Copper cable tester: Your options
Copper cable testing can be broken down into three types of testers:
- Verification - Is this cable connected correctly? Also known as pair or continuity testers.
- Qualification - Can the cabling link support the desired network speed or technology?
- Certification - Does the installed cabling link comply with TIA/ISO standards?
Verification Testers
Verification test tools perform basic continuity functions (for example length, wiremap & toning). They may also detect which switch the cable connects into and the level of PoE.
These testers are great for finding connection and wire-pairing faults. They are fairly low cost and pretty easy to use. Just make sure you select one that uses Type B pattern for the pairs (Europe) and not the Type A (USA).
We suggest you look at the Fluke Networks MicroScanner, NetAlly LinkSprinter and NetAlly LinkRunner AT.
Qualification Testers
If you're looking to know how fast the network can run over your copper cabling, then you'll need a Qualification tester.
These tools determine if the existing cabling link can support a specific service (such as 1Gig or 10Gig ethernet). The unit generates test signals in the same data frame format as the service you are testing for, and checks they get to the other end in a useable state.
A speed reading is reported. Some units also test for PoE capability for installing Access Points, Cameras, VoIP etc.
However, as they don't test to the TIA/ISO standards, they cannot certify the installation meets specifications such as Cat6A or Class F. Which means in most cases they are not sufficient for contract testing of new cabling installations. And they do not test the cable for services which are not ethernet based ie AV, Streaming Media, other signal types.
On the plus side, the price is significantly cheaper than a Certification tester. We recommend the Fluke Networks LinkIQ.
Certification Testers
If you need to know that a cable is going to meet a specific, international industry standard, you'll need a Certification Tester, the most rigorous of all cable testers.
Certification tools are the only tools that provide “Pass” or “Fail” information against defined limits over set frequency ranges in accordance with the detailed test procedures of recognized standards such as ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 or the ISO/IEC standard 11801:2002.
The TIA standard defines levels of performance in categories such as Category 5, 6, 6A & 7. Whereas the ISO standard defines classes of performance such as Class D, Class E and Class F. Certification also requires that all test results taken in the field are stored and available in print or electronic format for future inspection (see example test report to the right - click to enlarge).
For certification tester we recommend the Fluke Networks DSX Cable Analyzer due to their wide range support of all standards and component manufacturers, their ease of use, speed and quality.
