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These advances have reduced the time

to certify each cable link to just a few

seconds. Faster testers have certainly

shaved costs required for cable installers

to test and certify their work. Still, there

are additional steps in any installation

that consume valuable time, which

ultimately translate to additional costs.

Savvy business owners and test device

providers now realize there are more

opportunities to reduce time spent for many

test-related functions, helping cable operators to

reap new profits in the process.

The old adage,

“Time is Money” applies in

a big way to cable testing.

Over the last 20 years,

the enterprise cabling

installation industry has

benefitted from advances

in testing and certification

tools and technologies.

HOW TO INCREASE PROFITS IN CABLE INSTALLATIONS? SAVE TIME.

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To identify, quantify, and confirm ways to make testing and certification more efficient, Fluke Networks recently asked cable installers

about the time they spent performing various test-related functions. The surveys yielded some surprising results. One big take-away:

effectively dealing with problems and inefficiencies during the testing process definitely improves profit margins. In fact, some companies

reported as much as ten percent profit added to their bottom line! They did this by using systems that reduce testing time wasters. This

additional profit means more revenues for cable installers, or if they choose to pass along their savings to prospective customers, it means

more competitive bids.

In one survey, US installers reported that 63 percent of their time was spent actually installing cable. After the installation was complete,

fourteen percent of their typical project time involved tasks related to testing, six percent went to reporting, eight percent was spent on

re-work, and nine percent was dedicated to contingencies and other activities. The non-installation parts of the job – testing, reporting,

re-working and troubleshooting – represent ripe opportunities for cutting costs by deploying test systems with expanded capabilities.

Reducing errors during planning and setup, eliminating testing mistakes caused by inexperienced workers, avoiding delays caused when

less experienced installers are idle and waiting for more help from experienced managers, condensing time on troubleshooting, reducing

the need for retesting, streamlining inefficient reporting processes, and avoiding unnecessary travel time were all actions companies cited

that can reduce costs and increase profits.

Advanced testers improve productivityCable installers using standard testers reported an average of 20 hours spent addressing problems in the course of completing an average

1000-link job. They reduced the average number of hours troubleshooting problems to just seven hours when they used advanced testing

systems. This represents a whopping 65% productivity gain!

Improved planning and setup is an essential first step to reduce time and costs. A test system that offers a single job management

function to track all job requirements at the outset can pay big dividends during the course of the job. Such a system can efficiently set

the job requirements and progress from setup to systems acceptance, making sure that all tests are completed accurately.

When test parameters can be set up in one central point and transmitted using the cloud by both technicians and administrative staff,

it saves time and reduces errors. Advanced testing systems eliminate travel to and from the office for test reporting, resulting in more

accurate reporting and faster project closeout.

Shortage of skilled workers requires new methods for cable testingIn the field, installers definitely don’t want mistakes and employ a number of approaches to minimize them. One method is to hire more

skilled employees. However, there is a shortage of workers with an understanding of the nuances of cable and fiber testing. Seventy-eight

percent of the global installation company owners Fluke surveyed report that finding good workers is a challenge.

More training for inexperienced staff members can certainly help to eliminate time-wasting mistakes – Fluke Networks trains thousands

of technicians in their Certified Cabling Test Technician (CCTT) program. Unfortunately, training can be expensive. Classes require a small

tuition charge, and two days away from the jobsite, plus travel if local classes aren’t conveniently available, adds up. Then there is a

turnover issue. Not only do cabling contractors see the typical turnover issues of any business, but its job-driven nature means a steady

inflow and outflow of temporary workers. Making a significant investment in training a worker who in all likelihood will be working for a

competitor next month is not smart business.

Highly experienced project managers at cable installation firms have the knowledge to make sure that mistakes are avoided. Indeed, more

than 80% of installer owners report that their project managers ensure that things are done right. Unfortunately, the very nature of today’s

cable installation business makes this tough to do. Most contractors work on multiple jobs at the same time, and at a single job, installers

have to move from floor to floor and wait for construction teams to finish other parts of the job. Seventy percent of installers report

moving a tester from one job to another and then back at least once every month. Given that a majority of project managers report being

stretched too thin, it’s unlikely that they would be able to successfully chase their testers around making sure they’re always set up and

used properly.

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Since training is costly, and hiring more experienced workers plus more project managers to supervise them takes a big bite out of the

bottom line, a better approach is to design testing systems so that there is less room for error.

Cleverly designing and automating some of the testing functions to avoid errors is a key way to make the testing process more efficient.

More than 800 installers worldwide were questioned and almost half reported having to retest links because they were tested to the wrong

limits. Thirty-seven percent reported dealing with negative loss fiber measurements. (A negative loss in a fiber is like recording a negative

time in a 100-meter dash – something obviously is incorrect.)

Fixing the root cause of many test problems: improper set-upThe root cause of negative fiber loss readings is improper reference set-up in the instrument. Setting fiber reference levels properly is

critical to good measurements, but it is a relatively complex process. If any of the steps are performed improperly, every reading made

from that point with the tester will be incorrect. The testing device itself can eliminate errors by leading the operator through the set-up

process step by step and checking that it has been done right. The sequence of Fluke Networks device screens below shows some of the

steps in the process. As each is completed, the user taps “NEXT” and the tester verifies that the step was completed and presents the next

step. Note the use of color coding on the cabling further reduces the chances of error.

Of course, there are many places in the cable certification where mistakes can occur. Each of these can be examined and the poka-yoke

approach can be used to prevent or call attention to the mistakes. By eliminating these mistakes, contractors can reduce costs, increase

profitability, and reduce the time to systems acceptance and therefore payment.

According to Fluke Networks customers, another step in the cable certification process that requires more time than necessary is

troubleshooting when problems crop up. According to more than 300 contractors who participated in a US survey, one of the biggest time

wasters in the testing process is the time teams have to wait for a lead technician to troubleshoot: this averages 4.6 hours a month for

copper, and 3.8 hours a month for fiber.

For example, our research found that only 30% of technicians were able to set up custom fiber testing limits; and 64% of firms reported

delays in the prior six months while waiting for a tech to set up custom fiber limits.

Making reporting more efficientAnother big time waster is inefficient reporting. One big problem for many firms is the time they spend each month to transport testers

to a PC so results can be downloaded to create required reports. They report that 4.4 hours a month is spent just getting the information

to the right place. A test system that manages all of the results from multiple testers using one cloud-based PC software application can

seamlessly access tester data to track progress and generate reports. Overall reporting costs were halved for companies that used test

systems with advanced reporting capabilities – from 4% overall project cost to 2% for a 1000-link average job.

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Fluke Networks engineers designed the Versiv cable testing system to efficiently complete all tasks associated with testing cable

installations, from planning and setup, through project management, testing troubleshooting and reporting. Its ProjX™ System manages

job requirements and progress from setup to systems acceptance, making sure all tests are completed correctly. The Taptive™ User Interface

simplifies set up, eliminates errors and speeds troubleshooting. The LinkWare Live cloud service gives control of the whole process: testers

can be set up and tracked and results can be inspected from any mobile device while the job is in process. Installers can upload and

integrate results from multiple testers at multiple jobsites to quickly generate reports with the de-facto industry standard LinkWare PC.

Fluke Networks interviewed companies that used 100% Versiv systems, companies that deployed some percentage of Versiv devices, and

those that had no Versiv products. Fluke Networks compared the efficiency of Versiv cable testing system users against shops with a

mixture of devices and no Versiv systems. Overall, Versiv owners spend up to 66% less time on testing and reporting issues. The findings

show that total spend on testing and reporting goes down from 15% to 8% to 5%, adding 7% and 10% to the overall profit margin, as

Versiv penetration increases from 0% to 50% to 100%. Saving time saves money and that’s good news for the bottom line.

About Fluke NetworksFluke Networks is the worldwide leader in certification, troubleshooting, and installation tools for professionals who install and maintain

critical network cabling infrastructure. From installing the most advanced data centers to restoring service in the worst weather, our

combination of legendary reliability and unmatched performance ensure jobs are done efficiently.

For more information, visit www.flukenetworks.com/versiv

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Fluke Networks operates in more than 50 countries

worldwide. To find your local office contact details,

go to www.flukenetworks.com/contact

Corporate Office:Fluke NetworksP.O. Box 777 Everett, WA USA 98206-07771-800-283-5853e-mail: info@flukenetworks.com

European Office:Fluke NetworksP.O. Box 1550, 5602 BN EindhovenGermany 0049-(0)682 2222 0223France 0033-(0)1780 0023UK 0044-(0)207 942 0721e-mail: sales.core@flukenetworks.com

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CertiFiber® Pro - Accelerates every step of the fiber certification process.

The CertiFiber Pro improves the efficiency of fiber certification with a 3 second, dual wavelength, dual fiber, test

time. The Taptive user interface simplifies set-up, eliminates errors and speeds troubleshooting. A set reference

wizard ensures correct reference setting and eliminates negative loss errors. Built on the future-ready Versiv

platform, CertiFiber Pro provides merged Tier 1 (Basic) / Tier 2 (Extended) testing and reporting when paired

with OptiFiber Pro module. A convenient quad module supports both singlemode and multimode and is multimode

Encircled Flux compliant. Copper certification and Wi-Fi Analysis and Ethernet troubleshooting modules are also

available. Analyze test results and create professional test reports using LinkWare Management Software.

DSX-5000 CableAnalyzer™ - Accelerates every step of the copper certification process.

The DSX-5000 CableAnalyzer improves the efficiency of copper certification with unmatched speed for testing Cat

6A and Class FA while meeting darft IEC Level V – the most stringent accuracy requirement. The ProjX Management

System helps ensure jobs are done correctly the first time and helps tracks progress from set-up to systems

acceptance. Versiv platform supports modules for fiber testing (Both OLTS and OTDR) and Wi-Fi Analysis and Ethernet

troubleshooting. The platform is easily upgradeable to support future standards. Troubleshoot faults faster with the

Taptive user interface which graphically displays the source of failures including crosstalk, return loss and shield

faults. Analyze test results and create professional test reports using LinkWare™ Management Software.

OptiFiber® Pro OTDR – Built for the Enterprise.

OptiFiber Pro is the industry’s first OTDR built from the ground up to meet the challenges of enterprise fiber

infrastructures. This troubleshooting and certification tool combines uncomplicated power, unparalleled efficiency

and the exact functions needed for troubleshooting campus, data center and storage fiber networks.

The OptiFiber Pro OTDR elevates fiber testing with the industry’s only smartphone interface that turns a technician

into a fiber expert. The DataCenter OTDR configuration eliminates uncertainty and errors that occur when testing

data center fiber. Its ultra-short dead zones enable testing of fiber patchcords in virtualized data centers.

These capabilities, plus the fastest-in-the-industry trace times, make the OptiFiber Pro OTDR a must-have tool.

FI-7000 FiberInspector™ Pro - 2-second automated PASS/FAIL certification of fiber end-faces.

Graphical indication of problem areas due to contamination, pits, chips, and scratches.

Certify to industry standards - IEC 61300-3-35 and eliminate human subjectivity from end-face

measurements.

More information at: www.flukenetworks.com/versiv