EuroWire March 2020

Technology News

▲ Whitlock standardises processes and provides quality installations with Ideal Networks testers

CONFERENCING and video collaboration firm Whitlock has a team of around 200 technicians installing cable and devices, usually powered by PoE and installed on customers’VLANs over Cat 5e/6 cable. Without standardised cable testing equipment, the company found it a challenge to ensure its technicians were installing with a consistent process. For example, there was no set procedure in place for testing and troubleshooting Cat 6 cabling, and with a selection of equipment from different manufacturers, the quality of cable terminations in the field could vary. After conducting extensive research, Whitlock decided to purchase a selection of testers from Ideal Networks, opting for VDV II copper cable testers to ensure that all relevant field technicians have ready access to their own tester for troubleshooting. Whitlock also purchased NaviTEK NT copper and fibre network troubleshooting units, and SignalTEK NT network transmission testers and LanTEK III cable certifiers to further support cable installation and customer performance requirements. As fibre optic cabling and troubleshooting are becoming a greater part of Whitlock’s day-to-day responsibility, the company also incorporated other Ideal Networks solutions, such as the VFF5 fibre optic cable visual fault finder, FiberMASTER light source/power meter and FiberTEK III Tier 1 Multi-Mode fibre certification modules for LanTEK III. “With VDV II cable verifiers, Whitlock has standardised and totally transformed the way they troubleshoot cable,” explained Tim Widdershoven, marketing director at Ideal Networks. “There has been a marked increase in the consistency and quality of terminations, so technicians going on-site to commission projects have far fewer termination errors to deal with, and having the right equipment from the outset saves a significant amount of troubleshooting time.” As well as proving useful for standard testing and wire mapping, the VDV II tester utilises TDR technology to accurately measure cable length and provide distance to fault, helping technicians to ensure cabling is as correct as possible before the AV system is installed. With NaviTEK NT Pro CDP/LLDP/EDP port information, engineers can view detailed network information to easily verify the port and VLAN information, making large-scale integrations and installations of voice and video more time efficient, even when multiple VLANs are present. “With NaviTEK NT Pro, Whitlock can also be much more proactive and efficient in informing customers what needs to be changed on a network in order that the AV system integration can be completed,” says Mr Widdershoven. “NaviTEK NT Pro also provides extensive reporting capabilities, which will prove useful as an increasing number of AV systems migrate to networks.” Testers to standardise and transform the troubleshooting of cable

Ideal Networks

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March 2020