TEST EQUIPMENT & TOOLS
needlessly adding to the already
large burden of equipment that an
installer must transport to a job.
Nowadays, up-front
investment in large quantities
of cer tifiers is just not always
feasible. To better suppor t data
cable installers in future, test
and measurement equipment
suppliers will need to explore new
ways to help businesses change
their investment in cer tifiers
from a capital expense to an
operational one.
In response to the recent
research, IDEAL Networks has
launched Test4Less, a new
suite of solutions to help reduce
capital expenditure, increase
productivity and improve cashflow.
This includes a ‘Pay As You Test’,
option to transform a certifier fleet
from a capital investment into an
operational expense.
With ’Pay As You Test’, test
credits for the IDEAL Networks
LanTEK III cable certifier can be
purchased in batches (from 500
to 10,000 tests) and topped up
as and when needed. Businesses
can opt for either a free on loan
certifier agreement, or to purchase
the certifier with an additional
initial up-front payment. For
example, it could cost just £2,750
up-front for a new cable certifier
with the ‘Pay As You Test’ option*.
*Requires three or more certifiers
For further Information visit:
www.idealnetworks.net.
Three reasons to stop
sharing cable certifiers
‘Cable
certifiers are
undoubtedly
one of
the more
expensive
pieces of
equipment for
installing or
testing data
cables.’
Recent research by IDEAL
Networks showed that many
data cable installers are
sharing certifiers between
their workforce in an
attempt to reduce costs. Tim
Widdershoven explains why
sharing data cable testers
doesn’t benefit businesses.
It’s a false economy
Cable certifiers are one of the
more expensive testers that
someone installing or testing
data cable will need to use, so it’s
easy to see the appeal of buying
a few certifiers to share, rather
than equipping each van with
one. However, in practice, this is
rarely a cost effective solution.
With this approach,
certifiers are ordinarily held at a
central office location and then
couriered out to a particular
installer at the job site as
and when needed. However,
the costs of shipping and
administration can amount to
a considerable expense, rather
than offering a cost saving.
This is especially true where
installers are working across a
large geographical area.
It causes delays
Another common problem
caused by sharing cable
certifiers, which the research
uncovered, is that it can cause
delays in carrying out and
completing jobs. Jobs that
require a warranty simply
cannot be completed without a
certifier. However, sometimes all
the certifiers in the pool are in
use elsewhere, or it takes time
for the couriered unit to reach
the installer on site. This can
prevent installers from being
able to carry out billable work
and disrupt cash flow.
It can also cause jobs to
run for longer than planned,
preventing installers from
moving onto other jobs.
It’s often unnecessary
The research showed that
many businesses feel that they
need more certifiers. However,
cable installers typically
require a certifier, such as
IDEAL Networks LanTEK® III,
for around 25% of jobs. These
include building specifications
that require a cable certifier,
or if cable manufacturer
warranties are needed. On the
remainder of installations, a
less expensive transmission
tester, such as SignalTEK®
CT or SignalTEK NT, can be
used which provide proof of
performance to clients with a
professional report.
As cable/network
transmission testers are
far more affordable, in most
organisations, it is feasible
to equip each van or installer
with their own tester. With this
simple approach, businesses
can prevent delays and save
money. In fact, businesses
could reduce capital
expenditure on testers by up
to 57%*.
The feedback from the data
cable installers interviewed
suggests that selecting the
right type and quantity of
equipment is vitally important
for ensuring profitable,
flexible data cable installation
operations. With the assistance
of equipment suppliers,
companies should closely
interrogate the work they carry
out and match their certifier
and tester needs to this to
make cost savings.
To further support
data cable installers in
considering how to reduce
capital expenditure, increase
productivity and improve
cashflow, the key research
findings are summarised in the
White Paper ‘Five frustrations
and challenges for data cable
installers in 2017’ which can
be downloaded for free at
www.idealnetworks.net.
September 2017 | 23