Need a good network cable tester tool

[Thedog]

Hello,

So far i've only used cheap network cable testers (under 10 USD) but I am in need of some better gear. These are the features I would be looking for, not sure if all is possible.

Much needed features
- POE-protection, the tool should not break in case I plug in a POE wire in it
- Broken wire, possibility from one end to locate how far in the cable it is broken
- Being able to identify where a wire goes with sound, using a probe.
- Being able to identify which end of a cable is broken, for example if you use a cheap network tool it will only show light that for example "5" is not working, but you don't know in which side of the cable

Not so needed but would be nice to have
- Being able to test actual network speed on a cable without using computer etc (with tester only)
- Being able to see how long a cable runs
- Be able to test TV-signals

If possible I would appreciate eBay links as I find it easy to buy things from there.

 

[TurricanII]

Check this out http://pockethernet.com

Mentioned by @pctechforhire not so long ago.

 

[Thedog]

Check this out http://pockethernet.com

Mentioned by @pctechforhire not so long ago.

it is good idea but I don't like that you cannot even do basic testing without your phone


Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

 

[trevm999]

it is good idea but I don't like that you cannot even do basic testing without your phone

That's why it is cheaper than standalone devices with the same features

 

[TmouR]

Can I use Pockethernet without a phone/tablet?

• Pockethernet has a basic user interface made up of RGB LEDs. They display basic information about the cable (pass/fail/failure type) and the network (link/DHCP status). You can therefore take a quick look without using your phone at all.

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

If all you want is what I call an Idiot Tester (those that only have LEDs) then there are much cheaper ones out there. These LED only testers are worthless in my opinion.

The Pockethernet might be good for troubleshooting network issues but I can't see it being a very good cable tester. I personally use the Fluke CableIQ to test all of my cables. It provides all of the information I need and can even tell you which side of the cable that is connected wrong or where a break is. It won't work on a POE line and it tells you that there is voltage on the line instead of blowing up.

I would look for two different testers as I never seem to need both at the same time and I prefer the features that dedicated testers have. Ther are many good testers out there at a reasonable price (I don't think the ByteBrothers Real Word Certifier is one).

 

[fencepost]

I'm thinking the jump from $10 "tester" to $1100+ CableIQ may be a bit much to swallow for folks who aren't doing cabling as a primary job. If OP's working mostly with home and very small business (<10 user) clients, it may take him years to actually make a profit on that level of Fluke.

There also appear to have been some real changes at Fluke, and the cheaper option (LinkSprinter) that I might have suggested is now part of their new parent company, Netscout. I'll note that the Linksprinter also looks an awful lot like a box with a bunch of LEDs that connects out to an outside cloud service that you then use via your phone.

 

[Thedog]

I think the most needed feature for me is to know which side of a cable is miswired / not getting contact. What are the best options here without spending way to much?

 

[Markverhyden]

Here's a couple of options sold in the US. May be available on the other side of the pond as they are Ideal and Klein. But, like the blinky light things, they are just glorified Ohmm meters. They will not give you an indicator of how far away from the main is a cable failure. Nor will they give you any indicators of things like BERT, NEXT, FEXT, etc.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-VDV-Mulitmedia-Cable-Tester-33-856/202276231

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-VDV-Scout-Pro-2-Tester-Kit-VDV501-823R/205209866

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

I'm thinking the jump from $10 "tester" to $1100+ CableIQ may be a bit much to swallow for folks who aren't doing cabling as a primary job. If OP's working mostly with home and very small business (<10 user) clients, it may take him years to actually make a profit on that level of Fluke.

There also appear to have been some real changes at Fluke, and the cheaper option (LinkSprinter) that I might have suggested is now part of their new parent company, Netscout. I'll note that the LinkSprinter also looks an awful lot like a box with a bunch of LEDs that connects out to an outside cloud service that you then use via your phone.

I just pointed out what I was using and what I didn't like. Yes, the Fluke CableIQ can be expensive for most but if you look on eBay you can find them at a good price like this one. http://tinyurl.com/jkq89ra

Fluke sold off the network testing side of the business and only kept the cable testing side. The LinkSprinter was part of the side that was sold off. It also works with a phone app that you used to see results

 

[JustInTech]

I have a Pockethernet and use it all the time as a cable tester and as a network troubleshooter. It comes with a wiremap adapter for testing cables and it also tells you the distance to the fault plus a whole lot more (some things a gimmicky but most are useful and I might use them in the next 10 years or so ).

The quick test without the smartphone is fine for an initial test.

It also emails out a pdf report which is handy for us as we don't do the cable runs so we just pass it on to the electrician and he has all the info he needs.

Cheers

 

[skdmaster]

The tester I use is https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-...486092133&sr=8-4&keywords=network+tester&th=1 with https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-...rd_wg=SWaG0&psc=1&refRID=N8S3YFANCDRZ1HZ33V7J - Can test 8 jacks at once and identify 19 makes jobs quick.

 

[NETWizz]

If all you want is what I call an Idiot Tester (those that only have LEDs) then there are much cheaper ones out there. These LED only testers are worthless in my opinion.

The Pockethernet might be good for troubleshooting network issues but I can't see it being a very good cable tester. I personally use the Fluke CableIQ to test all of my cables. It provides all of the information I need and can even tell you which side of the cable that is connected wrong or where a break is. It won't work on a POE line and it tells you that there is voltage on the line instead of blowing up.

I would look for two different testers as I never seem to need both at the same time and I prefer the features that dedicated testers have. Ther are many good testers out there at a reasonable price (I don't think the ByteBrothers Real Word Certifier is one).

I use the Cable IQ tester, too, and it depends on the switch. A properly working PoE switch does NOT error out, but one that is goofed up does cause the errors you mentioned.

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

I use the Cable IQ tester, too, and it depends on the switch. A properly working PoE switch does NOT error out, but one that is goofed up does cause the errors you mentioned.

It's not about the POE working correctly with the CableIQ. It has to do with the testing and even the phantom voltage present can cause harm to the tester of POE source.

 

[Thedog]

But not a single cable tester can tell you which side of a cable that has an error? So for example if you only get 7 out of 8 wires you always have to change both ends?


Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

But not a single cable tester can tell you which side of a cable that has an error? So for example if you only get 7 out of 8 wires you always have to change both ends?


Skickat från min iPhone med Tapatalk

Not correct.

You have to look at a couple of things to see which end is bad. The tester needs to have a good TDR built into it and have a good cable mapping display.

You use the TDR to see how far away the bad line is and then the cable mapper display to verify which end it's one.
With the Fluke CableIQ, I can see how long each pair is and the cable mapping shows me which end is the tester and which is the terminator. If the bad line is on the tester side it will show only a snub of a line at the tester. If it's on the far side it will show a long line that doesn't connect to the terminator.

 

[Thedog]

Not correct.

You have to look at a couple of things to see which end is bad. The tester needs to have a good TDR built into it and have a good cable mapping display.

You use the TDR to see how far away the bad line is and then the cable mapper display to verify which end it's one.
With the Fluke CableIQ, I can see how long each pair is and the cable mapping shows me which end is the tester and which is the terminator. If the bad line is on the tester side it will show only a snub of a line at the tester. If it's on the far side it will show a long line that doesn't connect to the terminator.

Could you please link to the cheapest version you know that has this feature?

 

[Mercenary Roadie]

Could you please link to the cheapest version you know that has this feature?

No, not really. I use the tools that I use for a reason and I have no need to search for cheaper versions that are just that cheap.

The Fluke CableIQ does all of what I described and the one I linked in an earlier post sold for only $600. That's was $400 cheaper than what I bought mine for on eBay.