Are Cable testers worth having?
Saturday, 10 May, 2008
 I was browsing a mail-order store and found a cable tester that tests networking, USB and (I think) FireWire cables.
I Googled and found hundreds of them. They ranged from $11.95 to over $3000 so now I'm really confused. What's the difference?
Do I even need one?
(Originally posted November 2006)
Steve Baconner, Frankston, VIC
 Those inexpensive cable testers can be quite useful, but remember that they only do part of the job.
They check for the basic wiring integrity of the lead or cable-run being checked. That is, they check that a DC current can run between the relevant pins on either end, that there are no open or short circuits, and that the wires aren't swapped around. (Speaking of that last thing, remember that most will report that a crossover cable is faulty, unless you use a crossover converter on one end to reverse the crossover).
Within reason you can also use them for other purposes - for instance if you had BNC sockets on the tester, you could use adaptors to RCA leads. Those BNC connectors are for an obsolete wiring system such as 10Base2.
But when testing networking cables, even if the tester says the cable is okay, it could still be below spec. If the pairs have been untwisted at either end, or the cable is damaged or it runs near a source of interference (or even a lot of metal sometimes) it may not work for networking. It takes a much more expensive tester to check this. (of course, if the network works, that;s probably a good test too :-)
USB and Firewire cables are less susceptible to problems. Paul Zucker
 Reader solutions
TroyPosted: 25/05/2008 re: Are Cable testers worth having? The cheap cable testers have their purpose for shorts or open circuits on patched cabling. However intermittant faults can be difficult to determine. I think that another reasonably priced test solution can be to use an 8 port managed switch to monitor and log errors on traffic over a suspect patched cable point Anon TesterPosted: 14/05/2008 re: Are Cable testers worth having? Currently self-employed as a PC Techie and I carry in my work vehicle a seperate, large toolbox, strictly with different cables/leads and components. Theyre used only for testing/swap as a 'process of elimination". Have found over the years that the more fancy and frightful the gadget/gizmo the more time and patience Ive wasted. I wont even get started on the painful and frustrating unreliability experiences... RickPosted: 12/05/2008 re: Are Cable testers worth having? My sister used to date a cable tester once, she reckons he spent too much time in the bathroom and not enough doing housework. Joe RabbaPosted: 10/05/2008 re: Are Cable testers worth having? I bought myself a SuperLooper for around $20 from www.telecomtest.com.au cable tester on a key chain with loopback adapter plug. Also available with crossover adapter... covers Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, E1, ISDN PRI & BRI - Great and cheap tool NeilPosted: 25/04/2007 re: Are Cable testers worth having? if you are only testing rj's or coax these little things are fine, but wait until you go on a site with all different connectors like 110's or proprietry networks then you need something good, im a cable manufacturer and i have to cable tester which is 2x19" rack wide with 12 panels of all assorted connectors and a multiplexer, but youwill never need something like that, a fluke tester with changeable heads is good. JohnejwPosted: 12/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? NO, their not .... They are too expensive unless your in the business like me....Buy a $10-$20 multimeter and learn to use it ... or if you can't learn then buy a cable or 2 which you can rely on and only use them for testing purposes ..Not for anything else. Elphas Posted: 06/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? I think the best answer to your question is one that takes into account many variables.Personally i would consider firt the cost of having a tester and perhaps the multplicity of scenarios where i would need to use it ...which for one thing aren't many.
How different is your situation? Pranesh PalPosted: 05/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? Cables have built in test feature! If they work then they are okay, if not then they are not.
Greg NashPosted: 04/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? The better ones also test whether the pairs are split. You may have all the pins matched up from one end to the other, but not have assigned them correctly in pairs (pins 1&2, 3&6, 4&5, 7&8 should be paired).
Most people are better off just buying premade leads, with spares.
Installers are a different question. If you don't know what the added functions in high-end testers are for, you probably shouldn't be installing computer networks. MikePPosted: 03/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? Cable testers do more than test cables, for instance, if you connect the transmitter to a wall jack and use the reciever to check for signals in a patch panel ---
when you have several dozen patch jacks in panels it can take forever to determin which is patched to what.The test transmitter makes a good source and the reciever tells you which jack the singal is coming in on. - Of course, if you have a 4 port hub---- Ken CampbellPosted: 03/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? You have to consider the equation of diminishing returns for items like this, especially for home use. You can purchase a lot of replacement cables for $3000 and as cables tend to be the most reliable components in any computer system a tester would quickly become like a caravan ■ sit idle for 99% of the year. Then when you go to use it, the first thing that happens is it will cost you for replacement batteries.
If you have extensive in-wall cabling that you think may be faulty, it would still be much cheaper to pay somebody to test it for the once or twice in a life time that it may be necessary. Particularly since some results can be inconclusive.
graham whitehousePosted: 02/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? The best advise from australias only computer expert is to test them (the cables) for strength as you never know when you'll fall out the window and only have a crossover cable to hang onto, I know because it happened to me. I fell into the garden and ruined my paeonies.
(Okay, That explains a lot Graham. PZ) JohnPosted: 02/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? I bought one of the cheap network cable testers. I use them for network cables and for any wall points that I install. They are a quick and easy way to test. BillPosted: 02/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? I test network cables with two notebook PCs. They both have 10/100/1000 NICs so I can test all three speeds. I only have to change the speed on one end to try a lower speed. SimmoPosted: 02/11/2006 re: Are Cable testers worth having? I bought one this week from Dickies. It was quite cheap and only tested RJ leads which is all I wanted, |