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

For the nice low price, this does the job quickly and effectively. Drop your cable in and it will quickly rotate through, checking connectivity on each pin. As I would imagine is the case with all cheaper cable testers, this isnt *entirely* idiot proof, but its close enough.

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.

The case could be better. It does not hold the test unit and small test link jumpers. The unit runs through a test light sequence, each corresponding to a wire checked. Once you know the sequence you can see if a light is not energized, equating to an issue in the cable. For a basic and inexpensive tool it does well.

Cannot use it without the batteries it said it includes.

What I got was a device with the right part number, but which was completely different- and inferior, in my opinion, to what I had ordered. The device shown has indicators for both cable ends on the main unit, making it easy to track the pin correspondence of the two cable ends (had one before). The one I recieved (see picture), although providing for smaller telecom connectors in addition to RJ-45, has the indicators on two horizontally separated units, making it necessary (for me) to run fingers down both units to track testing. I would guess Greenlee improved the unit without updating descriptive material. Functionally, it works, but not as easy to read as the both-lights-on-master-unit device.

Meter did not work. Wouldnt even test the sample cables provided with the product.

I purchased this item to assist me with the wiring of CAT 5 cable throughout my home. Unfortunately however the device wasnt able to determine a crossed wire. I had alot of troubles with the crossed wire port. So I borrowed a more advanced system from work - it was able to determine the issue. I was a little disappointed. I would say however that the device would work really well for just ensure that ports map. But leave it to the advanced equipment for intense troubleshooting.

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 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.

worked just fine, found error I had made quickly. Worked on a cable + - 300 long. 4 stars because Im sure it had a fault I just didnt detect.