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6.5.2. Hardware Tools

ToolPurpose
Cable testerVerify cable continuity and wiring (wiremap); a certifier also verifies the cable meets its category's performance spec
TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer)Find cable breaks, measure length
OTDR (Optical TDR)Fiber testing—locates breaks, splices and bends and reports the distance to each
MultimeterElectrical measurements
Tone generator/probeTrace cables
Optical power meterMeasure fiber light levels
Spectrum analyzerAnalyze wireless frequencies
Wi-Fi analyzerShow nearby SSIDs/APs, signal strength and channel use—finds overlap and rogue APs
Loopback plugLoops a port's transmit back to its receive to test the interface without another device
See how it connects
Alvin Varughese
Written byAlvin Varughese
Founder•20 professional certifications