Cable Testing Guide (Certifiers, Qualifiers, Verifiers, Wiremappers)
Proper cable installation is critical to trouble-free surveillance systems, but testing is often an afterthought. Typically, problems are only discovered when cameras have issues, resulting in increased troubleshooting or, even worse, reinstallation.
Simple, inexpensive testers are available, which can easily prevent these issues without adding substantial install time.
In this guide, we examine:
- The four main test tool types: Certifiers, Qualifiers, Verifiers, and Wiremap testers
- Choosing between the four types of test tools
- Key cable testing parameters: Crosstalk, propagation delay, skew, loss, and more
- Channel vs. Permanent Link vs. MPTL testing
- Additional features including Cable Identification and Service Detection
- Reading test reports
The **** **** **** **** *****
***** *** **** **** **** **** types ***** ********** *** ****** **** in ********* ******* ************:
- ************* *** **** ** *** **** to **** ** ****/***/******* *********, ***** ensures ************ ******** *** *********** ********** link ***********. **** ******** ** **** price ** ~$**,***, * ** ** of * *********.
- ***************** * ******** ********* **** *** are *** *********-*********, ****** ********* ** give * '**** *****' **** ** a ***** ***** **** **********.
- **************** ***** **** ** ******* *** length ***** ***** ***** ***************, *** not *********, ****, ****, ***. **** are **** **** **** *********, ~$***-***.
- ******* *********** **** ********** ** *** **** pairs ** *** *** *****, **** no ******** ***** ** *************** ***********. These ******* *** *** ******-****, **** some ** *** ** ~$**.
******* *******, *********, *** ********** *** most ****** ** ************. ********** *** typically **** **** ** **-******* ************ as **** ******** ******** **** ******* to **** ********* *** ***** *** more **-***** ******/******* *******, ******* ** just *** *****, *** ********* ********* in ************.
********** **** ****** ******/***/*** *********, ******* * **** ******* ** tests, ********* ***** *** ** ********* and ********** (*******, ******), ***** ****** others *** ******* **** **-***** ********* testing. *** ***** ***** ******** * physical ******** ** *****'* ***-**** *********.
***** ***** *******:
- *********:**** **** ******** *** ****** ** signal ***** ** ****** ******* **** ** * ***** ** another, ** **** *** ***** ** another. **** ******** *-* ********* ********* tests (**** ***, *** ***, ***** crosstalk, ***.) ********* ** *** ******** of *** ***** ***** ******. ********** simply **** ***** "*********", ******* *** of ***** ******** ************.
- *********** *****:**** **** ** ******* ** *******, measuring *** **** ** ***** *** the ****** ** ***** *** *** end ** *** *****.
- ***** ****:**** ***** ******* *** ********** ** delay ***** *** **** ***** ** the *****. *********** *********** *** ******** cable ****** ** ******** ******.
- *********/****** ****:***** *** ************ ** *** ****** loss ****** ** ********** ** *** cable *** (********* ****) ** ** reflected ****** **** ** *** **** point (****** ****) ********* ****** ** poor ************ ** ***** ******.
*** ***** ***** ************ ***** * Fluke ***-**** *********.
***** ********** *** *** **** ****** than ***** *******, ********* ** ***** $5,000 ***, ****** $**,***+ ** *** uncommon, **** **** **** ********* ***** optic ******** ***** ******* *** $**,***. In ******** ** *** ******* ****, certifiers **** ** ******* **-********** ************ (every *-* *****), ***** ****** **** a *** ******* ** **** * thousand *******.
*** ** *** **** ****** ********** required *** ********** ******* **** ** these, **** * ******* ** ************* sell ***** **********, **** ******** *********** ******** ****** (******** *****)***** *** ** *** **** ******.
Certification **** *******
*** ** *** ********** ** ********** over ********* ** ******* ******* ** that **** ***** ******* ***** *** then ** ********* ** *** *** user ** ******** ** ***** **** all ****** **** ****** *** *** properly *********. **** ************* ** ********* not ******** ** ***** *******.
******* *** ** ********* ** ******** in *** ****** ** ** * spreadsheet (******* .***) ****** ********* *** tested ***** ***** ** * ***** system.**** ***** ** ******* ** * ******** test ****** ******** ** * ***** certifier.
********** *** **** ********** *********, *** are *** ********* ********** *** ******* to *********, ****** **** *** ****** ground ******* ********* *** **********.
*** ****** ********* ******* *** *******, length, ************** *** ******* ********* ** verifiers, *** *** ********* **** **:
- ******* *******:******* ** ****** ********* ******** ******* on * *****, ********** *** ****** tests ** ***** ***** ********* *** basic ****** *** ********* ******* ** will ******* **/***, ***, ***. ***** tests ********* ******* *********, ****** *** to *** ***** * ********* *****.
- *** *******:******* ** ****** ********** **** *** is *******, ********** ******* ************ **** as ******* *** ******* *******, ***** can ******** ******* * **** ** 802.3af, ***.**, ** ***.*** *** ************ issues **** ***** ******.
- ***** **** *******:*** **** ******** ** ********** ****** test ******* ** **-***** *******, ** these *** ** ******* *** ** stored ** *** *** ** * project *** *************.
- **** ******** ********:********** ******* **** ******** ***** *********** than *********, ******* *** ********* ******** to *** ***** *****, *** ******* it's * ***** ** ********* *****, often ****** ** ******* ** ******* (but *** ***) ******.
********** *** * ***** ***** ******** over *********. ******** ************ *** *****$*,*********, ****** *** ***** *** ***** of ***** ******** *****, *** ************. Fluke ******** ******** ******* ** ***** ****** ***** ***** for ~$****. ***** ******** (******** *****)********* ** **** *** **** ****** ~$2400. ************ ***** *** *** **** options ** ****** **** ** ********** are *** ** ****** ********* ** verifiers.
Cable *********
***** ********* ******* *** **** ****** tests ****** ** ****** ***** ***** performance, ****** ***** ******** *** ********* vary ** ************. ********* ******* ** the ******** **** **** ******, *** one ** **** ****** *****, ******* into *** *** *** ** *** cable ** ** ******. **** **** allow ******* ** **** ****** *** F *********.
*** **** ****** ******** ** ********* are:
- *******: ******* ********** ******* *** ** terminated *********, **** *** ******* ***** in *** ***** ***** ** *** connector, ********* *****/*** ****/*. **** *** ** ********* ***********, via **** ** *******. ********* ******* is **** ******* ** *** *** the *************, ** ** ******** ******* which **** *** *** *****, *** how **** *** *******. ** *** case ** **** ******, ** ****** shows ******* ***** *** *** ****** between ****** *** ****** *********.
- ******/******** ** *****:*** ******** ********** *** ****** ** cable ** ********** *** ** **** UTP **** *** ****** ****. **** function **** ***** *** ******** ** cable ******, **** ** ****** *** shorts, ** ******* *** ** **** more ******.
- ***** **************:**** ****** **** *** * ****** identifier, ** **** ***** *** ******* to ******** ****** ** ***** ** once, *** *** *** ******** **** to ****** ****. **** *** ***** troubleshooting ** ****** *** ******** ** mislabeled, ******* ** ****** ** ***** a ****** ***** ** * ****.
- ******* *********:**** ****** ********* *** ****** *** use ** ********, ***, ** **** telephony ** * *****, *** ***** pairs *** ****. ***** **** **** not ****** ****** *********, ** **** show ******* * ***** ** ******* into * ****** ** *****-********* ** a ***** ****.
********* ********* ** *** **** *** store **** *******, * ******* ******** found ** ********** *** **********, ****** some ********** *** *********, **** ** the************ ********.
***** ********* ***** ** ***** **** about $***-*** ***, **** **** ********* driven ** ******* **. *** *******, display ****, *** ****** ** *********.
*****-**** ****** **** ** *** ***** Networks *** ** (******** ** ~$***) ******* * ******* ******* *** numeric ********** ** ******* ******** ** the ********* ******* ** **** ********* models. **** *****-******** ******* **** ** the***** ************(~$*** ******) *** ************ ******** (~$***), ***** * ****** ********* ******* display, ** *** ******* ** **** test *******.
********* *** ****** *** *** ********** the ***** **** **** *** **** for * ******* ******. **** *** able ** ****** **** ****** *** the ******** **** *** ********, ****** time ** *********/***************.
Wiremap ****** / ******* ***** ******
***** ******* *** ********* *** **** and **** *******, ******* ******* **** pair ** ********* ** **** ****, but *** ******* *** ***** **********. This *** ** ********* ** ** LCD ******, *** ** ***** ****** shown ***** * ******** **** (*** for **** **** ** * *** cable), ** ************ * ** ******** cable ** ****.
*** ***** ***** ************ ********** ***.
***** ******* *** **** ******* *** most ****** *** ******* ****** **** making/checking ***** ******. ** ********** ******* is ********, **** * ******** ****** be **** ***** ******* ******* ******* limited *************** *********** ***** ***** ******** service **** ******** ** * ******** which ******** *** ******** ** *****.
What ** * ****?
** *******, *********** ****** **** ** least * ******** ** ****. ******* and ****** *** *** *** ******** which ****** ** ****** ************ *******, ***** ** ******* ***** installed. ** ** ****** *** ** least *** ** *** ****** ** an ************ ** **** ******* ** shorted *****. ******* ** ****** ******** and/or **-*********** *** ***** ******* ********** the *******, * ******** *** **** exactly **** ** *****.
***** ***** ***-**** ******** **** *** budget ** ******* ** *** **** to ****** ** * *********. *** ability ** **** ******** *** ******** results *** ** **** *** **** for ************ *** ***************, *** ** a ************** ***** **** *********** (********** small ****) ** *** ******* ***** services ** *************.
**** ** **** ***** ****** *********** invest ** * *********, ***** *** quantity ** ****** ** **** ******** projects ** ***, *** ****-***** ************* tests *** ***** ********. ** **** instances, ********* ** **** *** ******* a ********* ** ****, *** **** results ********** ** **** ** *** closeout *******. *******, ** **** ** only * ******** ****, ********** *** available *** **** *** * *** hundred *******, **** ***** ***** *** of ****** ****, ** **** ** the **** ** *********** ***** ***********.
Channel ** ********* **** ** **** *******
**** ********** *******, *** ***** "*******" and "****" *** **** **. ***** terms ******** ***** *******(*) ** ***** is ***** ******.
- ********* **** ****** ** ********************** ******* ******* ** * ******* drop. **** ******** * ***** *****, the ****/********** ***** ***, *** *** jack ** *** ***** ***.
- ******* ******** *** ****** ********* **** in ******** ** ***** ****** ********* to *** ********* ****. ****: ** is ********* ** *** *** ***** cables **** **** ****** ****** *** connected ** *** *******, ** ******* to ***** *** ***** ***** ** perform *** ******* ***** ** * site.
- **** ******** ******* ** ****, ******* Plug ********** ****. **** ** **** the ********** ***** **** **** *** patch ** *** *** *** ****** connect ** *** ***** (******* ** one *** *** ********* **** ** the *****). **** ** *** ******** in ***** ************, *.*. *** **** end *** * ***** ***** *** patch ****** ***** *** *** *** endpoint ** ******** ********* ***** ** RJ45.
*********, ********** **** **** ********* ****, since ***-***** ***** ******* ******** ***** installation. *******, **** *** ******* **** the ****** ******* ** *********. ************, when ***************, ** ** ***** ********** to ******* * ******* **** ** it *** **** ****** ** ***** cables ** ***** *****-******** ***** * permanent **** **** **** ***. *** method ** ** **** ****** ** verified ***** ** *******.
**** *** ******* *** ********* ***** different ********, **** *** **** ******** including * ***-********** ***** **** ***** plugs **** *****/***** ******:
******* ******** ********* **** ** **** jack, **** ***** **** ***** ****** are *********, ***** *****:
**** ************* ***** *** ****** ** certifiers ** ****. **** ***** ******* the *** ** * ***** **** adapter ** *** *** ***.
Fiber *** *** *******
**** ******** *** ******* ****-***** (***/***/****, etc.), *** ***** *** ** **** for ****** ******* ** ******** *******. Fiber ******* ** * **** ******* topic **** **** ****** ***** *************, requiring ******** ** ***** ** ******* properly. *** **** *******.
Test **** *********
**** ***** ******** *******
** ***** **** ** ******* ** not ******* *** ****** ***. ********* that * **** **** ******* *** the ****** ********* ***** ********. **. If * ******* **** *** ****** that ****** *** ********** ***** ** only ******, *** *** ****** ********* being ******** ** **** *****, ***** will ** *****.
*******, ** *** ******** **** *** link *** ****** **-********, *** *** according ********* *********** ** **** ******, users **** ****** *********** ****** ******* (along **** ** ***** ***** ** a *********** ** ***** *********).
****** ****** ** **** *********** (*** who?) *** *** **** ** ******/******** work **** *** ************ ** ********? Could ********* ********* ****** ******** ** involved?
************, **** ******* ** *** **** world, *** *** ** *** *********:
*. ***'* **** *** ****/******* ***** that *** ** ****.
*. **** *** ******** ******, *** don't ******* *** **** **** ********* or ********* **** (**** ** ******* documentation/communication).
*. ****, ******** *** ******* *** issues (***** **** ************* ** ******).
** ***** **** ** * ****** of ***** ** *** ***** **********/********* one ******* ** ******* ** (***** acknowledging **** ***** **** ****** ** exceptions).
****** *** *** ******** ******. *'* curious ****** **** **** ** *********** and/or **** ************ ********* ***** ************ cripple ** ******** **** **** ***? Back ** ** ******* **** ** stapled **********, *** ***** ******* **** POTS *****'* ****** **** ***** ****, we ****'* **** ** **** *** issues **** *** ******** **** ****** you **** ******** ****** ** ****** through *** ***** *** ***** * conductor. **** *****, ** *****'* ******* backbones ** ******** **** **** *** a *** ** ** *** ***********.
*'* ** **** ******* ** *** how ****** **** *****, *******, ***. affect ******** ***********. * **** ** doubt **** **** **, ** **** of ** *** *** ********** **** impairments *** ***'* ** ********* **** can ****** ****, *** ***** ******* were ********** ** ** * ** not *** *.
**** *** **** ** ******* *** overpaid *.*. ***** ***/** *** *********** company **** *** **** ** ******/***** the *******. **** ********* ******* ********* with ************* ****-****** ***** ******* ** a ******* **** **** * ****** of *** ********* *** "*********" ** get ***** ***** **. ** ***** the ************* ****** *** ********** *** of *** *** *** ********. **** of **** *** ******* ***** *** SMBs ***. ** *** ***** **** there's ***** *****, * ******* **** manufacturer, *** ***** ************* *** **** someone ** ******* *** *** *********** handed ** **** *** **** **** to **** *** *** ***********.
**** ******. ******* ****** ********* | ******* ****** | ********* Mobile******* ******* ****.
******* *******/********** *** ****** ***** *****, didn't **** ****** *** ** *** fluke's **** ** *******? ******* ** used ** ** ******** ** ********* like ****, * ******** ***** ********* to ************ * ***** **** ********** that *** ******* ************. *** ******* I *** * ********** ** **** detailed **** *** **** *** ******** crimps.
******* ****** **** * **** ****'* come ** ***** ** **** ******** its *** *** ******* ***, *** good *** *** *** ****** **** anything **** *** ******* **** ********* PoE *** **** ******* ******** *** Analog ***** ** ** ********** *****.
******** **** **** * ********* *** but *** **** *** **** ***** stack ** ** **** **** *** the "**** ***** *********" ***** **********
*** * ***** ***** **** **** line ** *** ******** **** **** sold *** ** *******.
** *** * ******* ****** **** was **** * *** ******* *****. It ******** ***** ******, **** *** finding ******. ***** *** ****** *** displays *** *******. *** **** ** has * ***** **** ** ***** apps ******** ** ********* ****** ************* to **** **** *** ********** ******* on * *******. ** *** **** function ** **’* *** **** ****** when * **** ** ****** ***** because ** ****’* ***** ******* ** off *** ** *****.
** *** **** ** **** ** an **** ******* ** * ***** when * *** ** ********. ** also **** ******* *** ***** ** over **** ******* *** ******* **** as ****.
****** ***** **** *** ***** ****** the ** ** * *** ******.
****** ***** **** *** ***** ****** the ** ** * *** ******.
** *** *** **** ***** ***** was **** ***** ****** ****** ** ******* *** ***** SecuriTest **(*** ***** ********). ****** ****** *** ***-*********** ** ******. ** **** ******** those ****** ***** ***** ** ******, in ***** ****** ************ **** ********. *** ******** ** ~* ***** old, ** * ******* **** ** something * **** ****** ** ****.
** **** * ******* ********* **** which ** * ****** **** **** effective **** *** *****. ** *** both ******* *** **** ******** *** category ****** *** ** **** **** the ********* ***** ********. *** ** is **** ** ******** *** ** has **** **** *******. *** *** 4500 ***** ** *** ***** ********* for **** *****.
** *** * ********* **** ******** Tools *** ** *** ****** **** useful. **** ******** ** ***** **** been * ****** ** ***** **** troubleshooting **** *** ******** ***** **** we **** *** *** ****** ** find ** ******* * **** *** bandwidth. ** ****'* ***** * *** of *************** **** *** **** ******** the *****.
***** ****** ****, *** **** ** a *** **** **** ***** ***** something **** **** ***** **** **** useful (**** ********, ** * ****'* lost *** ****** **** ** ** verifier **** ***** **** **** ****** too...).
*** **, ********* **** * ***** DSX-5000 ** ******** ********. ** ****, a *** ** *** ****** ********** and ********* **** ** ***** *** in *** ***** **** *******, ***** ties, *****, ***. ***'* **** ** adversely ****** *** *********** ** *** installed *********. ******* ** *** *** in **** ******* *** ** **** the ********, *** *** **** *** such ****** ********** ********* *** ****? What **** ** *********** ***** $**,***-****** certified ***** **** *** ********** **** do? *** ***** * ********, ********* curious. *** ***** ** *** **** results * *** *'* *** *** only ***.