Black Box Scan-LAN 80 User manual

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 1994. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER 1994
TS624A
Scan-LAN 80
Cable Scanner
CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION
Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX
FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
ON/OFF CABLE ENTER
NOISE TRAFFIC
CALIBRATE
SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS
LENGTH
WIRE MAP
AUTOTEST
SCAN-LAN 80
SCAN-LAN 80
Remote
◆Autotest
◆Noise
◆Wire Map

CONTENTS
Chapter Page
1. Specifications..........................................................1
2. Introduction ...........................................................5
2.1 The Scan-LAN 80 Cable Scanner .................5
2.2 Features ..........................................................6
2.3 Controls..........................................................6
2.4 Connectors.....................................................8
2.5 The Remote Unit...........................................9
3. Cable Tests............................................................10
3.1 Autotest ........................................................10
3.1.1 Cable Type Selection ...................10
3.1.2 Testing Twisted-Pair Cables.........11
3.1.3 Testing Coax Cables ....................25
3.2 Individual Cable Tests .................................31
3.2.1 Wire Map (Twisted-Pair
Cables Only)...........................................31
3.2.2 Length Test ..................................32
3.2.3 Noise Test .....................................35
4. Traffic Measurement............................................39
5. Cable Calibration .................................................43
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER

SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
6. Custom Setup .......................................................46
6.1 Where to Begin............................................46
6.2 Units of Length............................................47
6.3 Audible Tone ...............................................47
6.4 Fault Threshold ...........................................48
6.5 Noise Threshold ..........................................49
6.6 Saving/Resetting Changes ..........................50
6.7 Resetting to the Factory Settings ................51
7. Maintenance.........................................................53
7.1 Self-Test........................................................53
7.2 Power............................................................55
7.2.1 The Scan-LAN 80 .........................55
7.2.2 The Remote Unit .........................56
Appendix A: Standard Cable Types ........................57
Appendix B: Cable Test Pass/Fail Limits................58
B.1 Twisted-Pair Cables .....................................58
B.2 Coaxial Cables .............................................63
Glossary ......................................................................64
Index ..........................................................................71

1
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
1. Specifications
Cable — Length: 20 to 4000 ft. (6 to
1219 m) coax, 20 to 2000 ft.
(6 to 610 m) UTP; Accuracy:
±2 ft. @ 20 to 200 ft. (±0.61 m
@ 6 to 61 m), ±1% @ 201 to
4000 ft. (±1% @ 201 to 4000 ft.
(±1% @ 61.2 to 1219 m);
Resolution: 2 ft. (0.61 m)
Cable Faults — Types: Shorts, opens, 2 inter-
mediate impedance anomalies;
Fault reflections threshold: 4%
default, 4 to 10% user-selectable
Calibrate cable
NVP — 0.50 to 0.99 c, 50 ft. (15.2 m),
minimum length
Idle Channel
Impulse Noise — Any impulse received within
1 µsec of the first impulse is
ignored; User-Selectable:
100 to 500 mV peak;
Default: 260 mV peak

2
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
Input
Protection — Withstands continuous 56 VDC
applied through 400 ohms
(telco loop); withstands 175V
peak, 20 to 60 Hz through
100 ohms superimposed on
56 VDC for 100 milliseconds
(telco ringing)
Nonvolatile
CMOS memory — Current setup parameters and
cable NVP values are saved;
lithium battery backup
Near-End Crosstalk
(NEXT) — Frequency Range: 5 to 10 Hz
sweep in 100 KHz steps, 10 to
16 MHz sweep in 200 KHz
steps; Measurement Range:
0 to 40 dB; Accuracy: ±3 dB
Traffic
Monitoring — Ethernet only; Parameters
monitored: % Utilization,
% Collisions, Peak traffic,
Reverse Polarity (10BASE-T
only), Link Pulse Detect

3
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
(10BASE-T only), Jabber
detect; Other features: Link
Pulse Generation to activate
hub (10BASE-T only), bar-
graph activity indicator
Termination — Coax only; Range: 40 to 120Ω;
Accuracy: ±10Ω
Loopback
Attenuation — Twisted pair only; Frequency
Range: 5 to 10 MHz sweep in
100 KHz steps, 10 to 16 MHz
sweep in 200 KHz steps;
Measurement Range: 0 to
40 dB (0 to 20 dB one way);
Accuracy: ±3 dB
Impedance — Range: 40 to 120Ω(coax),
75 to 180Ω(twisted pair);
Accuracy: ±10Ω
Connectors — RJ-45 and BNC
User Controls — (5): ON/OFF, Scroll up, Scroll
down, Enter, Function Select
(7-position rotary switch)
Humidity — 10 to 75%, noncondensing

4
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
Storage and Operating
Temperature — 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C)
Indicators — (1) 4-line LCD display with
16 characters per line
Power — Main unit: (2) 9-volt alkaline
batteries; Remote unit:
(1) 9-volt alkaline battery
Size — Main unit: 1.7"H x 4"W x 7.6"D
(4.3 x 10.2 x 19.3 cm); Remote
unit: 1.3"H x 2.9"W x 3.8"D
(3.3 x 7.7 x 9.7 cm)
Weight — Main unit: 1.1 lb. (0.5 kg);
Remote unit: < 0.3 lb.
(< 0.1 kg)

5
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2. Introduction
2.1 The Scan-LAN 80 Cable Scanner
The Scan-LAN 80 is an easy-to-use, affordable,
battery powered, handheld tester for maintaining
and troubleshooting coax and twisted-pair LAN
cable installations.
Through Autotest, the Scan-LAN 80 measures critical
performance characteristics of LAN cable instal-
lations, compares the results against IEEE LAN
specifications, and gives a PASS/FAIL indication.
Live network performance may also be monitored
and analyzed for Ethernet networks.
Your Scan-LAN 80 should come with the following
accessories: an RJ-45 Remote Unit, a 24-inch
(61-cm) RJ-45 male to RJ-45 male Category 5 patch
cable, and this user’s manual. Please contact your
supplier if any of these components are missing.

6
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
2.2 Features
•Cable length—The length of the cable is
measured and up to two fault anomalies are
displayed, using time-domain reflectometry
(TDR).
•NEXT (Near-end crosstalk)—NEXT is measured
between 5 and 16 MHz on twisted-pair
networks.
•Attenuation—The cable attenuation is measured
between 5 and 16 MHz on twisted-pair
networks.
•Wire Map—Tests that the UTP cable is wired
correctly for the selected network.
•Traffic Monitoring—The Scan-LAN 80
continuously displays the percentage of
network utilization along with a bar-graph
display of network activity.
2.3 Controls
The Scan-LAN 80 is operated with a rotary function
selector and four pushbutton switches. See Figure 2-1.
The Rotary Function Selector selects the operating
mode (Autotest, Wire Map, Length, Noise, Traffic,
Calibrate, or Special Functions).

7
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
The ON/OFF Button turns the power on or off.
When no activity has been detected for five minutes,
the Scan-LAN 80 will automatically power down to
conserve battery power.
The ▼▲ Buttons select the cable type from a list of
preset and user-defined types. The buttons are also
used to scroll through a list of selections.
The ENTER Button initiates tests. It also can confirm
choices.
Figure 2-1. The Scan-LAN 80.
ON/OFF CABLE ENTER
NOISE TRAFFIC
CALIBRATE
SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS
LENGTH
WIRE MAP
AUTOTEST

8
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
2.4 Connectors
The Scan-LAN 80 has two connectors: BNC and RJ-
45. BNC is a shielded connector for coax cable, and
RJ-45 is a standard 8-pin modular jack for twisted-
pair cable. See the figure below.
Figure 2-2. BNC and RJ-45 Connectors.
BNC RJ45

9
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2.5 The Remote Unit
The Scan-LAN 80 Remote Unit is connected at the
far end of the cable when using Autotest to test
twisted-pair cable. The Remote Unit, when used with
the Scan-LAN 80, permits NEXT and attenuation
measurements and allows connector wiring to be
mapped. Power is supplied by a single 9-volt battery.
Figure 2-3. The Scan-LAN 80 Remote Unit.
• AUTOTEST
• NOISE
• WIRE MAP

10
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
3. Cable Tests
3.1 Autotest
The Autotest function will be the mode used most
frequently when testing LAN cabling. Included with
Autotest are all the necessary measurements to test
the cable type you have selected. Simply select
Autotest mode, set the cable type, and plug in the
cable to be tested. Any problems encountered will
be reported on the Scan-LAN 80’s display.
NOTE
The accuracy of cable-length measurements depends upon
the NVP value entered for the selected cable type. Although
the preset values will give reasonably accurate readings in
most cases, the NVP of your cable can be measured to
achieve maximum accuracy. See Chapter 5.
3.1.1 C ABLE T YPE S ELECTION
The correct cable type must be selected before
performing any tests.
The Scan-LAN 80 is programmed with six preset
cable types. See Appendix A for more information.

11
CHAPTER 3: Cable Tests
3.1.2 T ESTING T WISTED
-P AIR C ABLES
Set the rotary function selector to AUTOTEST. The
following display will appear. The currently selected
cable type is listed in the bottom line of the display.
Press the ▼or ▲button until the desired cable type
is displayed.
Plug one end of the cable to be tested into the
RJ-45 connector of the Scan-LAN 80.
Plug the other end of the cable into the Remote
Unit.
Make sure that no cable is plugged into the BNC
connector.
To test a cable that is wired to jacks, use the RJ-45
patch cables between the jacks and the Scan-LAN 80
and/or Remote Unit.
Loopback Adaptor
NOT CONNECTED!
10BaseT

12
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
Figure 3-1. Cable Testing.
During Autotest, the Scan-LAN 80 will execute these
tests: Background Noise, Wire Map, Length and
Anomalies, NEXT, Attenuation, and Characteristic
Impedance. Each test is described on the following
pages.
Remote Unit
Twisted-Pair Cable

13
CHAPTER 3: Cable Tests
Noise
The Noise test determines if background noise is
present on the cable. A display of the test results,
like the one below, will appear only if the test fails.
Wire Map
This test verifies a correct wiring of all four pairs in a
twisted-pair cable. Any shorts, opens, miswired pairs,
crossed pairs, shorted pairs, split pairs (during
NEXT), or reverse polarity will be displayed. The
next six screens are examples of Wire Map displays.
Cable Fails
Background Noise
25dB
Press any key

14
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
Wiring
1
2
3
6
1
2
3
6
4
5
7
8
4
5
7
8
1,2 Straight Thru
3,6 Straight Thru
4,5 Open
7,8 Open

15
CHAPTER 3: Cable Tests
Wiring
1
2
3
6
1
2
3
6
4
5
7
8
4
5
7
8
1,2 Open
3,6 Straight Thru
4,5 Open
7,8 Open

16
SCAN-LAN 80 CABLE SCANNER
Wiring
1
2
3
6
1
2
3
6
4
5
7
8
4
5
7
8
1,2 Shorted
3,6 Straight Thru
4,5 Open
7,8 Open