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

My home network has grown into two wireless routers, two switches, three DVRs, an Xbox, four computers... Geez, it didnt seem complex until I thought about it. Ive been having occasional issues with the network, causing me to reset routers and switches, maybe try unplugging and replugging and rebooting devices... Just enough to be annoying, as it worked most of the time. I spent an hour with this simple device and loved it. It doesnt get easier; the source lights up lights 1-8 in order, and if all is well, 1-8 on the box (if a patch cable is plugged into both holes) or dongle (if checking an installed cable) will light up in sequence as well. I discovered 4 of 11 wires and jacks had issues, including a commercial cable I never would have suspected. Lets just say I now have tremendous respect for the magic boxes ability to work even with messed up cabling; having had this network for years, I now dont know how it ever worked. Now, all is well with my network world, thanks to this device. If youre going to buy a crimper and RJ-45 blanks, your next step should be to buy this. Now, I wont even use a commercial cable without testing it with this device. It gives both great results, a tested network, and peace of mind for a reasonable price.

This target has saved me some time and trouble. I made a few cat 5e cables and used this to test them. Of course I mucks up one of the cables and this saved me the time of using the cable and then ending up troubleshooting.

As advertised with a great price

Only thing missing is a brief how to

Awesome product. Traced my wires quickly and cheaper than having it come out. Great product for the diy’er

If you are making patch cables and want to make sure you did it right, this is the tester for you. Very easy to use and the lights are easy to read. It comes with a remote tester if you are testing cable runs, but if you are just testing short cables, I like that you can plug both ends in to the main unit and the test is quick and easy to read the results. This is a great tester and very inexpensive.

Great for running network cables through my house.

This simple tool was just what I needed to slap my diagnostic process back on track when a router went belly-up and a portion of the home network seemed to remain dark after replacing it. All I needed was a reminder that when I last thought hard about the topic, I figured I wanted CROSSOVER cables connecting house to office and router to router. More than enough time had passed for me to forget all about the distinction. (That put me back on the trail of reconfiguring the Apple AirPort using the Windows version of the administrative software, and overcoming -4 and -6375 errors; but I digress. If thats part of what youre up against, know that it can be done.) When I plugged the tester in to a wall plug at one end, and the dongle in at the other, and saw the dongles lights displaying in a scrambled sequence, it was a forehead-smacking reminder. While I was at it, I double-checked every store-bought and homemade Ethernet cable within reach, just to reduce the risk of other nuisances and surprises in the near future. Holding the tool in my lap and tugging at a suspect homemade patch cable where it entered the RJ45 connector, I was able to see how different stresses caused intermittent connectivity failures. A note for the unwary: When I first turned the tool on, I got nothing. It felt so light that at first my suspicion fell on whether or not the 9V battery had been included. The designer apparently worked in environments where lost and stolen 9V batteries are a real problem, because he elected to secure the battery compartment with a Phillips head screwdriver. After rummaging through my toolbox for that screwdriver, I was able to open the compartment and establish that the battery was in fact there. Was it so cheap it had already gone dead while the box sat on a shelf? No; it had been stuffed into the battery compartment still wrapped in cellophane. Probably a good idea, but an even better idea would have been to tell me what to expect. I had to debug the tool before I could debug my network. The tool needs few instructions, but comes with none. You wont find any more on the manufacturers website. The blurb on the box and these reviews are the most documentation youll find. It looks and feels cheap. Id much rather have a tool with some heft and a dozen or so neatly labeled ports, buttons, and LCDs, along with the manual required to understand them; something with winking and blinking lights, to impress my friends and confound my enemies. For several times the price, I could get one. To use every five years or so? Once a year, if I tell everyone I know that I have such a thing? I couldnt convince myself that would be a good investment. This saved me more than what it cost, in heartburn and wasted time. Im just lucky the electrician who helped me before retired, or I would have gotten him to come over and tell me what this tool told me, for several times as much. If the tool works the next time I need it, so much the better.

For the price, I expected to have issues with the product. I recently moved into a newly constructed home and got the pre-wire whole house ethernet option, out of the 7 drops, only 1 drop was installed correctly. The Paladin Tool helped me find quickly find the faulty installation rather then plugging in a laptop to verify connectivity. I would definitely would recommend this tool, especially that for this price.

Needed to trace some preinstalled LAN cables to set up my home network. Worked like a champ and determined the cables were good to boot. Also comes with a case for storage, battery and two patch cords. Just what the doctor ordered and at a decent price.