Tag: Cable Certification

Net Chaser™ vs CableIQ

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Net Chaser vs CableIQ

Comparing product features, it comes down to this: a worker’s everyday results define the value of a tool. This first look at two leading cable test units goes beyond point-by-point comparison charts looking at the device features in the field. A fundamental difference: Net Chaser has a bright color display and and a tree of options with touch screen selection. The CableIQ has a monochrome display and scrolling menus.

What really matters, though, is whether they both can get the job done, over and over, and give results that help ensure quality cable installations and network performance. Here is a differential comparison of the devices, as seen from an installer’s perspective. We’ll start with displays:

  • Net Chaser – Color LCD, direct touch menu. Intuitive, requires understanding of testing for quickest use.
  • CableIQ – Monochrome LCD, scroll and select menu. May be easier to select options for those used to “drop down” lists.

Continuity and wiring

Critical features to ensure single-unit testing include cable short and open testing, distance to fault, cable length, miswires, reverses, split pairs, and wiring verification. Tone generation helps troubleshoot wiring by identifying pairs. With far-end test devices and single-ended testing, testers should be able to verify the performance of the installed cable as meeting or exceeding system design criteria.

  • Net Chaser — Tops at visualizing wiring, thanks to color display. Performs tests listed above.
  • CableIQ — Similar testing modes, with a more limited monochrome display for results.

Basic Cable Testing

Beyond basic continuity tests, tester should verify signaling characteristics of the cable, including Bit Error Rate (up to 1 Gbps), Signal to Noise Ratio, Delay Skew, and possibly some TDR features.

  • Net Chaser — Tests speed, error rate, Signal to Noise Ratio, and SKEW.
  • CableIQ — Slight advantage on crosstalk and impedance with selected limit-based testing.

Network Active Testing

Testing installed cabling can involve checking an operational network or simulating network traffic, and verifying that protocol features are correctly occurring using the data rate and protocol types for which the system was designed. DHCP, port scanning, ping and traceroute testing, and other IP protocol features should operate normally. Top testers should be ready to handle the transition to IPv6 as needed, and fully test PoE if implemented.

  • Net Chaser — Advantages in IPv6 testing (added 2016) and more complete PoE testing including PoE type and load testing for more real-world testing results. Can use static IP address to test without depending on DHCP server. Traceroute, CDP, and LLDP also assist with Network troubleshooting and identifying services such as VLAN and Port ID.
  • CableIQ — PoE presence detection only. Very limited in discovery protocols, traceroute, other higher OSI-layer protocols.

Automation Features

Data should be stored and transmitted to a PC from the device, or available on removable media for report generation and data analysis.

  • Net Chaser –Save and upload test data without the need for PC software; Save thousands of results on internal memory and external SD. Can be uploaded to PC for documentation.
  • CableIQ — Internal test data store and upload only.

Future-proofing

Test device companies should have an eye to future cable verification needs and use by international cabling teams, to prolong the useful life of test equipment and support global use.

  • Net Chaser — Most advanced display and input technology, also upgraded to IPv6 in 2016. Supports English plus “FIGS” European language group.
  • CableIQ — Cable electrical testing features may be helpful with new generations of cable construction. English-only.

Battery life

Testers should be operational for as long as needed.

  • Net Chaser — Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries with up to 8 hours of battery life per charge.
  • CableIQ — 4 AA alkaline batteries, 20 hours battery life. Will need to keep extra batteries on hand.

Comparison Chart

Net Chaser vs CableIQ Comparison Chart

Summary

While the CableIQ is a solid performer with a laboratory testing background, the Net Chaser more directly addresses the diagnostic needs of IT departments, and the high-volume testing requirements of cable installers.

Net Chaser vs Cable Certifier

Net Chaser vs Cable Certifiers

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The Gigabit Challenge is upon us. Customers want to know that their installations are going to hold up under gigabit data rates, meeting the needs of the latest data-hungry multimedia applications. They want their networks providing bandwidth for servers to keep teleconferencing, bulk data transfer, and other demanding applications running at full throttle.

Many customer applications will quickly reveal bandwidth problems through degraded video images, slow database response, and even manufacturing floor or distribution center problems. What installation customers want to see is evidence that they’re solid: they want documented tests that show that the cabling is properly installed and performance characteristics are as expected but more than that, they want to know that the cabling is proven.

Customers need to see that data flows over their network cable at gigabit speeds. They want to see that data performance using the more advanced gigabit signaling meets standards requirements, and real-world IP network activity is strong and reliable: packets are transiting with integrity, ping tests are strong, and retransmit times are at a minimum. Testing reports can show that the network is robust and ready before the customer switches to production and signs off on the network.

Watching the Build with Test Equipment

Teamwork between network construction and testing technicians is the best way to quickly build and test network cabling installations. Test techs use easy to operate and affordable testing instruments to verify that the build is making progress without wiring, error rate, or noise faults, and build techs quickly correct any problems that show up. Since end users now expect gigabit speeds from cable installs, cable installers need to actively test to that performance level as they build, and be aware of new problems which can occur. The higher data rates, increased noise susceptibility, and sensitivity to cable characteristics at higher speeds all present a learning curve for everyone during testing, and plenty of usable test data helps understand problems.

Gigabit-level services are rolling out in many systems to support data-hungry users. Tech-savvy customers will be aware if the quality of service (QoS) is degraded, and network techs will be quick to identify substandard cabling problems in their root cause analysis of customer issues. Confidence in cable installations comes from not from purely theoretical testing, but from putting the system to the test. Testing equipment which covers basic wiring faults, Bit Error Rate (BER), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), and Delay Skew ensure that basic cable installation performance is able to support gigabit Ethernet.

Real-World Tests Prove the Network

The new signaling technologies that support high speed traffic are demanding, and there’s only one way to know for sure that your network is robust: simulating active networking and data traffic at full speed builds confidence that the cable actually works. Testing technicians also need to check whether address resolution and data transfer in standard packet sizes works reliably, whether ping requests are consistently returned, and other IP protocol activity works as expected, locally and over network equipment. Other technologies such as PoE need to be verified as needed.

For 80-90 percent of customers, running basic cable quality and functional networking tests and presenting clear documentation is enough for signoff. For the remaining 10-20 percent of customers, full certification with detailed spectral analysis of the cable system is required for contractual reasons. Installers will need to use a more costly traditional certifier device, calibrated to laboratory standards at significant annual cost typically running over $1000, to meet these requirements.

Supporting installation teams, traditional certifier devices can be shared and used to guarantee the final product meets required specifications: the installation that has already been verified by teams using modern multifunction cable testing devices which cost much less than classic devices, and are focused on supporting cable build and debug with a full battery of basic and functional tests.

Support Teams with Available Test Equipment

At as much as one-fifth the cost of a laboratory maintained device, multifunction devices can be used to keep the build on track, generate data, watch for faults, and provide detailed reports that show thorough cable testing from wiring and electrical characteristics to performance at full gigabit speed. Full project or stage-based signoff is often easier when teams have easy access to these devices for acceptance testing as well as system construction.

The Net Chaser™ is a USA-made product designed for robust cable system testing to 802.3 standards. The Net Chaser™ is a practical solution when it’s time to complete the project by testing the gigabit performance of the cable system and the functionality of a network running on the installed cable and network equipment. Aimed at confidence and reliability, it provides specific tests rather than general “sweeps” of the cable, and reports whether the cable is up to the job, not whether it “theoretically” is.

Ethernet Speed Certification White Paper

Can My Network Cable Handle 1Gb Speed?

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can my network cable handle 1gb speed?

The increased use of cloud computing and cloud storage has demonstrated the inadequacies of many internet connections. Even within large organizations, LAN bandwidth is often nowhere near the theoretical capability of the connection.

Two primary reasons:

  • The network cable can’t handle the required data transmission rate
  • The equipment is not rated for 1 Gbps network speed

So how do you find out if your network cable can handle 1 Gbps speed?

What is 1Gb?

It’s important to clarify what 1 Gb speed really means. 1 Gb speed is the transmission of 1 gigabit of information per second. The correct terminology is 1 Gbps or 1,000 Mbps.  Mbps stands for megabits per second and should not be confused with megabytes per second (MB/s). Confusion exists because the earliest computers were only capable of transmitting 8 bits at a time, the transmission was called 1 byte, thus 1 byte represents 8 bits.

Cable Requirements

An 8 core cable with 4 twisted pairs is required to transmit 1 Gbps. Two pairs are used to transmit the signal and two to receive. The cables are fitted with RJ45 connectors.  The pairs must be connected in accordance with either the T568A or T568B standard, although most installations use T568B.

In order to reduce the amount of crosstalk between adjacent pairs, each pair has a different number of twists per inch. Apart from that, it’s essential to use good quality cable that complies with industry standards.

Although not originally intended for 1Gb Ethernet, Cat 5 cable does usually perform well enough for 1 Gbps operation. Also note that some Cat 5 cables have only 4 wires (2 pairs).

A better to use Cat 5e cable, which is specifically designed for high-speed Ethernet, or Cat 6 cable.  Careful attention must be paid to ensure there are no split pairs, that all connections are to specification, and that the cable is not kinked. It’s also essential that the length of each patch cable doesn’t exceed 100 meters (328 feet).

Equipment Capabilities

A network will only be as fast as the slowest link in the circuit, so it’s necessary to verify the network capability of each item. Older equipment, rated for 100 Mbps operation will not be suitable for 1 Gbps. Some types of equipment require the use of special gigabit ports. In other situations you need to ensure the equipment is configured for 1 Gbps operation.

It should be noted that most switches and routers will automatically downgrade the connection speed if the equipment detects any incompatibility. Therefore, it is important to verify the actual link speed.

Verification Using the Net Chaser Network Tester

Prior to installing a 1 Gb LAN network, check each component to make sure its 1 Gb compatible. Visually undetectable issue could downgrade the network. For this reason, technicians working on 1 Gb Internet and Ethernet circuits should always use a suitable digital network tester. Every technician working on 1Gb internet, ethernet circuits need a suitable digital network tester. The Net Chaser™ is the solution to the 1 Gb testing issues.

The Net Chaser™ has the ability to verify the length of each network cable and identify cable faults and limitations that interfere with network capabilities including split pairs, shorts and open circuits. Additional features include network pinging, DHCP, VLAN, link light identification to verify to which ports cables are connected, and the measurement of PoE and more. The Net Chaser™ can also measure the Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Delay Skew as well as a 1 Gbps Bit-Error-Rate Test to help identify reasons for poor network capability.

 

Ethernet Speed Certification White Paper