At Fluke Networks, we recognize that there are uncertainty and ambiguity around structured cabling standards and applications.

Based on our industry expertise and experience, we recommend the following checklist for cable testing to guide you through some
of the uncertainties. For more technical details, please use our Statement of Work (SOW) documents as general guidelines to help
you prepare RFQs or contractual specifications for testing twisted pair copper cabling installations.

Check Category Recommended Reasoning Additional resources

by Fluke
Networks
Twisted Specify Channel test is easier to http://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-
□ pair
copper
Permanent Link
or Channel
PASS
Test Specs need to
chronicles/dumb-thing-1-specifying-
channel-testing-when-installing-permanent-
cabling testing specify Permanent link or links
Channel
Twisted Specify whether Unless you specified http://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-
□ pair
copper
marginal passes
are acceptable
otherwise, a PASS * is a
PASS
chronicles/dumb-things-2-and-3-
neglecting-agree-upon-marginal-test-
cabling or not results-and-specify

Twisted Test DC Loop The DC Resistance shall http://www.flukenetworks.com/knowledge-

□ pair
copper
Resistance be reported for all four
pairs;
base/dtx-cableanalyzer/dc-loop-resistance

cabling Is not to exceed 6.4 Ω for

all four pairs per
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 Section
6.3.1.
Twisted Test DC The DC Resistance http://www.flukenetworks.com/knowledge-
□ pair
copper
Resistance
Unbalance
Unbalance within a pair
shall be reported for all
base/dsx-cableanalyzer-series/dc-
resistance-unbalance-within-pair-dsx-
cabling within a pair four pairs; cableanalyzer
Is not to exceed 200 mΩ
or 3%, whichever is the
greatest per ANSI/TIA-
568-C.2 Section 6.2.2.
Twisted Test DC The DC Resistance http://www.flukenetworks.com/knowledge-
□ pair
copper
Resistance
Unbalance
Unbalance shall be
reported for the following
base/dsx-cableanalyzer-series/dc-
resistance-unbalance-between-pairs-dsx-
cabling between pairs pairs cableanalyzer
a) 1,2-3,6
b) 1,2-4,5
c) 1,2-7,8
d) 3,6-4,5
e) 3,6-7,8
f) 4,5-7,8

Is not to exceed 120 mΩ

or 7.5%, whichever is the
greatest per ANSI/TIA-
568-C.2 Section 6.3.3.
Twisted Specify plot Without Plot Data, fault http://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-
□ pair
copper
(graphical) data identification in the
frequency domain is a
chronicles/dumb-thing-5-forgetting-enable-
plot-data
cabling challenge; With plot data,
TDR can help to find the
cause of failing results

Alien Crosstalk requires

plot data from your in-
channel tests. Without plot
data, you’ll be re-testing
those links
Check Category Recommended Reasoning Additional resources
by Fluke
Networks
Twisted State whether Unless the test http://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-
□ pair
copper
Alien Crosstalk
testing is
specification explicitly
states that Alien Crosstalk
chronicles/dumb-thing-4-winging-it-alien-
crosstalk-compliance
cabling required or not is not required, the end
user has a right to demand
it, even if the cabling
vendor does not require it
for their warranty program
Twisted Agree on a Failure to do so could http://www.flukenetworks.com/knowledge-
□ pair
copper
sampling plan
for Alien
result in 100% alien
crosstalk testing be
base/dtx-alien-crosstalk-testing/sample-
testing-alien-crosstalk-dtx-alien-crosstalk
cabling Crosstalk testing demanded
Twisted Specify shield If the shield is not http://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-
□ pair
copper
integrity test terminated properly at
both ends, the Alien
chronicles/shield-integrity

cabling Crosstalk performance

can degrade by 10 dB or
more, which is enough for
most installations to move
from a PASS to a FAIL.