DTX CableAnalyzer™ Series

See how far the right tool can take you - from 10 Meg to 10 Gig

The DTX 10 Gig over Copper Test Solution enables cable testing and certification of twisted pair cabling for 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployments - whether it is an existing Cat 6 or newly installed Augmented Cat 6 cabling system.   The DTX 10 Gig over Copper Test Solution follows the DTX CableAnalyzer Series in our commitment to industry-leading performance, accuracy and ease-of-use.  

The DTX 10 Gig over Copper Test Solution Advantage

• Simplifies complex Alien Crosstalk link-to-link certification by using the same user-friendly and intuitive DTX interface
• The only solution to identify problematic cable(s) within the same bundle due to link-to-link crosstalk
• The only solution that is fully compliant with industry standards
• DTX 10 Gig Copper Kit together with DTX-1800 delivers on the promise of a future-proof investment - measuring  performance for 10 Gig and Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT and AFEXT) in full compliance with the industry standards to 500 MHz

The DTX 10 Gig Kit is now available.
 

DTX 10 Gig Kit

Alien Crosstalk Analyzer Kit for DTX-1800 includes: two DTX-AXTLK1 Communication Modules, Windows based DTX AxTalk Analyzer™ Software, two
Cat 6A/Class E_A Permanent Link Adapters (DTX-PLA002S), two Channel Adapters optimized for Alien Crosstalk measurements to 500 MHz (DTX-CHA001AS), two Link Terminators (DTX-AXTERM) and two RJ45-to-RJ45 Couplers.

All items in this kit are packaged in a separate carrying case.

For an in-depth overview on the developments of the 10GBASE-T Standards including an overview on cabling types, best practices for design and installation and a technical look at Alien Crosstalk, download our whitepaper titled Testing Challenges for 10Gb/s Ethernet over Twisted-Pair Cabling (registration required).

Record-fast fiber certification – from 10 Meg to 10 Gig

DTX CableAnalyzer – a platform for growth

The only cable tester that can completely certify copper and fiber cabling.  Only the DTX platform offers optional on-board fiber modules for Basic (Tier 1) fiber certification and the DTX Compact OTDR module for Extended (Tier 2) certification. 

We engineered DTX Fiber Modules and DTX Compact OTDR to accelerate testing through exclusive technology and an easy-to-use interface. Our fiber modules let you test more fibers in less time minimizing costs and freeing you up for other tasks.  DTX Compact OTDR module speeds up Extended fiber certification and troubleshooting with unparalleled ease of use, wealth of installer-friendly features and the familiar user interface of the DTX CableAnalyzer.  Over time, the savings are substantial – hundreds of hours per year for the average contractor.


 

Deliver complete fiber certification

Basic (Tier1) fiber certification.  DTX Fiber Modules provide a Basic (Tier 1) fiber certification solution – loss, length and polarity. Validate fiber link performance per industry standards. Measure optical loss at multiple wavelengths, measure fiber length and verify polarity. You can test two fibers in both directions at both wavelengths with incredible speed without swapping main and remote units, a capability only available from Fluke Networks. Interchangeable connector adapters allow reference and test connections that meet TIA/ISO standards for most SFF (small form factor) fiber connectors.

Unlike competitive fiber adapters which measure length and two loss measurements per Autotest, DTX is the only fiber test solution that measures length and four loss measurements per Autotest – all in about 12 seconds. With DTX Fiber Modules, you can speed through fiber testing five times faster than the competition.

Extended (Tier 2) fiber certification.  DTX Compact OTDR provides Extended (Tier 2) fiber certification.  It shoots and analyzes  traces on both multimode and singlemode fibers to check every connector and splice on a link making  sure that it meets defined specifications and installation quality expectations.

DTX Compact OTDR - See how to transform your tester, your staff and your business

The DTX Compact OTDR is a full featured Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) module that snaps onto the Fluke Networks DTX CableAnalyzer. It makes the DTX powerful certification tool a complete, easy-to-use OTDR that shoots and analyzes traces on singlemode and multimode fiber.  

The DTX Compact OTDR module makes every technician a fiber expert with unparalleled ease of use, automatic OTDR settings, loss limits for events and fiber links, launch fiber compensation, automatic event analysis, and results management - all with the familiar user interface of the DTX CableAnalyzer



One platform, many advantages


The DTX Compact OTDR Module leverages a contractor’s investment in the DTX CableAnalyzer by:

• Expanding installation revenue without expanding staff
• Shortening the technicians’ learning curve for fiber testing
• Performing Basic (Tier 1)^* and Extended (Tier 2) fiber certification with a single tool
• Accelerating troubleshooting with a powerful, single-ended OTDR
• Delivering integrated copper and fiber reports using LinkWare™ Results Management Software

* Separate onboard fiber modules are required for Tier 1 Certification.

DTX Compact OTDR Specifications

DTX Compact OTDR Kits Options:

• DTX-1800-MSO 120
• DTX-QUAD-OTDR
• DTX-OTDR LL-KIT
• DTX-OTDR-KIT
• DTX-OTDR-QMOD

Test the weakest link quickly, easily, and cost effectively with the DTX CableAnalyzer and Patch Cord Test Adapters.  The new adapters are the first of its kind to test shielded Category 5e, 6, and 6_A cabling.  Simply snap a set of adapters onto your DTX CableAnalyzer and you can test shielded and unshielded twisted pair patch cords to industry performance standards.

Eliminate degradation of certified permanent links by ensuring the performance of patch cords before they are plugged in.  Reduce bit errors, increase channel margins, and minimize network downtime.

• Certify patch and equipment cords quickly (6-second Autotest for category 6)
• Test efficiently and accurately to Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6_A patch cord test requirements
• Ensure that patch cord performance meets the performance requirements of the installed links and industry standards
• Measure all key patch cord test parameters: wire map, length, propagation
delay, delay skew, NEXT, and Return Loss
• Trust the tester that industry experts use

Download datasheet to learn more about the new DTX CableAnalyzer Patch Cord Test Adapters

Coax Test Solution

Test coax cable links quickly and easily with Coax Test Adapters
Extend the capabilities of your DTX CableAnalyzer to test coaxial cabling systems including legacy data cabling (such as 10BASE-2 or 10BASE-5 Ethernet) and video distribution coaxial cabling. Fluke Networks' new Coax Test Adapters and software upgrades add the following coaxial cabling tests to your DTX CableAnalyzer:

• Length
• Propagation delay
• Cable (input) impedance
• Insertion loss as a function of signal frequency

Cable Impedance
The cable input impedance characterizes the cable to be the proper type of coaxial cable such as 75 Ω cable versus a 50 Ω cable used in legacy Ethernet systems or 93 Ω cable. In addition, the tester performs a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) test of the link to ensure that the cable does not exhibit any significant changes in impedance. Such impedance anomalies can cause significant problems in the quality of the signal transmission.

Propagation Delay
Propagation delay measures the time required for signals to travel from one end of the cabling link to the other. The NVP of the cable, which indicates the speed of the electrical signals on the cable, is used to convert the propagation delay into the "electrical length" of the link. If the NVP is known with sufficient accuracy, the electrical length approximates the physical length closely.

Insertion Loss
With the DTX Coax Test Adapters, the DTX-1800 measures the insertion loss of the coaxial cable over the frequency range from 1 through 900 MHzx. The DTX-1200 measures insertion loss over the range from 1 - 350 MHz with the coax adapters. The tester stores the sweep diagrams that can be uploaded and stored on a PC using the LinkWare software.

Commercial patch cords—including Cat 5e/6 and Cat 7 cords—used in Permanent Link testing applications can cause costly false failures by failing a good link and adding unnecessary hours of troubleshooting and repeat testing. The daily wear associated with coiling, uncoiling, and storing cables under rough field conditions causes slow, invisible degradation over time and contributes to Return Loss, which is often the cause of a FAIL.

At Fluke Networks, we put accuracy first. That's why we developed high-performance Permanent Link Adapters instead of using commercial patch cords. Our proprietary technology ensures superior accuracy and stability required for measuring Return Loss, while increasing the accuracy of all other measured test parameters—not just accuracy one time, but accuracy every time— over time.


As you can see in this graph, a commercial Cat 7 SSTP cord has a 10 dB loss after 150 cycles of coiling and uncoiling. This 10 dB degradation causes a good link to fail - and you end up with a false fail. This 10 dB of loss won't occur when you use Fluke Networks' Permanent Link adapter technology - with DTX you get repeatable accuracy you can count on.

PM06 Personality Modules

PM06 is the cabling industry's first centered, shielded test plug. With global industry approval by connectivity vendors, this unique "center plug" certifies link as well as connecting hardware compliance to the Cat 6 standard to achieve an "open" cabling system. Supports all UTP, FTP and ScTP cabling systems.

• Centered TIA/ISO plug
• Shielded - one global solution
• Vendor independent
• Snag-free clip
• End-user assurance of interoperability
• Designed for deep recessed jacks found in Europe

Testing 110-Style IDC Systems

Note:
Installations using IDC-type connectors not shown in this table may be tested against the test specification for the Permanent Link using the appropriate Basic Link Adapters. The basic link adapters available from Fluke Networks are listed on the DSP-4000 Series product page. Consult with the manufacturer of the connecting hardware to ensure that you certify the installation in agreement with his warranty requirements. To ensure reliable results for Return Loss, treat the twisted pair Basic Link Adapters cables with extra care.

Certify cabling, verify network availability and link connectivity

As network applications evolve and bandwidth demand increases, so do the testing requirements. Whether you are activating new service, upgrading new infrastructure, performing MACs, troubleshooting a cabling or link connectivity problems, new industry best practices now recommend verifying link connectivity and network availability after certifying each cabling link. They also recommend documenting results in one consolidated report. Doing so provides assurance to your customers that the network infrastructure was delivered in perfect working order. And the Fluke Networks DTX Series CableAnalyzer™ with the new DTX Network Service Module is the way to do just that.

Improve the services you offer
The same familiar tool used industry-wide to certify link transmission performance can now be used to verify and document the availability of network services over a cabling link. It is simple to operate and quickly provides powerful, valuable information. When you install new links and need to turn up the service the DTX tester with the Network Service Module lets you document all the network connectivity tests executed as an integrated part of the cable certification documentation provided by LinkWare. This allows you to provide clear evidence to your customers that the job was done right – according to standards and best practices. And, it lets you deliver improved services to end users, eliminate callbacks and reduce network downtime.

DTX Network Service Module:

• Verify network service availability – determine whether a telecom outlet is active, identify its data rate (10/100/1000 connection), duplex capabilities, and whether power is available for PoE.
• Check link utilization and error conditions – see Ethernet utilization of the link-under-test as a percentage of available bandwidth; identify broadcast traffic and the presence of networkerrors.
• Port identification – blink switch/hub port light; verify if link-under-test is connected to the proper port or find out where a work area outlet is connected.
• Verify link connectivity to the network up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet – use the DHCP server to getan IP address, ping the default router and DNS Server at 10, 100 or 1000 Mb/s. Or you can assign IP addresses manually to ping network devices.
• Verify PoE – verify availability and voltage levels for links connected to power sourcing equipment to supply powered devices (PDs) for Power over Ethernet applications such as VoIP, network cameras, and wireless LAN Access Points.
• Document both cabling link certification and network availability and link connectivity test results in one consolidated report using our LinkWare software.
• Troubleshoot link – determine whether performance problems are cabling or network-related.

AC Wiremap validates twisted-pair cabling for power over Ethernet services

Power over Ethernet (PoE) enables critical networks services including VoIP, web-based security and remote data capture. Midspan power supplies, an efficient means to implement PoE, have protection circuitry that makes it impossible to do wiremapping. The wiremap test is an essential tool for flushing out wiring errors that cause a PoE service to fail and troubleshooting existing PoE services.

The DTX CableAnalyzer now includes a feature called “DTX AC Wiremap” that overcomes these barriers. Cable installers can assure that cabling wired properly for PoE, testing it in accordance with TIA/EIA standards. Network technicians can test in accordance with TIA/EIA standards, rapidly detecting errors that may erupt in an ongoing service.

Fluke Networks pioneered new technology and test algorithms to address the issues unique to PoE, making them a standard feature software release 1.4 of the DTX product line.

A one-button test initiates DTX AC Wiremapping.


 

The DTX user sees clearly if a connection is wired properly or has wiring errors. This test can be done from the location of the Ethernet switch(es), regardless of the presence or location of a Midspan power supply.

AC Wiremap test results can be integrated into LinkWare software, creating a comprehensive and professional report.

• Assures Ethernet cabling will support a service using Power over Ethernet, before turning it up
• Tests PoE cabling according to EIA/TIA standards, even when a Midspan supply is used
• Solves cabling problems in a PoE application quickly using one tool
• Lets you take full advantage of PoE services

Save time managing results with LinkWare Cable Test Management Software

Fluke Networks' powerful LinkWare Software included with every DTX Series tester helps you quickly organize, edit, view, print, save, or archive test results by jobsite, customer, campus building, and more. You can merge test results into an existing database and then sort, search and organize by any number of data fields or parameters.

LinkWare is also available free from our web site. Once your work is done, you can give this powerful application to your customers so they can have instant access to the data electronically. You can also print test results or you can export the data as an Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

Extensive data management capabilities with LinkWare:

• Manage copper and fiber test results with a single software application that supports Fluke Networks' entire line of cable testers
• Deliver professional, customized, graphical reports in a common format for all Fluke Networks cable testers
• Ensure standards compliance with the ability to configure and print TIA 606-A documentation
• New drag and drop feature makes it easier to manage and organize multiple projects
• Count on compatibility with major CMS (cable management software) applications
• Increase productivity with simple user interface and time-saving features with LinkWare, the world's preferred cable test management software

LinkWare Software prints professional, graphical reports with color graphs depicting the measured test parameters. You can choose which parameters to print and the order in which graphs appear. Reports can also be customized with your company logo.

New LinkWare Stats option provides a graphical analysis of your entire cable plant
LinkWare now supports LinkWare Stats, a new automated statistical report option that allows you to move above and beyond the page-per-link report and see your entire cabling infrastructure. It analyzes and transforms LinkWare  test results data into charts and diagrams that reveal your cabling plant performance; this report summarizes your entire cabling infrastructure in a compact, graphical format that makes it easy to verify margins and to spot anomalies.

See what LinkWare Stats can do with your data - A free demo version of LinkWare Stats is included with every copy of LinkWare.

DTX CableAnalyzer Series significantly reduces your total time to certify.

Time is money. DTX saves you both.
The DTX CableAnalyzer Series delivers superior performance that can reduce your total certification costs by as much as 33% per year. This dramatic reduction is the result of not just faster testing, but also improved accuracy, superior diagnostics, longer battery life, simple user interface, and fast setup and reporting.

Cat 6 certification in 9 seconds
The DTX-1200 and DTX-1800 perform Cat 6 certification test in just 9 seconds - all in full compliance with the industry standards and with superior accuracy. That's three times faster than existing testers. This incredible speed means you can test up to 170 more links in an eight hour shift.

Advanced Diagnostics – troubleshoot faults twice as fast
When a link fails, the DTX Series provides quick and easy-to understand directions to identify the point of failure (distance from the tester) and the possible reason(s) for the failure. These directions not only tell you the problem, but also identify corrective actions your test technicians can take to solve the problem quickly -- all without having to consult with the project manager. Instead of spending time executing trial and error corrections and re-testing to find out whether the problem has been resolved -- the technician knows exactly where to look and what to do to fix the failing link.  

Fast even when you're not testing
The DTX Series isn't just a faster way to test. It's a faster way to do everything. It cuts setup and reporting times. Its ease-of-use lowers training times. Extended battery life means you can do more on a single charge. And a bright color display, ample memory, and built-in talk set all contribute to overall productivity while enhancing the user experience. This all adds up to save you time and money every day.

Tester accuracy exceeds Levels IIIe and IV
The DTX exceeds the  IEC Level IIIe specification with less than half the allowable crosstalk margin. A more demanding accuracy Level IV specification has been proposed in ISO/IEC (international standards) to test Class F links to 600 MHz. The DTX-1800 exceeds this specification, assuring you of higher confidence in results over the full frequency range.  The cost of inaccuracy:  A tester showing incorrect Pass/Fail results  may cause a good link to fail (false fail) or a bad link to pass (false pass). Both of these false results cost you time and money – with DTX you can rely on accurate results – every time.

UL Accuracy Classification
Fluke Networks' DTX Series was awarded the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Classification in accordance with the IEC- 61935-1 specifications for Accuracy Level IV and in accordance with the TIA-TSB-155 specifications for Accuracy Level IIIe. Accuracy Level IIIe will be required to test Cat 6 cabling for 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployments.

900 MHz and Class F (Cat 7) manufacturer’s endorsements
The top-of-the-line DTX CableAnalyzer — the DTX-1800 — supports testing up to 900 MHz. This extended bandwidth supports the ISO Class F links, as well as emerging standards like 10 Gigabit Ethernet over twisted-pair cabling. It also enables you to certify links for other applications, such as video distribution over twisted pair cabling. No other tester on the market gives you this kind of future-proof investment while meeting current Cat 5e/6 specifications.

Manufacturers are integral to the testing decisions you make. To support their warranties, your certification tests must be performed with approved tools so you can ensure your customers' complete satisfaction.

Fluke Networks has subjected the DTX Series testers to rigorous testing in the labs of leading wiring manufacturers. Click on the vendor logo below to display approval letter.
 

These Class F (Cat 7) certification endorsements complement the endorsements for certification of Cat 5e (Class D) and Cat 6 (Class E) links and channels.   Click on the vendor name to see approval letter.