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TEST & MEASUREMENT
Cable certifiers
what really matters?
By Dan Barrera, Global Product
Manager, IDEAL Networks
www.idealnetworks.net
Over the past two years, we’ve conducted extensive research
with cable installation companies in both the US and
Europe, observing how they work when certifying cable
installations and conducting more than 60 hours of in-depth
interviews to delve into the specific challenges they face
when using their certifiers. Here, we will look at some of our
key findings around cable certifier usage trends.
Topline takeaways
A core part of the research investigated what cable installers
consider to be most critical when choosing a certifier. It
identified that durability is the factor that the market
deemed most important by far, followed by the ability to
set up tests simply, and having an accurate and easy to use
fault finder.
We also measured how the currently available
certification solutions performed against the customer
outcomes identified. To do this, we tested all the devices on
the market with the most common test methods requested
by customers. In each scenario, the tester’s performance
was benchmarked against the customers’ average
expectation.
Our investigations also looked at which areas users
felt performed worst regarding the capabilities of cable
certifiers and found there were several areas with potentially
concerning market satisfaction gaps. The largest concerned
labelling results transfer and management software.
This was closely followed by fault-finding – a potential
worry for manufacturers as this was picked out as one of
the most critical elements of a cable certifier to users. The
industry’s requirements around fault-finding were expanded
on as part of IDEAL Networks’ more in-depth research and
product investigations.
IDEAL Networks shares its research
into the challenges that end users
face when using cable certifiers
Minimise fault-finding time and improve accuracy
Good cable installations tested with a correctly configured
tester shouldn’t have many faults. However, when faults do
occur, it’s important that they’re fixed quickly. Installers
simply don’t have the time to spend reviewing measurements
on the certifier to understand, and then fix, the failure –
they don’t want complexity in this area. Instead, they are
demanding products which show the type of fault, what has
caused it and most importantly, where along the cable they
need to go to fix it.
Simple test set-up
A need for simplicity was also expressed when it comes to
set-up, in order to test the installation. During our research,
we found that technicians may make hundreds of inputs
on average for set-up. This includes typing the address and
labels, selecting standards, moving between functions and
configurations.
This always happens at the end of the project when the
pressure is on and there’s simply no time to absorb delays.
Complex certifier set-up can take a lot of time, as well as
leading to mistakes – many standards are similar so, in a
rushed situation, it can be easy to choose the wrong one.
Incorrect set-up can also lead to failed links which cause
engineers to spend time fixing issues by re-terminating
or pulling a new cable in the hope it will pass and resolve
the problem, even though the problem will persist. On
some occasions, installers may also encounter problems by
mistakenly selecting a lower standard, like Cat 5e rather than
Cat 6A. While the installation will test without problems, when
the results are submitted for warranty, they will not be eligible.
Misconfiguration leads to project delays affecting
cashflow, and retesting reduces margins with unforeseen
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