Salvage Server Project Junk Ideas No.2

Ethernet Cable Tester

Produced by the Free Range Salvage Server Project, November 2003
email: fraw@gn.apc.org     web: http://www.fraw.org.uk/ssp/

Also available as an Acrobat file (for printing) – click here (1 megabyte file!).


Making Ethernet cables is easy, when you have the tool to crimp the connectors. But even then, you can't always be sure that the connector has been properly connected to the cable. Commercial network cable testers can cost £60 or more. Here's an idea for a simple cable tester that costs under £20 if you, or someone handy with a soldering iron, makes it from scratch.


Due to the large number of images, this report has been split into six parts:
  1. The Theory of the Project
  2. Beginning Construction
  3. Unit Assembly
  4. Using the Unit to Test Cables
  5. Fault Finding
  6. Parts List and Project Costs


You can also download an Adobe Acrobat file of the whole report – but it's 1 megabyte long.





The Salvage Server Project has been developed by the Free Range Network to promote the use of redundant IT equipment as a resource for community and grass roots campaigning organisations. This report has been produced to support the work of the project, and is made freely available to encourage the objectives of the project.

© Copyright 2003, Paul Mobbs/Free Range Network. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with Invariant Sections being the document title and author identification, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is provided at: http://www.fraw.org.uk/_admin/rights.shtml This document has been wholly produced using the Gnu/Linux operating system and free software.

The information contained in this work has been obtained from sources that are believed to be reliable. However, We cannot provide any absolute guarantee that the information contained herein is wholly correct, or that the manner in which the information is used is correct, and consequently we cannot be responsible for any error, omissions or damages arising from the use of the information in this work. This work has been created on the basis that the Free Range Network is not intending to supply engineering or any other professional services - the purposes of this briefing are merely illustrative.