The Fluke Networks LIQKITIE LinkIQ™ Advanced Industrial Ethernet Cable + Network Tester Kit verifies cable performance up to 10 Gb/s and solves network connectivity problems. Using frequency-based measurements, LIQ-KIT-IE provides distance to fault information along with a wire map of the cable under test. The LIQ-KIT-IE also performs nearest switch diagnostics to identify key network issues and validate switch configuration, eliminating the need of using another device. Additional features include Analog and Digital Toning, Port Blink, 802.1x authentication, Remote Office Locators, and the ability to manage results via LinkWare™ PC.

Operational Technology professionals responsible for maintaining and/or managing an industrial network have a challenging job. They are on-the-spot problem-solvers and are always planning for future enhancements to seamlessly upgrade the network to higher speeds - all while continuously troubleshooting and optimizing the current infrastructure. The LIQ-KIT-IE provides a fast and robust tool to help users expertly manage the network to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. By qualifying and troubleshooting cabling - the #1 cause of Industrial Ethernet problems - LIQ-KIT-IE can prevent and save hours of production downtime.

Cable Testing You Trust

The LIQ-KIT-IE is capable of measuring lengths up to 1000 feet (305 m) and provides distance to faults such as opens, shorts, and unterminated cable. Using the Industrial Ethernet Remote Adapter allows for a complete wire map of the cable pairs which helps identify miswired and split pairs on RJ45, M12X, M12D, and M8D terminated cables. The LIQ-KIT-IE supports EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT and other Industrial Ethernet protocols and qualifies the cabling bandwidth from 10BASE-T to 10GBASE-T (10 Mb/s up to 10 Gb/s). It qualifies the cabling bandwidth by taking multiple frequency-based measurements. Using IEEEstandards- based measurements ensures that tested links meet performance requirements as opposed to transmission testers which only prove that the specific test devices can communicate over the link.

Operators may set performance requirements from 10 Mb/s to 10 Gb/s for a simple pass/fail indication.

Network Testing You Need

Along with the robust cable testing features, the LIQ-KIT-IE also provides detailed information on the nearest connected switch. The LIQ-KIT-IE negotiates with the switch to identify the advertised data rate (up to 10GBASE-T), half/full duplex identification, the switch name, port number, and VLAN info.

In-Depth PoE Testing

While Power over Ethernet makes installation of devices such as security cameras and access points simpler, a survey by the Ethernet Alliance of over 800 installers, integrators and end users found that four of five respondents experienced difficulties in integrating PoE systems. Part of this can be traced to the fact that the IEEE offers three PoE standards, the term "PoE" is not registered and there are a variety of non-standards-compliant implementations as well.

To simplify PoE installation and troubleshooting, the LIQ-KIT-IE displays the pairs where power is provided, including the different power levels and pairs for dual-signature implementations. Further, the LIQ-KIT-IE will actually place a load on the connection to ensure that the advertised power is actually being delivered by the switch across the cabling infrastructure.

LinkWare™ Documentation

The LIQ-KIT-IE provides complete documentation for the tests it performs. Up to 1,000 results can be stored in the tester with descriptive names and recalled. Test names and numbers automatically increment as each is saved ("Annex B-1", "Annex B-2", "Annex B-3", etc.) saving lots of time when testing cables in sequence.

Report data may be exported to a PC for documentation purposes. The LIQ-KIT-IE uses LinkWare™ PC, Fluke Networks' reporting software which supports a variety of testers going back 20 years and is the industry's de facto reporting solution with tens of thousands of active users. LinkWare can be used to store the results as well as generate PDF reports.