Anyone have a fluke network tester?

[n30_mkii]

We've had a house rewire including cat6 run from multiple rooms back to the loft where I've installed a network cabinet and patch panel. I've got some basic network testers for ordering and basic connection checks which has helped me spot several issues at the socket side where the sparky has done a poor job. I've just added a unfi switch and will begin testing between two devices, but just wondered if anyone has access to a fluke network tester that might make the job much easier that they wouldn't mind lending to me? I'd be happy to collect/return if local or cover postage etc if feasible. Let me know, I'm based central Derbyshire


Thanks

 

[paradigm]

Unless you are trying to find break lengths then you don't need the fluke, any cheap network cable tester will do the job to show you that the cable is good and the pairs are wired correctly.

You can also use the diagnostics on the Unifi switch.

I've got a Lindy one myself that is still too expensive for what it does.

 

[ChrisD.]

Most electrcians shouldn't be allowed to wire network sockets. As above, any cheap tester will be fine. If there's an issue with the connection then it's likely to be the termination rather than the cable.

 

[n30_mkii]

Thanks I'll just go ahead and test the connections using iperf or similar as I've done in the past. I thought the fluke could do it's own bandwidth check and auto certify good. The reason I was asking is that I'm hoping to support 2.5gb and 10gb on some runs, so need to ensure termination is 100%.

 

[ChrisD.]

Thanks I'll just go ahead and test the connections using iperf or similar as I've done in the past. I thought the fluke could do it's own bandwidth check and auto certify good. The reason I was asking is that I'm hoping to support 2.5gb and 10gb on some runs, so need to ensure termination is 100%.

I’ve been running 10 GbE for 5 years I think over self installed cat5e without any issues. You don’t need a fluke.

 

[WJA96]

Thanks I'll just go ahead and test the connections using iperf or similar as I've done in the past. I thought the fluke could do it's own bandwidth check and auto certify good. The reason I was asking is that I'm hoping to support 2.5gb and 10gb on some runs, so need to ensure termination is 100%.

I appreciate that’s how these testers are sold but it’s not how they work. You need to run at least 13 separate tests to ISO certify a cable run. You need to know how to interpret a ‘pass ‘ result. You need to be able to guarantee that the cable won’t be subject to environmental stress eg. It wasn’t run next to a central heating pipe. Plus a visual check of the terminations with photographs. And what would you do if a cable run failed certification? You’ve not had the network installed by an ISO 11801:2002 accredited installer so what are you expecting? I don’t want to be offensive but why the four-x would you get an electrician to run network cables? I quote based on £100+VAT per simple CAT6 termination and more than double that to certify it. It’s a lot of documentation that we have to supply to satisfy UKAS and our PI insurers.

All that said, well done for running cables and I’m sure they’ll work just fine.