Cable Testing Tool

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
H

hchung

Reputable
Aug 21, 2015
1
0
4,510
We're planning to install Cat6 cables entire house. We want test all cables before close walls.
Please help me to chose right tester. We've came down to these 3;
1. Ideal SignalTEK CT
2. T3 Innovation Net Chaser Ethernet Speed Certifier
3. Fluke Networks CableIQ

Thank You.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
kanewolf

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
May 29, 2013
37,280
3,266
156,790
You didn't list this, but instead of the the CableIQ, what about the LinkRunner LRAT-2000 from Fluke Networks. Buying Fluke test equipment is like buying HP printers or IBM (not Lenovo) computers. You know the quality and reliability is there. I am familiar with Ideal test equipment. It is usually lower quality but more features than Fluke. I am not familiar with T3 for test equipment.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,282
2,743
125,640
I have wanted one of these for years but just could never justify the costs. Even used ones are sky high when you are not using it for making a living.

When you spending that kind of money I would stay with the fluke. I have used many of there models....always owned by my employer.

You can rent this equipment if you really are only going to use it one time. Another option is to call a company that installs cables and have them come over and certify the cable with their meters. They charge a lot to actually install the cable but testing it take little time if all your want is the report off the tester. One of the guys I used to work with charged $100 trip charge and then $20/jack.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
kanewolf

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
May 29, 2013
37,280
3,266
156,790


Depending where you live, which would dictate the availability of this type service, this could be a very economical method.

If you follow the rules for punch down and RJ45 termination, you really don't have to "certify" home network cabling. The lower end Fluke MicroScanner will identify most problems.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
jsmithepa

jsmithepa

Polypheme
Jun 14, 2014
13,096
263
60,840
When I did my place, there are 16 wall plates, I just hooked up a server at one end and a laptop on the other end and did ram-to-ram transfers so I can see if am getting close to a gigabit. A poor man's solution but then it was going to be once-off, am never gonna use whatever tool again.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
kanewolf

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
May 29, 2013
37,280
3,266
156,790


I would disagree with that, depending on how much the OP is spending on the infrastructure. He is spending extra for cat6 -- I am not sure why -- and might have 40 or 50 terminations to test. A few hundred $$$ would be what I would expect. It will then be a usable tool for troubleshooting or making patch cables in the future. The original choices presented were $1500 test units. Seems excessive for home use, but I think SLI Titan X graphics cards are excessive. Everybody has different sensitivities.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom