DataShark Network Cable Tester - Cable Mapper, Check Continuity - Test Patch Cords or Installed Cable Runs

Just what I needed!

Get what you pay for. Bought this cheap tester cause my regular tester broke after someone dropped it. Worked fine for about a week before lights for conductors 1&2 went out. Cables tested with Southwire 400TP all passed but pins 1&2 would not light with Datashark when tested. Could only recommend for the DIY guy at home.

Meter did not work. Wouldnt even test the sample cables provided with the product.

Tool is as described (continuity checker only, no performance testing), and quickly confirmed some good cables in a new installation, as well as one bad one which had been wired as 568A on one end and 568B on the other. The cable worked fine, though, since the switch was autosensing. Was a little disappointed to see the same unit at Home Depot for less money, even taking tax into account, but its still a lot easier to walk to the mailbox than it is to drive to HD.

My apartment is wired for multi-room internet access, but it just wouldnt work. I suspected either I had a bad cable in the mix, or the wiring of the jacks was hosed. So I picked up this tool to find out what the problem was. More on that in a minute. The device comes with a transmitter/receiver (one unit), a smaller receiver, two patch cords and a 9v battery. If you just want to do a quick cable check you can just use the main unit, plug one end into the output, the other into the input and turn it on. It will cycle through all 8 wires, and then repeat until you turn it off. This is very important if you want to put the transmitter in one area and use the small receiver in another. It has a slow speed and a fast speed. You can also test a cable by plugging one end into the output of the main unit and plugging the other end into the small receiver. Same principle - lights are sequentially lit in order from 1 to 8, and you very that the receiver lights come on in the same order. The patch coords are used if you want to check out a network jack. You plug the cord in the transmitter and then into the jack. You can use the other patch coord the same way on the other end of your jack. Easy peasy. So back to my problem. Using this device I found that the wiring in my jack had 2 wires crossed and one wire disconnected. I opened up the outlet, switched the wires and seated the other, and all was good! I now have direct internet access throughout the apartment without having to use wireless. This is important for my DVR video streaming, and works perfectly. Very glad I ordered this unit. In 10 minutes I had my problem solved. Definitely an essential tool to have in the kit.

I do recommend this tester. It is very handy when making patch cables, or checking CAT cable runs. Simple to use and for once the instructions are more than adequate.

Its simple and works really well. Tells you which lines are not terminated properly. Great product especially for the price.

I purchased this item to assist me with the wiring of CAT 5 cable throughout my home. Unfortunately however the device wasnt able to determine a crossed wire. I had alot of troubles with the crossed wire port. So I borrowed a more advanced system from work - it was able to determine the issue. I was a little disappointed. I would say however that the device would work really well for just ensure that ports map. But leave it to the advanced equipment for intense troubleshooting.

Very nice. Works just how I wanted and in the correct price point. I use it every once in a while but it helps to keep from asking a friend if I can use his. Great investment for cable making.

I used it to test my cable connection. The tester shows that everything is fine, whilst in real life the connection is not strong enough to pass through data.