Abstract: A cable testing system employs a cable tester and a multi-jack cable adapter, which includes a switch matrix and a switch controller. In operation, the switch matrix is in electrical communication with the cable tester and a plurality of cables to establish a plurality of signal paths between the cable tester and the plurality of cables, and the switch controller is in electrical communication with the switch matrix and the cable tester to control a switching of each signal path by the switch matrix between an activated state and a deactivated state as commanded by the cable tester.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for characterizing a VoIP network commences with the sending of a plurality of predefined messages from a calling end of the VoIP network. One of the messages is a call initiation message that is sent to a called end of the network. In response to sending the messages, the calling end of the VoIP network receives a plurality of predefined response messages. A plurality of delays are then calculated, with each delay being a function of at least two timing measurements selected from 1) times at which the messages are sent, and 2) times at which the response messages are received. The VoIP network is then characterized by comparing the delays to programmable reference values. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An offline phase of a cable length measuring method involves a determination of a plurality of preset frequency test signals for facilitating the length measurement of the cable based on a maximum measurable length of the cable. An online phase minimally involves a measurement of the length of the cable based on a first reflected phase shift between a first preset frequency test signal as transmitted at a transmission end of the cable and a first preset frequency reflection signal representative of a reflection of the first preset frequency test signal at a reflection end of the cable, and based on a second reflected phase shift between the second preset frequency test signal as transmitted at the transmission end of the cable and a second preset frequency reflection signal representative of a reflection of the second preset frequency test signal at the reflection end of the cable.

Abstract: An alien cross-talk method involves a victim cable and one or more disturber cables. The method encompasses a transmission of a RF test signal on each disturber cable between an alien cross-talk test signal unit connected to one end of a disturber cable and another alien cross-talk test signal unit connected to the other end of the disturber cable. The method further involves a measurement of an alien cross-talk signal generated on the victim cable in response to each cross-talk coupling of the victim cable and the disturber cable(s) based on the transmission of the RF test signal(s) on the disturber cable(s). The RF test signal(s) can be in the form of a RF frequency sweep and the measurement of the alien cross-talk signal can involve an execution of a RF frequency measurement sweep for acquiring samples of the alien cross-talk signal generated on the victim cable.

Abstract: An alien cross-talking testing system employs a plurality of alien cross-talk test signal units, an alien cross-talk measurement unit and an interconnection base unit. Each alien cross-talk test signal unit is in electrical communication with a different disturber cable to participate in a transmission of a RF test signal thereon. The alien cross-talk measurement unit is in electrical communication with a victim cable to measure an alien cross-talk signal generated on the victim cable in response to any alien cross-talk coupling between the victim cable and one or more of the disturber cables. The interconnection base unit is in electrical communication with the alien cross-talk measurement unit and the plurality of alien cross-talk test signals units to control non-simultaneous transmissions by the plurality of alien cross-talk test signal units of the RF test signals at a same frequency on the disturber cables as commanded by the alien cross-talk measurement unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the insertion loss of a conductor. The method includes introducing a test signal into a first signal transmission path and a second signal transmission path. The conductor is included in the first path but at least partially excluded from the second path. The method includes measuring the strength of the test signal from the two paths and obtaining the insertion loss of the conductor from the two measured values.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method for determining near-end cross-talk effects is provided. A periodic test signal having a frequency increasing in predetermined steps is input into a conductor of a transmission cable. A raw cross-talk signal is received from another conductor of the transmission cable and the received cross-talk signal is processed in the frequency domain to determine a combination of near-end cross-talk components of the received cross-talk signal. The combination of near-end cross-talk components represents the characteristic of the near-end cross-talk effects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the insertion loss of a conductor. The method includes introducing a test signal into a first signal transmission path and a second signal transmission path. The conductor is included in the first path but at least partially excluded from the second path. The method includes measuring the strength of the test signal from the two paths and obtaining the insertion loss of the conductor from the two measured values.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method for determining near-end cross-talk effects is provided. A periodic test signal having a frequency increasing in predetermined steps is input into a conductor of a transmission cable. A raw cross-talk signal is received from another conductor of the transmission cable and the received cross-talk signal is processed in the frequency domain to determine a combination of near-end cross-talk components of the received cross-talk signal. The combination of near-end cross-talk components represents the characteristic of the near-end cross-talk effects.