Test and measurement equipment had an impressive showing in the 2022 Cabling Innovators Awards, which should take no one by surprise. Owners of structured (and unstructured) cabling systems are demanding more from their infrastructure—with expectations ranging from power distribution to support for high-speed wireless connectivity. Test-equipment manufacturers are continually in their research-and-development labs, driving the evolution of their product portfolios so their customers can continue to count on them to evaluate installed circuits. We take our hats (and our dust caps) off to the test-equipment providers whose products impressed our judging panel.
AEM’s TestPro Smart Building Test Kits provide a uniquely scalable end-to-end field tester that can not only certified the installed copper and fiber, but also can provide end-device deployment support in the way of switch detail including slot/port/VLAN, WiFi discover, and detail including channel and signal strength.
Fluke Networks’ FiberLert Fiber Light Detector is a pocket-sized tester that detects invisible near-infrared (850-1625 nm) wavelengths used in fiber-optic communications. When placed in front of an active fiber-optic port of patch cord, the tester emits a continuous light and optional tone. Unlike more-complex testers, the FiberLert requires no setup or interpretation of measurement readings on the part of the user.
NetAlly’s EtherScope nXG 300 Portable Network Expert is the first WiFi 6/6E troubleshooting, validation, and analysis solution with WPA3 and full spectrum analysis functionality. It enables engineers and technicians to get more done faster, from deployment to maintenance and documentation of their ever-changing WiFi and Ethernet access networks. With its simple operation combined with in-depth visibility and the ability to remotely access and control EtherScope nXG, engineers can fully enable and collaborate with “local hands” of field technicians at remote sites to expedite problem solving.
Softing asks, “You carry your smartphone everywhere. It fits in your pocket, has a large screen, and has processing power to carry out many tasks. Why couldn’t a cable and network tester do that?” Its LinkXpert does. LinkXpert is a powerful copper, fiber, WiFi, PoE, cable, and network tester that is about the size of a smartphone with a screen as large as a smartphone. And it fits in your pocket. It prevents users from having to buy, learn, and support multiple testers to perform the many functions LinkXpert carries out.
TREND Networks’ LanTEK IV-S Cable Certifier is a cloud-enabled copper and fiber certifier that enables 7-second autotest times. Doubling the power of the original LanTEK IV model, this certifier builds on the functionality and reliability of LanTEK IV with a new dual-core processor, new 3.0 operating system software, and twice as much memory, enabling 5000 tests to be saved. Its responsive touchscreen user interface is 42% quicker than previous generations. The TREND AnyWARE Cloud test management system has received a significant speed improvement, powered by Microsoft Azure.