Agilent Technologies WireScope 350 User manual

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Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies N2600A
WireScope 350
User’s Manual
Version 3.0

ii
1RWLFHV
Notices
No part of this manual may be reproduced
in any form or by any means (including
electronic storage and retrieval or transla-
tion into a foreign language) without prior
agreement and written consent from Agi-
lent Technologies, Inc. as governed by
United States and international copyright
laws.
Manual Part Number
N2605A-070
Edition
Version 3.0 July 2002
Printed in USA
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
90 Central Street
Boxborough, MA 01719 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this docu-
ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-
ject to being changed without notice
in future editions. Further, to the max-
imum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent Technologies disclaims
all warranties of merchantability and
fitness for a particularpurpose. Agi-
lent Technologiesshall not be liable
for errors or for incidental or conse-
quential damages in connection with
the furnishing, use, or performance of
this document or ofany of the prod-
ucts to which it pertains. Should Agi-
lent Technologies have a written
contract with the user and should any
of the contract terms conflict with
these terms the contract terms shall
control.
Technology Licenses
Thehardwareand/orsoftwaredescribed in
this document are furnished under a
license and may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of such license.
Restricted Rights Legend
If software is for use in the performance of
a U.S. Government prime contract or sub-
contract, Software is delivered and
licensed as “Commercial computer soft-
ware”as defined in DFAR 252.227-7014
(June 1995), or as a “commercial item” as
defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as “Restricted
computer software” as defined in FAR
52.227-19 (June 1987) or any equivalent
agency regulation or contract clause. Use,
duplication or disclosure of Software is
subject to Agilent Technologies’ standard
commercial license terms,and non-DOD
Departments and Agenciesof the U.S. Gov-
ernmentwill receive no greaterthan
Restricted Rights as defined in FAR
52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S. Govern-
mentuserswillreceive no greater than
Limited Rights as defined in FAR52.227-14
(June 1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2)
(November 1995), as applicable in any
technical data.
Safety Notices
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage
to the product or loss of important
data. Donot proceedbeyond a
CAUTION noticeuntiltheindicated
conditions are fullyunderstood and
met.
AWARNING notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adheredto,couldresultinpersonal
injury or death. Do not proceed
beyonda WARNING notice until
the indicated conditions are fully
understoodandmet.

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iii
About This Book
This manual covers the use of WireScope 350 testers using software version 3.0.
Note that some systems running earlier software may not provide all of the features described in this manual;
systems running later versions of software may operate differently than described in this manual. Be sure to
refer to any user’s manual supplements or release notes that came with the unit, or call 800-452-4844.
Getting Started
Chapter 1, Getting Started, introduces the WireScope 350 tester, (called the Tester in this manual) and
illustrates its features and controls.
Chapter 2, Using WireScope, describes how to perform basic functions with the Tester, such as connecting
power, installing probes and CompactFlash™ cards, downloading software, and working with the WireScope
350 software.
Cabling Certification
Chapter 3, Certifying Copper Cabling, describes how to set up and run Autotests on copper cabling.
Chapter 4, Certifying Fiber Cabling, describes how to set up and run Autotests on optical fiber cabling.
Chapter 5, Saving Test Results, describes how to save test results.
Chapter 6, Expert Mode for Copper Testing, explains advanced configuration options for testing copper
cabling.
Chapter 7, Expert Mode for Fiber Testing, explains advanced configuration options for testing optical fiber
cabling.
Reference
Chapter 8, Reference, describes the measurement details, calibration, and memory usage.
Chapter 9, Specifications, describes the WireScope 350’s and Fiber SmartProbe’s specifications.

iv
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WireScope 350 User’s Guide v
Contents
Notices ii
About This Book iii
Getting Started iii
Cabling Certification iii
Reference iii
1Getting Started
WireScope at a Glance 1-2
Control Buttons 1-2
Ports 1-3
System Requirements 1-4
WireScope 350 Hardware 1-5
Touch Screen User Interface 1-5
CompactFlash™ Card Slot 1-5
Items Supplied 1-5
Optional Accessories 1-6
WireScope SmartProbes 1-7
WireScope probe configuration warnings 1-7
Link and Channel SmartProbes 1-8
Fiber SmartProbe+1-9
Cabling Certification and Tests 1-10
Cabling Certification Standards 1-10
Copper Cable Testing 1-10
Link and Channel Tests 1-10
Optical Fiber Cable Testing 1-12
WireScope User Interface 1-13
Touch Screen Layout 1-13
Onscreen Buttons 1-14
Data Entry Options 1-14
Online Help 1-15
The DualRemote 350 1-17
Control Buttons 1-17
Indicators 1-18
WireScope Software 1-20
Probe Detection 1-20
Digital Fault Finding 1-20
Software Upgrades 1-20
Standard Warranty 1-20

vi WireScope 350 User’s Guide
Technical Support 1-21
Before you call 1-21
2Using WireScope
External and Battery Power 2-2
Using External Power 2-2
Removing the Battery 2-2
Battery Safety 2-3
Connecting to Cabling for Certification 2-4
SmartProbes 2-4
Using Talksets 2-5
Talkset Controls 2-5
Using CompactFlash™ Cards 2-6
Installing CompactFlash™ Cards 2-6
Configuring CompactFlash™ Cards 2-6
Upgrading the WireScope Software 2-7
Viewing Software and Hardware Version Information 2-8
The System Settings Menu 2-9
The Database Menu 2-11
Printing Labels 2-12
Printing Labels On Site 2-12
Printing Labels from a PC 2-13
3Certifying Copper Cabling
Copper Testing Overview 3-2
Calibrating the Tester 3-2
Setting Up an Autotest 3-4
Opening the Setup Menu 3-4
Choosing the Profile 3-4
Choosing the Standard 3-4
Entering the Site Name 3-5
Choosing the Labeling Format 3-6
Choosing the Cable Type 3-14
Choosing the Connector Type 3-16
Choosing the Cable Pairing Convention 3-17
Entering the Operator Names 3-18
Running an Autotest 3-20
4Certifying Fiber Cabling
Fiber Testing Overview 4-2
Calibrating the Tester 4-4
Calibrating for Double-Ended Testing 4-4
Calibrating for Single-Ended Testing 4-7

WireScope 350 User’s Guide vii
Setting Up an Autotest 4-9
Opening the Settings Menu 4-9
Choosing the Test Configuration 4-10
Setting the Loss Limit 4-10
Setting the Length Limit 4-13
Choosing the Network Limit 4-14
Entering the Site Name 4-15
Choosing the Labeling Format 4-16
Choosing the Cable Type 4-16
Setting the Modal Bandwidth 4-18
Choosing the Connector Type 4-18
Entering the Operator Names 4-20
Running an Autotest 4-22
5Saving Test Results
Test Results Display 5-2
Saving Test Results 5-3
Choosing the Data Storage Location 5-3
Saving the Results 5-4
Viewing Result Details 5-5
Interpreting Test Results Detail Screens 5-7
6Expert Mode for Copper Testing
About Expert Mode 6-3
Changing to Expert Mode 6-3
The Expert Autotest Setup 6-4
Choosing an Existing Settings Profile 6-4
Editing an Existing Settings Profile to Remove a Lock 6-5
Creating a New Settings Profile 6-6
Setting the Test Limit 6-8
Viewing Probe Information 6-9
Setting Network Limits 6-10
Entering the Site Name 6-11
Choosing the Labeling Format 6-12
Choosing the Cable Type 6-12
Choosing the Connector Type 6-13
Choosing the Cable Pairing Convention 6-13
Setting the Measurements 6-14
Setting the Maximum Frequency 6-16
Setting the Plot Storage Requirements 6-16
Setting the Storage Location 6-17
Setting the Operator Names 6-17

viii WireScope 350 User’s Guide
The Expert Tools Menu 6-18
Running a Quick Check 6-19
Certifying a Network 6-20
Blinking the Port 6-21
Learning the NVP of a Cable 6-22
Measuring the Cable Length 6-23
Running COAX and TWINAX Autotests 6-25
COAX Testing 6-25
Twinax Testing 6-26
7Expert Mode for Fiber Testing
About Fiber Expert Mode 7-2
Changing to Expert Mode 7-2
Viewing Probe Information 7-3
The Fiber Tools Menu 7-5
Using the Loss Meter 7-5
Measuring Length and Delay 7-6
Using the Power Meter 7-6
Using Trace Mode 7-7
Learning the NVP of a Fiber 7-7
8Reference
Measurements 8-2
Wiremap 8-2
Length 8-2
Propagation Delay and Skew 8-2
Near-end Crosstalk (NEXT) 8-3
Attenuation 8-3
Return Loss 8-4
Equal Level Far-End Crosstalk (ELFEXT) 8-4
Attenuation-to-Crosstalk Ratio (ACR) 8-4
Power Sum NEXT (PSNEXT) 8-4
Power Sum ELFEXT (PSELEXT) 8-5
Power Sum ACR (PSACR) 8-5
Resistance 8-5
Ambient Noise 8-5
Calibration 8-6
Measurement Calibration 8-6
Touch-Screen Calibration 8-7
Memory Requirements 8-8
9Specifications
Physical 9-2

WireScope 350 User’s Guide ix
Environmental 9-2
Electrical 9-3
Ports 9-4
SmartProbe test port 9-4
Serial port 9-4
USB-A port 9-4
USB-B port 9-4
Talkset connector (3.6 mm phone jack) 9-4
CompactFlash™ card slot 9-4
Display 9-5
Fiber SmartProbe+ 9-6
Index

xWireScope 350 User’s Guide

1−1
Agilent Technologies
1
Getting Started
WireScope at a Glance 1-2
System Requirements 1-4
WireScope 350 Hardware 1-5
WireScope SmartProbes 1-7
Cabling Certification and Tests 1-10
Copper Cable Testing 1-10
Optical Fiber Cable Testing 1-12
WireScope User Interface 1-13
The DualRemote 350 1-17
WireScope Software 1-20
Standard Warranty 1-20
Technical Support 1-21

1−2
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WireScope at a Glance
Control Buttons
You control the WireScope 350 using a combination of mechanical and
on-screen buttons. The three mechanical buttons are at the bottom of the
WireScope’s face.
Power: The Power button turns the unit on. If the unit is already on,
pressing the power button opens the sleep/shut-down dialog box. The
unit goes to sleep in 5 seconds unless you cancel this option.
When the unit is asleep, touching the screen or buttons wakes it to the
state it was in before it went to sleep.
Pressing and holding the power button for two seconds turns the unit
off.
OK: Pressing the OK button executes a selected onscreen action. A
dark blue color indicates the selected action on all screens.
Scroll: The Scroll button scrolls screens that contain long lists.
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Ports
SmartProbe test port: The SmartProbe test port accepts all
compatible probes. The WireScope 350 automatically determines what
type of probe is attached, selects appropriate screens and modes, and
warns of any configuration conflicts.
USB ports: The WireScope 350 has a universal serial bus (USB)
interface for high speed communication with PCs and peripherals. The
DualRemote 350 has a USB slave port.
Serial port: The RS-232 8-pin DIN serial port allows serial
communication with a PC for software upgrades or data transfer. An
8-pin DIN to DB-9 cable is included in the kit.
Talkset jack: Both the WireScope 350 and DualRemote 350 have
talkset jacks to improve coordination within testing teams. Operators
can communicate over the tested cabling when autotests are not
running.
Charging port: An external charger port allows charging of the
long-life NiMH battery pack.
CompactFlash™ Slot: This slot accepts CompactFlash™ cards, for
storing and transferring data, upgrading the WireScope software, and
loading user-defined profiles.
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System Requirements
The WireScope 350 kit contains everything needed to certify copper
cabling to Category 6.
To certify optical fiber cabling, purchase a set of Fiber SmartProbes+
(included in the Professional Test Kit).
For a list of available SmartProbes, please visit
http://wirescope.comms.agilent.com
To print reports, archive test results, and download WireScope software
upgrades and profiles, a Windows PC is required. The PC must run
Windows 95®or later, or Windows NT®,and the ScopeData Pro®
software.
To transfer files, profiles, and software updates using the
CompactFlash™ card, the PC must be equipped with a CompactFlash™
drive.
To print labels, the PC described above must be connected to a printer,
or labels can be printed directly from the WireScope, using a Brady
TLS2200®printer and interface cable.
.

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1−5
WireScope 350 Hardware
The WireScope 350 is enclosed in a rugged case designed to withstand
the challenges of a construction environment. A tough “skeleton” with a
molded bumper protects against damage.
Touch Screen User Interface
A color touch screen simplifies navigation through menus and presents
test data, resulting in faster operation and reduced training time.
CompactFlash™ Card Slot
The WireScope 350 stores test results, including plot data, in internal
memory or on removable CompactFlash™ memory cards. Using
CompactFlash™ cards allows unlimited storage capacity and transfer of
test data, without taking the WireScope 350 out of service. Readily
available CompactFlash™ card readers and adapters allow data to be
uploaded directly to PCs.
Items Supplied
The WireScope 350 is available as a basic WireScope 350 Complete
Analyzer Kit (N2600A-100 or - 200), or as a WireScope 350 Professional
Test Kit. The items contained in the basic kit are listed in the following
table. Professional kits contain additional items including Fiber Smart
Probes, and come in a hard carrying case instead of the nylon carrying
case.
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Optional Accessories
Refer to the Read Me First information packet for accessories available
for the WireScope 350. For the latest optional accessories, go to Agilent
Technologies’ website at http://wirescope.comms.agilent.com

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1−7
WireScope SmartProbes
The WireScope 350 uses test probes called SmartProbes to connect to
the cabling runs that it certifies. All WireScope 350 test probes connect
to the SmartProbe port at the top of the WireScope and DualRemote. The
WireScope 350 automatically detects any SmartProbes connected to it,
and configures its interface to the matching parameters.
WireScope probe configuration warnings
The WireScope 350 displays a warning when it detects a potential
conflict between the detected probe and any of the test settings. Using
an inappropriate probe can affect measurement accuracy. This is
especially important for category 6 installations.
If the WireScope detects an over-voltage condition at the SmartProbe
port, it displays the following warning message:
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Link and Channel SmartProbes
Each WireScope test kit includes SmartProbes for testing copper cabling
in both Link and Channel configurations.
Link SmartProbes connect to the customer’s wall plate and
telecommunications panel jacks. The WireScope software compensates
for the probe’s transmission characteristics so they do not affect test
results. A counter built in to the probe lets the WireScope issue a
warning when the probe nears the end of its normal useful life.
Channel SmartProbes connect to the customer’s patch cords at the wall
plate and telecommunications panel. The WireScope software
compensates for the probe’s transmission characteristics so they do not
affect test results. A counter built in to the probe lets the WireScope
issue a warning when the probe nears the end of its useful life.
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1−9
Fiber SmartProbe+
Installing a set of Fiber SmartProbes transforms the WireScope 350 into
an optical fiber power meter and loss meter and cable length meter, for
certifying optical fiber cabling. Fiber SmartProbes support 25
network-specific certification tests, including 1000BaseSX and
1000BaseLX. Each Fiber SmartProbe+can both transmit and receive, for
single-end or double-ended testing.
Fiber probes are sold in pairs, in these configurations:
•Singlemode 1310 nm
•Singlemode 1550 nm
•Multimode 850 nm
•Multimode 1300 nm
Multimode Fiber SmartProbes have LED signal sources, and a range of
4 km in length for 850nm and 10 km for 1300nm.
Singlemode Fiber SmartProbes have Class 1 laser signal sources, and a
range of 50 km in length.
For detailed information and specifications of the available Fiber
SmartProbes, visit:
http://wirescope.comms.agilent.com/products/fiber/FIBER.HTM
Singlemode Fiber SmartProbe+
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