User Manual

What is Real World Certifi cation?
Real World Certifi cation means that a UTP cable passed a prescribed
battery of tests and is therefore not likely to cause problems later. The
Real World Certifi er has two levels of verifi cation/certifi cation:
RWC Level 1: Performed with the Main Unit and the Remote
Probe, Level 1 tests the cable for length; opens, shorts, split pairs
and distance to the fault; wire map (displays cable wiring); NEXT
and FEXT (crosstalk tests); propagation delay (time to transit
cable); skew (time delay between pairs); cable category (CAT3, 5,
5E, 6); and speed projection (10, 100, 1000 MB).
RWC Level 2: Includes all Level 1 tests plus takes advantage of a
real live data source (hub, switch or PC) to test for attenuation and
device type. The result is RWC Level 2 speed certifi cation of the
cable and the LAN device.
Networks are installed in steps. First, cables are installed. Then hubs,
switches and PCs follow. Cables and network interfaces are known as
the physical layer. The higher software layers provide addressing, fi le
transfers. etc. If the physical layer does not work, the communications
layers (software) will not work. Debugging cables, ports and network
software together is time consuming, frustrating and ultimately very
expensive. There are too many unknowns. Real World Certifying cables
eliminates unknowns, making it easier to get a network up and running.
And, once the hardware is operational you can run software layer tests
(ping, etc. ) from any workstation (see Appendix B).
What is the best time to Real World Certify a cable?
The best time to certify a cable is when the installer is still readily
available to repair any faults that are found. Installers should certify
before they leave, so that they will not lose money by having to
return to a job site to do in warranty repairs. Network professionals
should certify before the warranty period expires.
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