High-speed Ethernet networks are the backbone of countless industries. Failure on one wire or only a few dropped packets can affect system-wide efficiencies. For this reason, Cat 5 and Cat 6 cabling that may be exposed to moisture, vibration, temperature variations, and flexing needs reliable certification.
Choose from certifier kits and cable analyzers that deliver rapid certification with autotest and high accuracy.
Why Are Cat 6 Cables Important?
Cat 6 cables are the mainstream solution for Gigabit Ethernet (1,000BASE-T) that transmits frequencies of up to 250MHz. Cat 6 cables use a thicker wire with higher shielding. For comparison, 100-meter CAT 6 cables can transmit data at 1,000Mbps, whereas cables with less than 50 meters transmit up to 10Gbps. Cat 6 offers significantly higher network quality and speed over Cat 5 and Cat 5e.
Why Certify Cat 5/Cat 6 Cable Networks?
Cat 5/Cat 6 certification lets installers know the cables meet TIA/ISO standards and perform at maximum efficiency. Recertifying every few years ensures that the cabling still meets industry standards and can be future-proofed against network failure. Cat 6 cable testers can typically perform both channel and permanent link testing.
What Are the Benefits of a Cat 5 and Cat 6 Cable Tester?
Cat 5/Cat 6 testers check performance at high frequencies. You can verify multiple factors and find fault distance in cables with the right LAN network cable tester kit, as well as test network integrity by checking correct installation, data loss, and strength of connections. Some common tests include:
● Wiremap check: Helps to map a detailed report of the wire and determines if the fault is at the near or far end of the wire and the distance itself from the testing device to the fault.
● Channel test: Checks the integrity of the cord from the workstation to the hub/switch, including patch cords.
● Continuity check: Helps find out opens, shorts, and crossed connections. This is a simple test for which a certification tester is generally not required; a continuity tester is sufficient.
● Permanent link check: This helps verify the installation by measuring cord length, NEXT, FEXT, and return loss.