May 9, 2001 The latest upgrade to Microtest's (www.microtest.com) OMNIScanner2 handheld cabling tester and the associated Scanlink Tools software gives the product additional testing capabilities, as well as more language options.
With the upgrade, the OMNIScanner series now supports noise measurements. Using a proprietary algorithm, noise impulses of a magnitude that may affect network operation are captured and counted on any of the four wire pairs, keeping a log and time-stamping each event as it occurs. The function is used to diagnose the presence and severity of external noise sources that may have an impact on network performance.
Additionally, an audible tone generator has been added. The generator sends a warbling tone compatible with common induction probes so that wires can be traced behind walls or ceiling panels, or in wire bundles or punchdown locations in wiring closets.
The upgrade also includes full support for the OMNIFiber Singlemode adapter. The adapter is a laser-based 1310- and 1550-nm fiber-optic network certification tool. It provides length and loss measurements on singlemode fiber-optic systems using dual-wavelength testing in both directions.
Also through the recent upgrade, OMNIScanner series testers as well as the PC software companion Scanlink Tools now support nine languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Kanji (Japanese), Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Scanlink software no provides certification reports and all operating and user interface aspects in these languages.
"International markets are key growth areas for us in 2001, " said David Coffin, general manager of Microtest�s Network Test and Measurement division. "Our new comprehensive native language implementations in Kanji, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese directly address a significant obstacle to customer acceptance of network testers in these areas. China and Japan are very large and quickly growing networking markets. Our support of foreign languages is consistent with our recent office openings in Mexico, Brazil, China, and our planned offices in Australia and Japan."
