Unparalleled Vision into Cabling Bandwidth
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
When to use a qualification tester: If you are a network technician, and need to see whether the existing cabling will support your 1000BASE-T network, a qualification tool is the right choice. If you need to troubleshoot connectivity problems and isolate cabling problems from network problems, then qualification is the perfect solution. If you have an existing network and are doing small adds, moves, and changes, or are setting up a temporary network and just need to qualify it for a specific network technology, a qualification tool is a good option.
When to use a certification tester: If you're a commercial installer or network owner who needs to prove that all cabling has been installed correctly, and meets TIA or ISO link specifications, you must certify it. If you are in a troubleshooting environment, and need to show unequivocally that the link under test is failing category 5e or 6 performance requirements according to TIA or ISO standards, your only choice is a certification tool. If you have a mixture of fiber and copper cabling, and often need to test both, cable certification tools do that best.
To receive the support and financial security of a manufacturer's warranty, certification to TIA/ISO standards is your only option. Anything else makes the installer liable for the performance of the installation which can be quite costly. For example, a large 1000 link installation could represent a $100,000 (USD) project, which can be a hefty liability if manufacturer warranty is not obtained.
When to use a verification tool: Verification tools are typically used by any technician who pulls and terminates cable or performs basic moves, adds and changes. These tools are used as a first line of defense in finding connection and wire-pairing faults.
SimpliFiber® Pro Optical Power Meter and Fiber Test Kits
Today's high-bandwidth premises networks depend on a reliable fiber optic infrastructure. Proper installation and maintenance of fiber cabling is imperative for minimizing network downtime. Whether you require basic fiber verification capabilities, advanced troubleshooting and inspection, or documented loss and power measurements, Fluke Networks' SimpliFiber® Pro Optical Power Meter and Fiber Test Kits are the best first-line fiber instruments to meet your needs.
SimpliFiber® Pro Optical Power Meter and Fiber Test Kits include all the tools necessary to verify and troubleshoot optical fiber cabling systems, measure loss and power levels, and inspect and clean connector end-faces. Replacing the popular SimpliFiber series, these next generation optical loss test kits boast industry-leading functions such as dual-wavelength testing and automatic-wavelength detection, in addition to unique features such as CheckActive™, FindFiber™, and Min/Max. With such advanced, yet easy-to-use, capabilities that reduce test times, SimpliFiber Pro is simply the best first-line fiber test kit on the market.
Multimode Mandrels
Ensure accurate and consistent measurements when testing multimode fiber.
Fluke Networks offers multimode fiber mandrels that provide a foolproof, cost-effective method of improving the repeatability and consistency of multimode optical power and loss measurements when using an LED source. Our new mandrels guarantee the correct number of wraps of the appropriate diameter as specified by the TIA/EIA-568-B standard while protecting 3 mm fiber cables from damage and preventing unwanted microbends.
Fluke Networks' Multimode Fiber Mandrels offer a simple, cost effective way to:
- Improve the repeatability and consistency of multimode optical power and loss measurements when using a LED source.
- Ensure that your measurements are compliant with TIA/EIA-568-B standards.
- Guarantee the correct number of wraps around the proper diameter mandrel.
- Protect the 3.0 mm fiber cable from damage and unwanted microbends.
Fluke Networks' Multimode Fiber Mandrels feature groves that enable the user to wrap the cable from the source five times around the mandrel. A retainer keeps the cable in place while not adversely pinching the fiber - making its use foolproof. The fiber mandrels are sized for 3.0 mm fiber cables - the most commonly used patch cable type in the industry. A 22 mm mandrel is available for 50/ 125µm fiber and a 17 mm mandrel is available for 62.5/125µm fiber.
Ensure smooth, clean fiber connections
With a range of solutions, Fluke Networks has the right tool to easily inspect end-faces on a wide variety of connectors.
FT120 and FT140 FiberViewer are handheld microscopes used to inspect the end-faces of fiber optic connectors. The microscopes ensure your termination is smooth, clean and ready for optical transmission. The Fluke Networks FT120 200x FiberViewer is used to inspect multimode fiber end-faces. For singlemode installation, Fluke Networks offers the FT140 FiberViewer with 400X magnification. Both microscopes contain a special safety filter to protect your eyes from harmful infrared rays.
FT500 FiberInspector Mini is a convenient video microscope; it enables end-face inspection of inside ports and fiber optic connectors. Simply insert the probe and inspect installed fiber connectors through the bulkhead adapters without accessing the backside of the patch panels.
Fiber Cleaning
An important addition to your verification, troubleshooting, and inspection tasks is fiber cleaning. Dirt, dust, and other contaminants are the enemy of high-speed data transmission over optical fiber. Today's network applications require more bandwidth, making loss budgets tighter than ever. It is critical that all optical connections are clean and free of contaminants to ensure application success.
Fluke Networks' Fiber Optic Cleaning Kits have the best tools to effectively remove the toughest contaminants with ease.
Results Management
Manage fiber test results with LinkWare Cable Test Management Software
Fluke Networks' powerful LinkWare Software helps you quickly organize, edit, view, print, save, or archive test results by jobsite, customer, campus building, and more. You can merge test results into an existing database and then sort, search and organize by any number of data fields or parameters.
LinkWare is available free from our web site. Once your work is done, you can give this powerful application to your customer so they can have instant access to the data electronically or you can export the data as an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).
Extensive data management capabilities with LinkWare:
- Manage copper and fiber test results with a single software application that supports Fluke Networks' entire line of cable testers
- Deliver professional, customized, graphic reports in a common format for all Fluke Networks cable testers
- Ensure standards compliance with the ability to configure and print TIA 606-A documentation
- New drag and drop feature makes it easier to manage and organize multiple projects
- Count on compatibility with major CMS (cable management software) applications
- Increase productivity with simple user interface and time-saving features with LinkWare, the world's preferred cable test management software
LinkWare Software prints professional, graphical reports with color graphs depicting the measured test parameters. You can choose which parameters to print and the order in which graphs appear. Reports can also be customized with your company logo.
LinkWare Stats provides a graphical analysis of your entire cable plant
LinkWare now supports LinkWare Stats, a new automated statistical report option that allows you to move above and beyond the page-per-link report and see your entire cabling infrastructure. It analyzes and transforms LinkWare cable test data into graphics that reveal your cabling plant performance-summarizing your entire cabling infrastructure in a compact, graphical format that makes it easy to verify margins and spot anomalies.
See what LinkWare Stats can do with your data - A free demo version of LinkWare Stats is included with every copy of LinkWare.
Diagnose and repair simple fiber link problems
The laser-powered VisiFault verifies continuity and polarity, and helps find breaks and bends in cables, and locate problems in connectors and splices. VisiFault emits a bright beam of red light easily visible from a distance. Connect the VisiFault to one end of a fiber then locate that fiber at the other end, even if it is one of many fibers either in a cable or terminated in a rack. Perform simple end-to-end continuity checks.
VisiFault can quickly illuminate fiber breaks, damaged connectors on patch cords, defective splices in splice trays, and tight fiber bends in and around equipment racks. The choice of a continuous wave output mode for steady fault illumination or a flashing output mode makes for easier fault location.
The integrated universal 2.5mm adapter makes for easy connection to SC, ST, FC, and FJ connectors. The optional 1.25mm adapter allows for connection to LC and MU connectors. Attach the VisiFault to your belt using a lanyard or in the carrying case so it is always on hand when you need it. Long battery life for hours of use, includes two AA batteries giving you more than 80 hours of continuous mode battery life.
Fluke Networks built the VisiFault to last.
VisiFault incorporates an energy-absorbing holster over an impact-resistant case to withstand drops, impacts and rough treatment. Together with a heavy-duty tethered end cap to protect the fiber adapter, VisiFault is the VFL for demanding field applications. Unlike more fragile VFL's that utilize a flashlight body or plain plastic case, Fluke Networks industrially engineered the VisiFault custom-case to be compact, ergonomic and mechanically tough for field use
Unique Capabilities
Time-saving capabilities such as CheckActive™, FindFiber™, and Min/Max make SimpliFiber Pro the best fiber test kit on the market.
CheckActive™
What is it? The SimpliFiber Pro power meter emits an audible tone and displays an icon when a live link or port is detected.
How will it save time? This feature provides quick confirmation of whether a link or port is live. No power measurement set up is required.
FindFiber™
What is it? Identifies cabling runs and ensures polarity.
How will it save time? This feature provides fast cable-routing identification with just one technician, enabling easy cable-mapping verification and documentation.
Min/Max
What is it? Tracks a testing session’s power fluctuations.
How will it save time? This feature accurately identifies intermittent power fluctuations and eliminates unreliable and inaccurate guesswork. It also eliminates the need for constant monitoring due to the auto-pilot tracking feature.
