs?
If there is voltage going down each wire--then I would know that each wire is good?

I am not smart enough to ask a good question on this or the usage. Can you tell me step for step how you use this so I can get a better picture?

Thanks

 

[comtechau]

The sender has 19 alligator clips (individually color coded), reciever unit the same...It can test 19 conductors at a time. So yes - for a 2 pair cable you use 4 clips on the sender and same 4 clips on the reciever. The unit's are powered by 9V battery, and it is really just a continuity tester. [I don't understand why the heck they never made a 20th clip lead so you could test 10 pairs at a time.....]
I come across them on e-bay every few months...

 

[skip555]

comtechau post got me thinking , sieman makes a 25 pair cable tester , I think they may make a couple .

I never saw a reason for them so they didn't come to mind

http://www.siemon.com/e-catalog/ECAT_GI_page.aspx?GI_ID=tt_mt-5000

. there is a shoe you can get to go over a 66 block for testing

http://www.siemon.com/e-catalog/ECAT_GI_page.aspx?GI_ID=tt_25-pair-test-adapters

Ive seen these on ebay also ..IVe never had a use for one

 

[LkEErie]

Let me help you out....DON'T get the MT-5000. I've had mine for several years and have not used it in over 10. You can only test on dry pairs....great for new installs, but not for live circuits.

It's better to spring for a pair of toners, and a lot less money.

LkEErie

 

[crooter]

dry pairs would be what I would test---but I noticed the price---$525.00 ----and even if I got it for 60% less on EBAY, its still too expensive and only has one application--the toners have several---

However it sure seems there are a lot more idea doors opening and maybe there is a door with a perfect idea or maybe I could make with a battery and alligator clips and led's, if I knew what I was doing.............

Thanks

 

[skip555]

I saw a mt 5000 with the shoes go on ebay for less than 100.

I was going to bid but thinking about it I realized I would rarely if ever use it .

 

[crooter]

Maybe this is why there isnt a tester really for one or two pair---I guess the easiest way to go is just tone using two toners, make the cross connects and terminations---plug into the equipment--if it goes green, I got happy feet, it it stays yellow, I guess that is when I will use my stm8 to check for shorts or bad pairs.

Thanks to all that contributed--lots of great suggestions

 

[pbxn]

This may have been mentioned not sure, but being an old phone co. guy a standard, non-fancy cheap point meter that telco's use works just fine in testing pairs. It has a tip (black) and ring (red) alligator tip and in a little time you can troubleshoot an open to less than a 100'. If you go on a pair and the meter pegs all the way to the right, you have a short. This is ofcourse to test voice pairs and not CAT 5 and beyond, but if your looking just at house pairs for voice, a point meter would do the trick.

 

[crooter]

are you talking about a multi-meter?

 

[LkEErie]

Prolly the Simpson 260

 

[pbxn]

Yeah that sounds about right. Though the SImpson's look a little more nicer than what I used to use. A few hundred bucks, but I wouldn't go anywhere chasing trouble without one.
There is another one, that telco's like to use more and more and that is called a Sidekick meter. They are nice, becuase there is a an option to check for possible noise on the pair, but a few grand, and the fact that it doesn't bounce that well off of the ground before it breaks sort of scares me from it. I had a sidekick, it broke 3 weeks after I used it. Regular point meter has been known to take a fall from the standard 18' on a pole