Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

-Mark Mullins

12-10-2017 www.flukenetworks.com| 2006-2017 Fluke Corporation 1

Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

In our last 101 Series Blog, we took at closer look at

everything in blue at the top of your LinkWare Report. But
what if your customer wants you to explain the detail and
those pretty charts to the right?
Let's dive deeper so you're prepared for that
possibility.

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Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

Critical Values

The section just below the blue area on your

report shows the wire map test and a boxed-out area
with critical values for the cable under test. These
include the length (displayed in feet or meters
depending on what the user selected), propagation
delay, delay skew, resistance and insertion loss margin.
The detail of the insertion loss margin can be
seen in the insertion loss graph to the right, and it
includes the margin based on the worst pair, at what
frequency and the test limit for that frequency.
For example, this report shows that the worst
case margin for insertion loss occurred on Pair 7-8 at a
frequency of 468 MHz with a margin of 44.4 dB below
the limit of 47.6 dB--not too shabby but not surprising
for a short 14 ft. cable length.
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Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

The Detail

The rest of your LinkWare report shows the worst case margins and worst case values for the
worst pairs and at what frequency they occurred and detailed graphical results for Near End Crosstalk
(NEXT), power sum NEXT (PSNEXT), attenuation to crosstalk ratio, far-end (ACR-F), power sum ACR-F
(PSACR-F), attenuation to crosstalk ratio, near-end (ACR-N), power sum ACR-N (PSACR-N) and return
loss (RL).
Depending on the test limit selected, the test might also include parameters that indicate
balance and alien crosstalk performance, such as transverse conversion loss (TCL), equal level TCTL
(ELTCTL), common mode to differential mode NEXT (CDNEXT) and common mode return loss (CMRL).

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Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

Worst Case Margin vs. Worst Case Value

Regardless of the parameter, the test report shows the worst case
margin and values for both the main test unit (MAIN) and the smart remote
unit (SR). But what is the difference?
Worst case margin is based on where the value came the closest to
the limit line, which is what you should be most concerned about. Worst
case value is the amount of margin at the point where the value was the
worst overall but not in relation to the limit line. And because the tester
looks for worst case margin and worst case value for all pairs and pair
combinations, the worst case margin and worst case value might not be on
the same pair. They can however be the same value on the same pair.
This report shows that the worst case NEXT margin for the main
unit of 7 dB occurred between Pairs 1-2 and 7-8 at 498 MHz, while the
worst case margin for the remote unit of 7.3 dB occurred at 220.5 MHz.
Both of these can be seen in the graphical representation as the location
where the line gets closest to the limit.
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Cable Testing 101: How to Read the LinkWare PC Report?

When It Fails

When a cable fails (and at some point it will), you'll see the
distinguishable big red X in the top right corner of the LinkWare PC cable
test management software and a test summary of FAIL. Thankfully, the
report also tells you why--also in red so you don't miss it.
This report here clearly shows in red that the test failed for length
limit, coming in at 364 ft instead of the 295-ft limit (this tester was set to
feet instead of meters). It also shows failure for propagation delay and
insertion loss (likely due to the excessive length).
Now that you know how to read your LinkWare reports, why not
take advantage of LinkWare Live service that lets you upload test results
from any location. It takes just a few minutes to set up, and it's free!

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 Thank You!

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