Test Equipment

There are two basic pieces of test equipment when testing structured cabling. After you initially install your horizontal cabling elements you would first perform a simple wiremap test to check all your wires are installed in the correct manner. See Wiremap in the Testing Section. This is a basic d.c. test. The final test to be performed is a full cable scan to check it's a.c. frequency performance complies with international standards. This requires the hire or purchasing of a Cat 5, 5e or 6 field test instrument. This instrument has two units, a main end unit and a remote end unit. Different manufacturers may call the devices different names but the main unit typically will display all the information for viewing as you test while the remote unit will only have a basic display although it will contain all the necessary components to make a test from that remote end. The two units communicate data to each other to perform the tests and then the main unit gathers the data from the remote unit for display at the main display unit.

It is important that when you use any of these instruments you do the following steps whether you hire the tester or own it.

1. Check all the components are in the carry case.
2. Check that the patch cords, 2 of them are present and not damaged.
3. Charge up all batteries, 2 minimum and hopefully 2 spares.
4. Check the main unit has the correct parameters as below
• Cable type to be tested, Cat 6 permanent link test to 250MHz
• Check your preferences for that test to include graphs if required
• Customer details are entered
• Contractor details are entered
• Test person name is entered
• Cable identification details are entered, Cable ID (CE001-CE024), Zone ID (Office1, Office2)
5. Calibrate the instruments before going on site to check it works
6. Perform a test on a known good piece of cable to check it works
7. You should become familiar with the instrument before going on site, read the reference guides/book

In the video presentations below are demonstrations of how to use a Cat 6 field test instrument. The Lantek instrument was provided by MM Electrical's local division, Haymans Electrical Australia. Check your local directory for companies that hire or sell these instruments. To understand and interpret your test results refer to the Testing Section of this CD and review the Video below.

Available at MM Electrical "Haymans" and other retail outlets. (Video 4 below)