What is this tool called?

[Falloutboy]

I'm helping out with some random IT stuff in my dads office, and the person who pulled the ethernet in the office didn't lable anything, trying to find a tool that I can plug in to the port that I can then use to figure out what cable is what.

 

[seepy83]

What you want is called a Toner. Something like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-26.../ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i

Plug the Tone generator into the Jack and turn it on, then take the Wand back to the Patch Panel. when you have the wand turned on and hold it up against the patch panel port where the correct cable is terminated, you will hear the tone.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Toner, you can get a cheap fox and hound for less than 20 dollars or get a good fluke one for substantially more

 

[skyking]

Just a quick caveat on toning network jacks:
The tone generator will often come equipped with a RJ11 connector. This is a standard 6 conductor phone type jack.
Do NOT use a telephone cord to do your testing!
A 6 conductor modular male plug will often damage the outside pair of an RJ45 connector. It is narrower, but the plastic ridge on each side lines up nicely with the outmost wires in the jack and can bend them permanently.
Make up a test cable instead. Crimp on a 6 conductor on one end and an 8 conductor on the other. Only the blue pair in the middle matters, but fill the rest of the holes in the mod end for easy crimping.

 

[seepy83]

Originally posted by: skyking
Just a quick caveat on toning network jacks:
The tone generator will often come equipped with a RJ11 connector. This is a standard 6 conductor phone type jack.
Do NOT use a telephone cord to do your testing!
A 6 conductor modular male plug will often damage the outside pair of an RJ45 connector. It is narrower, but the plastic ridge on each side lines up nicely with the outmost wires in the jack and can bend them permanently.
Make up a test cable instead. Crimp on a 6 conductor on one end and an 8 conductor on the other. Only the blue pair in the middle matters, but fill the rest of the holes in the mod end for easy crimping.

Interesting...I've never heard or read that before. Don't think i've ever done any damage to an RJ45 with the tone generator, but I'll keep it in mind!

 

[skyking]

most often it is done by users trying to plug in a phone. This is why I try to keep users away from the jacks.
They'll get the wrong jack, and some time later I'll get a call about a failed network jack.
I've replaced several over the years, I look in there with a flashlight and see the bent bin on the side.

 

[Falloutboy]

anyone off the top of your heads carry this at a brick and mortor? don't really want to wait to order it i want to get this done this week and they'll just reimburse me for the tool

 

[skyking]

home depot has them around here. Lowes had them too, but twice the price.

 

[MrBlahh]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy
anyone off the top of your heads carry this at a brick and mortor? don't really want to wait to order it i want to get this done this week and they'll just reimburse me for the tool

Home Depot, Mendards, and Frys all carry toner/probes. Im sure Lowes does too but Ive never looked.

 

[imagoon]

Originally posted by: seepy83

Originally posted by: skyking
Just a quick caveat on toning network jacks:
The tone generator will often come equipped with a RJ11 connector. This is a standard 6 conductor phone type jack.
Do NOT use a telephone cord to do your testing!
A 6 conductor modular male plug will often damage the outside pair of an RJ45 connector. It is narrower, but the plastic ridge on each side lines up nicely with the outmost wires in the jack and can bend them permanently.
Make up a test cable instead. Crimp on a 6 conductor on one end and an 8 conductor on the other. Only the blue pair in the middle matters, but fill the rest of the holes in the mod end for easy crimping.

Interesting...I've never heard or read that before. Don't think i've ever done any damage to an RJ45 with the tone generator, but I'll keep it in mind!

Me either, we have "voice" jacks that are all rj45 with RJ11 cords to the PBX phones. So far all of the phones that have been moved to VoIP have worked fine also. I might need to go look at some of them to see.

 

[skyking]

Glad to hear that. maybe it was the exact rj11 end i was dealing with but I could see that pin 1 was bent to the side on the ones that did not work. It was a PITA to reterminate in offices already loaded with furniture!