Make or buy device just to test link connectivity

[Tsaico]

I have need for a simple tester that is battery operated, and when plugged into a standard RJ-45 will turn a LED on, if there is a live connection on it. The closest description I can give is like when you plug in a patch, and the link light turns on, if only to just show a good connection was made... anything like that out there or instrctuions on how to make tht?

 

[zerocool1]

I'm sure a good hardware store will have a line tester, I've seen em before.

 

[Tsaico]

No, not a line tester, since I cannot run to the other side, I just want to make sure it is a live cable. It would be more like a loopback plug with an RJ-45 end and a LED. If I had to make a guess, I could just make one with connecting pins 1-3 and 2-4, and put an LED on each one to light up... But I am not sure about the pin outs...

 

[funkymatt]

my network card lights up when it's connected. could you use a laptop card with a dongle?

 

[Evadman]

Text

 

[labgeek]

Well Fluke and a few others makes a few nice network testers which include checking the link, but that's porbably a bit out of your budget if that's all you want to do. Like the LinkRunner

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Text

That's for testing loopback... that would need a connection to the closet side and still doesn't solve his problem

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Evadman
Text

That's for testing loopback... that would need a connection to the closet side and still doesn't solve his problem

The link light on the switch will light. I use one at work to make sure a cable is actually going to a switch. I also have a regular tester, but that is so much easier.

 

[labgeek]

What about finding a cheap print server that has a link light and that normally runs off a wall-wart. Make a cable to go to a 9v or a battery pack of the right size. When you're not using it for testing, you could use it as intended by the mfgr.

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Evadman
Text

That's for testing loopback... that would need a connection to the closet side and still doesn't solve his problem

The link light on the switch will light. I use one at work to make sure a cable is actually going to a switch. I also have a regular tester, but that is so much easier.

Yes but

Originally posted by: Tsaico
No, not a line tester, since I cannot run to the other side

 

[spidey07]

fluke.

they even have cheap ones now.

 

[Homerboy]

uhh yeah very common. Standard phone line tester with female Rj45 plug:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=133
sift through there... or any telco store will have em... even RadioShack


Nice cheap one by Trend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888404

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Evadman
The link light on the switch will light. I use one at work to make sure a cable is actually going to a switch. I also have a regular tester, but that is so much easier.

Yes but

Originally posted by: Tsaico
No, not a line tester, since I cannot run to the other side

Walk slowly? use a cheap ass $5 hub? All that he wants to sest is that there is a connection to something, anything on the other side right?

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
uhh yeah very common. Standard phone line tester with female Rj45 plug:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=133
sift through there... or any telco store will have em... even RadioShack


Nice cheap one by Trend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888404

you see something in there that does what he describes? I'm not...

Requirements restated
- cannot go to other end
- must show if line is active (connected to switch) like a LINK light
- battery powered

 

[spidey07]

http://www.flukenetworks.com/us/LAN/Handheld+Testers/LinkRunner/Overview.htm

I'm tellin ya. Fluke has them for cheap (50 bucks or less)

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Evadman
The link light on the switch will light. I use one at work to make sure a cable is actually going to a switch. I also have a regular tester, but that is so much easier.

Yes but

Originally posted by: Tsaico
No, not a line tester, since I cannot run to the other side

Walk slowly? use a cheap ass $5 hub? All that he wants to sest is that there is a connection to something, anything on the other side right?

A hub would work... IF it was capable of running from a battery like I suggested with the print server.

HP external JetDirect on ebay can run on 9 - 35 vdc

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Homerboy
uhh yeah very common. Standard phone line tester with female Rj45 plug:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=133
sift through there... or any telco store will have em... even RadioShack


Nice cheap one by Trend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888404

you see something in there that does what he describes? I'm not...

Requirements restated
- cannot go to other end
- must show if line is active (connected to switch) like a LINK light
- battery powered

WHy cant he use that trend one? Plug small 4ft cable from wall to unit, if it lights up all pins then his connection back to switch is good.

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: spidey07
http://www.flukenetworks.com/us/LAN/Handheld+Testers/LinkRunner/Overview.htm

I'm tellin ya. Fluke has them for cheap (50 bucks or less)

I've already mentioned Fluke and actually gave him a link to that very device. But PLEASE show me where you can get them for <$50... PLEASE!!! That's a ~$500 tester!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Homerboy
uhh yeah very common. Standard phone line tester with female Rj45 plug:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=133
sift through there... or any telco store will have em... even RadioShack


Nice cheap one by Trend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888404

you see something in there that does what he describes? I'm not...

Requirements restated
- cannot go to other end
- must show if line is active (connected to switch) like a LINK light
- battery powered

WHy cant he use that trend one? Plug small 4ft cable from wall to unit, if it lights up all pins then his connection back to switch is good.

He needs something to detect link pulse. That is just a wire mapper.

A ethernet port will send a special voltage on the TX pair called "link pulse." Its used to provide the other end a "hey! I'm alive and I can do 1000 Base-T full duplex"

 

[OffTopic1]

It is not worth it to built your own because line test kit can be had for $70~80 these day. If the line is punched down. Or use a line toner if the line isn't punched down on one side.

Triplett Phone/LAN Line Tester 9615 Line-Big 4 $8.95

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: OffTopic

It is not worth it to built your own because line test kit can be had for $70~80 these day. If the line is punched down. Or use a line toner if the line isn't punched down on one side.

Triplett Phone/LAN Line Tester 9615 Line-Big 4 $8.95

That is just for detecting tip/ring isn't it?

 

[labgeek]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: labgeek

Originally posted by: Homerboy
uhh yeah very common. Standard phone line tester with female Rj45 plug:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=133
sift through there... or any telco store will have em... even RadioShack


Nice cheap one by Trend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888404

you see something in there that does what he describes? I'm not...

Requirements restated
- cannot go to other end
- must show if line is active (connected to switch) like a LINK light
- battery powered

WHy cant he use that trend one? Plug small 4ft cable from wall to unit, if it lights up all pins then his connection back to switch is good.

You've tried that? My tester does not work that way. I don't have that model, but mine requires the other unit to be plugged into the other side.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: spidey07
He needs something to detect link pulse. That is just a wire mapper.

Aww, that's easy, as long as you don't need any info on either the line or the reciever on the other end. My 3M DT-2000 mapper will do that. It has 6 or 7 plugs that you snap into RJ-45 plugs. If you plug it into a line that has a link, the 8 dual color LEDs alternaernate on all 8 lines. The thing was only like $30.

<edit>
linky

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: spidey07
He needs something to detect link pulse. That is just a wire mapper.

Aww, that's easy, as long as you don't need any info on either the line or the reciever on the other end. My 3M DT-2000 mapper will do that. It has 6 or 7 plugs that you snap into RJ-45 plugs. If you plug it into a line that has a link, the 8 dual color LEDs alternaernate on all 8 lines. The thing was only like $30.

<edit>
linky

nice find!

 

[OffTopic1]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: OffTopic

It is not worth it to built your own because line test kit can be had for $70~80 these day. If the line is punched down. Or use a line toner if the line isn't punched down on one side.

Triplett Phone/LAN Line Tester 9615 Line-Big 4 $8.95

That is just for detecting tip/ring isn't it?

Yup, it is just for tiping if that all the OP care for. Other wise the 3M DT-2000 device that you provided is a great find for the price.