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Linkef0
Nov 16, 2008, 02:09 AM
I am going to get an Ethernet Network Testing Device but I have one question. I have one end of the Ethernet cable in the second floor and the other end is in the basement, can the Ethernet tester can still do the test or it cannot reach that far. I was thinking of getting the “Cables To Go LANtest PRO” for one of my choices. Hopefully this make sense

KISS
Nov 16, 2008, 02:26 AM
What is the purpose of your testing?

What do you want to know?

Linkef0
Nov 16, 2008, 03:12 PM
The purpose is that I got the wrong cable. I didn't study long enough for ethernet cables. My cable is indoor only and I put it outside for around a year and now my internet is messing up on me. I research for a outdoor ethernet cable and I am getting it soon but I need to know that my cable is all right or not.

I thing I need to know about a network tester is that can it go to the basement and the second floor at the same time and tell me a reading that my cable is good or not. Because I look it up on YouTube about network tester and they just have 1' cable to see if it was 100% working but can it do 150' of ethernet cable in different rooms or it doesn't matter

Yes I am a begginner about these things.

KISS
Nov 16, 2008, 06:55 PM
That tester doesn't tell you much and probably would not show an error with your cable outside. It's really 1/2 of a cable identifier and it makes sure there are no wiring errors.

A tester with a TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer) allows one to determine where breaks and shorts are in a cable.

Then there is cable qualification. e.g. what bandwidth the cable can support.

Here is some real test information:

Testing Terminology (http://www.dmccormick.org/NetworkTesting.htm)

A really simple test is to do pings continuously with a large packet size like 2048 or 8192. Cable problems with the connectors do show up with that test. It just doesn't tell you where.

A qualification tester tells you HOW GOOD your cable is by testing individual cables.

An example of a qualifier is here:
Cable Qualification (http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/en-us/products/CableIQ+Residential+Qualifier/Features/?wbc_purpose=Basic&categorycode=CPTT&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpubliNewsListing%2cPresentat ionUnpubliNewsListing%2cPresentationUnpubliNewsLis ting%2cPresentationUnpubliNewsListing%2cPresentati onUnpubliNewsListing%2cPresentationUnpubliNewsList ing%2cPresentationUnpubliNewsListing%2cPresentatio nUnpubliNewsListing)

There is lots of stuff here with lots of educational materials. Enjoy.

chuckhole
Nov 18, 2008, 08:57 AM
There are numerous types of testors, some cheap and some not (http://www.flukenetworks.com). None of them will tell you if your cable is rated for outside installations. What they will tell you is this:

Wiremap - the mapping of the wires. Are the pairs conncted to the right pins in the RJ-45 connector or not. Is it a straight or crossover cable?

Distance - how long is the cable? It must be less than 100 meters in length.

Quality - measures impedance and loss of signal.

Cable testors use two devices, one at each end. The far end generates a signal and the receiver uses that signal to provide you with some or all of the information above.

If this is just for one cable, then I would forgo the expense of the cable testor and just make sure that it is connected properly at both ends using the T568B standard:

Pin 1 - White/Orange
Pin 2 - Orange/White
Pin 3 - White/Green
Pin 4 - Blue/White
Pin 5 - White/Blue
Pin 6 - Green/White
Pin 7 - White/Brown
Pin 8 - Brown/White