Tone Generator Probe
Marilina Crawn
The tone generator end plugs into the network cable I am trying to trace, and then I assume I should be able to go into the server room and just swipe the probe across the ends of the patch cables while still plugged into the switch, and hear the tone, but that doesn't seem to work.
First, check the batteries or make sure that you have new ones. Next, you should be swiping along the patch panel and not the switch. I swipe along the underside of the cable jacks (against the copper side) or along the punch panel on the back. I usually get a clearer signal this way.
My experience with tone generators is that you're going to be touching the pins on the jacks on the patch panel, or, if you've got a really sensitive probe, the terminations on the back of the patch panel. I've never used a tone generator / probe combination that was able to pull tone thru the insulation of a UTP cable.
If you are trying to trace out Cat5 or 6 cabling, make up an adaptor that bridges/shorts out both the blue and the orange pairs and then connect the whole blue pair to one alligator clip and the whole orange pair to the other alligator clip. This will increase the tone volume significantly, as the twist in a pair of cat 5/6 cancels out the tone, but shorting the pair and using both conductors it overcomes this.
If you are tracing a data line, you have to disconnect the patch cable from the server to the patch panel. If you do not disconnect the patch cable, you will get no signal from the tone generator. The server interferes with the signal. Also, mentioned above, make sure the batteries are good in the tool.
Certain toners or network testers mainly high end fluke brand ones will tone through a live patched cable.. Most other toners are not very practical on "live" lines. But are great on lines that arent patched into anything at all (fresh install)
The 'wand' end of the tone generator usually has a 'gain' adjustment. Make sure you adjust this appropriately for your environment. It depends on physical contact with the copper if the signal is faint, although I've traced wires across an entire building and not needed
When you have a lot of interference (active network connections) or jacketed / interference-resistant cable, you're going to need conductive contact between the wand and the actual wires inside the cable.
take a patch cord cut it into, next remove about 2 inches of the outer shielding to expose the twisted pairs, cut off the blue/white pair, orange/white pairs, and the white wire from the brown/white pair.this will leave you with the green/white pair and the solid brown wire, next remove the shielding from all 3 wires twist the green/ white pair exposed wires together. place 1 of the clips from your tone generator to the green/white pair and the other clip to the brown wire this will allow you to short out the active port on the switch so you can tone out the cabling without harming the port on the switch.
Testers are getting less costly every year to test and trace active cables. Rather than taking a chance of burning up a clients switch buy one or find an older unused switch and do your testing as shown above on it. Just saying.
Depend on our new Tone & Probe to easily trace all types of copper cables. Our industry leading power output provides cable tracing you can depend on, even over long distances. Find cabling fast using the visual signal indicator and powerful speaker combination.
The tone generator is equipped with comprehensive line testing features for troubleshooting and service verification. The tone and probe set creates the perfect team to accurately identify data cable pairing using its multiple tone pattern feature.
The tone generator has both RJ-11/12 and Coax F-female interfaces. Alligator clips are included to send tone on any de-energized copper cables including electrical cables, speaker wires, alarm cables, etc. Three different user selectable tone patterns are emitted from the generator. Generator drives all conductors of port under test for a stronger signal and easier cable identification.
Tone generator can be used for testing coax, twisted pair cables and other copper cables. The auto-off feature engages after three hours on non-use to conserve battery life. Generator has a setting to provide power for talk sets. Continuity test setting also included for positively identifying cables and verifying continuity.
Professional tone generator and probe kits are widely used for testing electronics, electrical, building maintenance, and construction. The electrical wire tracer tone generator in these kits produces an audible tone when they detect wires or cables.
What I really wanted was an oscilloscope probe. Scope probes have a nice sharp tip on them, they have a ground lead with a clip, they even have a hooky tip for grabbing onto things. Scope probes are great. But some experiments proved that a scope probe makes a terrible signal generator cable, because scope probes contain resistor-divider circuits, trimmer capacitors, etc, which get in the way of the signal generator output.
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Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? Haleon (IS/IT--Management)(OP)4 Aug 05 10:45Ok, so it turns out I had the right equipment and was using it correctly. Apparently it doesn't work on the lines in my current office for whatever reason (there may just be too much interference back there), but I decided to take a quick trip down to the new office and give it a whirl. Sure enough, I just plugged in the rj-11 jack into the data end and then touched the wands to the sliced cables, and it screamed like a banshee when I got the right one. Thanks for all the help, guys! RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? tschuy (IS/IT--Management)4 Aug 05 11:47Even if you do happen to find the cable, you still won't know the condition of that cable. It would be best to get a wirescope which has several of the testing tools built in plus your tone generator which you are using. I have to agree to using the 8 Pin Banjo adapter which you connect the two free aligator clips to two of the contacts. But I've had better luck using pins 4 and 5 when I do my testing and search. If you don't have access to a wirescope to test the existing cabling nor don't understand how to use one. It's best to hire a professional who certified to the TIA/EIA standards. In the long run it will save you a bunch of headaches and your company a lot of money. Never trust previously installed cabling unless it has been tested. RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? Haleon (IS/IT--Management)(OP)4 Aug 05 12:11Well I've got a Molex SLT3 to test the cables with. I was planning on identifying them all, patching them to a patch panel, and then testing them port-by-port to see if any are damaged. Do you think that would be sufficient? RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? Haleon (IS/IT--Management)(OP)4 Aug 05 12:28While we're at it, I have a question that isn't really on topic. What are those outlets called that you plug UPS power supplies into? The ones with the big outlets? Are they 240 volt outlets? RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? DTSMAN (TechnicalUser)4 Aug 05 12:46Does plugging the generator into a live network jack affect the port on a hub or router? Can it blow the port? Bo
Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."
RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? Haleon (IS/IT--Management)(OP)4 Aug 05 13:04Well, it didn't blow the ports I plugged it into, but I don't know if that means it's ok to do it. RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? ISDNman (Vendor)4 Aug 05 13:24Here's a good trick.
Connect one side of the tone generator to a good ground and connect the other side to one or more conductors of the cable (the conductors you use the better).
In this case you have deliberately "unbalanced" the connection so more signal will leak out. Also if pairs are shorted this is not a problem.
With 5, 5e, and 6 this technique works really well since it allows you to hear the tone without actually touching the pairs. RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? tschuy (IS/IT--Management)4 Aug 05 13:44"While we're at it, I have a question that isn't really on topic. What are those outlets called that you plug UPS power supplies into? The ones with the big outlets? Are they 240 volt outlets?"
Depends on the type of plug....most are clearly marked on the plug itself. If done to code any ways...
Cheers, RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? TouchToneTommy (Vendor)4 Aug 05 22:33The reason for using Pins 1 and 8, on a Cat-5 jack, it first to split the pair so the tone will be easier to find on the cable. Cat 5 is really good at canceling out the tone, and you have to "wipe" the probe down the jacket of the individual cables to try to find it. Try one split on 1 and 8, and then on 4 and 5 and you will see the difference.
Once the cables are on a patch panel, pins 1 and 8 are easy to get the probe close to from the front end of the panel when searching for the port (use the nylon probe tip here)
RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? exverizon (TechnicalUser)5 Aug 05 14:31Tone generally gets shunted down when placed on a shorted pair, which all pairs in a connected LAN drop would be, even between conductors that don't constitute a pair (like 2&8). Putting one side to ground, also, can prove frustrating because instead of hearing no tone (as on shorted pairs), you'll hear tone everywhere and nowhere in particular. With the cut off ends you originally mentioned, it's a piece of cake since the pairs are open. RE: How do I use a tone generator/probe? DTSMAN (TechnicalUser)10 Aug 05 13:09I made an adapter that converted my toner to pins 1 and 8 the other day after reading tommy's post. Used it this morning with a bundle of 8 wires and my signal was 3 times louder than usual and made life much easier. Love the tips and tricks that can be learned here.. Thanks T-Tone. Bo
Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."
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