Ethernet RJ45 cable is used in many homes and businesses to carry data.
Wireless is also a good option but is prone to errors, and the speeds are often much slower compared to Ethernet.
Running Ethernet is also much more secure as data can not be picked up as it can with wireless.
After Ethernet is installed throughout a home or business, tracking which cable goes to which room or finding a bad connection can be difficult.
This task is made easy with a good network Ethernet RJ45 cable tester.
What is a Network RJ45 Ethernet Tester?
A network RJ45 Ethernet tester can help to troubleshoot problems in a line as well as track down a wire.
Network testers will have different features, such as a toner that makes a noise on a single Ethernet line.
A unit with a tone generators can connect to one side of a line and beep when close to the other side, tracking down a connection.
Using a network RJ45 tester makes working with Ethernet much easier.
There are many available, with some of our favorite picks below.
As always, be sure to read the review on Amazon, forums, or elsewhere to be sure a unit is the right pick for you.
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Our Picks for Best Network Ethernet RJ45 Cable Testers
- Klein Tools VDV500-820
- ELEGIANT LAN Network Cable Tester
- Fluke Networks IntelliTone Pro 200
- NOYAFA AT226-C Multi-functional Cable Tester
The Klein Tools VDV500-820 is a great unit for the price with many good features.
Features include Toner-Pro tests for continuity and polarity, five distinct tone cadences, replaceable conductive tips, and more.
It is a good unit that will help track down wires or troubleshoot a bad connection.
The ELEGIANT is a multi-function tester for those on a budget.
It has many features, including network, scan, tone, continuity, and more.
If you are professional, another unit will no doubt be better as this is built for a homeowner needing to do some basic network cable test.
The kit comes with everything needed to trace down an Ethernet run and test a cable for a short or open.
While low-cost, it works well enough, tracking down lines in other rooms or broken runs that need patching or replacing.
Fluke makes many good network tools and is one of the top manufacturers for professional network testers.
The IntelliTone Pro 200 is one such toner and probe kit that makes tracing down the line easily.
The kit comes with an RJ45 breakout that quickly hooks up and puts a signal on an Ethernet line.
The unit is easy to use with an audible beep and led light that gets stronger when toning a wire.
To test a cable run is good or not the ends are connected and set to map.
It also has an Ohm setting that will display if an Ethernet cable is shorted.
The Fluke IntelliTone Pro 200 is a good RJ45 Ethernet tester built for a professional.
The NOYAFA AT226-C is a professional cable tester that can test Ethernet RJ45, Telephone RJ11, Cable BNC, and more.
It is a very nice multi-functional tool for those who need to test a lot of different types of cables.
How Do I Test an Ethernet RJ45 Network Cable?
An Ethernet network scan tool is needed to run a test on the cable.
A network scan tool will have features to help troubleshoot an Ethernet RJ45 connection.
The tool will have several tests that can be run, such as toning a wire to find the other side or continuity to check for a break or short.
Can a Tester Find a Shorted or Open Wire?
Yes, most network testers can test a cable for an open or shorted connection.
One side of the kit will have an emitter that sends a signal down a cable while the other side is plugged into a receiver.
The two work together to test each wire for an open or short and display the results.
Summary
If you need a LAN tester to find the other side of an Ethernet wire or other test, there are many good network scan tools.
A good generator and probe kit can help track down a long cable run behind walls or attics to other rooms.
This includes Ethernet cable testers for Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6e, Cat7, and more.
A tone generator and probe can also test if one of the wires is shorted or open, helping to troubleshoot any problems.
There are many types of network test tools, with those above being some of our favorite options.
Do you have a favorite network Ethernet RJ45 cable tester? Let us know in the comments below.
However, I do have to note that this tester doesn’t come with circuit protections. Just make sure that the cable connections you’ll test aren’t carrying strong electric currents that could tinker with the test result, and you’ll be fine.
With extensive experience working as an electrician, I can confidently say that Elegiant’s network cable tester is among the best tools to test cord connections. I came across this product while working on a LAN connection set-up for a local company.