What is a Cable Certifier?

A cable certifier is a device designed to measure the integrity and transmission characteristics of cabling. A cable certifier can perform various functions to test network cabling for compliance with cabling standards developed by bodies such as the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to name a few. A cable certifier is useful to local area network (LAN) administrators, cable installers, and field service providers for testing and certifying cabling installations as compliant with these standards.

Why do you need to perform Cable Certification?

Cable certification is primarily done by datacom contractors or installers, which is required to ensure the new cablings in the commercial buildings, data centers and enterprise facilities complies to the cabling standards. These certification provides detailed reports, which grants the contractors and installers the warranty from the cabling manufacturers. Certification tests are important if there is a discrepancy between the installer and network owner after and installation has been performed.

Cable Verifier/Verification, Qualifier/Qualification or Certifier/Certification?

Do not confuse cable certification with cable qualification or verification as they may be commonly known as “cable testing” in general.

Cable qualification tools are used to troubleshoot and qualify cabling bandwidth and if existing cabling will support technology requirements like 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-TX, 10GBASE-T, etc. Cable verification tools perform basic continuity functions such as wiremap and/or length test. Verification tools are usually low-cost and simpler to use devices.

Cable Certification Test