TRENDnet Network Cable Tester, Tests Ethernet, USB and BNC Cables, Accurately Test Pin Configurations up to 300m (984 ft), Local and Remote Testing, Includes BNC to Ethernet Converters, White, TC-NT2

So far, I haven't found anything to dislike about this particular tester. I will fuss on one nit picky issue, but it is an almost universal nit to pick so oh well...This review by the way, should be taken in context with my review on the TrendNet TC-TP1 tone probe as these two tools are tightly related, and make up a large chunk of my testing / verification equipment for network installs.Out of the box, the tester is well packaged, basic documentation is included. The simple battery compartment is like most other cable testers I have ever used, far too flexible when the compartment is empty, giving you the feeling you are going to shove your finger through it when you open the compartment for the first time. Once a battery is installed however, there is plenty of support, and the cover operates smoothly.The ports, switches, and lights are all well labelled, and easy to understand. Plug your cable in, and either plug back in to the loopback, or to the remote, and slide on, push test, or push the silver button for testing one wire at a time...Tone generated from one perspective is a little weak (not loud in the probe) but by the same token, the tone generated doesn't "leak across" to other cables in a bundle. There is no mistaking which cable the signal is being sent down, making cable identification fast and easy, speeding the work up.The ethernet to BNC adapters for testing BNC terminated coaxial cable are great, if you are troubleshooting token ring networks. But let's face it. Hardly anyone still uses Token ring, and a huge number of younger techs and admins have never heard of, much less actually seen token ring. I have been in this business a long time and my only involvement in Token ring was migrating a token ring over to ethernet. So the use there is VERY limited, However with the addition of BNC male to F coax female adapters, then the tester works well for testing continuity in RG-6 coaxial cable for cable internet, TV, and satelite applications.The included carry case / storage bag is far and away the best quality case / bag of any network tester I have ever laid eyes, or hands on. I am amazed at the quality of this thing. All the others I have had, or been around included some flimsy super thin vinyl piece of garbage bag that the manufacturer should be embarassed to have their product associated with... The TrendNet bag has good quality materials, good stitching... Nothing cheap about it...Cost is considerably higher than many other low / mid range cable testers, but when you consider this is also half of a tone and probe set, the cost becomes MUCH more reasonable. When you consider the accuracy of this particular unit, and the flexibility of available tests, it comes a true bargain.

I got this to replace a cheapo $6 tester I had that wasn’t picking up the shield on shielded cat6a cables. So far it’s worked very well... and yes, this tester DOES actually detect the shield on my cat6a stuff.I decided to pick up a couple BNC to F connectors on the recommendation of another reviewer, so now I can test RG6 coax cables in addition to everything else. I also got a couple short RJ12 cables so I can test RJ11/12 sockets in addition to the RJ45 (this tester comes with a short RJ45 cable).The function of this tester is pretty basic. On/off, press auto button to go through each conductor one at a time, press the test button to switch back to manual. I would have preferred if the auto button was a toggle instead but it does the job. Honestly for what this costs I’d expect a bit more functionality... but at least it seems to be built very well.I’ve included a few photos of me testing a shielded RJ45 cable I built. I tried both the loopback and the remote.Pictured is everything the tester comes with, plus the two BNC to F type connectors I got for it.

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 Probealso 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.