Lan-tester: description, purpose

Lan-tester - a device designed to verify the integrity of telecommunications networks. Usually such a device consists of a main part and a removable one (usually one, but there are models in which several removable parts are provided). Lan-tester allows "ringing" computer networks, telephone communications, crimped connectors.

The network tester greatly facilitates the work and saves the time of cable specialists. After all, their work is not only in the extension of communications, but also in debugging the entire system. Visually, it is almost impossible to determine the quality of the connector crimp, and in order to ring it with a tester, it will take a long time and an assistant. Drawing a twisted pair is not always within the same room, very often the ends of one cable are in different sides of the building and on different floors, and the "ringing" with a multimeter in this case will become an archetypal and inconvenient. That's where the help of such a device as the Lan-tester comes in handy.

For "drowsing" we compress the connectors at both ends of the twisted pair. We insert one end into the connector of the main part of the tester, and the second - into the plug of the removable part. After that, turn on the device and start it in the verification mode. Due to the LED indication, the Lan-tester allows to determine not only the presence of twisted-pair wires and short-circuit wires , but also to detect the mixed wires.

Very often beginners neglect to check the crimp of the connectors. They start "ringing" only if the computer network does not work. However, this check must be carried out every time the connector is crimped to ensure the correctness and integrity of the connection of all pins of the connector, and not just those that are currently used by the computer network. Otherwise, you will not be able to prevent future errors and system failures.

There is a huge choice of network testers, both amateur and professional. In a nutshell, I would like to describe the advantages of professional devices.

Such devices can test not only twisted pairs, but also telephone coaxial cables. A professional cable tester, in addition to the standard test described above, can measure the length, give out tones, and also signal the presence of active cores. Such devices have full-fledged displays, which display all the necessary information about the condition of the cable. And most importantly, these devices have a large number of remote modules. For example, when pulling cables through cable rails, "networkers" often face the problem of identifying their "own" cable. The picture is something like this: from the shield protrudes the ends of 10-15 twisted pairs, and it is simply impossible to understand which one is "yours".

"Prozvonka" amateur tester can be delayed for a long time, especially if the second end is in the other side of the building. In such a situation, the remote modules of the professional device will help. You can put on each end modulo, and themselves at the second end of the cable using the main unit of the tester to calculate the wire you need.

To sum it up, let's say that a Lan-tester is simply necessary for people who often draw a twisted pair to organize network connections of computer equipment.