1.4 Testing Cables
Basics
Whether you are terminating a new piece of cabling or want to troubleshoot existing cables, there are several tools you can use to test whether a cable is working or not. Cable testers can come in various types and with a variable number of features; the number of features available on a tester can add to their cost. Still, a good cable tester is a valuable tool for maintaining your network infrastructure.
Terms to Know
You should know the following terms:
- Patch cord
- Wall port
- Patch panel
- Switch port
- Cable tester
Information
The best time to verify your cabling is just after you've made all the connections because you should still have easy access to all the cable runs. When testing or troubleshooting a cabled network, there are different connections you may need to test, including:
- The patch cord between a computing device and the wall port;
- The wall port and the cabling in the wall;
- The port on the patch panel; and
- The patch cord to the switch port.
The main purpose of cable testing is to find wiring faults. There are a range of cable testers that can complete different types of tests and give you different types of information.
How to Use a Cable Tester, Including a Tone Generator
At its most basic, a cable tester will light up or otherwise indicate on a display if all eight wires are getting a connection. Others generate tones or use digital displays to give additional information. More advanced cable testers can provide information about cable conditions, crosstalk, attenuation, noise, resistance, and more. Review your manufacturer’s documentation for specific directions for your cable tester or tone generator.
Additional Resources
Here are additional resources you may find useful:
- This short video (8:20) from PowerCert Animations covers a range of Networking Tools.
- This video on Testing and Mapping Cable Runs is a bit longer (17:32) but network expert Jeremy Cioara demonstrates a variety of cable testing equipment in real settings. At the end, Jeremy even creates one type of cable map.
- Wire Map Testing: It’s Not All About Color from Fluke Networks
- Article: Network Cable Testers and Copper Cable Tester Selection Guide from Fluke Networks.
Task/Self-Assessment
Complete the following task or self-assessment:
It's your turn.
Use the cable testing equipment you have available to practice testing different cables. You can find some basic cable testing equipment for a low price, but the price can keep going up depending on the quality and type of cable testing equipment you want to purchase.
- Start with the cable or cables you terminated earlier. You should be able to use a cable tester to confirm that you have terminated the cable correctly on both ends. If your test isn't successful, correct the cable termination and test it again.
- Look for cabling in your building that you can test. You may want to check on all of these locations:
- The patch cord between a computing device and the wall port;
- The wall port and the cabling in the wall;
- The port on the patch panel;
- The patch cord to the switch port.