I tried to edit this post and windows crashed. Thanks Microsoft. Or maybe it's my fault for using VM with a MacBookPro to run windows :).

I saw this while looking at ggarza270's links: [Link: techtoolsupply.com]

Nofaya NF-388. It's the cheapest distance tester I've seen that also has all the basic functions, I may have to pick one of these up. $77 on aliexpress.com with free shipping, I'm definitely going to give this a try. I've been wanting distance measurement for a while. The only thing I would add is the ability to check for POTS, 10/100/1000 ethernet, and PoE.
 

About damn time you showed up! You owe me a phone call.

I just saw on the Platinum website that they have testers #2 thru #8 for the VDV MapMaster 2.0 that will identify and test at the same time.

[Link: platinumtools.com]

Goes with this tool: [Link: platinumtools.com]

Or this kit: [Link: platinumtools.com]

i am looking at the same piece. i like the complete kit and features. i am worried that it literally only came up from one seller! on any site! one seller. cant find on home depot or anywhere.

What the least expensive way to verify gigabit data throughput? Printing optional.

I have an idea for a new product. We should market it under the wiremunky brand.

Remotes/ID part is active. It has a dial or buttons on it so that you can set it between 1 and 100. This way you can buy 1 or 100 and make them all have individual ID's. No need for resellers to stock batches of specific number remotes. You terminate all wall plates in the home and connect your remotes then move to the head end.

At the head end you have 2 tools or maybe 1 tool that does both. A tone generator and a main unit. The toner will emit an audible "one" or "ninety eight" instead of just a ringing or beeping sound. This lets you combine the act of toning and wire mapping without having to terminate the cables at the head end. This is the "better mouse trap" part of the equation. We could dumb it down and just have an LCD display on the toner that would show the number but i am pushing for voice. I can focus on the wire bundle as i go thru each cable and not have to keep looking down at the screen.

Maybe we can sell an add on that lets you choose movie characters like Samuel Jackson. "This wire is number one, mother F#$&%^".

Final part is the main unit...continuity/certification tool used at the patch panel after you punch all cables down. The toner could be incorporated with this tool but it would be easier to be a separate device. This tool will also identify remote numbers on screen. This eliminates the need for the toner when both ends of cables are patched down.

There could be an entry level model with gray scale screen thats limited to continuity and wire mapping. The pro version can do cable length testing and other certification features. Maybe some signal testing for LAN and phone. Remotes and toner are universal and work with either main unit.

$599.00 for pro main unit.

$199.00 for entry level main unit.

$99.00 for toner.

$19.99 for each remote.

I would like to play "big picture" here with the logo, idea and suggested retail pricing :). Whos got the $ and connections to make this happen? Feel free to email me. Once you have a manufacturer lined up we can setup the kickstarter account :).

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"VDV" is the starting model number for several devices from several manufacturers. Today i saw a greenlee? version of the VDV-XXXX (not sure of the last part of the model) at menards. When i got home i started searching for VDV and found them branded by multiple companies with varying feature sets & accessories.

So far this kit looks the best bang for buck. It has 8 remotes that are numbered.Ideal VDV Pro Cable tester.

[Link: tequipment.net]

Ideal product page : [Link: idealindustries.com]

Your better off getting the Platinum Tools TCB360K1 [Link: platinumtools.com] which includes 8 of the test and id remotes and can be had for less than $640. The Klein only include 2 of the test and id remotes in their kit.

If you only need to test that they are connected properly and want 8 test and id remotes, you could get the Platinum Tools T129 tester and the Platinum Tools T139 remotes for less than $240.

The TCB360K1 does test more though including printing out cable and network testing, POE, testing cable speeds up to 1Gbps, etc.

LMAO!
Dude you are whacked

They will cost $1.99. Installers will download them like ring tones.

that looks pretty damn full featured! might be a winner.

FWIW, for integrators with an account, Anixter sells some of these items for a better price than the internet. Just a heads-up. if you are going to buy something, check with your usual suppliers first, it may be worth the phone call.

Buying stuff like this is always painful for me. I start out telling myself "I don't need a fully featured product. I just want something cheap" so if it gets broken...like my testum kit (thanks TSA) it's only a couple of hundred bucks (or less) down the drain. Test-um still works but the display is cracked because TSA took it out of its case and tossed it in the middle of my bag instead of putting it back in its pocket.

Then you start looking at products and think "wow for $50 more i can do that or this or whatever". After an hour you are about to justify a $600 purchase when you find something for $100 only to realize it doesn't do what you need it to do. I don't need anything beyond the test-um kit. I'm going to try and find one online. I already have remotes for it. I just need the testing unit.