Cable testing equipment.

I'm not looking to break the bank. I don't do this as a career but as a hobby and I'm learning something new every day. I have about 3/4 mile of cat5e and cat6 in my house for my whole house audio, networking, and cameras. I also work at my friend's house doing his networking, out at his shop with cameras and networking, and at his bin site networking and cameras. I also just got done doing another friend's cameras and networking, along with the same at my brother-in-law's place. All in all, I'm sure there are 5 miles or more of different cat5e and cat6 cable runs. Plus at these places, there is cable internet.
I'm looking for something that will test all the cables periodically as mice in some of those areas can cause damage, plus age, etc.
What do you use to test cables? I would like to keep it under $150 and under $100 would be the best for no more than I would use it. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.

Either of these are in your budget. The Klein has all the mappers but I rarely use it. If you get up to 4-$500 range you can get a good camera tester that has a lot more functionality for network cabling; will tell you how far the break is. I’ll post a pic when I get home.

How are you wanting to test? I use the Gardner Bender version of this on every cable I make and every run I punch down and terminate. All it does is show continuity, but that's enough for me.

I just plug the camera in - if it works it is good and if it doesn't it is bad LOL.

So you want to just for kicks on a working cable test it for mice bites - is that even possible?

If the cable is suspect to chewing by rodents, then it should be installed in conduit to protect from that problem.

looney2ns said:

If the cable is suspect to chewing by rodents, then it should be installed in conduit to protect from that problem.

Click to expand...

Rodenticide is much quicker and cheaper!

This is the other more expensive one.

This isn't something I will spend a lot of money on, as it isn't used all that often. Spend $50 and it will get you this setup which has proven very reliable for me.

I picked this up @ local Menards. It isn't fancy, but good enough for what I'll do. 25 bucks
Jonard Tools® Modular Cable Tester for RJ45, RJ12, RJ11 Cables

I believe there are 2 kinds of questions one can ask and the test equipment are different for each.

1) Is the wire continuous? Are there any breaks along the way or is there a break at the terminators?
The majority of testers (at least the ones we can afford as diyers) test continuity. And since continuity is continuity, they are all similar in effectiveness. Just get one that is reasonably priced and looks/feels nice to you! I have a generic one that I purchased cheap years ago and it has served me well.

2) Will the cable carry the data signals at the speeds we need them to without corruption, errors, etc.? e.g. at gigabit network speeds?
This requires that the wires be continuous of course, but it also requires that the terminators have been installed per specs ... there will be a maximum amount of wire that can been untwisted or we lose the ability to reject interference from stray emi. This testing probably requires lab grade equipment.
But the specs allow for some margin and I have never had a terminator that I installed fail in this (if they passed the continuity test).

I have, however, encountered a case where this issue showed up - my brother had an outlet in one of his rooms where the network was flaky. When we opened the box we noticed that the installer had untwisted more than needed and so there was an inch or so of straight/untwisted cable behind the terminator. We cut the cable and redid rj45 plug and the problem went away.

I use this one, SC8108.
SC8108 Portable LCD Network Tester Meter LAN Phone Cable Tester LCD Display | eBay

In addition to verifying continuity that the basic testers do, this one will tell you the approximate cable length, helpful for finding mid-run shorts and opens. It doesn't do the bandwidth testing that the $$$ testers do.

Another possibility is some network switches have cable testing capabilities built-in. Consumer grade, not so much, but enterprise class devices, yes... depends on what you have
Get a single long cable (that can run from network switch/main junction point thru house to most distant cable end (presuming within CAT5/6 Ethernet cable length limits)
test that long cable, then also test along with a barrel connector (2nd short cable). no you can connect both ends of cable run to same switch for testing (again, assuming switch with such a capability)

I have an old MicroTest (bought later by Fluke)... can't test 1000T specs, but can be had for cheap on eBay... and much more thorough than simple continuity testers. Make sure to get both ends of tester. Ex MICROTEST PENTA SCANNER 100MHz CABLE TESTER | eBay does NOT include the small unpowered device that goes on the other end of the cable run (little larger than an old 5-pack of gum)

KOLSOL AT278 NF-8601S
is a good test meter. It has TDR functions - tells you the length of your cable, can requst an ip address when looking toward the router/switch...can do a port flash so you know what switch port your plugged into.....can tell you the poe voltage supplied and on what prs.....they'r better meters but you must use them on ckts that work correctly so you will recognise the ckts that do not work properly. ...it will akso put a tone and do simple wire map.... although if that's all you want get somerhing simple.

I was lucky enough to have some quality test equiment many years ago, when i was a bench tech. The test meter i referenced above is pretty good for less than 200 dollars.

---if all you want is wire map...and that's your skillset OK many good wiremap test meters available.

I used to tell my guys use your meter on every install so you know what a good ckt looks like. If you only use your test equipment when something is broke, you won't be able to properly diagnose the issue.




JMHO take it for what it's worth.