Cable testers verify physical layer connectivity. A cable certifier is worth the investment if you do cabling work.
Basic cable tester:
- Verifies continuity on all pairs
- Checks for shorts and opens
- Confirms pin-to-pin wiring
Cable certifier:
- Tests against TIA standards
- Measures attenuation (signal loss)
- Checks for crosstalk between pairs
- Verifies category rating (e, , a)
When to test:
- New cable installations
- Intermittent physical layer problems
- After moving or disturbing cables
- When link negotiates at lower speed than expected