Q: How do we know if our current cable test equipment is Level 1 or Level 2? If it is indeed Level 1, will the manufacturers retrofit our current testers, or will we end up with a $4000 paperweight?
Robert Foster
Tektron Electrical Systems
West Palm Beach, FL
A: When the ink is finally dry on TSB-67, link performance transmission specifications for field testing of unshielded twisted-pair cabling systems, none of the analog testers currently in production will meet Level 2, and some may not meet Level 1.
Contact the manufacturer of your tester and request a list of the upgrade options being offered. The tester manufacturers I spoke with each indicated that they will have an upgrade plan, but details were sketchy.
Donna Ballast is a communications analyst at the University of Texas at Austin and a BICSI RCDD. Questions can be sent to her at Cabling Installation & Maintenance or at PO Drawer 7580, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78713. Phone (512) 471-0112, fax (512) 471-8883. Internet address: [email protected].