Why you might need a tester when doing some cable

[DNose]

I have done about 5-6 cable jobs with 30-50 drops each without testers.
The last job was not so lucky one of the guys cut all the wires to patch them in to the panel and forgot they were marked on the ends. I didn?t know what happened I just saw my co-worker screaming and cursing himself out. Yeah the realization started to set in we had know clue where any of the cables went to what rooms. Opps!

We examined the cables and matched them by the print on the side of the cables and the angle of the cuts. It was not easy but shocking it worked. Yeah we got lucky.

So this time I want to be a little more prepared. I went to Fry?s to get a Fox & hound then I saw a paladin tool that had a cable tester and a tone gen. This looks like a cool concept. I also don?t have a cable tester. $109 vs $80 for the paladin. http://www.paladin-tools.com/view_tool.php?id=236

I don't have any experience to refer to so could anybody help.

Not sure of paladin maybe I'm better with something else.

 

[Noubourne]

No other cable installer has any suggestions for you?

I remember paying more like $50 for a toner, but I could have got one used. That was a good 5 yrs ago too, but toner technology hasn't exactly changed.

The biggest problem is that not all splitters allow the toner signal to pass. Usually you need it for the more complex jobs, where there are usually more splitters (or hidden ones), and those are the jobs where you are most likely to have a problem with it. Eyes, a little cable jiggling, common sense, and a little trial and error usually solved it long before I had to whip out the toner. I think I used my toner like 10 times in 3 years. Once in a great while, though, they come in handy, so you should definitely get one.

I did residential modem installs though. I probably replaced a TOTAL of 30 drops in 3 years. I'd be surprised if it was that many, and I would have quit a lot sooner if it had been any more than that!! I HATED doing drops. The only good thing about them was you knew it was done right, because you did it, and not some moron.