Tracing Network Cables

jellybeard999

jellybeard999

jellybeard999

Soldato
Joined
7 Feb 2004
Posts
8,232
Location
North East
I have had my house rewired and Cat6 cables run throughout. They are currently unterminated at both ends. What is the best way to trace the cables so I can terminate them in a logical order? Is this possible?

The only way I can think to do this otherwise is to crimp RJ45 connectors at the patch panel end temporarily to work out which is which but there must be a better way. Happy to buy a multimeter or detector or something if it would make life easier and isn't too pricy.

The electrician hasn't labelled them unfortunately :(
 
If you Google your thread title you'll find what you need.

You want a 'toner'. It injects a tone into one of the cable pairs and then you have a probe that allows you to trace it.

Alternatively punch down one pair from each cable at both ends and use a standard cable continuity tester. It'll fail but will allow you to tell which is which.

If you haven't already got a basic network continuity tester you'll want one.
 
Pull your fist back slowly, then falcon punch your electrician.

Install each wall port, then run a toner on them and label up both ends.

Now do the patch panel.

This is the best toner and tester that I've found that is cheap.

USUN Cable Finder Tone Wire Tracer Probe Tracker Wire Network Tester Tracker W/ 9V Bat https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DM4HTFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bxKkAbW7FH4DK

It's a Chinese clone of the Fluke IntelliTone Pro 200, look up videos on that of how it works. If you were doing it day in day out, I'd say get the Fluke.



Doing it this way man's that your patch panel will be nice and logical.

Use a black Sharpie ultra fine. Write each cable number 3 times at dashes between them on the cables. In case they get rubbed a little.

------

-Once you've fitted the wall ports, draw up a basic map of the house and decide on port numbers. Start from 1 and work around clockwise. Next room, start on 5 or whatever the next number is.

Now go around toning, starting from 1, and sharpie on the numbers to the panel cables. Very handy to get another person to give you a hand with this, or it will take an age.
 
Last edited:
I had to do the same a couple of years ago, a friend asked if I could 'terminate a few ends in his new house'. Turns out it was 56x Cat6 shielded connections, none of them labelled. It took an eternity to sort them all out. The patch panel was 8 feet from the floor too, so on a step for the whole patch panel side.

Blurgh.

He uses about 4 of the ports :/
 
+1 to the toner, when I started my current job I had to use the toner like crazy because the previous guy didn't document anything or label where the cables are going.

I used label zip ties instead to mark them, and it has made tracing cables a lot easier in the long run.
 
Punch down all the wall sockets, then at the patch panel end pick one cable and connect wires 1 and 3 to each other, and 2 and 6 to each other. Go around connecting something with a LAN port to the wall outlets. When the lights come on, that's the cable you twisted the wires together on.
 
Thanks all.

I did google it and a toner came up in the results, but I had no idea what to do with it, which to get or if it was the best tool for the job, hence the thread. Now I do, so thanks for the replies.

I intend to label everything properly and logically and I'm thankful it doesn't need to be done straight away, as I'll still have wifi, but at least I have some direction and can get it done over a few nights/weekends :)

I'll get one of those USUN cable finders.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom