Fluke TS 100 PRO User manual

TS100 PRO
Cable Fault Finder
PN 3850759
October 2011, Rev. 3 5/2015
©2011, 2012, 2015 Fluke Corporation
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
Users Guide

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Each Fluke Networks product is warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under
normal use and service unless stated otherwise herein. The warranty period for the mainframe is 18 months
and begins on the date of purchase. Parts, accessories, product repairs and services are warranted for 90 days,
unless otherwise stated. Ni-Cad, Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries, cables or other peripherals are all considered
parts or accessories. The warranty extends only to the original buyer or end user customer of a Fluke
Networks authorized reseller, and does not apply to any product which, in Fluke Networks’ opinion, has been
misused, abused, altered, neglected, contaminated, or damaged by accident or abnormal conditions of
operation or handling. Fluke Networks warrants that software will operate substantially in accordance with
its functional specifications for 90 days and that it has been properly recorded on non-defective media. Fluke
Networks does not warrant that software will be error free or operate without interruption.
Fluke Networks authorized resellers shall extend this warranty on new and unused products to end-user
customers only but have no authority to extend a greater or different warranty on behalf of Fluke Networks.
Warranty support is available only if product is purchased through a Fluke Networks authorized sales outlet
or Buyer has paid the applicable international price. To the extent permitted by law, Fluke Networks reserves
the right to invoice Buyer for repair/replacement when a product purchased in one country is submitted for
repair in another country.
For a list of authorized resellers, visit www.flukenetworks.com/wheretobuy.
Fluke Networks warranty obligation is limited, at Fluke Networks option, to refund of the purchase price,
free of charge repair, or replacement of a defective product which is returned to a Fluke Networks
authorized service center within the warranty period.
To obtain warranty service, contact your nearest Fluke Networks authorized service center to obtain return
authorization information, then send the product to that service center, with a description of the difficulty,
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Following warranty repair, the product will be returned to Buyer, transportation prepaid (FOB destination).
If Fluke Networks determines that failure was caused by neglect, misuse, contamination, alteration, accident
or abnormal condition of operation or handling, or normal wear and tear of mechanical components, Fluke
Networks will provide an estimate of repair costs and obtain authorization before commencing the work.
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THIS WARRANTY IS BUYER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AND IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,
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other provision.
4/15-18
Fluke Networks
PO Box 777
Everett, WA 98206-0777
USA

i
Contents
Title Page
Overview of Functions ....................................................................................................................................1
Registration .....................................................................................................................................................1
Contacting Fluke Networks ............................................................................................................................2
Safety Information ..........................................................................................................................................2
Physical Characteristics ...................................................................................................................................4
Test Leads and Accessories .............................................................................................................................4
Operation ........................................................................................................................................................5
Installing Batteries ...................................................................................................................................5
Turning on the Tester ..............................................................................................................................6
Automatic Power-Down ..........................................................................................................................6
Testing Cables ..........................................................................................................................................6
SmartTone™ Positive Identification System ........................................................................................... 8
How to Select the Modes of Operation .........................................................................................................8
Normal Test Mode ...................................................................................................................................9
Deadzone Test Mode ...............................................................................................................................9
Bridge Tap Filter Test Mode ....................................................................................................................9
VOP Mode ................................................................................................................................................9
Setup Mode ..............................................................................................................................................9
Velocity of Propagation (VOP) ..............................................................................................................10
Applications ...................................................................................................................................................10
Multi-Wire Environment .......................................................................................................................12
Conduit ...................................................................................................................................................12
Testing a Wire Pair in a Conduit ....................................................................................................12
Testing a Single Wire in a Conduit ................................................................................................12
Inventory Management .........................................................................................................................12
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology ..........................................................................................14

TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
ii
VOP Variations .......................................................................................................................................15
Maximum Length ...................................................................................................................................17
Frequently Asked Questions .........................................................................................................................17
If Something Seems Wrong with the Tester ................................................................................................19
Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................................19
If the Tester Gets Wet ............................................................................................................................19
How to Clean the Tester ........................................................................................................................20
Accessories .....................................................................................................................................................20
Specifications .................................................................................................................................................20

1
TS®100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Overview of Functions
The TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder with PowerBT™
bridge tap detection is a portable, handheld TDR
device used by installers, repair technicians and other
authorized personnel for detecting bridge taps,
locating problems on installed cable pairs, and
managing cable inventory. This enhanced version of
the TS100 Cable Fault Finder has improved technology
that lets technicians qualify, troubleshoot, and repair
copper facilities that support high-speed VDSL services.
The TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder includes the
following features and functions:
 Easy to use
 Tests all common cable pairs
 Provides low cost protection against lost time due
to cable and connector problems
 Accurate to ±2 feet (±0.6 meters) for cables less
than 30 feet (9 meters)
 Accurate to ±5 feet (±2 meters) for cables longer
than 10 feet (3 meters) and shorter than 200 feet
(60 meters)
 Accurate to ±3%, ±5 feet (±2 meters) for cables
longer than 200 feet (60 meters)
 Bright 0.4 inch (1.016 centimeters) LED display
 Up to 4 readings per second
 Audible indication of shorted wires and external
voltage greater than 90 volts AC or 100 volts DC
 Automatic adjustments
 Tone injection with the SmartTone™ positive
identification system
 The input is protected up to 250 volts for
accidental connections to a power source
 Components protected against damage from
moisture
 Fifty hour battery life, intelligent power-down
 Low battery indicator
 Uses 4 AA batteries (included)
 High strength plastic (ABS) housing
Registration
Registering your product with Fluke Networks gives
you access to valuable information on product updates,
troubleshooting tips, and other support services. To
register, fill out the online registration form on the
Fluke Networks website at www.flukenetworks.com/
registration.

2
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
Contacting Fluke Networks
www.flukenetworks.com
[email protected]
[phone] or 1-800-283-5853
 Australia: 61 (2) 8850-3333 or 61 (3) 9329 0244
 Beijing: 86 (10) 6512-3435
 Brazil: 11 3759 7600
 Canada: 1-800-363-5853
 Europe: [phone]
 Hong Kong: 852 2721-3228
 Japan: 03-6714-3117
 Korea: 82 2 539-6311
 Singapore: [phone]
 Taiwan: (886) 2-227-83199
 USA: 1-800-283-5853
Visit our website for a complete list of phone numbers.
Safety Information
The following IEC symbols are used either on the tester
or in the manual:
Warning
To avoid possible fire, electric shock or
personal injury:
Before you use the tester, carefully read all of the
safety information and instructions in this manual.
Do not connect this equipment directly to a mains
electrical supply. This equipment conforms to the
safety measurement standard for equipment
without a rated measurement category.
Do not connect the tester to power sources. If the
VOLTAGE LED is on, immediately disconnect the
tester from the cable.
Do not use the tester to test cables that may have
hazardous voltages present. When the tester
indicates the presence of high AC or DC voltages,
carefully disconnect immediately to prevent any
personal injury. Be careful when you make
connections to cables.
Do not touch voltages > 30 volts AC RMS, 42 volts
AC peak, or 60 volts DC.
Do not connect the tester to voltages higher than
the maximum specified by the measurement
category (CAT) rating of the lowest-rated
individual component of the tester, the test leads,
or any accessory.
Do not use the tester around explosive gas or
vapor or in damp or wet environments.
Warning: Risk of personal injury. See the
manual for details.
Caution: Risk of damage or destruction to
equipment or software. See the manual
for details.
Warning: Risk of electric shock.
Risk of damage to equipment from static
discharge.
Earth ground
Conformité Européenne. Conforms to
relevant European Union directives.
Meets safety requirements of North
America
Do not put products containing circuit
boards into the garbage. Dispose of
circuits boards in accordance with local
regulations.

3
Safety Information
Do not use the tester if it is damaged. Before you
use the tester, inspect the case. Look for cracks or
missing plastic. Pay particular attention to the
insulation surrounding the connector. If the tester
is damaged, remove the battery and make sure
that no one uses the tester.
Do not use the tester with the case opened.
Do not use the tester if it operates incorrectly.
Before you use the tester, make sure that the
supplied test leads are tightly attached to the BNC
connector.
Always handle the clip leads and the cables by
their insulation, never directly by the exposed
metal of the test clips. Use only the insulated clips
provided to connect to any wire or cable.
To prevent unreliable test results, use only the test
leads supplied with the tester or supplied by Fluke
Networks as accessories for the tester. See Table 4
on page 20.
Do not use test leads if they are damaged. Examine
the test leads for exposed metal and damage to
the insulation. Make sure the wear indicator on the
cords does not show. The wear indicator is white
for the two cords that come out of the test clips
and black for the single cord that comes out of the
Y-shaped splitter. Verify the continuity of the test
leads.
To prevent unreliable test results, replace the
battery as soon as LO bAtt shows on the display.
Before you remove the battery door, disconnect
the test leads from the tester.
Use only four AA batteries, correctly installed, to
supply power to the tester.
Do not use the tester without the battery door
installed.
If this product is used in a manner not specified by
the manufacturer, the protection provided by the
product may be impaired.
Use the TS100 PRO only on dry (non working)
circuits. If you connect the TS100 PRO to an
operating ADSL or hi-cap circuit, it can cause the
service to be dropped.
Caution
To prevent damage to the tester from static
discharge, keep the test leads connected to
the BNC connector at all times. Do not touch
the BNC connector with your hand.
When testing telephone cables, connect the
tester only to non-working circuits. If
accidentally connected to a working XDSL or
T1 circuit, the tester can cause a service
outage.
Legal requirements may exist regarding
permission to connect equipment to a
Telecom network operated by a public
network operator.

4
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
Physical Characteristics
See Figure 1.
 Power key, which turns the tester on and off.
 Four-digit LED display shows test results.
 The BT FILTER LED is on when the bridge tap filter
is on. The filter causes the tester to ignore the first
reflection so it can find a second bridge tap.
 The VOLTAGE LED is on when the tester detects DC
voltage, and flashes when the tester detects AC
voltage.
 Connector for the test leads (female BNC).
Caution
To prevent damage to the tester from static
discharge, keep the test leads connected to
the BNC connector at all times. Do not touch
the BNC connector with your hand.
 The BRIDGE TAP LED is on when the tester detects
a bridge tap. The four-digit LED display shows the
distance to the bridge tap or the length of the
bridge tap.
 The BT LENGTH LED is on when the four-digit LED
display shows the length of the bridge tap.
 The battery compartment is on the back of the
tester (the label on the battery cover shows
common values of VOP).
 Y Z: Up/down keys let you scroll through results
and configure the tester.
GOD01.EPS
Figure 1. Physical Characteristics
Test Leads and Accessories
Use only test leads approved by Fluke Networks for use
with the TS100 PRO tester. See Table 4 on page 20.
Other test leads may cause incorrect measurements.
For information on accessories, contact your local
Fluke Networks authorized distributor.

5
Operation
Operation
Installing Batteries
Warning
To avoid possible fire, electric shock or
personal injury:
To prevent unreliable test results, replace the
battery as soon as LO bAtt shows on the display.
Before you remove the battery door, disconnect
the test leads from the cable or circuit.
Use only four AA batteries, correctly installed, to
supply power to the tester.
Do not use the tester without the battery door
installed.
Use caution when handling batteries. Do not let
the terminals short together. Dispose of batteries
properly to ensure terminals cannot short. Disposal
may be restricted by local laws.
Note
To extend battery life, remove the batteries if
you will not use the tester for a long period.
To install the batteries:
See Figure 2.
1 Use a number 2 Phillips screwdriver to loosen the
screw on the battery door.
Note
The screw does not come out of the battery
door.
2 Remove the battery door.
3 Install the batteries. Make sure the polarity is
correct, as shown at the bottom of the battery
compartment.
4 Install the battery door and tighten the screw.
GOD02.eps
Figure 2. Installing the Batteries

6
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
Turning on the Tester
Turn the tester on by pressing the ON/AUTOTEST key.
The tester performs a self test each time it is turned on.
During the self test, the tester displays 8888.
Automatic Power-Down
To save battery power, the tester automatically turns
off after five minutes if it is not connected to anything,
or one hour after you connect to a cable. Also, if the
ON/AUTOTEST key is held down for more than 20
seconds, the tester turns off. This prevents battery drain
if an object accidentally presses the key.
Testing Cables
Caution
When testing telephone cables, connect the
tester only to non-working circuits. If
accidentally connected to a working XDSL or
T1 circuit, the tester can cause a service
outage.
To test a cable, attach the test lead clips to a pair of
wires at one end of the cable you are testing.
The tester shows the distance to the nearest fault it
finds. Table 1 describes the tester’s display and beeper
indications.
Note
Length measurements do not include the
length of the test leads.
Table 1. LED Display and Beeper Indications
Test Condition Status LEDs That Are On Display Beeper
Incorrect test leads are attached The display shows a non-
zero measurement
Off
No test leads are attached no tESt LEAd Off
Test leads are open 0Off
Cable is open*Distance to the open Off
Cable is shorted Distance to the short Continuous
Bridge tap detected BRIDGE TAP Distance to the bridge tap Off
Bridge tap detected, and you
pressed YBT LENGTH
Length of bridge tap Off
Bridge tap detected, and you
pressed Yagain
Total length of the cable,
including the bridge tap
Off
Bridge tap filter is on BT FILTER
(others can also be on)
Any of the length or
distance measurements
shown above
Off
Cable is too long to measure -Err Off

7
Operation
Test Condition Status LEDs That Are On Display Beeper
Deadzone mode is on d 50 (when in feet
mode)
d 15 (when in meters
mode)
Off
DC load (light bulb, TV, etc.) is
detected
-Err Off
AC voltage >4 V AC and <60 V AC is
detected
VOLTAGE Alternates between the
AC voltage measurement
and AC
Off
DC voltage >6 V DC and <±60 V DC
is detected
VOLTAGE Shows the DC voltage
measurement once, then
shows the TDR results
Off
Hazardous voltage or ringing
voltage is detected
(90 V AC, 20 Hz to 450 Hz;
±100 V dc)
VOLTAGE Alternates between the
measured voltage and
HIAC or HIdC
Staggered if 90 V
AC or 100 V DC
Low battery
(Battery voltage is < 4.5 V DC)
LO alternates with bAtt 4
times, then the display
shows a measurement as
usual. This sequence
occurs every 2 minutes.
Off
The self-test failed 8888 Off
The tester cannot measure the
cable because of excessive noise,
crosstalk, terminations, or
anomalies on the cable
-Err Off
* An open can be the end of a pair, a break in a one wire, or separation between the wires in the pair. If one wire in the pair
separates from the other wire for more than 1 ft (30 cm), the tester indicates an open at the separation.
Table 1. LED Display and Beeper Indications (continued)

8
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
SmartTone
™
Positive Identification System
See Figure 3.
The tester injects a tone onto the connected pair
concurrently with fault locating signals. This tone is
compatible with most tone probes. When you are
using a tone probe to identify a wire pair, the tone
volume from nearby wires may be indistinguishable
from the tone from the target pair. The SmartTone
Positive Identification System lets you positively
identify the wire pair. The tone has 5 frequency and
cadence options.
To use the SmartTone System:
1 Connect the tester to a wire pair; then turn on the
tester.
2 At the other end of the cable, use your tone probe
to find the wire pair by probing for the pair with
the loudest tone.
3 Short the wire pair together, then release the
short.
 If the tones do not change, then you have not
found the correct pair.
 If the tones change, then you have found the
correct pair.
Note
The tone is not audible on the tester’s beeper.
GOD03.EPS
Figure 3. SmartTone Positive Identification System
How to Select the Modes of
Operation
The TS100 PRO has the following modes of operation:
 Normal mode
 Deadzone Test mode: ignores the first 50 feet (15
meters) of cabling
 Bridge tap filter test mode: skips first bridge tap to
locate the second bridge tap
 VOP mode: shows the VOP during a test
 Setup mode: lets you configure FT/M or return to
factory default
Tone probe
The tester injects a tone
into the pair
To change the tone,
momentairly put a short
on the pair

9
How to Select the Modes of Operation
Normal Test Mode
When you turn on the tester, it is in normal mode:
 The display, LEDs, and beeper operate as described
in Table 1 and the unit has a deadzone of zero.
 To turn on the 50-foot deadzone test mode (50
feet or 15 meters from tester), press Z.
 To turn the bridge tap filter (BT FILTER), press Z
again once the tester is in deadzone test mode.
 Press Z again to return to normal test mode.
Deadzone Test Mode
Deadzone test mode ignores the first 50 feet of cabling
when testing a cable. The purpose of this mode is to
allow you to skip events in the first 50 feet (15 meters)
from a terminal or crossbox - events such as splices or
other expected or visually apparent events on the
cable.
To enter the 50-foot deadzone test mode from normal
test mode, press Z. If you are in feet mode, the display
will show d 50 and then the TDR results. If you are in
meters mode, the display will show d 15 and then the
TDR results.
If the cable you are testing measures less than 50 feet
(15 meters), the tester is unable to report any events
and will display -Err since it is unable to see the end of
the cable. To measure a cable length shorter than 50
feet or to locate events in the first 50 feet (15 meters),
return to Normal Mode by pressing the Z twice.
Bridge Tap Filter Test Mode
Bridge tap filter test mode skips the first bridge tap on
a cable to locate the second bridge tap on the cable.
The first bridge tap could be located anywhere on the
cable. To “see” past the first bridge tap, activate the
bridge tap filter.
To enter the bridge tap filter test mode from normal
test mode, press Z twice. The red BT FILTER LED will
be lit.
To exit bridge tap filter test mode, press the Z button
once. The red BT FILTER LED will go off.
VOP Mode
In VOP mode you can quickly change and monitor the
VOP value that the tester uses. This mode is useful
when you change from one cable type to another, or
when you initially characterize a cable.
To enter the VOP mode:
Turn off the tester, then hold down Yor Zwhile you
press and release the ON/AUTOTEST key.
In VOP mode:
 The display alternates between the measured
length and the VOP setting.
 To change the VOP, press Zto increase, or Yto
decrease the VOP value shown. The VOP value
shows two digits or three digits. See “VOP” below.
 The bridge tap detection, bridge tap filter, and
auto-shutoff features are disabled in this mode.
To exit the VOP mode:
Turn off the tester, then turn it on again.
Setup Mode
This mode lets you select units of measurement (feet or
meters), and reset all parameters to factory defaults.
To enter setup mode:
Turn off the tester, then hold down both arrow buttons
for 3 seconds while you press and release the ON/
AUTOTEST key. To select the setting you want (feet or
meters), press the Y button.

10
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
To exit the setup mode:
Turn off the tester, then turn it on again.
To reset all parameters to factory default values:
Turn off the tester, hold down both Yand Z buttons,
turn on the tester, then wait at least 10 seconds before
you release Yand Z buttons.
Turn the tester off, then turn it on again.
Velocity of Propagation (VOP)
VOP is a cable specification that specifies the speed at
which a signal travels down the cable. A VOP of 66
means the signal travels at 66 % of the speed of light.
The tester uses VOP to calculate cable length. See
“Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology” on
page 14 for details.
Here are some important points about VOP:
 Different cables have different VOP values.
 The tester’s default VOP setting of 66 is suitable for
most applications.
 Using the VOP specified for a cable ensures the
most accuracy in fault location, length
measurements, and inventory management. Table
2and Table 3 show VOP values for common cables.
Some common VOP values are also listed on the
tester’s battery door.
You can set the tester’s VOP to a known value (see
“Setup Mode” on page 9), or you can use the tester to
determine the VOP for a known length of cable.
To set the VOP to a known value:
1 Turn the tester on while holding down Yor Z. In
this mode, the display shows the VOP setting, then
it shows the calculated cable length if a cable is
connected.
2 When the VOP setting shows, press Yor Zto
change setting. The tester automatically saves the
setting.
3 To exit the VOP adjustment mode, turn off the
tester.
To determine the VOP of a known length of cable:
1 Connect a known length of cable to the tester. The
cable must be 200 feet (60 meters) or longer (such
as an unopened box of cable).
2 Turn the tester on while holding down Yor Z. In
this mode, the display alternately shows the VOP
setting and the measured length of the cable.
3 While the length measurement shows, press Yor
Zto adjust the length to the known length of the
cable.
4 To exit the VOP adjustment mode, turn off the
tester.
Notes
While the tester is in VOP adjustment mode,
tone is not injected into the cable.
The tester keeps the VOP setting in flash
memory when you change the batteries
Applications
See Figure 4.
The tester locates opens, short circuits, and crosses in
any two metallic conductors (twisted, untwisted, coax,
copper, aluminum, and steel). It also detects bridge taps
on copper twisted pairs and shows the location and
length of the tap.

11
Applications
GOD05.EPS
Figure 4. Testing for Lengths, Shorts, Opens, and Terminations

12
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
If you have an optional, inductive probe (Not included.
See Figure 3), you can use the SmartTone feature to
identify multiple pairs. When using an inductive probe
to ID the wire pair together, then release the short. If
the cadence changes, positive identification is
confirmed. Because the tester beeps when it detects a
short circuit, it also serves as a circuit (for example,
continuity) tester.
Multi-Wire Environment
When testing wires in a multi-wire environment, such
as 4 wire telephone cable, 8 wire CAT-5 cable, 12-2 with
ground AC wire, or several THHN wires inside a
conduit, a short could exist between any number of the
conductors, including a shield or the conduit. To detect
the short, you must connect the tester to the wires that
are shorted. This means that to fully test a multi-wire
cable, you must check every wire against every other
wire including the shields and conduits.
Although a quick way to test many conductors against
conduit or the shield is to connect all the conductors to
one clip lead and the shield to the other lead, this will
reduce the impedance of the cable, and measurements
may fall below the tester’s range. It is more reliable to
test the wires individually.
Conduit
When you test wire in a conduit. you can test a pair of
wires or a single wire.
Testing a Wire Pair in a Conduit
To test a wire pair, connect the two test leads to the
pair. If one wire separates from the other for 1 foot 
(30 cm) or more, the tester indicates an open at the
separation. For example, if the wires separate after
exiting the conduit, the tester indicates an open at the
end of the conduit.
Testing a Single Wire in a Conduit
You can test a single wire by clipping one test lead to
the wire and the other to the conduit. The tester shows
the length up to a fault or to the point where the wire
separates from the conduit by at least 1 foot (30 cm).
For example, if there is a 2 foot (30 cm) service loop
outside the conduit, the tester shows the length up to
the service loop. This is true even if the two sections of
conduit are electrically connected.
Inventory Management
The tester is an inventory management tool. It
measures lengths of wire or cable still on the spools.
The ability to measure the length of multi-conductor
cable remaining on its spool is valuable for both job-
site and warehouse personnel. With the TS100 PRO,
you can measure the length from just one end of a pair
of wires, allowing you to take inventory without
unspooling the cable, or even moving the spools.
At the job-site, you can determine if the cable
remaining on your spool or in your box will be
sufficient for the job at hand. This will save you an
unnecessary trip to the warehouse for more cable, and
help you avoid running out of cable in the middle of an
installation.
There are two points to remember when measuring
the length of wire on a spool:
 The wire length must be within the range of the
TS100 PRO (see Table 2 on page 13).
 The accuracy of the measurement will be optimum
if the VOP is set correctly for the type of wire being
measured. See Table 2 on page 13 for a list of
specifically identified cables and Table 3 on
page 14 for a list of VOP values for other cable
types.

13
Applications
In the warehouse, you can quickly measure the cable
remaining on all your spools, allowing you to select the
right spool for each job. Additionally, by keeping a
record of the prior inventory, you can determine how
much wire was used on the current job.
Note
The TS100 PRO works on two conductors. You
cannot use the tester to measure single-
conductor cable.
Table 2. VOP Values and Maximum Length for
Specifically Identified Cables
VOP
Maximum
Length Cable
64 2000 ft
(610 m)
Lucent 1024 006ABE 6/24
W1000, 6 pair CAT3 (Blue-
White)
63 1500 ft
(460 m)
BICC General Aerial
Service Wire (ASW) 2/22, 2
Pair Drop Wire
61 2000 ft
(610 m)
Superior Essex, 4 pair
CAT3 Plenum (not pair
dependent)
60 1500 ft
(460 m)
BICC General, 24 AWG
CMX Outdoor CMR
Station Wire
58 1000 ft
(300 m)
BICC General cross-
connect 24 AWG twisted
pair on original spool
66 2500 ft
(770 m)
Berk-Tek, CAT5 (Orange-
White)
68 2500 ft
(770 m)
Superior-Essex Cobra
CAT5 CMR (Orange-
White)
72 2500 ft
(770 m)
Superior-Essex Cobra
CAT5 CMP (Orange-
White)
82 1000 ft
(300 m)
CommScope 5726, RG6
CATV Coax
81 1000 ft
(300 m)
CommScope 2275V, RG6
CATV Coax
79 1000 ft
(300 m)
CommScope 5571, RG59,
TV Coax
67 500 ft
(150 m)
Belden 88760 2 wire
shielded 18 AWG, Red-
Black
68 500 ft
(150 m)
Belden 88760 2 wire
shielded 18 AWG, Red/
Black-Shield
64 500 ft
(150 m)
Carol C1156 RG-174/U
57 500 ft
(150 m)
BICC General, E22025,
Red-Black
73 1000 ft
(300 m)
Channel Master Polyclad
Model 9354 300 Ohm
Foam Antenna Wire
71 2000 ft
(610 m)
Triangle Wire and Cable,
type NM-B 12/2 W/G,
Black-Ground
67 2000 ft
(610 m)
Triangle Wire and Cable,
type NM-B 12/2W/G,
Black-White
Table 2. VOP Values and Maximum Length for
Specifically Identified Cables (continued)
VOP
Maximum
Length Cable

14
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
Time Domain Reflectometry
(TDR) Technology
Note
This section goes deeper into the theory of
operation. You can skip this section and still use
the tester effectively by reading the other parts
of this guide. However, it is worth reading this
section if you want more insight into how the
tester works.
One of the keys to understanding how the TS100 PRO
works is to first understand that a pair of wires has a
fixed impedance as long as the wires of the pair are
kept in the same geometrical relationship to each
other. A pair of wires (either standalone or within a
multi-wire cable) is designed to have a constant wire-
to-wire impedance. If the physical relationship of the
wires in the pair is altered during the wire run, then
there will be a change in impedance at the point
where the physical relationship changes. For example,
if one or both wires of the pair are broken (open), or
they are shorted to each other, or they become
sufficiently separated from each other, their impedance
will change. The TS100 PRO looks for these changes in
impedance. If the impedance change is large enough,
(such as that caused by a break in one of the wires of
the pair), the TS100 PRO will detect the impedance
change and will display the length of the wire up to
the impedance change.
So, the TS100 PRO can measure the length of a pair of
un-terminated wires, because, the open circuit at the
far end causes a very large impedance change.
The TS100 PRO Cable Fault finder uses Time Domain
Reflectometry (TDR) to determine the length of the
target cable. A TDR, much like RADAR, sends a pulse
down the pair of wires. Part of that pulse reflects off
any impedance variations in the pair of wires. All of the
reflections, together with the original pulse, combine
Table 3. VOP Values for Other Cables
VOP Cable Type
78 Belden Drop Foam
82 CommScope Drop
87 CommScope Trunk
63 RG58/U 50 Ohm Network Coax
80 RG59 TV Coax
64 Service Wire
83 Times Fiber Drop
87 Times Fiber Trunk
93 Trilogy Trunk
68 Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 19 AWG
64 Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 22 AWG
62 Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 24 AWG
60 Twisted Pair, Gel Filled 26 AWG
68 Twisted Pair, Paper 22 AWG
66 Twisted Pair, Paper 24 AWG
65 Twisted Pair, Paper 26 AWG
72 Twisted Pair, PIC 19 AWG
67 Twisted Pair, PIC 22 AWG
66 Twisted Pair, PIC 24 AWG
64 Twisted Pair, PIC 26 AWG

15
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Technology
to make an electrical signal (TDR waveform) that has
various flat and bumpy sections that represent the
start, the impedance changes, and the end of the cable.
The size and shape of the flat and bumpy sections
depend on the distance to the impedance changes and
the magnitude of the impedance changes.
For example, the start and end of a bridge tap cause a
negative and a positive reflection, as shown at the top
of Figure 5. The tester uses the time taken to receive
the first reflection to calculate the distance to the
bridge tap. Then it uses the time between the two
reflections to calculate the length of the bridge tap.
A connection causes a small, S-shaped reflection, as
shown at the bottom of Figure 5. The tester ignores
small reflections because they do not usually indicate a
problem on the cable.
If there is more than one problem on the cable, the
TS100 PRO shows only the first problem. If that
problem is a bridge tap, you can turn on the BT Filter to
ignore the first bridge tap and find a second bridge
tap. The TS100 PRO can always see past the bridge tap
to measure the cable length.
The actual result of the measurement is the time to the
fault. The software in the tester converts the measured
time to a length by multiplying the time by the speed
of the electrical signal in that particular cable. That
speed is represented as a percentage of the speed of
light and is called the Velocity of Propagation (VOP).
The actual formula used is as follows:
The time is divided by two because the signal traveled
the length of the cable twice. Once when it left the
tester and went to the failure point, and again when it
reflected back to the tester to be detected. The speed
of light expressed in billionths of a second per foot is
0.9835 (about a billion feet per second) (0.2998 [about
300 million meters per second]).
VOP Variations
This characteristic speed of the signal for a particular
cable is not normally a tightly controlled part of the
cable manufacturing process and can vary widely from
one manufacturer to another as well as from one box
of cable to the next. As with all TDR-based cable
measurement tools, the TS100 PRO measures time
within specified tolerances, but the displayed length is
the result of a calculation with the user-selected VOP,
and is only as accurate as the selected VOP.
For most uses, a length reading with an incorrectly set
VOP is sufficiently accurate to locate the fault in the
cable. After all, an installed cable is hardly ever run in a
straight line. It can be stapled along the 2x4, laid
diagonally in the ceiling, and coiled behind the
junction box, all of which is not visible.
Also, common sense should prevail. For example, if the
tester reports an open at 80 feet (25 meters), and you
can see a junction box at about 70 feet (20 meters),
your first step should be to check at the junction box.
However, for some uses such as measuring the
remaining cable in a box, it is important to set the VOP
correctly in order to achieve the accuracy desired.
Depending on the cable construction (shielded,
twisted, etc.), insulating material (foam, air, fiber, etc.),
and conductors tested (wire-to-wire, wire-to-shield),
coiling the cable on a spool or in a box may alter its
VOP.
Additionally, other conductors in close proximity to the
conductors being tested can affect the VOP. For
example, a solitary 12 gauge THHN in a metal conduit
has a VOP of 82, while that same wire in a smaller
conduit filled with other wires has a VOP of 72.
Note
The actual VOP of any particular cable is dependent on
the conductor spacing and the material between the
conductors and could vary by as much as ±5 feet (±2
meters) from the value listed in Table 2.
Length= Time in billionths of a second XVOP
0.9835
2

16
TS100 PRO Cable Fault Finder
Users Guide
GOD04.eps
Figure 5. TDR Waveforms
Pulse from
the tester
Time Bridge tap
Time
Time
Time
Reflections from the
beginning and end of a
bridge tap
Connection Open
Reflection from
connection
Reflection
from open
Pulse from
the tester