Greenlee NETcat NC-100 User manual

NC-100 NETcat®Micro Wiring Tester
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Read and understand all of the instructions and safety
information in this manual before operating or servicing this tool.

Description
The NETcat®Micro wiring tester is a device that verifies twisted pair and coaxial cables.
Ituses high-speed digital technology to check wiring continuity and correct allocation of
wirepairs.
Additional features include the following:
•Employs a high-contrast LCD with backlight.
•Tests shielded twisted pair (STP), unshielded twisted pair (UTP), and coaxial cables.
•Generates three distinct tones for cable tracing.
•Verifies wiremaps.
•Detects shorts, opens, reversed polarity, crossed pairs, and split pairs.
Safety
Safety is essential in the use and maintenance of Greenlee tools and equipment. This instruc-
tion manual and any markings on the tool provide information for avoiding hazards and
unsafe practices related to the use of this tool. Observe all of the safety information provided.

NC-100 NETcat®Micro
Important Safety Information
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL
This symbol is used to call your attention to hazards or unsafe practices which could
result in an injury or property damage. The signal word, defined below, indicates the
severity of the hazard. The message after the signal word provides information for
preventing or avoiding the hazard.
Immediate hazards which, if not avoided, WILL result in severe injury or death.
Hazards which, if not avoided, COULD result in severe injury or death.
Hazards or unsafe practices which, if not avoided, MAY result in injury or property
damage.

Important Safety Information
Read and understand this material before operating or servicing this
equipment. Failure to understand how to safely operate this tool could
result in an accident causing serious injury or death.
Electric shock hazard:
Do not connect this unit to AC power circuits.
Failure to observe this warning could result in severe injury or death.

NC-100 NETcat®Micro
Electric shock hazard:
• Using this unit in a high frequency activated area may result in unstable or inaccurate
readings.
• Do not drop or get the unit wet as it may cause internal damage.
• Do not attempt to repair this unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts.
• Do not expose the unit to extremes in temperature or humidity.
Refer to “Specifications.”
• Use this unit for the manufacturer’s intended purpose only, as described in this manual.
Any other use can impair the protection provided by the unit.
Failure to observe these precautions may result in injury and can damage the unit.
Important Safety Information
Electric shock hazard:
This unit is capable of withstanding voltage input
conditions when connected to normal telephony
equipment (i.e., 50 VDC) for short periods. Testing
is inhibited when greater than a few volts is
connected across a pair with the message shown
here displayed on the screen. Disconnect the unit
immediately to prevent permanent damage.
Failure to observe this precaution may result in injury and can damage the unit.

LCD Icons
The unit’s interface employs a high-contrast, backlit LCD panel to aid ease of use.
The icons are used in the following way:
1. Tel, Coax, Ntwk: Telephone, Coaxial,
or Network test mode is selected.
2. Tone: Pair Tracing Tone is active.
3. Reversed: Polarity of telephone pair
is reversed.
4. Battery is low.*
5. Miswire: Wiring is not one-to-one.
6. Shield: Shield or screen is
connected.
7. Short: Some wires are short circuit.
8. Digits showing wiremapping to
remote unit.
9. Open: Some wires are open circuit.
10. Pass: All wires are connected one-to-one (correct).
11. Split: Split pair is detected.
12. VOLTS!: Voltage is detected on one or more pairs; testing is inhibited. Disconnect quickly
to prevent damage.
* The NETcat Micro requires one 9 V snap-type battery (alkaline types are recommended).
When the low battery icon is displayed, a few hours of typical use remain. Using the unit
with a low battery will eventually affect the accuracy of measurements.
12
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8
4
3
6
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NC-100 NETcat®Micro
Operation
Switch ON, OFF, and Auto-Off
• To switch the NETcat Micro unit on, press the desired mode button for half a second.
• To switch the unit off, press a different mode button for half a second.
• To extend battery life, the unit will switch itself off after approximately 5 minutes without
any button being pressed. The unit will not switch off in Tone mode.
Network Cable Test (Ntwk)
Network test mode allows the user to check typical RJ45 cables, such as CAT5 or similar
specification including shielded types, for correct wiring.
1. Connect the remote unit using a short patch lead (previously tested) at one end of the
cable to be checked and the NETcat Micro at the other end.
2. Press Ntwk. The unit immediately checks for the presence of voltages. If none are
found that may interfere with testing or damage the unit, tests are carried out to check
the wiring of the pairs of the cable and, if present, the shield of the cable.
3. Check the icons on the display. If the cable is miswired so that wires of different
pairs are used where true pairs should be used, the “Split” icon will be set. Note that
splits may only be detected in cables over 2 m (5 ft) in length. Note also that split pair
detection may be switched off by pressing and holding Ntwk for 2 seconds if you wish
to ignore split indications given for non-standard wiring systems. The default mode is
“Split On”.
Telephone Cable Test (Tel)
As above, but for cables of up to three pairs wired to the RJ12 socket. One additional test is
done in this mode where pairs with reversed polarity are identified and the “Reversed” icon
will be set if this is the case. There is no shield continuity test in this mode.
Coaxial Cable Test (Coax)
As above, but for one pair (i.e., coaxial cables).

Test Details
Voltage Checks
This test checks for a voltage in excess of a few volts DC across each pair. If a voltage is
detected above this threshold, then testing will be inhibited.
Wiremap
This test checks the cable for correct wiring when the remote unit is connected to the end of
the cable under test. The cable configuration is tested for shield continuity (if fitted), opens,
shorts, reversed pairs, crossed pairs, and split pairs. Below are examples of detectable faults
along with a good wiremap.

NC-100 NETcat®Micro
Examples of Common Results
Simple RJ11 Telephone Cord
This screen shot shows how a simple RJ11 to
RJ11 connection lead is tested. As the plugs are
connected the “same way up” either end of the
cable, there is effectively a polarity reversal. And
as only a single pair is connected, the other pairs
(2/5and1/6) are open.
CAT5 Crossover Cable
This screen shot shows how a typical two-pair
crossover cable is often used to connect devices
back to back, with the pairs 1/2 and 3/6 swapped.
This is still shown as a “Miswire” as the only con-
dition to allow the “Pass” icon to be set is a perfect
straight through cable. As there are several different
types of crossover cable currently in use, it was
decided to show the condition and allow the user
to decide if the result is what you require in your
specific application.

Tracing Tone Mode
This function provides a means of tracking cables by generating one of three distinct select-
able tones on a specific wire, pair, or all pairs. The cable can be traced using a tracing probe
that is capable of detecting tones ranging from 577 Hz to 983 Hz.
The three available tones are as follows:
• HiLo1 – Fast Warble
• HiLo2 – Medium Warble
• HiLo3 – Slow Warble
To select the relevant Tracing Tone mode, first select the cable type by switching the unit
on in Network, Telephone, or Coaxial mode. Then press Tone to activate the tracing tones.
Repeated quick presses of Tone will allow you to select which wires or pairs are carrying the
tone depending upon mode. A long press of Tone (more than 2 seconds) will select the next
type of tone, “HiLo1”, “HiLo2” or “HiLo3”.
This screen shows, for example,
that all wires of a network cable are
carrying the “HiLo1” tone.
In this screen only wire “3” of the
telephone cable is carrying the
“HiLo2” tone.

NC-100 NETcat®Micro
Specifications
Dimensions: 150 mm x 70 mm x 33 mm (5.9" x 2.75" x 1.3")
Weight: 220 g (0.5 lb) (including remote unit and a typical battery)
Power Source: 9 V alkaline battery (PP3, 6LR61)
User Interface:
Display LCD: Icon and seven-segment type, mixed
Backlight: Green LED
Buttons: Four momentary contact push buttons
Environmental: Designed for use in a typical indoor environment where typical IT equipment
may be found.
Operating Temperature: 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F)
Storage Temperature: -10 °C to 60 °C (14 °F to 140 °F)
Humidity: Up to 95% non-condensing
Interface Connections:
RJ45 shielded socket
RJ12 6-way socket
F-Type threaded female coaxial
Minimum Cable Length for Network Split Pair Detection: 2 m to 3 m (5 ft to 10 ft) depending
upon cable type
Pair Tracing Tones: Alternating frequencies of 577 Hz and 983 Hz are produced at three user-
selectable rates
Pair Connection Assumptions: It is assumed when testing telephone and network cables that
the allocation of pairs to circuit numbers is in accordance with TIA standards, i.e.:
Network Mode: 1 & 2, 3 & 6, 4 & 5, 7 & 8
Telephone Mode: 1 & 6, 2 & 5, 3 & 4

Maintenance
Electric shock hazard:
• Do not attempt to repair this unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts.
• Do not expose the unit to extremes in temperature or humidity.
Refer to “Specifications.”
Failure to observe these precautions may result in injury and can damage the unit.
Battery Replacement
1. Loosen the screw to open the battery compartment door.
2. Replace the batteries (observe polarity).
3. Close the battery compartment door.
Cleaning
Periodically wipe the housing with a damp cloth and mild detergent; do not use abrasives or
solvents.