Triplett CTX690 User manual

CTX690 Network Tone and
Probe Kit
USER MANUAL

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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase the CTX690. This Network Toner and
Probe Kit is designed specifically for locating and tracing cables on inactive or
active networks, and live or dead phone lines, as well as coaxial video cabling
systems. Today’s media networks have a combination of twisted pair data,
telephone voice, coax and security/alarm video wiring. It provides 2 selectable
powerful Net and Tel tones allow cabling installers, Datacom/Telecom
technicians directly plug into an active networks, patch panel, wall outlet or live
phone line, makes it easy to quickly isolate the right cable in the equipment
closet, and locating an unlabeled network cables during installation and
troubleshooting.
Meter Description
1. Net Toner
2. F Male to Alligator Clip
Adaptor (Optional)
3. Trace Button/Volume Adjust
4. Probe Tip
5. RJ45 Connector
6. RJ11 Connector
7. Alligator Clips
8. Mode Function Switches

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Operating Instructions
Note: To extend battery life, remember to turn off the probe and transmitter after
tracing the cables
Self Check
•Turn the probe on and set the transmitter to TONE.
•The RED LED on both units will light up. Replace the batteries if they do
not.
•Touch the probe to the transmitter wires and check for the generated
tone..

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Cable/Wire tracing
“Tone”mode transmits 2 selectable powerful net tones to allow the user
to quickly and accurately trace wires or cables directly in connection with
an active Network Hub, Switch, Router and Live Telephone Line
Systems.
Set the left slide switch in the “Tone”position, the tone LED constantly
flashing to indicate the “Tone”mode is on.
I. Locating & tracing RJ45 cables or wall outlets on inactive and active
networks on switch, Hub, router, patch panels, termination blocks or
hidden within bundles.
1. Use the RJ45 plug cable for tracing inactive & active
network cabling systems.
2. The RJ45 plug cable can be used to connect an RJ45
network jack to be traced or use an optional RJ45 inline
coupler to connect RJ45 plug and RJ45 plug of the cable to
be traced.
3. Select the right slide switch for an alternating tone (parallel
or cross tone). When select parallel tone, 3/6 and 4/5 LEDs
will be flashing. Select cross tone, 3/6 LED will be light on.
4. Use the Net Probe to find the cable you have connected to,
when the tip of the Net Probe touches the right wire/cable,
the tone will be at its loudest, with a bright red signal light.
5. Move left slide switch to “OFF/LINE”position, the tone LED
turns off indicating that the tone is off.
II. Tracing Live or Dead Telephone Lines
1. Use the RJ12 plug cable for tracing dead & live phone lines.
2. The RJ12 plug cable can be used to connect to a
RJ11/RJ12 phone jack to be traced or use an optional RJ12 inline
coupler to connect RJ11/RJ12 plug and RJ11/RJ12 plug of the cable
to be traced.

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3. The far end of the cable being traced can be located by
using the Net Probe.
III. Locating individual wire, pairs with alligator clips.
1. Connect the black alligator clip to the ground and then connect the red
clip to the wire to be traced.
2. Connect alligator clips across the line or attach one clip to ground and
the other clip to one wire of a cable or pair to be traced.
IV. Coax Cable Tracing
1. Tracing terminated coax cables
Using optional F-male to alligator clips adapter.
Connect the F-male adapter to the F-female connector of the
Coax cable to be traced.
Connect red clip of the adapter to the red clip on the toner.
Connect black clip of the adapter to the black clip on the toner.
2. Tracing un-terminated coax cables
Connect the red clip to the outer shield and black clip to the
ground or to the center conductor.
V. Isolating individual wire pairs for exact pair identification
1. In “TONE”mode when both clips (red & black) connected to the pair,
and move right slide switch to the 4/5 Cont LED position can be used
on a dead line to identify and verify having found both clips of a pair.
2. When touching the wire together, momentarily shorting the far end of a
cable pair.
3. The audible tone will be disappearing when you short the correct pair on
the far end. On the Net Toner the 4/5 Cont LED will turn off and the
audible tone will change the cadence of the tone generated
simultaneously, indicating the pair has been found.

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Checking Status and Polarity of Phone Lines
Indicates proper line polarity and status by lighting its LED either
Green or Red.
Do not connect to circuit carrying AC voltage in OFF/LINE mode.
1. Move the left slide switch in OFF/LINE position.
2. Attach either the RJ12 plug cable for checking
Line 1 and Line 2. Or the alligator clips for
checking Line 1 only to the connection to be
tested.
3. Connect black clip to Tip (+) and the red clip to
Ring (-) or one clip to each wire of the pair if
designation is unknown.
•If the green light up indicates the polarity is
correct/normal. It means that the black clip
connects to Tip (+).If the red light up, it means the
clips are reversed.
•A bright LED indicates the line is not in use.
•A dim LED indicates the circuit is in use.
•Flickering red & green indicates presence of AC
power or ringing line.

4. Dial the line to be verified. If the Net Toner is connected
to the correct line, the Line 1 LED will flickering red and
green.
5. Monitor the line; move the slide switch to “Cont”
position, this will terminate the call to confirm the
identification.

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Testing Continuity of a Cable/Wire Circuit
Use only on non-energized circuit.
Do not connect to AC or DC voltage circuit in “Cont” mode.
Before connecting to an unknown cable/wire to the Net
Toner in “Cont” mode, use the OFF/LINE mode to check and
ensure that cable/wire are not powered. Connecting the live
powered cable in “Cont” mode may damage the Net Toner
or cause erroneous results.
1. With the left slide switch in “Cont/Talk” position
and right slide switch in “Cont” position.
2. Connect the red and black clips to both ends of the
cable/wire that you want to test.
3) The “Cont” LED indicator will light green. Bright green
indicates a low resistance path. Dim green indicates a
high resistance path. No Light, indicates an open
circuit.
4) When a short circuit is detected, the “Cont” LED indicator will
light green.
5) Move the left slide switch to “OFF/LINE” position when
finished to avoid draining battery of clips touch during
storage.

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Supply Talk Battery Power
The talk battery mode should not be used with voltage present.
The Net Toner will supply power to operate handsets. This feature particularly
useful when two installers are working at terminal panels, and must have at
least one identified pair connected between them. This model allows the
installers to commutation using their handsets.*Please use a new battery to
enhance talk power supply.
1. With the left slide switch in the “Talk/Cont”position and the right slide
switch in the “Talk” position.
2. Using the red & black clips connect the handsets in series as shown
in the diagram.
3. Place both headsets “OFF HOOK” or “Talk” position to establish
communication.
4. When finished, move the left slide switch to “Off/Line” position to avoid
draining battery. No power drain in “Cont/Talk” mode with clip open
but the clips touching during storage could drain the battery.

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Probe Functions and Indications
(A) Tone tracing
1) Set the〝Trace/Hub blink〞selector to〝Trace〞↓
position.
2) Push〝Trace〞button and the probe end becomes
active.
3) Hold〝Trace〞button to trace a line or plug the
probe’s RJ45 jack into a wall outlet or patch panel
port using a jumper cable.
4) The tone is loudest when the tip of the tracer is
near and parallel to the cable carrying the tone
signal.
*Application Hint: To detect tracing tone signal at patch panel.
For the best signal, using
a patch cable, one end
connect to Net Probe Pro
RJ45 jack, then use the
other end patch cable
connect or touch the
patch panel port.
(B) Signal strength LED
Touch the tip of the Probe to the insulation of each suspect
wire/cable, when the tip touches the right cable, the tone will
be at its loudest and the〝Signal〞LED will turn on. (You
may turn the volume down as the tip gets nearer to the right
cable to help distinguish between the cables and the tip
touch.)

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(C) Flashlight
1) Set the left side light switch to〝ON〞↑position to
turn the flashlight on to help you to find the target in
dark field.
2) Set the switch to〝OFF〞↓position to turn off the light.
(D) Ear Jack:
In noisy environments, 2.5 mm headphone may be plugged
into the ear jack on the right side of the Net Probe Pro, be
sure to fully seat the plug into the jack.
The speaker is muted to avoid disturbing people nearly.
(E) Hub Blink and Link Mode (Hub blink mode LED blink Yellow)
To locate an active Ethernet port drop on Hub/Switch or
Router and identifies an unknown RJ45-outlet for active
Ethernet.
The probe will blink the corresponding port LED of
the Hub or Switch at the other end for fast
identification.
The feature provides a simple and effective way to
identify Switch, Hub port assignment on active
networks; it’s perfect for tracing active network cable
location.
1. Hub Blink
The probe will send signal to make the connected
PoE/Ethernet port blinking at a set frequency, this will
enable help the installers to easily and quickly find the
connected port for an active Ethernet cable.
1) Connect the probe’s right side “Trace-Net” RJ45
jack to a cable or network outlet at a room or
workstation for which the Ethernet port is to be
located.

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2) Set the right side switch to "Hub Blink mode" ↑
position, Blink Hub mode LED begin blinking Yellow
and start to send a link pulses to connect the port on
a Ethernet/PoE Switch or Hub.
If an Ethernet link is active on the cable, the
probe begins blinking the link indication port of
the Hub or Switch at the far end and Active Link
Green LED will be on simultaneously.
If no active connection was detected, the Active Link LED
will be off.
2. Link Indicator
If an Ethernet link is active on the cable or network
outlet, the Link Green LED will be blinking.
Simultaneously the tester begins blinking with the
link indicator on a port of Hub/Switch at the far end.
This will assist with troubleshooting for
quickly determine whether an unknown
outlet or cable is connected to an active
Hub/Switch.
If an Ethernet line at far end, Hub is active on the
cable the Link LED will be blinking.
If no active connection was detected, the Link LED will be
off.
NOTE: In Hub blink mode, if a cable is connected to remote unit or
connected to a STP cable, this will cause the Link LED blink.
(G) Replacing Tip
1) Grasp the tip and gently turn it counterclockwise
until it separates form the probe body.
2) Replace the old tip with a
compatible new tip and reverse
step1. Note: Do not overtighten
the tip.
(H) Power / Battery Low

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1) Both units require one
standard or alkaline
9V battery. Slide back
the battery cover to
replace new battery.
2) When a low battery is indicated on
unit, change the battery immediately,
as continuing to test with a low
battery may produce inaccurate
results.

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Specifications