Why Structured Cabling Should Be Tested
How do you test a data cable?
A data cable can be tested in a variety of ways. However, with structured cabling testing, specific standards and reports should be insisted upon. Otherwise, you will not know that the installed data cabling is working or will support the hardware it supports for data cabling transmission.
With Category 6a becoming the standard in 2024 and Cat7 and Cat8 being used frequently in data centres, the importance of data cabling testing proof has never been greater. However, remember that testing Cat5 cable installations is still essential, and to test Cat 6 Cable when part of a network installation.
The data cable test will be conducted alongside any network cable testing for hardware, such as switches and routers.
Types of Data Cable Tests
- Multimeter
This will test individually for continuity in which connector one goes to connector one at the other end. It is unsuitable as it doesn’t test for performance standards.
- Network Cable Tester (Mod Tap device)
This device will plug the data cable in each end and check all eight connectors are connected correctly end to end with no shorts or breaks. However, it will not test for performance or interference.
- Cable Certification Testers (Level 3 testers)
The first two testers will cost under £100.00. In contrast, a certification tester will be priced in the thousands, which shows that the level of testing is vast and much more technical.
Which Outlets Require Network Cable Testing
The cabling basis for every structured cabling system consists of
- Copper Cabling – Generally from cabinet to outlets.
- Fibre Optic Cabling – Backbone links between cabinets and direct links to outlets.
Every copper and fibre cable in a structured cabling installation should be tested, as should every fibre cable’s core.
The outlets which these cables will serve will include among the following.
- Computers and PC’s
- Telephones
- CCTV
- Access Control
- Wifi Access Points
- BMS Systems
- Mobile Phone Boosters
- Audio Visual
The hardware can only operate as well as the signals it sends and receives. Hence, good data cabling and network cable testing are important.
What is a level 3 tester or Cable Certification Tester?
These testers will test the data cabling links to provide operational assurance. In this instance, by testing a unique set of network tests to a certain standard of tests and requirements
These are the only tools that guarantee “Pass” or “Fail” results after the tester tests to a particular set of industry standards. Subsequently, this can be a test for a certain regulatory body or a specified cable category. It will tell you if the installed Cat6 cable operates to the correct standard. Furthermore, the specifications of that category of cable are not just connected correctly.
How do you test a data cable with a Cable Certification Tester?
The testing unit will have a main unit and a remote head. The units are plugged into either end of a structured cabling link, and then an operational test will be run down the cable and back along it for analysis.
A few examples of the tests it carries out are
- Length – How long the installed cable is, and is it within the 100m max
- Wiremap – Are all eight cores wired correctly with no shorts and crossovers
- Attenuation – The reduction in signal loss along the data cable
- NEXT – Interference from the transmitted signal coupled back
- DC Lopp Resistance – Total resistance of 2 conductors at one end of a link
- Return Loss – Loss of power in the signal which is returned or reflected
Why Have Your Structured Cabling Tested
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If not tested, you won’t know if the installer has:
- Terminated the data cabling correctly end-to-end
- Terminated the network cabling correctly in the right methods
- Additionally, terminated the structured cabling to the correct standards
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Not all cabling terminations are equal. Poor terminations can result in the following:
- Slower network speeds (i.e. only running at 100MB instead of 1 gigabit)
- Interference on the data cable
- Interference with neighbouring data cables
- Dropouts (i.e. phone calls drop or lost connection to servers)
- Structured Cabling Testing checks that the correct patch panel ports go to the correct data module location. If the system isn’t tested, this issue won’t be highlighted by the data cabling installer to rectify. Your system is then unusable from a management perspective
- Finally, you have accountability! If you receive test results, it shows at a point in time that everything was installed correctly. Therefore, working to the specified standard. This eliminates the blame culture later on
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Furthermore, testing checks that all the elements of the installation have been installed correctly
- Data cabling has been pulled in correctly, away from power, without any kinks and twists
- The minimum of exposed cable has been allowed when terminating
- The cable is terminated in the correct format
- The modules are suitable and snugly fitting
- Without these steps done correctly, the structured cabling link won’t pass
- Finally, structured cabling testing shows that the materials used are up to industry standards and the data cabling installation meets testing requirements. Poor modules, panels and cables will fail every time regardless, so the quality of installation is essential.
What is a Fluke Cable Test in Networking?
Fluke is one of a few manufacturers of cable certification testers. The report below shows Fluke tester data from a fluke cable test. There are many others, but the most common in 2024 in the Fluke DSX range. The DSX range now has the capability to test Category-8 data cabling and beyond.
Fluke makes a range of testers for structured cabling, fibre optic cabling and coaxial cabling testing.
Our range of cable manufacturers we install also accepts results from different manufacturers of testers, such as
The most important thing, regardless of manufacturer, is your installer has a certification tester, it’s calibrated, and you receive your test results.
What you should insist on from Data Cabling Test Results
- That Structured Cabling Testing is done with a Data Cabling Cable Analyser, not a cheaper mod tap tester. This is an example of Fluke Test Data from a Fluke Tester
Without 1 of these test results PER CABLE, you are taking the risk that your data cabling installation will not fit the purpose.
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