Network Test Equipment - Made in the USA

Installing, rewiring and troubleshooting the cables in your computer network can be daunting. Cabling runs into a place and disappears. Random loose ends show their presence and finding where they all terminate in the network room is perhaps the most frustrating part of all. In short, figuring out the hardware of your LAN can be and used to be a time consuming headache. Those headaches can be a thing of the past, though, with Platinum Tools network test equipment. The T109C and the new T130 allow you, with a few small pieces of technology, to take all of the guesswork in installing and managing your network.

The Platinum Tools Mapmaster Mini, T109C is barely bigger than your hand and boasts a battery life of about 80 hours. It’s compatible with shielded/unshielded CAT7, CAT6a, CAT5e, CAT5, CAT4, and CAT3 (4 pair only) meaning that it will work in a majority of networks. The T109C cable tester will accurately detect shorts, opens, miswires, reversals and split pairs. It can also map to multiple locations with the included mapping remotes and will identify the patch panel port a given connection plugs into. In short it’s mission critical for installs, troubleshooting and maintenance calls. You can check out its features in depth here.

In addition to being a useful tool on its own, there are a few accessories that will help you get a little bit more out of the tool. To help check multiple ports, the 610025C is a 4-pack of patch cables will be handy to use with remote testers (TT002 or other) or you can try the T105C which is a 5-pack of network remotes. These will help the tester identify which cables and ports go where. The TCA015 is an RJ45 to alligator clip cable that allows connection to unterminated twisted pair cabling. Another useful companion is the Platinum Tools TP250C which is an electronic probe that works with any analog tone generator and traces your lines and identifies the line in question with a loud and clear tone. The full technical details are available here. Lastly, the 4007 Hanging Pouch will keep your well protected and organized.

Platinum Tools has been well known up to this point for another tester, the T129, however this tester has been discontinued due to the recent tariffs on China. Thankfully, the intended goal of the tariff, in this instance to return jobs to America, is working as the discontinued T129 has been replaced by the T130. Platinum Tools’ T130 is being made in the USA and there are some promotions available to help ease the transition to the new model.

The T130 has many of the same features as the T109C, and more. The T130 can identify up to 20 network cable runs at a time and expands that ability into coax as well, making it great for testing voice, data and video. It also features a backlit display and a built in LED flashlight for dark areas. The T130 can also use three of the same accessories of the T109C, namely the TP250C, 610025C, and the 4007 case. Additionally, you can use various port savers, remote sets and three different carrying bags among other accessories. The entire list of accessories meant for this tester can be seen here.

If you’ve ever had to install, troubleshoot or maintain network equipment, you know that guesswork is not only time consuming, it’s also frustrating. It’s also unnecessary with these and other tools made by Platinum Tools. With these two testers, you’ll get quality equipment that saves you time and a too which is made in the USA thus helping to reshore American jobs. If you need to work with network hardware, give one of these testers a shot.