Micro Tsb 67 568A Annex E Users Manual

MISCELLANEOUS/MICRO Pentascanner Family User MICRO Pentascanner Family User

TSB-67 - 568A Annex E MICRO Pentascanner Family User

TSB-67 - 568A Annex E to the manual 001a83dd-d14c-459e-b127-6dcd0ffbcd6d

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Penta Scanner
Product Family
User Guide

A Guide to Using the Microtest PentaScanner Product Family
to install, mange and troubleshoot Category 5 and ISO Class
C/D Cabling Systems

The PentaScanner Product Family verifies installed links against Category 5
(TSB-67 and 568A Annex E) and ISO Class C/D requirements.

Copyright © 1993, 1996 Microtest, Inc. All rights reserved

Chapter 1: Introduction
The Complete Category 5 Solution
The PentaScanner Product Family is the hand-held certification and diagnostic tool for
Category 5 and ISO Class C and D links. PentaScanner products also provide full software
compliance with TIA TSB-67 requirements for measurement reporting and analysis (including
TSB-67 NEXT sweep and swept Attenuation). These tools are designed to be the complete
solution for professional cable installers, service providers, and network administrators.
Scanners in the PentaScanner product family incorporate a graphical user interface, backlit display
menus, arrow keys, on-line help and descriptive menu options that guide you quickly and easily
through certifying or troubleshooting cabling systems.
Most of the information in this user guide applies to all PentaScanner products. Some
information applies only to PentaScanner+ units — this information is noted as such.
PentaScanner+ units (with 36-pin connectors) are differentiated from PentaScanner and
PentaScanner Cable Admin units (with Modular 8 connectors), where applicable.

2-Way Injector +/2-Way Injector
The 2-Way Injector+ and 2-Way Injector perform wire map, signal generation for Attenuation, and
end of link termination for other measurements. In addition, each measures NEXT at the Injector
end of the link and reports the results to the Scanner. As part of the Autotest, NEXT results are
stored for both ends of the link. Data from the Injector end of the link can be displayed in any of
the Autotest view modes and printed as part of Autotest reports.

Super Injector +/Super Injector
The Super Injector+ and the Super Injector are single direction active injectors and remote test
coordinators that work with Scanners to verify twisted-pair cable transmission quality. By using the
Injector, the Scanner can test Attenuation, NEXT, Loop Resistance, and provide a Wire Map for
any twisted-pair cable.

Scanner Display Conventions
Scanner Display

Meaning
The up and down arrows in the display indicate that more
information is available by pressing the ÏorÐ arrow key.
Use the Ñ and Ò arrow keys for page up and page down navigation.

12-36 or 12/36

The paired numbers in the display indicate wire pairs. For example,
12 indicates the wire pair on pins 1 and 2. 12-36 indicates two wire
pairs tested, the first on pins 1 and 2, and the second on pins 3 and 6.

ÏÐÑÒ

On-Line Help for Instant Answers
The Scanners include on-line context sensitive help. Just press the HELP key at any time for
information about the test that you are performing. By pressing function keys (F1, F2, F3, F4) and
arrow keys (ÏÐÑÒ), you can move easily through the help text.

Chapter 2: Getting Started
Charging the Scanner’s Battery
In order to operate the Scanner and the 2-Way Injector from battery power, the battery must first
be charged. You can run the units from the AC adapter until the charging cycle is complete.

Ready Screen
This screen is displayed after you press the ON/OFF key. Ready! should display in the center of the
screen. If not, contact your Microtest distributor for assistance.
The date and time are displayed at the top of the screen. The currently selected Autotest is
displayed below the time. The currently selected cable type is displayed on the bottom left of the
screen.
Press Cable (F1) to view a list of available cable types, to create a new cable type, or to edit an
existing cable type. You can test cables using both modular and BNC connector types.
Press Jack (F4) to toggle the jack selection between twisted-pair (TWP) and Coax.

Scanner Information
To display software, hardware and serial number information, press and hold

.

The Software and Hardware Version Numbers are displayed in the right center of the screen.
Check the Microtest Web page at http://www.microtest.com/, or the Microtest Bulletin Board
System (BBS) at (602) 957-7716 (U.S.) or +44 1293 894031 (Europe) to be sure you are working
with the most recent software version.
The Scanner’s Serial Number is displayed in the lower center area of the screen. You may need to
provide the Serial Number when having repairs or refurbishments done, or when you call for
Technical Support. The Serial Number can also be found on the label on the back of the unit.
The left area of the screen is a contrast indicator for the display. Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to
increase or decrease the contrast.

Ni-Cd Battery (Scanner and 2-Way Injectors)
Rechargeable Battery Pack

AC Connector

Keypad

Page 3

The Scanners and the 2-Way Injector+/2-Way
Injector are powered by a rechargeable, recyclable
Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery pack. Under
various state and local laws, it may be illegal to
dispose of this battery pack into the municipal waste
stream. Check with your local solid waste officials for
details in your area for recycling options or proper
disposal.

To remove the Ni-Cd battery pack, place the Scanner or Injector face down and slide the arrowshaped tab downward. Then lift the battery pack up towards you. To install the battery pack, insert
the two tabs on the top of the battery in the Scanner and press down on the battery pack until it
clicks into place.

2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector Battery
The Injector is powered on by the Scanner. When active, the Injector’s Status Indicator will
indicate the current mode of operation. After 15 seconds of inactivity, the Injector will
automatically shut itself off to preserve battery life.
When operating with the AC adapter plugged in, the Injector is always on. If it is inactive (i.e. not
performing measurements), the Injector recharges its battery pack. The Charging LED will indicate
the state of the battery. (See the section titled CHARGING Indicator for details). Battery charging
is disabled while the Injector is performing a measurement function. After 15 seconds of inactivity,
the Injector automatically returns to charging mode.

Ni-Cd Battery Tips
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Power off the unit before changing the Ni-Cd battery pack.
The PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable Admin Ni-Cd battery pack must be replaced
within five minutes to avoid memory loss.
If the display goes blank while the AC adapter is plugged in to the Scanner, it indicates that the
Ni-Cd battery pack is on maintenance (“trickle”) charge.
The Ni-Cd battery pack is NOT being recharged while the Scanner is powered ON.
The Ni-Cd battery pack is recharged by powering OFF the Scanner and plugging the AC
adapter in to the Scanner or by using the optional external Quick Charger.
The average time to recharge the Ni-Cd battery pack is about 15 hours with the AC adapter,
and 2 to 3 hours with the Quick Battery Charger.
To further maximize Ni-Cd battery pack life, Microtest recommends that approximately every 7
- 10 charging cycles, you refresh your battery using Battery Refresh Mode (see below).
To maximize Ni-Cd battery pack life, avoid extreme temperatures.
Backlighting the display causes increased battery drain.
Average daily life of the Ni-Cd battery is about 8 hours.
Contact your Microtest distributor for details on the external Quick Charger, Microtest Part
Number 8003-01.

Battery Refresh Mode
You can refresh your PentaScanner+, 2-Way Injector+, and 2-Way Injector battery using the
Scanner’s Battery Refresh Mode. When you set the Refresh Mode, the unit’s battery will fully
discharge and then recharge, which should increase your battery’s life. The Refresh Mode is
executed via the PENTA reflash program.
To put your Scanner into Refresh Mode, attach it to your PC with a DB-9 serial cable. Attach the
AC Adapter to the Scanner, and power the unit on. At the PC’s DOS prompt, type:
PENTA -REFRESH -C1 (for COM1, or -C2 for COM2) and press Enter.
The Scanner’s display will read:
The PentaScanner+ is in battery refresh mode.
When finished discharging, the Scanner will turn itself off and proceed to recharge via the AC
adapter.

To put your 2-Way Injector or 2-Way Injector+ into Refresh Mode, first attach the Injector to
your Scanner with a RJ-45 or 36-pin cable, whichever is appropriate for your equipment (you may
need to use an adapter if your units have different connector types). Attach the Scanner to the PC
with a DB 9 serial cable. Attach AC Adapters to both the Injector and the Scanner, and power
both units on. At the PC’s DOS prompt, type:
PENTA -2REFRESH -C1 (for COM1, or -C2 for COM2) and press Enter. The Injector is now in
discharge mode, indicated by the alternate flashing of the Pass and Fail LED indicators. When the
battery has discharged, the Injector will switch to recharge mode (indicated by the Charging light).
To refresh the Scanner and the Injector batteries at the same time, follow the instructions above for
connecting the Injector to the Scanner, and the Scanner to the PC. Attach AC Adapters to both
the Injector and the Scanner, and power both units on. Put the Injector into refresh mode first, by
typing:
PENTA -2REFRESH -C1 (for COM1, or -C2 for COM2) and press Enter.
Now, put the Scanner into refresh mode by typing:
PENTA -REFRESH -C1 (for COM1, or -C2 for COM2) and press Enter.
Both units will discharge and recharge as described above.
Once the units are in Refresh Mode, you can disconnect the DB-9 serial cable. Keep the units
plugged in to the AC adapters. The units will discharge and recharge in approximately 15-20
hours. For best results, do not remove the AC adapter until the battery is fully charged. On the
PentaScanner+, the battery is fully charged when the “Charging Battery” message is no longer
displayed on the screen. On the 2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector, the battery is fully charged
when the Charging Indicator LED is flashing.

Super Injector+/Super Injector Battery
The Super Injector+ and Super Injector are powered by three AA alkaline batteries. (Be sure to
use only AA alkaline batteries in the Injector. Other battery types are not supported.) To remove
the batteries, move the battery door latch forward and remove the battery door.
The Injector battery life varies depending on usage and battery quality. On average, the batteries
will withstand testing of more than 500 cables. Low battery detection is reported in several ways:
• The Injector Status Indicator blinks slowly (approximately once per second) instead of normal
rapid blinking.
• Press the Extended Functions key and select Injector Info to display the battery status.
• The Scanner checks the Injector batteries before running selected tests and before calibrating
the Injector, and displays a warning message if the Injector batteries are low.

Test Connectors
The PentaScanner+, 2-Way Injector+ and Super Injector+ have 36-pin connectors. The
PentaScanner, PentaScanner Cable Admin, 2-Way Injector and Super Injector have Modular
8 (RJ-45) connectors:

36-pin connector
on the 2-Way Injector+
and the Super Injector+
Page 5

Modular 8 (RJ-45) connector
on the 2-Way Injector+ and
the Super Injector

High Voltage Protection
The PentaScanner+/PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin, 2-Way Injector+/2-Way
Injector and Super Injector+/Super Injector are designed to withstand input hazard voltage
conditions that arise from normal telephony applications such as 48 VDC at less than 80 ma or 24
VAC used to power many keysets. The unit detects when a voltage of greater than ±15 volts is
applied on the inputs and sounds a warning to alert the user to remove the hazard condition
immediately to prevent possible damage to the input circuits. Tests cannot be performed when
hazard conditions are detected on the inputs.

2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector LED Indicators
Test Connector
(36-pin on 2-Way
Injector+ or Mod 8
on 2-Way Injector)
Pass
Indicator
Status
Indicator
Fail
Indicator

Circuit
Guard
Indicator
Charging
Indicator

Indicator

State

Description

Pass

Steady Light

Overall Autotest result is PASS

Fail

Steady Light

Overall Autotest result is FAIL

Status

Steady Light

The Injector is powered ON and waiting for
communication with the Scanner.

Status

Off

The Injector is powered OFF (or charging battery
if AC adapter is attached).

Status

Rapid Blink

Executing command or measurement in progress

Status

Slow Blink

Battery is low

Charging

Steady Light

The Injector is inactive, the AC adapter is present
and the battery pack is being charged at the maximum rate.

Charging

Off

The Injector is inactive and the battery or AC adapter is
not present; or the Injector is active.

Charging

Blinking (once
every 10
seconds

The Injector is inactive and the AC adapter is present; the
battery pack is fully charged and the Injector is in trickle
charge mode.

Circuit
Guard,
Pass, Fail,
plus steady
tone

Blinking

Overvoltage condition

Super Injector+/Super Injector LED Indicators

Pass
Indicator
Fail
Indicator

Test Connector
(36-pin on Super
Injector+ or Mod 8
on Super Injector)

Status
Indicator

Indicator
Status
Status

State
Rapid blink
Steady light

Status

Slow blink

Pass
Steady light
Fail
Steady light
Fail, plus
Steady light
tone condition

Description
Test in progress
Injector waiting for
signal from Scanner
Injector battery low
Test has passed
Test has failed
Overvoltage steady

When to Use the Injector
Some measurements require the use of the Injector at the far end of the cable. For other
measurements, the Injector can be connected but its use is optional. The Scanner automatically
detects the presence of and configures the Injector for the measurement to be performed. The
following table outlines when to use the Injector:
Page 7

Measurement
Attenuation

Injector
Required?
Yes

Autotest

Yes

The Injector is required for Attenuation, NEXT
measurements, Resistance and Wire Map during Autotest.

Capacitance

No

If connected, the Injector provides an “OPEN” for the
duration of the measurement.

Length

No

If connected, the injector provides an “OPEN” for the
duration of the measurement.

Impedance

No

If connected, the injector provides an “OPEN” for the
duration of the measurement.

NEXT - Scanner
End

Yes

The Injector provides a 100 ohm termination while the
Scanner measures NEXT.

NEXT - Injector
End (2-Way
Injector+/2-Way
Injector only)

Yes

The Scanner provides a 100 ohm termination for the
duration of the measurement.

Loop Resistance

Yes

If connected, the Injector is used to “SHORT” the wire pair
under test and the Scanner measures Loop Resistance. If the
2-Way Injector is not connected, the Scanner will display
“OVR” (Over Range).

Wire Map (Find
Cable Faults)

Yes

The Scanner communicates with the Injector across the link
under test to determine the wire connection from the
Scanner end to the Injector end.

Noise

No

The Injector is not required to measure impulse noise or
peak-to-peak noise.

Description
The Injector generates the frequencies and the Scanner
measures the signal to determine the signal loss.

Note: The Injector is not used when testing coaxial cable. See Appendix D: Working with
Coaxial Cable for more information.

Using Multiple Injectors
One Scanner can store calibration data for up to five Injectors. To determine which Injector is
attached to the Scanner, press the Extended Functions key, then select Injector Info. The
Scanner will display the serial number and other information for the attached Injector.

Injector Calibration
Calibration of the Injector’s signal amplitude is required for accurate Attenuation measurements
and requires user intervention. To maintain accurate Attenuation measurements, the Injector must

be calibrated each calendar day that it is used. Expiration of calibration data is automatically
detected by the Scanner.
The Scanner and Injector are connected through their respective test connector ports using the
patch cable provided with each instrument. The amplitude of each frequency generated by the
Injector is measured by the Scanner. The resulting calibration values are stored in the Scanner
according to the Injector’s serial number. The Scanner maintains five sets of Injector calibration
data simultaneously.
1. Connect the Scanner and the Injector using the patch cable supplied with the Scanner (see
following diagrams). If you have a Scanner with a 36-pin connector, you may also need to use
the Mod 8 Adapter (included).
2. Power on the Scanner.
3. Press the Extended Functions key.
4. Select Calibrate Injector. The Scanner will display:
Searching for Injector . . .
5. On finding the Injector, the Scanner displays:
Calibrating . . .
6. When the calibration is complete, the Scanner displays:
The Injector has been calibrated
7. Press OK (F1) to return to the Extended Functions menu.

Mod 8 Adapter Note
Use of the mating connectors not in conformance with FCC Part 68, Sub-Part F may result in
damage not covered by Microtest warranty.

Calibration Connections

Modular 8 Adapter
Modular 8 Plug to
36-Pin Patch Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Page 9

36-Pin Injector

Modular 8 Plug to
36-Pin Patch Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Mod 8 Injector

Modular 8 Patch Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Mod 8 Injector

Injector Internal Calibration (2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector only)
Periodically, the 2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector and the Scanner require calibration of their
internal measurement circuitry. The Scanner will determine when internal calibration is required for
itself and the Injector. If required, the Scanner directs the Injector to perform the calibration. At
the same time, the Scanner performs its own internal calibration, synchronizing the calibration
times of both devices. Internal calibration is performed automatically and is required to account for
temperature changes. The only effect you may notice is an occasional slight increase in test times
while internal calibration is being performed.

Connections
The Scanner and the Injector are used together to perform measurements that allow the Scanner to
verify installed links or assist in the diagnosis of network problems at the physical layer. To
accomplish these measurements, the Scanner and the Injector are connected at both ends of a
network cabling link. The end at which the Scanner is connected is referred to as the
“PentaScanner end”. The end at which the Injector is connected is referred to as the “Injector
end”.
When the 2-Way Injector+ or 2-Way Injector is used for testing, the Scanner screens will display test
results for both ends of the link. Press the F4 key to toggle the display between Scanner (Penta)
and Injector (Inj) test results.
Refer to the diagrams on the following pages for instructions on connecting the Scanner and the
Injector for both basic link and full channel tests.

Basic Link with Modular 8 Jacks
The diagram below shows the connection of a PentaScanner+ to a Modular 8 jack in the wiring
closet and a 2-Way Injector+ or Super Injector+ to a Modular 8 jack in the work area.
Use the Modular 8 plug to 36-pin patch cable to attach the PentaScanner+ to the Modular 8 jack.
At the other end of the link, use the Modular 8 plug to 36-pin patch cable to attach the Injector to
the Modular 8 jack.
Wiring Closet

Work Area
Modular 8 Jack

Modular 8 Plug to
36-Pin Patch Cable

36-Pin Scanner

36-Pin Injector

If you are using a Super Injector, use the Modular 8 patch cable to connect the Injector to the
Modular 8 jack as shown:

Wiring Closet

Work Area
Modular 8 Jack

Modular 8 Plug
to 36-Pin
Patch Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Modular 8
Patch
Cable

Modular 8 Injector

Basic Link with IDC Block and Modular 8 Jack
Wiring Closet
110 Block

110 Block
to 36-Pin
Patch
Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Page 11

Work Area
Modular 8 Jack

Modular 8
Plug to
36-Pin
Patch
Cable

36-Pin Injector

The diagram shows the connection of a PentaScanner+ to an IDC (110) block in the wiring closet
and a 2-Way Injector+ or Super Injector+ to a Modular 8 jack in the work area.
Punch Down Block Adapter kits are available (as optional accessories) to interface the Scanners
with IDC (110) punch-down blocks. For the PentaScanner+, order kit #8123-01. For the
PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable Admin, order kit #8051-13.
Use the 110 Block to 36-pin patch cable to attach the Scanner to the 110 Punch down block. At
the other end of the link, use the Modular 8 plug to 36-pin patch cable to attach the Injector to
the Modular 8 jack.
If you are using a 2-Way Injector or Super Injector, use the Modular 8 patch cable to connect the
Injector to the Modular 8 jack, as shown:
Wiring Closet

Work Area

110 block

Modular 8 Jack

110Block
to 36-Pin
Patch Cable

Modular 8
Patch
Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Modular 8 Injector

Full Channel Modular 8 Link
A full channel consists of the different link elements from the hub to the wallplate. For cables
terminated with a Modular 8 plug, use the Modular 8 Adapter to interface the PentaScanner+
with these cables. This diagram shows the connection of a PentaScanner+ to a cross connect in the
wiring closet and a 2-Way Injector+ or Super Injector+ to a Modular 8 jack in the work area.
Wiring Closet

Work Area

110 block

Modular 8 Jack

User Cable
Modular 8
Adapter

36-Pin Scanner

Modular 8 Injector

Use the Modular 8 Adapter to attach the PentaScanner+ to the user cable attached to the cross
connect. At the other end of the link, use an additional Modular 8 Adapter to attach the 2-Way
Injector+ or Super Injector+ to the user cable attached to the Modular 8 jack.
If you are using a 2-Way Injector or Super Injector with a Modular 8 connector, attach the user cable
directly to the Modular 8 jack, as shown:
Wiring Closet

Work Area

110 block

Modular 8 Jack

User Cable
Modular 8
Adapter

36-Pin Scanner

Modular 8 Injector

If you are using a PentaScanner or PentaScanner Cable Admin and 2-Way Injector or Super Injector
with Modular 8 connectors, attach the user cables directly to the Modular 8 jacks, as shown below:
Wiring Closet

Work Area

110 block

Modular 8 Jack

User Cable

36-Pin Scanner

Modular 8 Injector

Chapter 3: Autotest
Autotest lets you run cable tests, check test results against standards, and get a PASS/FAIL
indication — without having to know which tests to select or how to interpret results. Autotest can
be customized depending on your site or system requirements. For example, your system may
require the use of two wire pairs (instead of four) or you may not need to perform all of the tests
that Autotest can run. By customizing Autotest to meet your specific needs, you save time and
money!
Autotest varies depending on your network type. Autotest supports many network types, including
ARCNET, 10BASE-T, Category 5, Category 4 and Category 3 LINK, ISO Class C and D, Token
Ring 4/16 Mbps. See Appendix A: Specifications for a list of supported network types.
Page 13

This chapter explains how to run Autotest, including selecting the cable types and Autotest
specifications. It also explains how to customize an Autotest so you can select the pairs that are
tested, the PASS/FAIL criteria, and select which tests to run during Autotest. Each test, such as
NEXT, Impedance, Capacitance, etc. is explained, including how to customize the limits for each
test and how to troubleshoot test results.

Steps for Running Autotest
1. From the Ready screen, verify that the cable type matches the cable type you will be testing. If
it matches, proceed to step 2. Otherwise, see Selecting the Cable Type for instructions.
2. Also from the Ready screen, verify that the default Autotest is the Autotest that you want to
run. If it is, proceed to step 3. Otherwise, see Customizing Autotest for instructions.
3. Connect the Scanner to the near end of the twisted pair cable you are testing and connect the
Injector to the far end. During Autotest, the Injector provides the far end termination for
measurements made by the Scanner. In addition, it generates signals of programmable
frequency for measurement by the Scanner to determine one-way Attenuation. The 2-Way
Injector+/2-Way Injector also generates swept frequency signals and measures the Near End
Crosstalk at its end of the installed link. The Scanner acts as the termination device while
NEXT is being measured by the 2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector.
4. If you have not used the Injector in the last 24 hours, you will need to calibrate. Press the
Extended Functions key and select Calibrate Injector.
5. Press the AUTOTEST key. If you are testing twisted pair cable, the Scanner will immediately
verify that the Injector is attached. If the Injector is not attached, the Scanner will wait until it
is attached before running the Autotest.
6. When the Autotest completes, a PASS or FAIL tone will sound. You can then view the results
of individual tests. (See Autotest Results Screen for instructions.) Or, you can view a
summary of test results. (See Viewing Autotest Results Summary for instructions.)
7. You can also save Autotest results — see Saving Autotest Results for details.
8. You can also print Autotest results — see Printing Autotest Results for details. A sample
Autotest report is shown at the end of this chapter.
Press the ESCAPE key at any time to cancel the Autotest.

Selecting the Cable Type
To display the CABLE SETUP screen, press Cable (F1) from the Ready screen. This screen
displays the cable types available for testing.
Before running an Autotest, verify that the cable type you are testing matches the cable type in the
Scanner. Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the list one line at a time. Press the
Ï or Ð arrow key to scroll through the list one page at a time.
If the cable type you are using is not in the list, press Edit (F2) to define a new cable type (see
Editing the Cable Type for further instructions). You can also press Edit (F2) to review the
current settings for the selected cable type or to make changes.
Press Default (F1) to choose the highlighted cable type for the test you run. Choosing the correct
cable type will ensure accurate Length measurements.
Press Delete (F3) to delete user-defined cable types. Note: Factory-supplied cable types cannot be
deleted.

Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Editing the Cable Type
To display the EDIT CABLE screen, press Cable (F1) from the Ready screen, then press Edit
(F2). This screen displays the characteristics of the cable you will be testing.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to highlight the (cable) Name or NVP (Nominal Velocity of
Propagation) field. The Impedance field is for reference only and does not affect test results. The
highlighted field will be enclosed in a box. Use the Scanner keypad to enter the Cable Name or the
NVP value.
Press Del (F2) to delete the character at the cursor.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the cable
name. If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to edit the name. See
Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on editing.
Note: If you change the information for a factory supplied cable type and do not edit the cable
name, an asterisk (*) will appear before the cable name.
If you are not sure of the NVP value, press GetNVP (F4) to calculate it. See Calculating NVP for
more information.
Press Save (F1) to store the new settings and exit. If you have changed the cable information,
press Default (F1) from the CABLE SETUP screen to select it as the cable type to use during
testing.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Calculating NVP
To display the CABLE NVP screen, press Cable (F1) from the Ready screen, then press Edit
(F2); then press GetNVP (F4).
For an accurate Length test, the NVP (Nominal Velocity of Propagation) must be set correctly.
NVP is a measure of how fast a signal travels down a cable compared to the speed of light. It is
usually between 60% and 90% and is specified by the cable vendor. The Scanner has a large library
of cables with the manufacturer’s specified NVP.
This screen lets you calculate the NVP for cables over 50 feet (15.24 meters) long. The
PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable Admin calculate the NVP based on the longest wire
pair in the cable. The PentaScanner+ calculates the NVP based on the shortest wire pair in the
cable.
You can use the CABLE NVP feature to create a custom cable type when the cable type is not
known.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the cable
length. If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to edit the length.
See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on editing.
Press Del (F2) if you wish to delete the character at the cursor. After you have entered the cable
length, press Calc (F4) to calculate the NVP.
Page 15

After calculating the NVP, press Save (F1) from the EDIT CABLE screen to store the new
settings. Then, press Default (F1) from the CABLE SETUP screen to select the cable as the
default cable type.

Customizing Autotest
To display the AUTOTEST SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest. This screen lets you set the default Autotest, edit Autotest settings and delete
user-defined Autotests.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the list. Or, press the Ï or Ð arrow
key to scroll up or down one screen at a time. When the Autotest you want to use is highlighted,
press Default (F1) to select it as the Autotest to run.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to change the Autotest
name. If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to edit the name. See
Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on editing. Press Change (F2)
to set the Margin Display.
Press Delete (F3) to delete user-defined Autotests.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Editing Autotest Information
To display the EDIT AUTOTEST screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2). This screen lets you customize
Autotest settings.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the available options and press Select (F1) to choose
the highlighted option. Or, press the number on the keypad that corresponds to the option you
want.
Select Name/Options to edit the Autotest name and to change the MARGIN OPTION. Select
Pairs to choose the pairs to be used in the Autotest, and to indicate which pairs have PASS/FAIL
criteria applied to them during Autotest. Select Tests to Run to choose which tests to run during
Autotest. Select Limits to edit test limits.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Editing the Autotest Name
To display the EDIT AUTOTEST NAME screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotests, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select
Name/Options. This screen lets you edit the Autotest name and change the MARGIN OPTION.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter up to 14
characters for the Autotest name. If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press
Edit (F2) to display the edit screen. See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more
information on editing.

When Margin Display is set to TIA Margin Display, marginally passing test results (those for
which the passing value falls within the Scanner’s accuracy range) are marked with “*PASS”. When
Margin Display is set to ACR Margin Check, a cable will pass if a failing NEXT test result is within
the Scanner’s accuracy range AND if the ACR result is within an acceptable range. When Margin
Display is set to None, the only possible Autotest results are “PASS” or “FAIL”.
In the Autotest memory list screen, the test status can be “P” (PASS) or “F” (FAIL), or if the
Autotest was run with Margin Display set to TIA, “*” (MARGINAL PASS).
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Autotest name and exit or press the ESCAPE key
to exit.

Selecting Pairs for Autotest
To display the EDIT AUTOTEST PAIRS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2); then select Pairs. This
screen lets you select which pairs to test and which pairs to use as PASS/FAIL criteria.
The top row indicates the pairs to be tested during Autotest. The bottom row indicates the pairs
that will determine the PASS/FAIL criteria for the cable. Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to
move left or right within the rows. Or, press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to move between rows.
Press Select (F2) (or Unsel) to select (or deselect) the pair. Selected tests are marked with an ‘x’.
Press Save (F1) to store the pair selections and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit without
saving.
Note: If a pair is selected for PASS/FAIL criteria, but is not selected for testing, all tests will fail. If
a pair is selected for testing but is not selected for PASS/FAIL criteria, the Autotest will not be
marked as FAIL if that pair fails.

Selecting Tests to Run During Autotest
To display the EDIT TESTS TO RUN screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Tests to
Run. This screen lets you enable or disable the tests to run during Autotest. When using the 2Way Injector+ or 2-Way Injector, you can run tests at the Scanner or Injector end of the link.
Press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to highlight the test(s) to enable or disable.
Press Select (F2) (or Unsel) to enable (or disable) the highlighted test. Enabled tests are marked
with an ‘x’.
After all test selections have been made, press Save (F1) to save the list of selected tests for this
Autotest.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit the screen without saving.
Note: ACR will not be computed unless the NEXT and Attenuation tests are enabled (since ACR
computations are based on NEXT and Attenuation measurements). The Scanner will automatically
disable ACR if NEXT or Attenuation is not enabled.

Page 17

Editing Test Limits
To display the EDIT LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits. This screen
lets you specify the PASS/FAIL limits used in tests.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to highlight the test for which you want to edit the limits.
Press Select (F1) to display the limits screen for the highlighted test. Or, press the number on the
keypad that corresponds to the test for which you want to change the limits.
After editing the selected limits, press Save (F1) to save these changes and to return to the EDIT
LIMITS screen.
If you have created a new Autotest by editing the Autotest name or by editing a factoryprogrammed Autotest, and if you want the new test to be the default Autotest, press ESCAPE
until you return to the AUTOTEST SETUP screen, then press Default (F1).
Note: See the individual test sections for information on customizing specific test limits.

Running Autotest
To display the AUTOTEST: screen, press the AUTOTEST key. This screen is displayed while
Autotest is running. The Autotest name is displayed at the top of the screen and the cable type is
shown in the top center of the screen. Each pair being tested is displayed in the lower left corner of
the screen. The name of each test being run is displayed in the lower right corner of the screen. A
status bar at the bottom of the screen indicates the progress of the Autotest.
Press the ESCAPE key at any time to cancel the Autotest.
Note: The Injector must be attached to the far end of the cable during Autotest. If it is not, the
Scanner screen will display the following:
Searching for Injector . . . (Injector Not Found)

Autotest Results Screen
To display the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen, press the AUTOTEST key, or press the Extended
Functions key and select Memory. This screen is displayed when Autotest completes or when
saved Autotest results are selected for viewing.
The Autotest name is at the top right of the display and the PASS/FAIL indicator is in the center.
The number of failed tests, if any, is displayed next to the PASS/FAIL indicator. An Autotest will
PASS if all the selected tests meet the specified criteria. An Autotest will FAIL if one or more
selected tests fail. When the Margin Display is set to TIA Margin Display an Autotest will
marginally PASS (*PASS) if one or more NEXT, Attenuation or Length measurements marginally
passes. A marginal PASS is defined as a PASS result that is closer to the PASS/FAIL threshold than
the accuracy of the Scanner.
Press View (F1) to display Autotest results, then use the Ñ or Ò arrow keys to scroll through
the tests. The tests you view depend on the tests you have selected to run in AUTOTEST SETUP.
See Selecting Tests to Run During Autotest for more information.
Press Save (F2) to save test results and exit. See Saving Autotest Results for more information.
Note: The Save (F2) key is unavailable when viewing the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen via the
Extended Functions/Memory feature.

Press Print (F3) to print test results. See Printing Autotest Results for more information. Note:
The Print (F3) key is unavailable when viewing the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen via the
Extended Functions/Memory feature.
Press Tests (F4) to view a PASS/FAIL summary of test results and to view results for selected
tests. See Viewing Autotest Results Summary for more information.

Viewing Autotest Results
WIRE MAP, LENGTH, PROPAGATION DELAY, NEXT, ATTENUATION, ACR, IMPEDANCE,
LOOP RESISTANCE, CAPACITANCE
You can view Autotest results by pressing View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen and
pressing the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through test results. Press the ESCAPE key to exit.
The next section describes each test, including how to set test limits, how to read results screen and
how to troubleshoot test results.

Wire Map
Wire Map easily diagnoses your communications link for crossed pairs, shorts, split pairs and opens.
Crossed pairs occur when two or more wires are reversed from end to end, thus resulting in a
communication failure.
Split pairs occur when physical continuity is maintained but wires from logical pairs are split up.
This error is more difficult to detect because there is still a pin-to-pin correspondence. Wire Map
finds split pairs, and you can also suspect split pairs if the cable’s NEXT test result is less than 22
dB. For more information, refer to Microtest’s Category 5 Cable Testing Handbook.

Wire Map Test Results
To display this screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen, then press the
Ò key until the WIRE MAP TEST RESULTS screen is displayed.
The wire map screen displays a graphical representation of the wiring in your cable. Near end
wiring displays on the left side of the screen and far end wiring displays on the right side of the
screen.
•
•
•
•
•

A >< between wire pairs indicates a crossed pair.
No line between wire pairs indicates an open.
A ] between wire pairs indicates a short.
A straight line between pairs indicates a good pair.
“PASS” or “FAIL” indicates if wiring is correct or incorrect.

Press Splits (F1) to display the SPLIT PAIRS screen, with the split status displayed to the right of
the wire pair.
Press the Ò arrow key to display the next test result screen or press the ESCAPE key to exit.
Note: You can also generate a wire map by attaching the Injector to the far end of the twisted pair
cable and pressing the Find Cable Faults key.

Page 19

Length
Length can find opens, shorts, and breaks in a cable. The PentaScanner Product Family uses
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to find the location of faults in cables. TDR is similar to ‘cable
radar’. The Scanner generates a pulse down the wire, and when the pulse encounters an impedance
change (such as an open, short, or poor connection), all or part of the pulse energy is reflected
back to the Scanner. The Scanner then measures the delay between when the pulse was sent and
when the reflection was received. Knowing the speed that the pulse travels down the cable
(Nominal Velocity of Propagation, or NVP), the Scanner can then calculate the distance to the
fault.
The Length measurement is most accurate when the NVP setting you use is set correctly.

Customizing Length Limits
To display the LENGTH LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then select
Length. This screen lets you change the minimum and maximum Length limits.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to select the minimum or maximum Length limit. The selected
limit will be enclosed in a box.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limits. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Length limits and exit or press the ESCAPE key to
exit without saving.

Length Test Results
To display the LENGTH screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen, then
press the Ò key until the LENGTH screen is displayed.
Autotest Length test results provide information for the shortest pair, displayed at the top of the
screen. The PASS/FAIL bar across the screen compares the measured Length value to the Length
limit value. Below the PASS/FAIL bar, the Length limit value is displayed. The Autotest name is
displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Table (F1) to display the Length and Delay of all pairs, and the Skew between pairs (if
Propagation Delay has been selected as part of the Autotest). The Skew value is the worst-case
value of the difference in propagation delay between the wire pairs.
Press the Ñ or Ñ

arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.

Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Length and Delay continuously by pressing the
Measure Cable Performance key and selecting Length/Delay.

Propagation Delay
Customizing Delay Limits
To display the DELAY LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then select
Delay. The Delay Limits screen lets you change the minimum and maximum Delay limits.
Press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to select the minimum or maximum Delay limit. The selected limit
will be enclosed in a box.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limits. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Delay limits and exit or press the ESCAPE key to
exit without saving.

Propagation Delay Test Results
To display the PROPAGATION DELAY screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS
screen, then press the Ò arrow key until the DELAY screen is displayed.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair corresponding to the test result is shown. The measured
Delay is shown to the right of the pair. The PASS/FAIL bar across the screen compares the
measured Delay value to the Delay limit value. Below the PASS/FAIL bar, the Delay limit value is
displayed. The Autotest name is displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Table (F1) to display the Length and Delay of all pairs, and the Skew. The Skew value is the
worst-case value of the difference in propagation delay between the wire pairs.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the Delay results for each pair.
Press the Ñ

or Ò

arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.

Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Length and Delay continuously by pressing the
Measure Cable Performance key and selecting Length/Delay.

Near End Crosstalk (NEXT)
As current flows in a wire, an electromagnetic field is created which interferes with signals on
adjacent wires. As the frequency increases, this effect generally intensifies. Each pair is twisted to
allow opposing fields in the wire pair to cancel each other. The tighter the twist, the more effective
the cancellation and the higher the data rate supported by the cable. Maintaining this pair twist is
the single most important factor in any single Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) installation. If wires
are not tightly twisted, the result is excessive Near End Crosstalk (NEXT).

Measuring NEXT at Both Ends of the Link
The 2-Way Injector+ (and 2-Way Injector) allow NEXT to be measured at both ends of the link
without having to swap the Scanner and the Injector end devices. When the Scanner is measuring
NEXT, the Injector provides a 100 ohm termination at the Injector end. The Scanner transmits a
signal which is varied (or swept) through a frequency range. The signal is monitored on the receive
pair through a narrow band receiver. The received signal amplitude is compared to the transmitted
Page 21

signal and the difference is reported as the NEXT value (in dB). When measuring Injector end
NEXT, the roles of the devices are reversed. The Scanner provides the 100 ohm termination for
the Injector measurements and the Injector transmits a signal which is varied (or swept) through a
frequency range. The signal is monitored by the Injector on the receive pair through a narrow band
receiver and the difference in the transmitted and received signal levels is reported as the Injector
end NEXT (in dB).

Customizing NEXT Limits
To display the NEXT LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then select
NEXT.
The NEXT LIMITS screen lets you specify the PASS/FAIL limits, frequency range and step size
used in testing NEXT. Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to select the NEXT limit to be changed.
The selected limit will be enclosed in a box.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limit. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
Note: Limit only applies when Criteria is set to Fixed. When Criteria is set to Fixed, the decibel
value entered in the Limit field will be used as the PASS/FAIL criteria across all frequencies.
The PentaScanner+ allows you to set a limit based on an Offset value. When Criteria is set at
something other than Fixed, the Offset field replaces the Limit field. The value entered in the
Offset field will be added to the NEXT criteria calculations, allowing you to set tighter NEXT
limits in your Autotests. For example, if you enter a dB offset of 5.0 dB, the criteria calculations for
Cat 5 Link, Cat 5 Channel, etc. will be increased by 5.0 dB. You can enter offset values from 0.0
— 60.0 dB.
When Step or Criteria is selected, Change (F2) lets you toggle through the available settings.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new NEXT limit settings and exit or press the ESCAPE
key to exit without saving.

NEXT Test Results
To display the NEXT screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen, then press
the Ò key until the NEXT screen is displayed. This screen displays Near End Crosstalk (NEXT)
test results.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector), the top line of the screen indicates if
NEXT is being reported for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair combination is shown. The PASS/FAIL bar across the
screen compares the measured NEXT value to the NEXT limit value. The Autotest name is
displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Detail (F1) to display the Frequency Sweep range and test results for all pairs.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the NEXT results for each pair combination.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector), press F4 to toggle between NEXT
results for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.

Press the Ñ

or Ò

arrow key to view the previous or next test results screen.

Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run NEXT continuously by pressing the Measure Cable
Performance key and selecting NEXT.

NEXT Detail
To display this screen, press Detail (F1) from the NEXT screen. This screen displays the frequency
sweep range and the worst case NEXT for each pair.
Press Graph (F1) to enter graphing mode. Graph (F1) is available when Save Sweep Data has
been selected in the AUTOTEST SETUP, or when NEXT results are viewed immediately after
running the test.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the available pair combinations.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector), press F4 to toggle between NEXT
results for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the NEXT screen.

NEXT Graph
To display this screen, press Detail (F1) from the NEXT screen, then press Graph (F1). This screen
displays the NEXT graph for the indicated pair combination.
The top line of the screen displays the worst case NEXT and the frequency at which it occurred.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector), the second line of the screen indicates
if NEXT is being reported for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.
Press Zoom (F1) to magnify the area of the graph around the cursor. The Zoom key can display
1x, 2x, 5x or 10x magnification.
Press Print (F2) to print the NEXT graph.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the NEXT DETAIL screen.

Attenuation
The Attenuation function measures signal loss in a cable as a function of frequency. This
measurement is a very important cable certification parameter. Your Scanner measures cable
attenuation using the one way method as specified by IEEE and EIA.
The one way Attenuation measurement requires that a signal be injected at one end of the cable
and measured at the other end to determine cable loss. The Injector acts as the far end signal
generator and the Scanner NEXT receiver measures the received signal.

Page 23

Customizing Attenuation Limits
To display the ATTENUATION LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then press Limits (F4),
then select Attenuation. This screen displays the Attenuation frequency range and the criteria used
to determine the range.
Press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to highlight the field to change.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limit. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
If the Criteria in the ATTENUATION LIMITS screen is set to Fixed Points, you can press Limits
(F4) to display the ATTENUATION LIMITS AND FREQUENCY screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new limits and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit
without saving.

Attenuation Limits and Frequency
If the Criteria in the ATTENUATION LIMITS screen is set to Fixed Points, you can display the
ATTENUATION LIMITS AND FREQUENCY screen. To display this screen, press the Extended
Functions key, then select Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit
(F2), then select Limits, then select Attenuation, then press Limits (F4). This screen displays
Attenuation limits for each frequency and lets you specify the frequencies to be included in the
Autotest.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to highlight the Attenuation frequency to be included in the
Autotest.
Press Select (F2) (or Unsel) to include (or skip) the Attenuation frequency during the Autotest.
Press Edit (F3) to change the Attenuation limit for the highlighted frequency.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new limits and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit
without saving.

Editing Attenuation Limits
To display the ATTENUATION LIMITS FOR FREQUENCY screen, press the Extended
Functions key, then select Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit
(F2), then select Limits, then select Attenuation, then press Limits (F4), then press Edit (F3).
This screen displays the maximum Attenuation limit for the selected frequency and lets you change
it.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limit. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new maximum Attenuation limit and exit or press the
ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Attenuation Test Results
To display the ATTENUATION screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen,
then press the ¬ arrow key until the ATTENUATION screen is displayed.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair corresponding to the displayed result is shown. The
Attenuation, in decibels (dB), is shown centered and the frequency is shown to the right. The
PASS/FAIL bar across the screen compares the measured Attenuation value to the Attenuation
limit value. The Autotest name is displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Detail (F1) to display the frequency sweep range and the test results for all pairs.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the Attenuation results for each pair combination.
Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Attenuation continuously by pressing the Measure
Cable Performance key and selecting Attenuation.

Attenuation Detail
To display this screen, press Detail (F1) from the ATTENUATION screen. This screen displays the
frequency sweep range and the worst case Attenuation for each pair.
Press Graph (F1) to enter graphing mode. Graph (F1) is available when Save Sweep Data: Attn
has been selected in the SAVE AUTOTEST screen or when viewing results immediately after
running the Autotest.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the available pair combinations.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Attenuation screen.

Attenuation Graph
To display this screen, press Detail (F1) from the ATTENUATION screen, then press Graph (F1).
This screen displays the Attenuation graph for the indicated pair combination.
Press Zoom (F1) to magnify the area of the graph around the cursor. The Zoom key can select 1x,
2x, 5x or 10x magnification.
Press Print (F2) to print the Attenuation graph.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Attenuation Detail screen.

Attenuation-to-Crosstalk Ratio (ACR)
Attenuation-to-Crosstalk Ratio (ACR) is an indication of how much larger the received signal is
compared to the noise (NEXT) on the same pair. ACR reports the difference between NEXT and
Attenuation on the cable. Both Attenuation and NEXT are measured and the ACR value is
computed at each measured Attenuation frequency. The worst case ACR is reported for each pair
combination.
Page 25

Customizing ACR Limits
To display the ACR LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then select ACR.
This screen lets you set the Limit Function and edit the Fixed Minimum ACR limit. Use the ž or ¬
arrow keys to select the field to change. The selected field will be enclosed in a box.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limit. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
When Limit Function is selected, press Change (F2) to toggle between Fixed, Derived and
(ISO) Class D:
• When Fixed is selected, the minimum ACR limit that you specify is applied across the full
frequency range measured.
• When Derived is selected, the ACR limit applied is derived from the equation:
NEXT limit - Attenuation limit.
• When Class D is selected, the ACR limit applied is as specified for ISO Class D links.
• When Fixed Minimum is selected, the value you enter can range from 0 to 60 dB.

ACR Test Results
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector), the top line of the screen indicates if
ACR is being reported for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair combination is shown. The ACR, in decibels (dB), is
shown to the right of the pair combination. The PASS/FAIL bar across the screen compares the
measured ACR value to the ACR limit value. Below the PASS/FAIL bar, the ACR limit value is
displayed. The Autotest name is displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the ACR test results for each pair combination.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or 2-Way Injector), press F4 to toggle between NEXT results
for the Scanner or Injector end of the link.
Press the Ò or Ñ

arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.

Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.

Impedance
Impedance is a measure of the opposition to the flow of current in a cable. Unshielded Twisted
Pair (UTP) is commonly rated at either 100 or 120 ohms. This value must be constant over the
operating bandwidth of the cable.
Impedance measurements, useful for finding mismatches, include the effects of resistance,
inductance and capacitance. An Impedance mismatch will cause a signal reflection in the cable,
which in turn absorbs signal energy. This creates excessive loss, shorter distances that data can travel
reliably, and data errors. The PentaScanner Product Family uses Time Domain Reflectometry
(TDR) to measure Impedance.
The Impedance function measures the characteristic impedance of the cable at a fixed propagation
delay down the cable. Depending on the NVP of the cable, this sample point is between 25 and 40

feet down the cable. The sampling of the voltage is delayed long enough to allow the incident step
to propagate past near end patch cables, cross connects block, etc. that could disrupt the
impedance measurement. The length of the cable must be long enough to produce a round trip
delay, which is longer than the sample time delay. For short cables, the impedance function
measures the termination value.
Note: To measure Impedance correctly, the cable length must be 40 feet or greater. If the cable is
not at least 40 feet long, the Impedance test result will be OVR (Over range) or UND (Under
range).

Customizing Impedance Limits
To display the IMPEDANCE LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then
select Impedance.
This screen lets you change the minimum and maximum Impedance limits. Press the Ñ or
Ò arrow key to select the minimum or maximum Impedance limit. The selected limit will be
enclosed in a box.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limits. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Impedance limits and exit or press the ESCAPE
key to exit without saving.

Impedance Test Results
To display the Impedance screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen, then
press the Ò key until the IMPEDANCE screen is displayed.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair combination is shown. The Impedance, in ohms (Ω), is
shown to the right of the pair. The PASS/FAIL bar across the screen compares the measured
Impedance value to the Impedance limit value. Below the PASS/FAIL bar, the Impedance limit
value is displayed. The Autotest name is displayed after Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Table (F1) to display the Impedance test results for all pairs or press Pair (F3) to toggle
through the Impedance results for each pair.
Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Impedance continuously by pressing the Measure
Cable Performance key and selecting Impedance.

Loop Resistance
Loop Resistance is the combined resistance of two conductors in a twisted pair cable, or the coaxial
shield and center conductor in coaxial cable. In twisted pair cable, Loop Resistance is measured by
using the Injector to short the far end of the pair being tested. In coaxial cable, a shorting plug is
required to measure Loop Resistance. The Loop Resistance range is 0 to 10,000 ohms.

Page 27

Resistance is said to fail if measured values on pairs used by the selected network type are greater
than the resistance for a maximum length loop (100 meters for most networks).

Customizing Loop Resistance Limits
To display the LOOP RESISTANCE LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then
select Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select
Limits, then select Loop Resistance. This screen lets you change the maximum Loop Resistance
limit.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limit. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new maximum Loop Resistance limit and exit or press
the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Loop Resistance Test Results
To display the LOOP RESISTANCE screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS
screen, then press the Ä key until the LOOP RESISTANCE screen is displayed.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair corresponding to the test result is shown. The Loop
Resistance, in ohms (Ω), is shown to the right of the pair. The PASS/FAIL bar across the screen
compares the measured Loop Resistance value to the Loop Resistance limit value. Below the
PASS/FAIL bar, the Loop Resistance limit value is displayed. The Autotest name is displayed after
Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Table (F1) to display the Loop Resistance test results for all pairs or press Pair (F3) to toggle
through the Loop Resistance results for each pair.
Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Loop Resistance continuously by pressing the
Measure Cable Performance key and selecting Loop Resistance.

Capacitance
Capacitance is the amount of electric field energy that can be stored between two conductors at a
given voltage. For twisted pair cable, Capacitance is measured between conductors in a pair. For
coaxial cable, Capacitance is measured between the conductor and the shield.
The Capacitance measurement is made by measuring the effective charging and discharging time
constant that is formed by the capacitance of the cable. This is done at low frequency to eliminate
any transmission line effects of the cable under test.

Customizing Capacitance Limits
To display this screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup Autotest, then
highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then select Capacitance.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to select the minimum or maximum Capacitance limit. The
selected limit will be enclosed in a box.

If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limits. If
your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Capacitance limits and exit or press the ESCAPE
key to exit without saving.

Capacitance Test Results
To display the CAPACITANCE screen, press View (F1) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen,
then press the Ò key until the CAPACITANCE screen is displayed.
At the upper left of the screen, the pair corresponding to the displayed result is shown. The
capacitance, in picofarads (pF), is shown to the right of the pair. The PASS/FAIL bar across the
screen compares the measured Capacitance value to the Capacitance limit value. Below the
PASS/FAIL bar, the Capacitance limit value is displayed. The Autotest name is displayed after
Spec: at the lower left of the screen.
Press Table (F1) to display the Capacitance test results for all pairs or press Pair (F3) to toggle
through the Capacitance test results for each pair.
Press the Ñ

or Ò

arrow key to display the previous or next test results screen.

Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.
Note: For diagnostic purposes, you can run Capacitance continuously by pressing the Measure
Cable Performance key and selecting Capacitance.

Saving Autotest Results
This screen lets you store Autotest results in the Scanner’s memory. To display the SAVE TEST
screen, press Save (F2) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen. Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key
to highlight the field to update.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter field values.
When editing the Circuit ID, press F3 to change editing modes (CAPS, caps, NUM or Inc).
Increment (Inc) mode automatically increments the last character position, and lets you manually
increment or decrement any character using the Ñ or Ò arrow key.
To start the Automatic Increment function:
1. Run the initial Autotest.
2. Enter the initial Circuit ID.
3. Set F3 to Inc mode.
4. Press F1 to save the Autotest.
After performing the next Autotest, enter the SAVE TEST screen. The Scanner will automatically
increment the last field in the Circuit ID. Press F1 to save the Autotest.
When you enter the initial Circuit ID, you can divide the fields by using non-alphanumeric
characters. The non-alphanumeric characters are considered field separators. For example, the
Circuit ID BLDG-001 is divided into two fields by the ‘-’ character. In Automatic Increment
mode, the Scanner will automatically increment the last field, “001”, from “001” to “999” and
then roll back to “000”. Both alphabetic and numeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) will be
incremented if the circuit ID contains both types of characters.
Page 29

While in Automatic Increment mode, you can manually increment the last character by pressing the
Scanner’s ENTER key. In addition, you can use the Ï and Ð keys to move to any character in
the Circuit ID, and you can use the Ñ key to manually increment (or the Ò key to decrement)
the character at the cursor.
Note: When in Inc mode, pressing F3 will allow you use the arrow keys to move the cursor from
the Circuit ID field to the Save Sweep Data field.
If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store your changes and exit or press the ESCAPE key to return
to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.

Save Sweep Data
When the Save Sweep Data field is selected in the SAVE TEST screen, several choices are
available:
• When None is selected, Sweep data is not saved
• When Attn is selected, all measured Attenuation points are saved with the Autotest
• When NEXT is selected, all measured NEXT points are saved with the Autotest
• When Both is selected, both Attenuation and NEXT are saved with the Autotest
When None is selected, no sweep data is saved. The worst case NEXT data point for each pair is
preserved in the saved Autotest. If you choose to save the NEXT sweep data, then every measured
next point is preserved. This permits you to view and print the graphs while viewing an Autotest
from memory. If this data is not saved, then the graphical information is not available except
immediately after the Autotest has been run, or in Measure Cable Performance.
Normally, 500 Autotests can be saved. However, saving full NEXT sweep and Attenuation sweep
data drastically reduces the number of Autotests, which can be saved. When saving Attenuation
data and both near and far end NEXT sweep data, perhaps only 40 tests can be saved. The specific
number of tests that can be saved is indeterminate, since the information is highly compressed prior
to saving. A cable, which has a smooth NEXT reading, will compress better than a cable with
jumpy NEXT. Also, some Autotests (such as a Category 3) specify the NEXT sweep range to be
smaller than a Category 5 Autotest; and fewer Autotests may be stored if the Autotest uses 100
kHz NEXT step size rather than TIA or 200 or 500 kHz steps.

Printing Autotest Results
PRINT FORMAT
To display this screen, press Print (F3) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen. This screen
provides a selection of formats for printing Autotest Results.
Press Change (F2) to view the available printing formats.
Press Print (F3) to select a report format and begin printing.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.

Viewing Autotest Results Summary
To display the TESTS screen, press Tests (F4) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.

When using the 2-Way Injector+ (or 2-Way Injector), the screen indicates if NEXT and ACR test
results are from the Scanner or Injector end of the link.
Press the Ò

or Ñ arrow key to scroll through the list of tests and their PASS/FAIL results.

Press View (F1) to view the test results for the highlighted test.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST RESULTS screen.

Sample Autotest Report
1. Heading provides
information on the
circuit. The Circuit ID
is filled in as you save
each test result. Some
fields in the heading
can only be entered
using Microtest’s
Cable Management
System (CMS) For
Windows.
2. Expected results
(factory or userdefined).
3. Actual test results
for this cable.
4. An ‘!’ preceding a
test result indicates that
the test result is
outside of the test
limits; an asterisk (*)
indicates a marginal
pass condition.
5. Results for each
pair combination.

Page 31

Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating
Several screens allow editing. For example, you can edit the owner and company names that appear
on the opening logo screen and on printed reports. Different Scanners in the PentaScanner
Product Family have different editing procedures. This chapter explains in more detail the two
different editing methods.

Editing with the Alphanumeric Keypad
Use this editing method if your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad.
Each character is edited individually; that is, the character being edited is at the cursor position.
Alphabetic and special characters are printed above each numbered key on the keypad. For
example, ABC is printed above the 2 key. With the keypad in CAPS mode, press and hold the 2
key to display an A, B, or C. Release the key to place the displayed character in the field that is
being edited. The 1 key allows entry of special characters:
_
.
‘
*
(
)
/
#

hyphen
underscore
period
comma
asterisk
left parentheses
right parentheses
slash
pound sign

Press Del (F2) to delete the character at the cursor.
Press CAPS (F3) (or caps or NUM) to toggle the keypad between uppercase letters (CAPS),
lowercase letters (caps), or numerals (NUM).
Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to move left or right within the string of characters.
Press Save (F1) to save the new entries.
Press Clear (F4), when available, to clear the field that is highlighted.

Editing with the Arrow Keys
Use this method if your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad. To edit a
field, highlight the field and press Edit (F2).
Each character is edited individually; i.e. the character being edited is at the cursor position. Press
the A-Z key to enter an alphabetic character and press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to change it. You can
hold down the Ò or Ñ arrow key to scroll through the available characters. Or, press a number
key to enter a numeric value.
Press the Ï or Ð arrow key to move left or right within the string of characters.
Press Del (F1) to delete the character at the cursor.
Press Clear (F4) to erase the contents of the field.

Press Done (F2) to exit the editing screen.

Printing or Downloading Test Results
To send test results directly from the Scanner to a printer or PC:
1. Configure the Printer Port settings in the PRINTER PORT SETUP screen. To display this
screen on the PentaScanner or PentaScanner Cable Admin, press Extended
Functions key, then select Printer Port. To display this screen on the PentaScanner+,
press the Extended Functions key, then select User Preferences, then select Printer
Port.
1. Press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to highlight a setting to modify — Baud rate or
Handshaking. The default settings for Baud rate and Handshaking are 9600 and
XON/XOFF. The settings for Data Bits, Stop Bits and Parity are fixed at 8, 1 and None
and cannot be changed. After highlighting the Baud rate or Handshaking setting, press
Change (F2) to toggle through the available settings.
2. Press Printer (F3) to display the
DB-9 to DB-9 Cable
DB-9 to DB-25 Cable
graphics printer screen. Press Save (F1)
to store the new settings and exit or press
the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.
3. Choose the appropriate serial
communications cable. A DB-9 to DB-9
serial cable is included in the kit, or you
can use a DB-9 to DB-25 cable. Note:
The cable must be wired as in Appendix
Male
Female
Male
Female
C: Pin-outs.
1. Attach the DB-9 end of the cable to the Scanner and the other end to the serial port on the
back of the printer or to COM 1 or COM 2 on the back of the PC:

Connection for Printing Test Results

IBM-compatible PC

Printer
(rear view)

Scanner

Connection for Downloading Test Results

DB-9
Serial Port

Scanner

COM 1 or COM 2

Serial Cable

DB-9

DB-9 to DB-25 or
DB-9 to DB-9
Serial Cable

1. Use the PRINT OPTIONS screen to set the criteria to determine which Autotests to print.
To display the PRINT OPTIONS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Memory, then press Print (F3).
2. To display the PRINT FORMAT screen, press Print (F3) from the AUTOTEST RESULTS
screen, or press Print (F3) from the PRINT OPTIONS screen. Press Change (F2) from the
Page 33

PRINT FORMAT screen to select the PRINT FORMAT (text or CSV); then press Print
(F3) to begin printing.
3. If you are sending results to a PC, you can use Microtest’s Cable Management System
(CMS) For Windows (a Microtest accessory available from your distributor) to download
Autotest records in Comma Separated Variable (CSV) format. Make sure that the baud
rate, parity, handshaking (protocol) and data and stop bit settings in CMS For Windows
are the same as the Scanner’s Printer Port Settings. Refer to the CMS For Windows User
Guide for instructions. You can also send results to the PC using Windows™ Terminal
Emulation or Procomm Plus® (see below).

Printing Tips
•
•

When printing from the Extended Functions menu, you can print all tests that passed
or failed by selecting All Pass or All Fail from the PRINT OPTIONS screen.
For best results, print NEXT and Attenuation graphs to a LaserJet printer. The LaserJet
printer will print the graph on one page, whereas the Epson format requires two pages
to print the same graph.

Uploading Autotest Reports to Windows Terminal
1. With Windows loaded, click on the Accessories window, and select Terminal. If
Terminal is not an icon, click on Files, choose Run, and type “TERMINAL.EXE”.
2. Select Settings | Communications from the Menu Bar.
3. In the Communications screen, verify that the settings are 9600 Baud, Xon/Xoff, 8
data bits, 1 stop bit and No parity. Choose the appropriate Communications (serial)
port. Click OK to save these settings.
4. Select Transfers | Receive Text File from the Menu Bar. In the Receive Text File screen,
name the file with a .txt extension. Note the drive and path to which the file will be
saved.
5. The screen will now show “Receiving [file.txt]” on the bottom right and “Bytes: 0” on
the bottom left.
6. Begin the transfer from the Scanner (see step 7 in Printing or Downloading Test
Results, above). Select “text” as the Print Format.
7. When the transfer is complete, close Windows Terminal.
You can now use the DOS ‘COPY’ command to print the text file to a printer; i.e., “COPY
filename.txt LPT1”.

Uploading Autotest Reports to a PC with Procomm Plus
Procomm Plus for DOS
To send reports to a PC using Procomm Plus for DOS, open Procomm Plus and perform these
steps:
1. Press ALT + P to enter port parameters. Set the port to be used (COM1 or COM2),
the baud rate (default is 9600), the data bits (8), stop bits (1) and parity (None). Make
sure that the settings are the same as the Scanner’s Printer Port Settings. Press Alt + S to
save settings.
2. Press ALT + S to select terminal options. Ensure that the handshake method selected is
XON/XOFF to match the Scanner’s Printer Port Settings.
3. Press ALT + F1 to open a log file. Type the desired file name. Give the filename a
“.TXT” extension to make it easy to locate.

4. Begin the transfer from the Scanner (see step 7 in Printing or Downloading Test
Results, above). Select “text” as the Print Format. You should see the information
scrolling on the Procomm Plus window while the transfer is in progress.
5. When the transfer is complete, press ALT + F1 again to close the log file. The file will
be saved under the current directory.
6. Press ALT + X to exit the Procomm Plus package.
You can now use the DOS ‘COPY’ command to print the log file to a printer; i.e., “COPY
filename.txt LPT1”.

Procomm Plus for Windows
To send reports to a PC using Procomm Plus for Windows, open Procomm Plus and perform these
steps:
1. Press ALT + S to select terminal options. Ensure that the handshake method selected is
SOFTWARE, set the port to be used (COM1 or COM2). Set the data bits (8), stop
bits (1) and parity (None), and set the baud rate to the highest speed that your system
will support. Set the terminal setting to VT100. Set the protocol to ASCII. Save the
new settings.
2. On the Scanner, press the Extended Functions key, then select Printer Port. Set the
baud rate to match the baud rate set in Procomm Plus and set the handshake to
XON/XOFF.
3. Select the download folder. Type the desired file name. Give the filename a “.TXT”
extension to make it easy to locate.
4. Begin the transfer from the Scanner (see step 7 in Printing or Downloading Test
Results, above). Select “text” as the Print Format. You should see the information
scrolling on the Procomm Plus window while the transfer is in progress.
5. When the transfer is complete, click OK.
6. Exit Procomm Plus.
You can now use the DOS ‘COPY’ command to print the report file to a printer; i.e., “COPY
filename.txt LPT1”.

Uploading NEXT and Attenuation Graphs to a PC with Procomm Plus
Procomm Plus for DOS
1. Open the Procomm Plus application.
2. Press ALT + P to enter port parameters. Set the port to be used (COM1 or COM2),
the baud rate (default is 9600), the data bits (8), stop bits (1) and parity (None). Press
Alt + S to save settings.
3. On the Scanner, press the Extended Functions key, then select Printer Port. Set the
baud rate to match the baud rate set in Procomm Plus and set the handshake to
RTS/CTS. Press F3 (Printer) to display and change the Graphics Printer options. Save
these changes.
4. In Procomm Plus, press Alt + S to get to the Procomm Plus setup utility.
5. On the Procomm Plus setup utility menu select FILE/PATH OPTIONS. On the
FILE/PATH OPTIONS menu select C- Default path for downloaded files
(PgDn) x:directory path. Make sure the path specified is the one to which you would
like to save the files.
6. Press ESC to return to the Procomm Plus Setup Utility menu. Select TERMINAL
OPTIONS. On the TERMINAL OPTIONS menu, set C-Soft flow ctrl (XON/XOFF) to

Page 35

OFF. Set D-Hard flow ctrl (RTS/CTS) to ON. Press ESC to return to the Procomm
Plus Setup Utility menu.
7. Press ESC to go to the Procomm Plus main screen. Press PageDown on the PC
keyboard. The Download Protocols menu will be displayed.
8. Select R for R) RAW ASCII and press ENTER. RAW ASCII DOWNLOAD will be
displayed, with a Please enter filename: prompt. Type the file name desired and press
ENTER. A blank screen with the message DOWNLOAD IN PROGRESS - PRESS
ESC TO END will display. If you get an Error Opening File message, check the path
name in item C on the FILE/PATH OPTIONS screen. Correct this item if necessary
and try again.
9. From the Scanner, start the download of the graph information by pressing Print (F2)
from the NEXT GRAPH or ATTENUATION GRAPH screen. When the download is
complete, press ESC to close the Procomm Plus file.
10. The NEXT and Attenuation graph file will be located in the path specified in step 3
above.
11. Use the DOS copy command to send the NEXT graph information to the printer. For
example, to print a file named NXTFILE.ASC, type COPY /B NXTFILE.ASC LPT1.

Procomm Plus for Windows
1. Open the Procomm Plus application.
2. Press ALT + S to select terminal options. Ensure that the handshake method selected is
HARDWARE, set the port to be used (COM1 or COM2). Set the data bits (8), stop
bits (1) and parity (None), and set the baud rate to the highest speed that your system
will support. Set the terminal setting to VT100. Set the protocol to RAW ASCII.
3. On the Scanner, press the Extended Functions key, then select Printer Port. Set the
baud rate to match the baud rate set in Procomm Plus and set the handshake to
RTS/CTS. Press F3 (Printer) to display and change the Graphics Printer options. Save
these changes.
4. Select the download folder and enter a file name to which you want to save the graph
data. For example, you might name the file TEST.GPH.
5. From the Scanner, start the download of the graph information by pressing Print (F2)
from the NEXT GRAPH or ATTENUATION GRAPH screen.
6. Exit to DOS, and use the DOS copy command to send the NEXT or Attenuation
graph information to the printer. For example, to print the file named TEST.GPH, type
COPY /B TEST.GPH LPT1.

Troubleshooting Printing Problems
Problem: I get a blank page between each test result. How can this be corrected?
Solution: Change the lines per page setting on the printer to 66 lines per page.
Problem: My printout is garbled. Why?
Possible Solution: The Handshaking setting for the printer may not be set correctly. Press the
Extended Functions key; then select Printer Port. Handshaking should be set to XON/XOFF
on both the Scanner and the printer. Also, make sure the baud rate setting matches that of the
printer (9600 baud is the most common baud rate). If you experience problems at this setting,
change to a lower baud rate setting. The serial port on the printer cannot always keep up with the
flow of data from the Scanner, so if you experience printing problems, ALWAYS change to a slower
baud rate, rather than a faster baud rate.

Problem: The screen displays Printing . . . but nothing is printing on the printer.
Possible Solution: You must use a “straight through” serial cable. Refer to Appendix C: Pinouts for the cable pin-out specifications. Also, make sure that XON/XOFF handshaking is
supported.

Downloading Software Updates
If you are connected to the Internet, our World Wide Web page can be accessed by entering
http://www.microtest.com in the URL address field. Files are available in the Support Download
area after online registration.
You can also download the latest PentaScanner files from Microtest's BBS:
1. Use a communications package* for your computer and set the following parameters:
• Modem speed between 1200 and 57,700 (1200 to 28.8 baud)
• Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit, No Parity
• ANSI Terminal Emulation
*Windows “Terminal,” the program that is packaged with Windows 3.x, will not work with
Microtest's BBS. Most commercially available communications programs will perform
successfully.
2. Dial in to the Microtest BBS:
(602) 957-7716 (U.S.)
+44-1293-894031 (U.K.)
3. You will be asked for your name and password. If you are a new user, enter your name
and make up a password. Remember to keep a record of the password you used.
4. If you plan to use our BBS more than one time, it may be convenient to first set up a
default download protocol:
• From the Main Menu, select Y for Your Settings. Enter 14 between the
brackets, and press Enter.
• Select the letter representing the download protocol you will use, e.g., Z for
Zmodem. Press Enter.
• Type Q to Quit. Then press Enter.
(Note: You can change your default at any time by following the above procedure
and reselecting a protocol.)
5. Press F for Files, D for Download.
6. Type in the name of the file you want, e.g. PS421.EXE, and press Enter.
Note: The file you download will have a .EXE extension. This is a “self-extracting archive”
program that you will need to run to decompress the update program, Flash image and
“README” files.
7. You will be prompted for another file name. Press Enter again to continue.
8. Press D for Download.
Depending upon your communications software, your download may begin immediately or
you may need to start it manually. If you did not select a default protocol, you will be
prompted to select a download protocol at this time.
9. Press Q to Quit back to the Main Menu, and G to log off (Goodbye).

Updating Scanner Software from the PC
At this point, you have downloaded the required software update files from the BBS to the PC. Or,
you may have been given a diskette containing software update files and have copied them to the
PC.
NOTE: The update process will erase all test results stored in memory. If you have any Autotest
results stored in memory, print or download the results before updating the software.

Page 37

1. Connect the DB-9 end of the communications
cable to the serial port on the Scanner and the
other end (DB-9 or DB-25) to the serial port on
the PC.
2. Turn off the Scanner and plug the AC adapter in
COM 1 or COM 2
to the Scanner.
AC
Adapter
3. Hold down the AUTOTEST key and the Find
Cable Faults key and press the On/Off key. The
Either DB-9 to DB-25
or D-9 to DB-9
Scanner will turn on and the screen will display:
Serial Cable
Waiting for REFLASH
You are now ready to download the new flash update
from the PC.
4. From the DOS prompt, type PENTA -? and press
the  key on the PC keyboard. The options and default screen will display.
5. Type PENTA followed by the COM 1 or COM 2 option (-C1 or -C2), and press the
 key on the PC keyboard.
Examples:
English:
Penta -C1
English (Int’l): Penta -C1 -E
French:
Penta -C1 -F
German:
Penta -C1 -G
Spanish:
Penta -C1 -S
Italian:
Penta -C1 -I
Japanese:
Penta -C1 -K
These commands update the Scanner with the information stored in the file using COM 1
with the Scanner in “Waiting for REFLASH” mode. While the flash is being updated,
the PC screen will show a progress graph. This process will take approximately two
minutes.
Note: The international Scanners require an international version of software. Attempts to
update a non-international version of the Scanner with international versions of
software will fail!
6. When the update is complete, the PC will display the DOS prompt. Upon completion,
the screen may display:
ERROR
One or more stored
Autotest results have
been lost.
7. If so, press OK (F1) to display the Ready screen. The software is now updated!
8. To place the real-time clock in 24 hour mode, press the Extended Functions key,
select User Preferences (if you have a PentaScanner+), select Date/Time, and press
Save (F1) to store the new settings
To verify the software update, press and hold the Backlight button (located to the right of the
ESCAPE button). The software version number will be displayed.

Updating the 2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector
If you have any Autotest results stored in the Scanner, be sure to print or download them to a PC
before updating the Injector. The update process will erase ALL Autotest results stored in memory.

1. Connect the DB-9 end of the communications cable to the serial port on the Scanner
and the other end (DB-9 or DB-25) to the serial port on the PC.
2. Turn off the Scanner and plug the AC
adapter into the Scanner.
3. Hold down the AUTOTEST and Find
Cable Faults keys and press the ON/OFF
key on the Scanner. The Scanner will turn
on and the screen will display:
COM 1 or
COM 2
Waiting for REFLASH
Patch Cable
4. Connect the Scanner to the Injector using AC Adapter
AC Adapter
DB-9 to DB-9
the Category 5 patch cable provided.
Serial Cable
5. Plug the AC adapter into the 2-Way
Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector).
Scanner
Injector
6. You are now ready to download the new
flash update from the PC.
7. From the DOS prompt, type PENTA -?
and press the Enter key on the PC keyboard. The options and default screen will
display.
8. Type PENTA followed by the COM 1 or COM 2 option (-C1 or -C2), followed by -2,
and press the  key on the PC keyboard. Example:
PENTA -C1 -2
This command updates the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector) from the flash image
downloaded from the BBS. The updated software is downloaded from the PC through
the PC COM port to the Scanner. While the software is being downloaded, the PC
screen will show a progress graph. This process will take approximately one minute.
9. When the download is complete, the PC displays:
Download of FLASH image file complete.
10. Watch the Scanner screen for REFLASH progress. The Scanner display will show the
progress of the update and the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector) Status and
Pass LEDs will blink during the update. This step will take approximately one minute.
When complete, the 2-Way Injector+ (or the 2-Way Injector) is updated with the
new software.
11. To verify the update, press the Extended Functions key on the Scanner, then select
Injector Info. The Scanner will display the new software version.

Technical Support
If you are having problems with the Scanner and cannot find help for your problem in this user
guide, you can contact Microtest Technical Support by phone, fax, via the Internet, the Microtest
BBS, or CompuServe:
U.S.A. and Canada
1-800-NET-FIXR (1-800-638-3497) (voice)
1-800-419-8991 (fax)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
+44 1 293 894025 (voice)
+44 1 293 894008 (fax)

World Wide Web
You can download files and send mail to Microtest via the Internet:
http://www.microtest.com/

Page 39

Microtest Bulletin Board System (BBS)
You can contact Microtest Technical Support and download product update files from the
Microtest BBS. To access the BBS, set your communications software to 1200 to 14400 baud; 8
data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity; ANSI terminal emulation, and dial:
(602) 957-7716
(U.S.) or
+44 1 293 894031
(Europe)

FaxFacts
You can request additional information from FaxFacts, Microtest’s telephone-operated fax request
line. FaxFacts is an on-demand system that allows you to dial in on any touch tone phone and have
product information and technical tips faxed to you. To access FaxFacts, dial:
U.S. (602) 952-6450
Follow the voice prompts to request the appropriate document.

Chapter 5: Find Cable Faults
Find Cable Faults traces your cable runs and locates intermittent faults. It also incorporates Time
Domain Reflectometry so you can find faults in cables less than 10 feet long. (The PentaScanner
Product Family has zero dead zone for detecting cable faults.)
Wire Map determines how the cable and connectors are wired, from one end to the other. It is
usually run before any other measurements, to pinpoint cabling problems caused by opens, shorts,
split pairs or miswires.
Find Cable Faults draws a graphical representation of the cable, showing opens, shorts and
miswires. When Wire Map is run, Find Cable Faults continuously repeats its testing so the
operator can wiggle connectors and wires to locate intermittent faults. Find Cable Faults
repeatedly runs Length and Wire Map and displays the length and continuity of the entire cable.

Wire Map
The Wire Map screen is displayed when you press the Find Cable Faults key. There are primarily
four things that can go wrong with a cable or connector:
• A short between wires
• An open on any single wire
• An open across all wires (break)
• An impedance mismatch
If a short or open exists in the cable, isolate the segment you suspect, connect the Scanner to it and
run the Length test by pressing the Measure Cable Performance key; then selecting Length.
An Impedance mismatch is caused by irregularities in the cable and can show up as an open or a
short at an unexpected length.
When troubleshooting wiring problems, look for improperly crimped cables — make sure that the
outer insulation fits into the end of the connector.
Press Splits (F1) to display the wire splits screen. The split status is shown to the right of each wire
pair.

Wire Map for Both Ends of the Link
The Injector plays an integral part in determining the wire map for a given link. With the
Scanner and the Injector connected at opposite ends of a link or cable, the wire map can be
determined. When running Find Cable Faults or Autotest, the Scanner and the Injector
communicate to determine how the link is wired. With the wire map on display, press Splits (F1) to
display the wire splits screen. The Scanner/Injector combination identifies the following wiring
configurations:
Straight Through Wiring
Straight through wiring (the expected case) is displayed as shown:

Cross Wiring
Cross wiring is displayed as shown:

Short at the Injector End
A short at the Injector end is displayed as:

Short at the Scanner End

A short at the Scanner end is displayed as:

Note: The Injector is not required in order to detect a short at the Scanner end of the link.

Short on the Link
A short in the link (where wires can be seen at both ends) is displayed as:

Page 41

Chapter 6: Measure Cable Performance
Measure Cable Performance lets you run individual tests such as NEXT, Attenuation,
Length/Delay, Impedance, Loop Resistance, Capacitance, Impulse Noise and Peak to Peak Noise.
Press the Measure Cable Performance key to display a list of the tests to run.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to highlight the test you want to run, then press Select (F1) to run
the highlighted test.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Ready screen.
See Chapter 3: Autotest for more information on test results for UTP cable.
See Appendix D: Working with Coaxial Cable for information on test results for coaxial cable.

NEXT
To display this screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select NEXT.
This screen displays the frequency sweep range and the worst case NEXT for each pair. When using
the 2-Way Injector+ or 2Way Injector, the top line of the screen indicates if NEXT is being
reported from the Scanner end (Penta) or the Injector end (Inj) of the link.
Press Graph (F1) to enter graphing mode.
Press Sweep (F2) to display the NEXT Sweep range and step criteria.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the available pair combinations.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ or 2Way Injector, press F4 to toggle between the NEXT results
for the Injector end or the Scanner end of the link.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the MEASURE CABLE PERFORMANCE screen.

NEXT Graph
To display this screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select NEXT, then press
Graph (F1).
The top line of the screen displays the worst case NEXT and the frequency at which it occurred.
When using the 2-Way Injector+ or 2Way Injector, the second line of the screen indicates if
NEXT is being reported for the Scanner (Penta) or Injector (Inj) end of the link.
Press Zoom (F1) to magnify the area of the graph around the cursor. The Zoom key can display
1x, 2x, 5x or 10x magnification.
Press Print (F2) to print the NEXT graph.
Press Test (F3) to rerun the NEXT test and display new data.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the NEXT results screen.

Note: See Chapter 3: Autotest for more information on NEXT testing.

NEXT Sweep
To display this screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select NEXT, then press
Sweep (F2). This screen allows you to select the sweep range and step method for NEXT tests.
If your Scanner has an alphanumeric overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the new sweep
limits. If your Scanner does not have an alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit
screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the NEXT results screen.

Attenuation
To display the ATTENUATION screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select
Attenuation.
Press Graph (F1) to enter graphing mode.
Press Sweep (F2) to display the Attenuation results at different frequencies.
Press Pair (F3) to toggle through the available pair combinations.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the MEASURE CABLE PERFORMANCE screen.

Attenuation Graph
To display this screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Attenuation, then
press Graph (F1). This screen displays the Attenuation graph for the indicated pair combination.
Press Zoom (F1) to magnify the area of the graph around the cursor. The Zoom key can display
1x, 2x, 5x or 10x magnification.
Press Print (F2) to print the Attenuation graph.
Press Test (F3) to rerun the Attenuation test and display new data.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Attenuation screen.
Note: See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on printing.

Attenuation Limits
To display this screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Attenuation, then
press Sweep (F2).
This screen allows you to change the Attenuation Sweep range and step criteria.
Press the Ñ or Ò key to highlight the field to change. Use the Scanner keypad to enter the range
values, or press Change (F2) to toggle through the Criteria values.
When entering range values, press Del (F2) to delete the number at the cursor. On the
PentaScanner+, there is also a numeric mode, indicated by NUM (F3).
Page 43

Press Limits (F4) to display and change Attenuation limits at various frequencies.
Press Save (F1) to store the new values.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Attenuation screen.
Note: See Customizing Attenuation Limits in Chapter 3 for more information on Attenuation
limits.

Length/Delay
To display the LENGTH/DELAY screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select
Length/Delay.
The pairs are shown on the left and the length for each pair is shown in the second column. The
third column shows the propagation delay values in nanoseconds (nS) and the fourth column
indicates the condition of the wire pair (open or short). The Skew value is the worst-case value of
the difference in propagation delay between the wire pairs.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the MEASURE CABLE PERFORMANCE screen.

Impedance
To display the IMPEDANCE screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select
Impedance.
The pairs are shown on the left and the impedance values in ohms (Ω) are shown on the right.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Measure Cable Performance screen.

Loop Resistance
To display the LOOP RESISTANCE screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then
select Loop Resistance.
The pairs are shown on the left and the loop resistance values in ohms (Ω) are shown on the right.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the MEASURE CABLE PERFORMANCE screen.

Capacitance
To display the CAPACITANCE screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select
Capacitance.
The pairs are shown on the left and the capacitance values in picofarads (pF) are shown on the
right.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Measure Cable Performance screen.

Noise
Noise is undesirable electrical activity that interferes with a network’s ability to transmit data
reliably. Noise sources in networks may include AC transmission lines, fluorescent light fixtures,
industrial equipment, elevators, etc. Noise problems also occur when other wire pairs in the same
sheath are used for non-LAN applications.

Testing for noise involves turning off all LAN devices and measuring for background electrical
activity in the cable. Often, noise problems can be corrected by moving the cable away from the
source or removing the source, if possible. Different noise sources radiate at different frequencies.
By knowing the frequency of the noise source, you are better able to pinpoint the cause of the
noise. Two Noise measurements are provided: Impulse Noise and Peak-to-Peak Noise.
Impulse Noise counts the impulses detected between wires in a pair, or the center conductor and
shield (when using a Coax jack). Impulse Noise measurements are used for long term monitoring
of the network. They indicate spikes of electrical activity that occur at random on the network.
Peak-to-Peak Noise measures continuous noise signals, in the range of 0 to 3,000 millivolts (mV),
between the wires in a pair or the center conductor and shield in the case of coax cable (when using
the Coax jack).

Impulse Noise
To display the IMPULSE NOISE screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select
Impulse Noise.
A noise impulse is detected when it crosses the selected voltage level. When the selected voltage
level is positive, impulses rising above that level are counted. When the selected voltage level is
negative, impulses falling below that level are counted.
The wire pair being monitored is indicated in the upper left corner of the display.
The current time of day is displayed below the wire pair.
The box below the current time displays a graph of the impulses detected since the measurement
started. The graph can span a 25-hour period with each dot across the graph representing the
highest peak impulse in the last 15-minute interval.
The bar graph on the right displays the impulses per second, averaged over the last 10 seconds.
E.T. indicates the Elapsed Time since the start of the test.
Count indicates the cumulative count of impulses detected since the start of the measurement.
When the Count exceeds 65535, OVR (Over Range) is displayed. In an Over Range condition, the
last average CPS (Counts Per Second) recorded is displayed.
CPS indicates the average counts per second since the measurement started. The maximum average
counts per second is 200.0.
Press Pair (F1) to select a new pair to test. The results from the previously displayed pair are
cleared from the screen.
Press Clear (F2) to restart the test and clear all history data.
Press Level (F4) to change the voltage level for detecting impulses. The results from the previously
displayed pair are cleared from the screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Measure Cable Performance screen.

Page 45

Peak-to-Peak Noise
To display the PEAK-TO-PEAK-NOISE screen, press the Measure Cable Performance key,
then select P-P Noise.
The pairs are shown on the left and the Peak-to-Peak Noise values are shown on the right.
If the Peak-to-Peak noise level exceeds 3,000 mV, OVR (Overrange) is displayed.
The measurement’s bandwidth covers a range of 40 KHz to 30 MHz.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the Measure Cable Performance screen.

Chapter 7: Analyze LAN Traffic
Analyze LAN Traffic is a built-in network monitor that shows the current level of LAN traffic
activity and monitors network traffic for up to eight hours with the interval set to 5 minutes (using
the AC adapter as a power source).
The Analyze LAN Traffic feature is useful for tracking down intermittent faults. It can also help
you decide if your network needs a bridge or a router because of excessive LAN traffic. It provides
even greater flexibility in locating problems, by letting you change the traffic sampling interval
simply by pressing Setup (F4).
Note: Analyze LAN Traffic does not monitor Token Ring network traffic.

LAN Traffic Display
To display the TRAFFIC screen, press the Analyze LAN Traffic key. The ANALYZE LAN
TRAFFIC screen displays two graphs. The large graph on the left shows a historical “skyline” of
activity; representing the percent utilization of the total network. The small bar graph on the right
indicates the current level of activity. This indicator should change frequently because of the
volatile nature of most network activity. If it is always off or always fully on, you may have a serious
problem with your cabling system or LAN hardware.
Press Clear (F2) to reset the graph.
Press Scale (F3) to toggle between linear and logarithmic scale.
Press Setup (F4) to configure the monitor.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.
The Traffic level indicator shows relative activity as follows:
0
No network activity
1-10 Typical network traffic
11-20 heavy network traffic
21-40 Very heavy traffic
41-60 Overloaded network
61-99 Probable defective component

Setting Up the Traffic Monitor
To display this screen, press the Analyze LAN Traffic key, then Setup (F4).
This screen lets you change the traffic-sampling interval for the network activity monitor.
Press Change (F2) to toggle through the available interval options.
Press Save (F1) to store the new setting and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Chapter 8: Extended Functions
Extended Functions Menu
This screen displays the Extended Functions available for the Scanner. Press the Ñ or Ò key to
scroll through the available options. Or, press the Ï or Ð key to scroll up and down one screen
at a time. Press Select (F1) to choose the highlighted option, or press the number on the keypad
that corresponds to the option you want.
• Select Autotest Memory to manage, view, print and clear saved test results.
• Select Setup Autotest to set the default Autotest, edit Autotest names, select pairs to
test and/or to include in PASS/FAIL criteria, select the tests to run and customize test
limits.
• Select Calibrate Injector to calibrate the Injector.
• Select User Preferences to edit the owner or company name, specify backlight and
auto shutoff time limits, set length units, configure the printer port, or set the date and
time. Note: The PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable Admin display the units,
printer port, and date/time items on the main EXTENDED FUNCTIONS menu.
• Select Injector Info to display Injector software, hardware and calibration information.
• Select Cable Trace to send a traceable signal down a length of attached cable.
(PentaScanner+ only.)
• Select Office Locator to determine the room and wall outlet to which a length of cable
leads. (PentaScanner+ only.)
Note: The PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable Admin EXTENDED FUNCTIONS menu
contains an additional item, LAN Monitor. This item is identical to the LAN Monitor Setup
function under the Analyze LAN Traffic key. The PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable
Admin also displays units, printer port, and date/time setups under the main EXTENDED
FUNCTIONS menu, not under the USER PREFERENCE menu.

Autotest Memory
To display the MEMORY screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Autotest
Memory. This screen lets you view, print or delete the Autotest results you have stored in memory.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the list of stored tests (or Ï to page up and © to
page down) then press Select (F2) to choose the highlighted test.
Press View (F1) to display the selected test.
Press Print (F3) to print all or selected test results.
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Press Clear (F4) to erase all or selected test results.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the EXTENDED FUNCTIONS screen.
See Chapter 3: Autotest for more information.

Autotest Setup
To display the AUTOTEST SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest. This screen lets you select the default Autotest, edit Autotest settings and delete userdefined Autotests.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the list of Autotests (or to page up and Ð to
page down). When the Autotest you want is highlighted, press Default (F1) to select it as the
default Autotest.
Note: An Autotest name proceeded by an asterisk (*) indicates that the original Autotest has been
modified and the Autotest name has not been changed.
Press Edit (F2) to change the Autotest name, to select pairs to be used, to select the tests to run,
and to set test limits.
Press Delete (F3) to delete the highlighted user-defined Autotest.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the SETUP screen.
See Chapter 3: Autotest for more information.

Editing Autotest Information
To display the EDIT AUTOTEST screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Setup
Autotest, then press Edit (F2). This screen lets you customize Autotest settings.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the available options and press Select (F1) to
choose the highlighted option. Or, press the number on the keypad that corresponds to the option
you want.
• Select Name/Options to edit the Autotest name and to change the Margin Options.
• Select Pairs to choose the pairs to be tested during Autotest, and to indicate which
pairs have PASS/FAIL criteria applied to them during the Autotest.
• Select Tests to Run to choose the tests to run during Autotest.
• Select Limits to edit test limits.
•
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the AUTOTEST SETUP screen.

Calibrating the Injector
The Injector must be calibrated each calendar day that you use it to ensure accurate measurements.
To calibrate the Injector, connect the Scanner and the Injector with the patch cable supplied with
the Scanner. Press the Extended Functions key; then select Calibrate Injector.
Press Cancel (F1) or the ESCAPE key to stop the calibration.
See Chapter 2: Getting Started for more information on the Injector.

Setting Up User Preferences
To display the USER PREFERENCE SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, then
select User Preferences. This screen displays the User Preferences options.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to scroll through the available options and press Select (F1) to
choose the highlighted option. Or, press the number on the keypad that corresponds to the option
you want.
• Select Owner/Company Name to edit the owner and company name used on the
opening screen and on printed reports.
• Select Backlight/AutoShutoff to set the backlight “on time” and to set the automatic
shutoff time limits.
• Select Units to display the Scanner’s Language and Date Style, and to set Length units.
(This item appears in the Extended Functions menu in the PentaScanner and
PentaScanner Cable Admin.)
• Select Printer Port to configure the Scanner’s printer port settings. (This item appears
in the Extended Functions menu in the PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable
Admin.)
• Select Date/Time to set the Scanner’s date and time. (This item appears in the
Extended Functions menu in the PentaScanner and PentaScanner Cable
Admin.)
•
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the SETUP screen.

Editing Owner/Company Name
To display the OWNER/COMPANY NAME screen, press the Extended Functions key, then
select User Preferences, then select Owner/Company Name. This screen lets you select the
Owner or Company Name for editing. Use the Ñ or Ò arrow key to highlight the name to edit,
then enter new names with the keypad (if your Scanner’s keypad has an alphanumeric overlay) or
press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen (if your Scanner’s keypad does not have an alphanumeric
overlay). You can enter up to 19 characters for the Owner and Company Names. The names that
you enter will appear on printed reports and on the Scanner boot screen.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store your changes and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit
without saving.
See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on editing.

Setting Backlight and Auto Shutoff Times
To display the BACKLIGHT/AUTOSHUTOFF screen, press the Extended Functions key, then
select User Preferences, then select Backlight/Auto Shutoff. This screen lets you specify how
long the backlight stays on and lets you specify a time limit for the Scanner to automatically shut
off. Press the Ñ or Ò arrow key to select the Backlight or Auto Shutoff setting. The selected
setting will be enclosed in a box. Press Change (F2) to view the available settings.
Press Save (F1) to store your changes and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Setting Up Units
To display the UNITS SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, select User
Preferences (if you have a PentaScanner+), then select Units. This screen displays the current
settings for Units (feet or meters), Language and Date Style.
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The Language and Date Style fields are preprogrammed. Neither of these fields can be changed.
Press Change (F2) to toggle the Units setting between feet and meters.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new Units setting and exit or press the ESCAPE key to
exit without saving.

Setting Up the Printer Port
To display the PRINTER PORT SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, select User
Preferences (if you have a PentaScanner+), then select Printer Port. This screen lets you
configure serial printer port settings.
Press the Ò or Ñ arrow key to highlight a setting to modify — Baud rate or Handshaking.
The default settings for Baud rate and Handshaking are 9600 and XON/XOFF. The settings for
Data Bits, Stop Bits and Parity are fixed at 8, 1 and None. Their values cannot be changed.
After highlighting the Baud rate or Handshaking setting, press Change (F2) to toggle through the
available settings.
Press Printer (F3) to display the graphics printer screen.
Press Save (F1) to store the new settings and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.
See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more information on printing and
downloading.

Selecting a Graphics Printer
To display the GRAPHICS PRINTER screen, press the Extended Functions key, select User
Preferences (if you have a PentaScanner+), then select Printer Port, then press Printer (F3).
This screen lets you specify the type of printer used for printing NEXT and Attenuation graphs.
Press Change (F2) to toggle through the available printer settings.
Press Save (F1) to store the new settings and exit or press the ESCAPE key to exit without saving.

Setting the Date and Time
To display the DATE/TIME SETUP screen, press the Extended Functions key, select User
Preferences (if you have a PentaScanner+), then select Date/Time.
Press the Ñ or Ò or Ï or Ð arrow key to select the portion of the date or time field to
change. The selected portion of the field will be enclosed in a box.
Press Change (F2) to toggle through the available date and time settings.
After editing press Save (F1) to store the new date and time settings and exit or press the
ESCAPE key to exit.

Displaying Injector Information
To display the INJECTOR INFO screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Injector
Info.
The calibration date is shown at the top of the screen, followed by the battery status. The software
and hardware versions are displayed below the battery status. The serial number is displayed at the
bottom of the screen.
Press the ESCAPE key to return to the EXTENDED FUNCTIONS screen.

Tracing a Cable
(PentaScanner+ only)
To display the TRACE CABLE screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select Cable
Trace.
To trace a cable, use Microtest’s Cable Tracer II (sold separately) or any other audio amplifier,
along with this Scanner. Attach the end of the cable you want to trace to the Scanner’s twisted pair
or BNC connector. A multi-tone trace signal will begin transmitting. Make sure the cable you are
tracing is not grounded. A grounded cable will cause the signal generated by this unit to be very
weak. As long as the antenna of the Cable Tracer II or similar device is within one foot of the
cable, you will hear a multi-tone sound. Trace along the cable where the sound is loudest to
determine the cable’s path. For more information, refer to the Microtest Cable Tracer II
Operator Manual or the operator manual for the audio amplification device you are using.
Press ESCAPE to exit the Cable Trace function.

Locating an Office Cable Drop
(PentaScanner+ only)
To display the OFFICE LOCATOR screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Office Locator. Use this function with Microtest’s Office Locator Kit to find the termination of
an office cable drop. Insert the RJ-45 Office Locator plugs into the wall outlets in the offices you
wish to locate. At the hub, run the Office Locator function at each connection. The Scanner will
display the ID of the Office Locator plug at the far end of the attached cable.
Press ESCAPE to exit the Office Locator function.

Appendix A: Specifications
PentaScanner+/PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin
Physical Characteristics
•
•

Dimensions:
Weight:

10.2 cm x 20.3 cm x 5.5 cm (4”x 8” x 2.15”)
0.79 kg (1lb 12 oz)

Power
•
•
•

Rechargeable, replaceable battery pack
Volts @ 1200 mA-Hr
Built in charger using AC adapter

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•
•

Battery life: 8+ hours operation
AC: 9V DC - 1 amp AC adapter for continuous operation or charging

User Interface
•
•
•
•
•
•

x 64 Graphic LCD with backlight
cm x 3.8 cm (2.25” x 1.5”) display area
Elastomeric keypad with tactile feedback, numeric input, dedicated functions, 4 soft functions
and cursor pad
Context-sensitive help and operating instructions
Tone generation audio for warning or other user feedback
Date stamp of all tests

Environmental
•
•
•
•

Operating Temperature: 0 to 50° C (32 to 122° F)
Storage Temperature: -10 to 55° C (14 to 131° F)
Operating Humidity (non-condensing): 10 to 90%
Storage Humidity: 5 to 95%

Measurement Ports
•
•
•

PentaScanner+: BNC and 36-pin connector that withstands in excess of 20,000 mating cycles
PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin: BNC and shielded Modular 8 (RJ-45)
connector
Testing of all four pairs on RJ-45 is fully supported

Serial Port
•
•
•
•
•

Connector, Cable: DB-9
Baud rate:
300 to 38,400 baud
Parity:
NONE
Length:
8 Bits
Handshaking:
None, RTS/CTS, and XON/XOFF

Memory
•
•

Control: Flash memory allows electronic upgrading in remote locations
Test Storage: Up to 500 complete Autotest results can be stored in permanent flash memory
(PentaScanner+). Up to 500 complete Autotests results can be stored in battery-backed
memory (PentaScanner, PentaScanner Cable Admin)

Autotest Functions
•
•

Full suite of tests to determine if cable meets generic cabling or network type requirements
(TIA/EIA TSB-67, ISO Class C, D, 10-BASE-T, Token Ring, Fast Ethernet, ATM 155 etc.)
Up to 20 user definable Autotest programs

Wire Map
•
•
•

Uses Injector for complete mapping of wiring at both ends of the cable
Finds miswires, opens, shorts, split pairs
Includes test of shield if connected

Length
•
•
•

TDR method determines length and distance to cable faults
Range: 0 to maximum distance
where maximum distance
=
915 meters (3000 ft)for twisted pair cable
=
1220 meters (4000 ft) for coaxial cable
• Accuracy: ± K ± Length Resolution ± NVP uncertainty
where K = ±4% of length or 0.6 meters (2 ft), whichever is greater
• Length Resolution: 0.3 meters (1 ft)
PentaScanner+ NEXT and Attenuation Measurement Performance Specifications
PentaScanner+ NEXT and
Attenuation Performance
Parameters @ 100MHz

Testing through
36-Pin Connector
Typical
Max

Testing
through
Mod 8
Adapter
Typical

Dynamic Accuracy (dB)

0.3

0.5

0.3

Residual NEXT (dB)

67

62

45

Output Signal Balance (dB)

50

43

40

Common Mode Rejection (dB)

45

38

34

Random Noise (dB)

78

75

78

Transmit Return Loss (dB)

26

23

20

Receive Return Loss (dB)

22

17

17

NEXT Accuracy (dB) @ 100 MHz

0.5 (*1)

0.9 (*1)

1.5 (*2,3)

Atten. Accuracy (dB) @ 100 MHz

0.3 (*4)

0.6 (*4)

0.6 (*3,4)

*Notes:
(1) NEXT accuracy is calculated at the Basic Link Limit (29.3 dB) per error model in TSB-67 A.3
(2) NEXT accuracy is calculated at the Channel Limit (27.1 dB) per error model in TSB-67 A.3
(3) Performance assumes a high performance modular 8 plug
(4) Attenuation accuracy calculated per error model in TSB-67 A.3
Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT)
•
•
•
•
•

•

Tests all six pair combinations
Frequency range 0.7 to 100 MHz
Sweep Mode 0.1 MHz, 0.2 MHz, 0.5 MHz linear or TIA (user selectable)
Dynamic Range:
PentaScanner+: Measurement dynamic range > 75 dB
PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin: At least 15 dB > 568A
Measurement Accuracy:
PentaScanner+: Calculated per TIA TSB-67 error model (see NEXT and Attenuation
Specifications table)
PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin: 1.5 dB when measured ±1.5 dB when
measured using fixed attenuators
Measurement resolution: 0.1 dB

Attenuation
•

Tests all four pairs using far end active signal injection

Page 53

•
•
•
•

•

Frequency range
PentaScanner+: 1.0 to 100 MHz
PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin: 1.0 to 100 MHz
Sweep mode: Swept 1- 100 MHz using 1 MHz step or fixed points (1.0, 2.0, 4.0,5,0, 8.0,
10, 16.0, 20, 25, 31.25, 62.5, and 100 MHz)
Dynamic Range: 0 - 50 dB
Measurement Accuracy:
PentaScanner+: Calculated per TIA TSB-67 error model (see NEXT and Attenuation
Specifications table)
PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin: 1.5 dB
Measurement resolution: 0.1 dB

Impedance
•
•
•

Range:
Accuracy:
Resolution:

40 to 200 ohms
± 5 ohms
2 ohms

Loop Resistance
•
•

Range:
Accuracy:

•

Resolution:

0 to 10000 ohms
± 0.3 ohms @ 0 to 15 ohms
± 2% @ 15 to 109 ohms (PentaScanner+)
± 2% @ 15 to 200 ohms (PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin
± 5% @ 109 to 5000 ohms (PentaScanner+)
± 5% @ 200 to 5000 ohms (PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable
Admin)
± 10% @ 5000 to 10000 ohms
0.1 ohms
0 to 200 ohms
1.0 ohms
200 to 9.999K ohms

Capacitance
•
•

Range:
Accuracy:

•

Resolution:

0 to 100,000 pF
± 20 pF
0 to 200 pF
± 10%
200 to 100,000 pF
5 pF
20 to 1000 pF
50 pF
1000 to 100,000 pF

Impulse Noise
•

Detects the occurrence of narrow impulse type events exceeding an adjustable threshold of
± 0.262, 0.524, 1.0, 2.0 or 2.5 volts. Instantly displays up to 200 impulse noise events per
second. Graphically logs and displays impulse events for up to 25 hours. Termination
impedance: 200 ohms.

Peak to Peak Noise
•
•
•

Measures the peak to peak voltage of steady state noise signals.
Range: 0 to 3,000 mVpp into 100 ohms.
Bandwidth: 3dB from 40 kHz to 30 MHz

High Voltage Input/Protection
•

The test interface withstands input hazard conditions that arise from normal telephone
interfaces (48 VDC at less than 80 mA) or 24 VAC power used to power many telephone
keysets.

2-Way Injector+/2-Way Injector
Environmental, Physical Characteristics, User Interface, Measurement Port
Refer to specifications for PentaScanner+/PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin
LED Displays
•
•
•
•
•

Pass Indicator (GREEN) for test result
Fail Indicator (RED) for test result
Status Indicator (GREEN) for 2-Way Injector status
Charging Indicator (RED) for battery status
Hazard Indicator (RED) for high voltage input protection warning

Audible Feedback
•

Programmable tone generation through a piezo-electric transducer to signal test is complete or
overvoltage conditions

Rechargeable Battery
•
•
•
•

Removable, rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Capacity:
1200 mAh
Battery Life:
8+ hours daily operation
Charging Time:
14 hours (via AC Adapter)
2-3 hours (via Battery Charger)

High Voltage Input/Protection
•

The test interface withstands input hazard conditions that arise from normal telephone
interfaces (48 VDC at less that 80 mA) or 24 VAC power used to power many telephone
keysets.

FLASH Memory
•

128K FLASH memory is provided to allow for software updates in the field

Power Control
•
•
•

AC Adapter or Battery
Auto-shutoff when operating on battery
Power on under Scanner control

Injector End Termination to Support Scanner Measurements
•
•
•
•

OPEN (during Impedance, Capacitance, and Length measurements and during
Communication)
SHORT (during Loop Resistance measurements)
100 Ohm Termination (during NEXT measurements)
Swept signal injections during Autotest

Page 55

2-Way Injector+ NEXT Measurement Performance Specifications
20Way Injector+
NEXT Performance
Parameters @ 100MHz

Testing through
36-Pin Connector
Typical
Max

Testing
through
Mod 8
Adapter
Typical

Dynamic Accuracy (dB)

0.3

0.5

0.3

Residual NEXT (dB)

67

62

45

Output Signal Balance (dB)

50

43

40

Common Mode Rejection (dB)

45

38

34

Random Noise (dB)

78

75

78

Transmit Return Loss (dB)

26

23

20

Receive Return Loss (dB)

22

17

17

NEXT Accuracy (dB) @ 100 MHz

0.5 (*1)

0.9 (*1)

1.5 (*2,3)

*Notes:
(1) NEXT accuracy is calculated at the Basic Link Limit (29.3 dB) per error model in TSB-67 A.3
(2) NEXT accuracy is calculated at the Channel Limit (27.1 dB) per error model in TSB-67 A.3
(3) Performance assumes a high performance modular 8 plug
Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT)
•
•
•
•

•

•

Tests all six pair combinations
Frequency range 0.7 to 100 MHz
Sweep Mode 0.1 MHz, 0.2 MHz, 0.5 MHz linear or TIA (user selectable)
Dynamic Range:
2-Way Injector+: Measurement dynamic range > 75 dB
2-Way Injector: At least 15 dB greater than required by EIA/TIA 568A Annex E for
Category 5 link and ISO 11801 Class D performance or 60 dB, whichever is less
Measurement Accuracy:
2-Way Injector+: Calculated per TIA TSB-67 error model (see 2-Way Injector+ NEXT
Injector Specifications table)
2-Way Injector: ±1.5 dB when measured using fixed attenuators
Measurement resolution: 0.1 dB

Super Injector+/Super Injector
Physical Characteristics
•
•

Dimensions:
Weight:

7.62 cm x 16.5 cm x 3.25 cm (3.0” x 6.5” x 1.28”)
0.255 kg (9 oz)

Power
•
•

AA Alkaline batteries
Battery Life: Varies depending on usage and battery quality. On average, the batteries will
withstand testing of well over 500 cables.

Features
•
•

Automatic power control from Scanner
Status indicators: Active, Test Passed, Test Failed

•
•
•
•

Built in protection from normal telephone circuit power voltages
Audio alert to signal test complete and overvoltage line conditions
Active signal generator (up to 100 MHz) to measure one-way cable attenuation
Supports testing of all 4 pairs

Environment
•

Refer to specifications for PentaScanner+/PentaScanner/PentaScanner Cable Admin

Supported Cabling/Network Types
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Arcnet
•
ISO Class D
Apple local talk
•
Multimedia 802.9
ATM 51 Mbps
•
Token Ring 4 MHz
ATM 155 Mbps
•
Token Ring 16 MHz
Cat 3 Channel & Basic Link
•
TPPMD
Cat 4 Channel & Basic Link
•
TPDDI
Cat 5 Channel & Basic Link
•
T1/E1
CDDI
•
10BASE-T
ISDN
•
100 BaseX
ISO Class C
•
100 VG Any LAN
User-defined network types are also supported. See Microtest’s Category 5 Cable Testing
Handbook for more information on network types.

Appendix B: 150 ohm Cables
Working with 150 Ohm Cables
If you are using 150 ohm cable, adjust the minimum and maximum Impedance limits ±10% to 135
and 165 ohms.
First, make sure that the cable type for which you are changing the Impedance limits has been
selected as the default cable type. To select the default cable type, press Cable (F1) from the
Ready screen, highlight the desired cable type, and press Default (F1).
To display the IMPEDANCE LIMITS screen, press the Extended Functions key, then select
Setup Autotest, then highlight the Autotest to edit, then press Edit (F2), then select Limits, then
select Impedance.
Press the Ñ or Ò arrow keys to highlight the field to edit. If your Scanner has an alphanumeric
overlay on the keypad, use the keypad to enter the limits. If your Scanner does not have an
alphanumeric overlay, press Edit (F2) to display the edit screen. Change the Minimum limit to 135
and the Maximum limit to 165. See Chapter 4: Editing, Printing & Updating for more
information on editing.
After editing, press Save (F1) to store the new limits and press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Creating a Cat 5 Test for Token Ring
1. At the Ready screen, press the Extended Functions key and select Setup Autotest.
2. Highlight the Cat 5 Link Autotest and press Edit (F2).
3. Select Pairs.
Page 57

4. Use the arrow keys and the Unsel/Sel (F2) key so that the only pairs selected (marked with a
x) are 36 and 45.
5. Press Save (F1).
6. Select Limits.
7. Select Impedance. Change the Minimum limit from 80 to 135. Change the Maximum limit
from 125 to 165. Press Save (F1) to save the new limits.
8. Press the ESCAPE key twice.
9. Press Default (F1) to select “*Cat 5 Link” as the default Autotest. The “*” indicates that this
is a user-defined Autotest.
10. If the length of cable that you are testing is near 328 feet, you may need to change the
maximum Length limit from 328 to 361 feet. Other limits such as the Loop Resistance and
Capacitance may also need to be changed proportionately to the increase in Length limit if
these tests are failing marginally.
11. You are now ready to press the AUTOTEST key to run the Token Ring Cat 5 Autotest.

Appendix C: Cable Pin-outs
Cable Pin-outs
B-9 Female
DB-9 Male
1___________1
2___________2
3___________3
4___________4
5___________5
6___________6
7___________7
8___________8
9___________9

B-9 Female
DB-25 Male
1___________8
2___________3
3___________2
4___________20
5___________7
6___________6
7___________4
8___________5
9___________22

Serial Cable DB-9 Female to DB-9 Male Pin-outs

Serial Cable DB-9 Female to DB-25 Male Pin-outs

B-9 Female
DB-9 Male
2___________2
3___________3
4___________20
5___________5
6___________6
7___________7
8___________8
20__________4
22__________22

Serial Cable DB-25 Female to DB-25 Male Pin-outs

Cable Pin-Out Signals
The signals for the cable pin-outs are as follows:
DB-9
Male
Pin

DB-25
Male
Pin

Signal

DB-25
Female
Pin

DB-9
Female
Pin

Signal Description

5

7

GND

7

5

Protective Ground

3

2

TXD

2

3

Transmitted Date

2

3

RXD

3

2

Received Data

7

4

RTS

4

7

Request to Send

8

5

CTS

5

8

Clear to Send

4

20

DTR

20

4

Data Term Ready

6

6

DSR

6

6

Data Set Ready

1

8

RLSD

8

1

Received Line Signal
Detector

9

22

RI

22

9

Ring Indicator

Appendix D: Working with Coaxial Cable
Coaxial cable is a common type of cable used for network data transmission. In coaxial cable, an
insulated wire runs through the middle of the cable and a second wire, called the shield, surrounds
the insulation of the inner wire like a sheath. The outer insulation jacket wraps around the second
wire.
Page 59

By pressing the Measure Cable Performance key, you can test Length/Delay, Impedance, Loop
Resistance, Capacitance, Impulse Noise and Peak-to-Peak Noise for coaxial cable. NEXT and
Attenuation are not supported for coaxial cable.
NOTE: The Injector is not used when testing coaxial cable.

Length/Delay Test Results
To display the LENGTH/DELAY screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set the Jack
to Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Length/Delay.
During the Length/Delay test, the cable should be open or shorted.
If NEF (No End Found) is displayed next to the Length, it indicates that the cable is properly
terminated or the cable is too long.
The IEEE Length specification is 600 feet.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Impedance Test Results
To display the IMPEDANCE screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set the Jack to
Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Impedance.
During the Impedance test, the cable can be open, shorted or terminated. There is no preference.
If UND (Under range) is displayed, the cable is less than 40 feet long or the Impedance is less than
40 ohms.
If OVR (Over range) is displayed, the Impedance is greater than 200 ohms, the cable is less than
40 feet long, or the cable/pair is not connected.
The IEEE Impedance specification is 50 ohms, ±2 ohms.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Loop Resistance Test Results
To display the LOOP RESISTANCE screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set the
Jack to Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Loop Resistance.
During the Loop Resistance test, the cable should be terminated or shorted.
If OVR (Over range) is displayed, the Loop Resistance is greater than 10K ohms.
The IEEE Loop Resistance specification is 14.6 ohms.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Capacitance Test Results
To display the CAPACITANCE screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set the Jack to
Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Capacitance.
During the Capacitance test, the cable should be open.

If OVR (Overrange) is displayed, the Capacitance is greater than can be measured or the cable is
properly connected.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Impulse Noise Test Results
To display the IMPULSE NOISE screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set the Jack
to Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select Impulse Noise.
During the Noise test, the cable can be open, shorted or terminated. There is no preference.
Press Clear (F2) to clear the graph.
Press Level (F4) to change the voltage level for detecting impulses.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

Peak-to-Peak Noise Test Results
To display the PEAK-TO-PEAK NOISE screen, from the Ready screen, press Jack (F4) and set
the Jack to Coax. Then press the Measure Cable Performance key, then select P-P Noise.
During the Noise test, the cable can be open, shorted or terminated. There is no preference.
Press the ESCAPE key to exit.

4747 North 22nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85016-4708
(602) 952-6400 FAX (602) 952-6401
Microtest Europe
2A Kingfisher House, Northwood Park, Gatwick Road
Crawley, West Sussex, RH102XN, United Kingdom
+44 1293 894000, FAX +44 1293 894008
http://www.microtest.com
Part Number 2938-4509-03E Rev 1 3/96

Page 61



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