Product Description

The TC-NT2 is a convenient and comprehensive cable tester for network professionals. Its powerful and user-friendly features enable network installers to accurately check pin configurations of various voice and data communication cables. The TC-NT2 includes a master unit that transmits test signals to its corresponding remote terminator to verify cable reliability. It checks continuity and displays wiring configuration up to 300 meters of cable installation. With the unique feature of the audio tone generator, the TC-NT2 identifies and troubleshoots faulty cables to assure proper pin and wiring structure.

Product Details

• Brand: TRENDnet
• Model: TC-NT2
• Dimensions: .60 pounds

Features

• Tests Pin Configuration of 10/100/1000Base-T, 10Base-2 (coax), RJ-11/RJ-12/RJ-45, EIA/TIA-356A/568A/568B, and Token Ring Cables
• Tests USB and IEEE 1394 cables with optional adapters
• Built-in Tone Generator for tracing cable with standard Tone Probe (Not Included)
• Tests the grounding on shielded (screened) cable
• Verifies cable continuity, opens, shorts, and miswires
• Tests cable up to 300 meters
• 1-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Test your wiring as it's being installed with this unit
TRENDware CABLE TESTER 10/100 COAX & TP ( TC-NT2 )

I used this tester to verify coax and Cat5e wiring as a structured wiring system was installed. Three Cat5e and two RG6 (coax) cables went to each room from a centrally located panel. Cat5e cable is somewhat fragile, so the time to verify it works is when it's installed. With dry-wall up, you're screwed if a concealed cable fails.

Verifies that:
...1) wiring is correct end to end; i.e., it has connectivity, the right wire on each pin, no shorts, and no wrong cross-overs,
...2) the cable isn't damaged,
...3) the connector isn't defective.

Install terminators on each end; plug one end of the cable into the sending unit and the other end into the receiving (remote) unit. If either end of the cable has a jack (versus a plug), plug one end of a straight-through patch cable into that jack and the other end into the tester. Choose testing one wire (pin or path) at a time, or, auto cycle through 8 wires + ground. Testing is simplest with the remote unit in sight. Otherwise, use the auto setting and go to that other end to see what's happening, or have a helper yell back (or walkie talkie) which lights come on.

The sending unit tests wires in sequence (1 to 8, ground) and then repeats until you turn it off. For each wire tested, a corresponding red LED on the sender lights. A low-voltage current is sent on that wire to an LED on the remote. If there is continuity, a numbered red light on the remote comes on. If you're testing wire 1 and it's received on wire 1 on the remote, the number 1 LED lights. If it's received on another wire (e.g., wire 2), that LED comes on. If it's received on multiple wires, they'll all light. If it's not received at all, no LED's light up. On auto mode, LED's 1 through 8 should light at the remote at one second intervals.

Even though all 29 of my RG6 cables check out OK, some of the 45 Cat5e cables didn't; which I then fixed. The Trendware tester found one defective Keystone jack, plugs where I had crossed wires, and a jack where a wire didn't make contact with the internal crimper.

To test RG6 coax, you'll need two F Type Female to BNC Male adapters. You can also purchase USB and Firewire adapters to test those cable types (see customer photos).

Comes in a zipper case, with room for the optional adapters. I tested an entire house, and didn't need to change the unit's 9 volt battery.

Excellent product.

Nice but Firewire, USB, F type coax are optional extras!
The good - This is quite a nice low to mid priced unit. It tests and indicates each wire separately and can be used to detect both crossed, open and shorted wires. It can test one wire at once or sequence though the set which can make faults easier to spot. It also claims to produce a "Tone" in the 600Hz to 800Hz range. This is not what you might assume - a tone that sounds when the connection is good - but a test signal send along the wire for use in conjunction with a "compatible Tone probe" which can be used to find the location of the break in a wire. Sounds like a very useful feature only the Tone Probe is a separate tool and the manual is a vague on what tool might be compatible. A good guess might be the TrendNet TC-TP1 Amplified Induc.and Tone Probe
also currently available from Amazon. Strangely neither product refers to the other even though they are from the same company. I have asked TrendNet if they work together so we shall see.

The not so good - There are a number of low priced cable testers available and this one is a bit more expensive although still quire reasonable compared to "professional" models. I decided on this tool since it seemed to offer the broadest range of cable interfaces for the price. It does this but rather less conveniently than I had hoped. Mea culpa but I was disappointed to discover on receipt that the USB and Firewire connectors are extra, around $15, and are not currently available from Amazon. Don't assume as I did, that they are included just because there is a customer photo of them. Also the Coaxial test connectors are BNC rather than the more common F type used for CATV/Cable. TrendNet does not seem to make an F-Type adapter for the unit so it is necessary to find a BNC to F-Type adapter elsewhere. It would be so much more convenient if all this was just included in the kit even if it was a few dollars more. Most households these day will have F-type coaxial, RJ11 telephone, RJ45 ethernet, and various types of USB and Firewire. If you are buying a tool like this it would be convenient if it was comprehensive out of the box.

I haven't used the tool in anger yet but some cursorary tests with various Telephone (RJ11) and Network (Cat5 RJ45) cables I had lying around seemed to indicate general goodness. The RJ11 telephone cables were a bit difficult to insert and remove from the RJ45 sockets so you need to be careful you don't strain them.

Builds Confidence
You could just connect it to a computer and see if it works, but this helps build some confidence. This was my first attempt to crimp CAT5/6 ethernet cables and wire my home. I bought a spool of CAT5 and ends from Home Depot, bought the Trendware crimp tool & this tester tool online. I just wanted some confidence that the connections were okay.

I assume the tool did something complex, but it doesn't. It just tells you that all the connections are solid. I had absolutely no problem with this tool. It worked perfectly. It just doesn't really test out the line other than make sure connections from one end reach the other end. It does *not* catch twisted pair issues.

By the way, don't forget to look up color diagrams and make sure you use the correct twisted pairs together. It isn't enough to just have the right stright-through connections from one end to another. You must match the correct pairs. Although color doesn't matter, you have to pair the expected two at the other end. That's how it does error correction, by assuming the same interference is seen on each twisted pair and cancels out the same signal on both. If you don't pair them correctly, it cannot error correct. I needed a 50 foot run under the house, and it didn't work until I paired the correct twisted pair. Do some internet research on this and print some colored guides. This tool doesn't test for that.

In the end, I still recommend this to build confidence. If you did mess up a connection, it isn't worth my time to mess with it another 1/2 hour or to find out later that it doesn't work at all. So for that confidence and saving you time, I recommend it.