Best Network Cable Tester (2023 Updated Guide) - Nerd Techy (2023)

There are few things as frustrating as a broken network cable. Just one faulty wire or cable can wreak havoc on an entire system. This is often known as a break in continuity.

When it comes to a network that uses Ethernet, things can get even more complicated, since they are actually made up of multiple components. When one or a combination of these fail, it can be quite difficult to fix the problem.

What is an Ethernet network cable?

An Ethernet cable is a type of network cable used to connect networks. These cables deliver data between a network of devices such as PCs, routers, modems, and switches. They are made of tiny copper wires and have eight pronged connectors that terminate at each end.

What Causes Ethernet Cable Malfunction?

Problems can arise that seriously interrupt or impede data transmission. It could be a problem with a faulty cable or a problem with one of the connectors on either end. In many cases, faulty network cables are the result of one or more pins dying or coming loose.

That is why it is so important to have a quality network cable tester. If you have one, you can drastically reduce the amount of headache and frustration associated with finding the problem and then diagnosing the root cause. The good news is that fixing Ethernet cables isn't difficult as long as you know what the problem is. Finally, a quality network cable tester can be of great help.

What is a network cable tester?

Network cable testers offer an easy way to test the functionality of a network cable. Thus, you can isolate the root cause of problems so they can be fixed in a timely manner. These portable devices transmit a signal through the attached Ethernet cable and port to monitor your path and provide a visual indication of what is happening.

The only thing you will notice is a plethora of options on the market. It is important to note that not all cable testers are created equal. Today we will introduce and describe five worthwhile options for the best network cable testers available today.

How We Picked the Best Cable Testers

To make the best selection for this item, our team used their experience based on the following criteria. To create this list, these products had to meet and, in most cases, exceed these standards.

• produce quality:Especially for professional work environments, it's important that your network cable tester is made of high-quality materials that will protect the cables under test from taking a beating in the process.
• Precision:The goal of a tester is to accurately read the condition of a network cable. Also, you need to be extremely accurate in identifying the cause of potential problems.
• Courage:The cost of a quality network cable tester can be very high. While it's true that you get what you pay for, we want to make sure that all of the products on this list offer great value that justifies the price.
• Easy to use:Whether you are a professional or a homeowner who just wants to boost your internet speed, a network tester should be easy to use. We excluded network cable testers that were too complex for no good reason.

Ganador general: NetAlly LinkSprinter 300 Network Tester

Main features:

• Includes Wi-Fi error and cable distance indicators.
• Delivers detailed test results to your smartphone or tablet.
• Deep Insights functionality for complex scenarios.
• Team collaboration tools.

oNetAlly Enlace Sprinter 300It's our pick for best overall calculator for a number of reasons, including its enterprise-level diagnostic capabilities. It is important to note that this is not a simple wired network tester. Most other testers on the market use LED lights or displays to report problems with a cable. LinkSprinter takes a different approach and delivers detailed analytics right to your mobile device. Think of it as a tool that will automatically do most of the heavy lifting for you.

With this tester, you can find the nearest switch name and port information to check things like speed and connectivity. If you use Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE), this device can also test the voltage of the Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE).

Running tests and viewing test results are done in the app on your mobile device. Within the app, you can choose which tests you want to run and run them over a Wi-Fi connection using the built-in hotspot. Once the results are tabulated, you can see the data clearly on your mobile device. This eliminates the need to decipher the meaning of specific blinking LEDs or extrapolate data from numbers on an LCD screen. While these methods are great, NetAlly saves a lot of time by running an intuitive setup like this.

According to user reports, this device detects errors in an average of ten seconds. The self-test function performs a series of tests, e.g. B. Measure PoE voltage, run a switch test, and confirm that the DHCP server is up and responding. You can also check the gateway/router, cloud reachability, and internal IP service.

Being able to start all of these tests with just a few taps on the screen can save you a lot of time and extra work. Saves all your previous test data for future reference. This is not common with most analog network cable testers. This is useful when you work with a team or need to share data to query others. All this can be done using the completely free Link Live cloud service.

oNetAlly Enlace Sprinter 300is undoubtedly one of the best network testers currently. However, the built-in industrial-grade features mean a steeper learning curve is required. If you need advanced tools, the ability to share, and access full diagnostics, this is an awesome option. But if you're a layman who only needs to do basic testing on short network cables, this could be a bit overwhelming.

You get what you pay for and the price for this particular device is much higher than other network testers on this market. That being said, we think it's worth investing in for its rich feature set and cloud/mobile-based software.

What we like:

• The self-test function initiates a series of tests.
• Mobile app interface for easy control.
• The cloud service allows you to store and share test results.
• It does most of the heavy lifting for you.
• Integrated easy-to-read indicator lights.
• Integrated mobile hotspot.

What we don't like:

• Very expensive.
• Steep learning curve for beginners.

Best Runner-Up: Klein Tools Scout Jr. 2 LAN Ethernet Cable Tester

Main features:

• Large backlit LCD screen.
• three button operation
• Offers audio on a single pair of wires or on all 8 conductor wires.

The best runner-up on our list comes from Klein Tools, a company with a history that spans more than six generations. They have been leaders in diagnostics and information technology for decades. EITHERLAN Explorer Jr. 2it is a high-precision test device that has proven to be incredibly reliable in real-world tests.

Allows you to test CAT5e, CAT6A, and patch cords that terminate on RJ45 connectors. As an added bonus, a tone generator that can generate multiple frequencies is also included. A large, backlit display allows you to clearly read test results in even the darkest environments, including server rooms. It does not require special batteries as it is powered by two standard AAA batteries that are included.

The tester's controls revolve around three main buttons that allow you to toggle and choose which tests to run or which information to display. After using it, we were impressed with how intuitive the three-button approach was. We had little difficulty navigating and running tests.

Priced significantly lower than NetAlly's, it's a worthy addition as a runner-up. It is simple, basic and easy to use. Overall, an excellent choice.

What we like:

• Extremely effective on CAT5e, CAT6, RJ45 and patch cords.
• Precise visual mapping of cables.
• Unlike many competitors, the shade works with wires, wire pairs, or all 8 conductor wires.
• Backlit display for low light situations.
• Intuitive three-button manual interface.
• Auto power off function saves battery power.
• The non-slip grip helps when wet.

What we don't like:

• It does not provide data on the distance from the location of the cable break.

Best Budget: Klein Tools VDV526-100 Network Cable Tester

Main features:

• one button operation.
• Pass diagnostics, cable fault, open fault, short circuit, and shield fault.
• The supplied test remote is attached to the tester housing.
• Automatic shutdown function.

For homeowners who don't work as IT professionals, our pick for the best network cable might be the best option. EITHERKlein VDV526-100 tooling machinesit is an optimized model that maintains the accuracy and speed of other Klein Tools models.

It comes with a single button to quickly power on the device and run tests. This model uses the use of a remote tester. One end of the cable under test goes in and the other is connected directly to the remote. The VDV526-100 quickly tests your cable for potential faults and communicates visually with you via front panel LEDs.

Our tests found that this inexpensive model returned the same metrics as models five times as expensive. As accurate as it is, keep in mind that its versatility will be quite limited at this price. It does the basics, nothing more, nothing less. But it does it exceptionally well.

The Klein Tools VDV526-100 is best suited for those who don't want to break the bank but still want decent functionality. For personal use in small networks, this tool will work very well. The best part is that it doesn't cost an arm or a leg!

What we like:

• Hassle-free one-button operation.
• Quick LED response.
• The compact size is easy to carry.
• Auto power off prolongs battery life.
• The remote control of the tester is attached to the body of the tester to prevent loss.

What we don't like:

• Limited resources, ideal for personal use.
• Missing tone generator.

Best Midrange: Fluke MicroScanner2

Main features:

• Large backlit screen.
• 4 test modes simultaneously.
• Robust rubber grips.
• Provides wire mapping capabilities.

While some balk at the price, with some network cable testers costing up to five times as much, this really is considered a mid-range tester. There are many options in this category, but after testing dozens of units, theFluke MicroScanner2emerged as the clear winner. Fluke is known for its high quality and longstanding reputation. This unit is an excellent example of this.

Higher priced testers offer a wider variety of cables to test, which can be critical in professional settings. They also provide more detailed information beyond the errors found. The combination of all these things can greatly speed up the troubleshooting process.

With the MicroScanner2, the visual cable mapping approach is extremely readable and even shows what type of device is at the terminating end. In fact, the big screen can display 4 test modes at the same time. There is a graphical cable map, pair lengths, distance to fault with TDR, and cable ID with remote device sensing.

An important feature of this device is the ability to detect the distance at which a failure occurs. While it may not be 100% accurate, we have found it to be correct to within a few metres.

Its robust design, powerful yet intuitive features, and precision make it an ideal choice in this mid-range category. And with Fluke brand quality, it's easy.

What we like:

• The graphical wiremap is clear and easy to read.
• It works with a variety of cables, including coaxial video cables.
• It tells you at which end of the cable the problem is occurring and tells you the specific distance to an open connection within the cable.

What we don't like:

• The included toning function is limited.

Best High-End: Fluke Networks LIQ-100 LinkIQ Cable and Network Tester

Main features:

• Test cable performance up to 10G BASE-T with frequency-based measurements.
• Contains IPv4 and v6 ping network function.
• Provides more accurate breaker diagnostics.
• Verification PoE certified by Ethernet Alliance.
• Provides distance to open briefly.
• You can store the results internally and print them using LinkWare PC.

Ideal for professionals and professional consumers whoFluke LIQ-100It's our pick for the best high-end network cable tester. Overall, this device offers the ideal mix of high-end features and precision for top-tier performance.

It is capable of performing performance tests for cables up to 10GBASE-T. This feature alone makes it the ideal tool for powerful network environments. It offers functions such as displaying the length of the cable, rendering a wiremap, and reporting the distance to open or shorten. All data is stored on the device and can be physically printed using the associated software.

Many professionals report that the Fluke LIQ-100 has saved them a significant amount of time, money, and labor far beyond the cost of the device. Although the price is very high, it is the best of the best that is currently available.

What we like:

• Powerful network features.
• Save reports.
• Allows you to test cable performance up to 10GBASE-T.

What we don't like:

• Very expensive.
• Much more complex than ordinary users need.