Network Cabling Specialist

Chapter 12 Finish Phase

Learning Objectives

• Learn About Cable Testing

• Learn How to Troubleshoot Cable
• Understand Cable Certification and
Documentation
Finish Phase Steps

• Testing
• Troubleshooting
• Certification
• Documentation
Testing

• Testing verifies that all wires are working so

that the customer does not find that there are
problems later.
• Testing is for functionality, that is, it
determines if the wire can carry the signal
from end to end.
Testing Methodology

• Before undertaking a more

time-consuming certification
test, it is important to test all
the wires for functionality
• There is no need to waste time
certifying a cable that has been
punched down incorrectly
Common Tests
Common Testers

• Tone generators
• Cable and jack testers
• Multimeters
Tone and Trace Testing

• A tone generator places an

audible signal on a pair of wires
• These generators usually plug
into the cable using an RJ-45
connector, although they might
also connect to the cable using
alligator clips
• The tracer is an amplified probe
used to find the tone at the
cable's other end
TDR

• A time domain reflectometer (TDR) works by

sending a pulse down the wire and then
monitoring the electronic echoes that occur
on the cable due to cable problems
• TDRs will determine if there is a cable fault,
and if so, whether it is an open or short, as
well as tell the distance from the meter to the
fault
Permanent Link Test

• The Permanent link test excludes the cable

portions of the adapters, but includes the
mated connection at each end
• The Permanent Link test also allows for a
consolidation point
• The problems that should be tested for are
foreign voltage, shorts, reversals, split pairs,
and crosstalk
Testing For Foreign Voltage

• A foreign voltage is a voltage

that does not belong on the
wire
• Sources of foreign voltage
can be erroneous cross-
connects, insulation failures,
static electricity, or inductive
currents formed by routing
signal wires too close to
wires carrying large voltages
• Multimeters or voltmeters can
test for foreign voltage
Testing For Shorts

• A short is formed when the two wires in a pair touch

each other, providing an undesired shortcut in the
flow of signal
• Tests to determine if there is a short measure the
continuity or resistance between the wires
Testing For Reversals

• A reversal occurs when the tip (or ring) side of

a pair is terminated on the ring (or tip) position
at the opposite end of the wire
• A cable tester is needed to determine
reversals
Testing For Split Pairs

• Split pairs happen when wires are mixed

among pairs
• Test for splits with an ohmmeter and a tone
generator
Testing For Crosstalk

• Crosstalk occurs when the signal from a

transmitting pair is coupled to the receiving
pair or other pairs in the cable
• Cable testers are used to detect crosstalk
Fiber-Optic Testing

• Fiber-optic cables are tested using a

calibrated light source and an optical power
meter to measure the loss in the cable being
tested
Testing grounding systems

• Grounding systems tests are generally

performed using a special purpose instrument
called a megger. The megger checks the
performance of the building grounding and
bonding system
• The NEC states that if the grounding systems
resistance to ground is 25 ohms or greater,
the installer has to add a second ground rod
• Industry accepted standards state that a
reading of 5 ohms or less is considered
commercially acceptable
Channel Test

• The channel test goes truly end-to-end from the

workstation or telephone to the device in the TR. The
channel test includes the line cord from the jack to the
user equipment and the patch cord from the patch
panel to the communications equipment
• The channel test has been officially eliminated by
TIA/EIA-568-B.1
Link Test

• The link test only tests the cable from the wall
back to the patch panel
• There are two types of link tests, basic and
permanent
• The permanent link test is the only acceptable
test according to TIA/EIA-568-B.1
Cable Certification

• The cable certification process forms a

baseline measurement for the cabling system
• It allows the installer to say unequivocally that
at a certain day and time the cables
performed to certain specifications
• Any later change in cable performance must
be attributable to some cause, and it will be
easier to figure out what that cause is if there
is hard, fast evidence of the cables’ condition
at an earlier point
Certification Meter Output Example

• Detailed documentation that shows that the cabling

has reached these standards are submitted to the
customer
Documentation

• Project documents, plans, and blueprints is

the set of documents used to design and gain
approval for the project
• Due to problems, changes, and last minute
corrections, there are often inaccuracies in
these original plans
• For this reason a second set of documents
must be created. This is usually called as-built
documentation to differentiate if from plans
Troubleshooting copper connections

• Hard faults, which are problems that make

communication virtually impossible, are relatively
easy to identify and clear
• Opens, split pairs, and shorts are examples of
hard faults
• Intermittent faults come and go and cause
problems such as dropped packets and packets
with errors
• Often, these problems are caused by crosstalk
Troubleshooting fiber-optics

• Most problems with fiber-optic connections are

found with the connectors
• Dirt and dust on the end faces of the connectors
can also add attenuation that will impede a fiber-
optic signal
As-builts

• As-builts show the client and future technicians the

exact layout of the cable installation. It may vary from
the original plans since obstacles or problems may
have occurred during installation.
• Diagrams showing the cable runs, locations of outlets,
and identity of each outlet should be created and
presented to the client.
Learning Objectives

• Learn About Cabling Project Completion

• Learn About Customer Support
• Understand How to Determine Upgrade
Opportunities
Final walk through

• The final walk through involves going through

the entire project with the customers and
verifying that each item was completed to
their satisfaction
• If there are problems discovered, a punch list
will be generated
• The punch list is a list of the items that are
deficient or that will require additional work
Sign-off

• Occurs when the customer agrees that the

project has been completed
• The installer then generates a document for
the customer to sign that states that the
customer has inspected the installation and
that it is complete, minus any discrepancies
noted on the punch list
• Also, the customer accepts the installation
and agrees to pay as arranged
Warranty

• A warranty is a written statement provided to

the customer that states that if any hidden
problems develop within a clearly defined and
reasonable period, then it is the installer’s
responsibility to correct those problems
• A warranty can protect the installer from
problems caused by others or outside factors
Customer support

When working with a customer, make customer

support a priority
• First, the needs of the customer should be
understood
• Second, decide whether customer support should
focus on pre-sales activity, post-sales activity, or
both
• Finally, commit to a level of support that is
appropriate for both the customer and the support
team
Providing customer support

• Contact information (telephone numbers and

email address) should be placed prominently
on all documentation and the company
website.
• Provide the client or post on a website:
– Glossary of terms to help the customer
– Forms for filling out requests
– Frequently asked questions (FAQ) sheet
• Hire and train customer support people who
treat customers well and are knowledgeable.
Web-based customer support options

• CallBack
• Automated E-mail Response
• Interactive Chat
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• Shared Web Browser Sessions
Contact Information

• Customers should be able to get in touch with an

authoritative representative of the company within a
few minutes on most workdays and within a few
hours on weekends or at night
• Always provide an e-mail address and telephone
number on every document (including proposals,
contracts, blue prints, business cards, and letters to
the customer) and on the website
• Another good reason for making customer support
available is to answer questions before they
become problems
FAQs

• If many of the customers are asking the same

questions, it is a good idea to include
answers to these questions on the website or
in a document that is given to the customer
• These documents, usually called Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ), provide answers to
common questions so that customers can
complete their tasks quickly and easily
• Cabling firms should also address product-
related questions from users in the FAQ
Planning For Growth

• It is always less expensive to pull more cable

during one installation than it is to have an
installer perform a second cable installation
• The real cost of installation is labor, time, and
interruption to normal business activities.
Therefore, it is best to pull more cable than
the customer needs at the time
Sales and upgrade opportunities

• After the installation project is complete, customer

service and support presents a unique opportunity
for additional sales
• As problems are identified and their solutions
searched for, a new technology or enhancement
may be recommended that would benefit the client
• Network upgrades, based on newly emerged
technologies, that can expand the customer's
network power may also be recommended