Tools

Question 1

Cable tester

Answer 1

Two part tool used to test successful termination of a copper cable by attaching to each end of a cable and energizing each wire conductor in turn with an LED to indicate an end-to-end connection.

Question 2

Tone generator

Answer 2

Used to identify one cable within a bundle by applying an audible signal. AKA fox and hound.

Question 3

Continuity (open)

Answer 3

A conductor does not form a circuit because of cable damage or because the connector is not properly wired.

Question 4

Short

Answer 4

Two conductors are joined at some point, usually because the insulating wire is damaged, or a connector is poorly wired.

Question 5

Incorrect pin-out / Incorrect termination / Mismatched standards

Answer 5

The conductors are incorrectly wired into the terminals at one or both ends of the cable. Commonly reversed or crossed.

Question 6

Reversed Pair

Answer 6

The conductors in a pair have been wired to different terminals. Example: pin 3 to 6 and pin 6 to 3 rather than pin 3 to 3 and pin 6 to 6.

Question 7

Crossed Pair (TX/RX Transposed)

Answer 7

The conductors from one pair have been connected to pins belonging to a different pair. Example: pin 3 and 6 to pin 1 and 2. This may be done deliberately to create a crossover cable, but such a cable would not be used to link a host to a switch.