Purchasing the right network certification tool can be a challenge. James Reid, Sales Director at Networks Centre, recently wrote an article on Tips for Buying Testing and Measurement equipment.
We’ve consolidated the article into the latest recommendations, saving you time and money.
If your company is considering upgrading or updating your network cable tester, then please take into account these important points before you invest.
1) Choose the right equipment for your needs:
Each network tester is not created equally. Even if they appear similar, many networking tools have different features and benefits and it’s important to choose the test equipment which best fits your priority list of projects/objectives or business requirements.
2) Your business and your customers deserve the best:
Scrimp on your network testing tools and you might be scrimping on business results and success. A reliable certification tester is crucial for correct project analysis. Incorrect passes of bad links can cost significant time and money, or even cost you a customer or client.
3) Check for top vendor endorsements:
Make sure that you invest in a reputable and trusted brand for your cable testing equipment. Networks Centre supply a wide range of products by Fluke Networks, please click on the links at the end of this article, to explore the Fluke Networks tester that best suits your needs.
Furthermore, ensure that the product (tester) is supported. This applies for both hardware and firmware. 24/7 technical support hotlines and account representatives are ideal.
4) Prioritise accuracy:
The Fluke Networks slogan ‘Get it right the first time’ is key here. Your certification tools need to be as accurate as possible, in order to meet TIA and ISO standards, and also to support your business effectively. Ensure that your network diagnostic tool is fully compliant and stays up to date with current and future standards.
4) Easy to use:
It’s important that your network tools and software are easy to use. Not only for installers, but engineers and staff members also. Correct set up means accurate results. This is true for network troubleshooting of both optical fibre and copper cabling. For example, inspecting fibre connector end faces.
Look for smartphone touch screen technology, set-up wizards, and clear results formats, in order to maintain the highest accuracy possible.
5) The future:
Purchasing new fiber optic and copper cabling testing equipment is a large investment, as we’ve explained. So, it’s critical to buy networking tools that are perfect for now, but also for the future.
Check that your new test equipment and its firmware, is scalable, upgradable, and can support future cable types.
6) Look and Feel:
Choose rugged designs that are robust, but also consider the:
• dimensions and weight of the tools
• the power options
• how to upload or transfer results
7) Helpful software
In a busy business, time is money. Therefore, managing the test results from multiple copper and fibre certification testers, using only one software application, is crucial. You will need to be able to quickly display and print results, and ideally have the capacity to save results by customer, by site, by building, or by project or by date and time – for both fiber optic cable and copper cable.
For help and advice from our technical experts call us now on 01403 754233. Networks Centre offer a very large range of Fluke networks testing tools for network testing of fiber optic and copper cabling, at competitive prices. Popular products in the fluke network tester range are:
• Fluke DSX-5000
• CertiFiber Pro