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Coax Clarifier
Coax Run Mapping
Maps runs through splitters to show an
accurate picture of the coax system layout
using up to 4 Coax RF Remotes. Up to 12
ID Only Coax Remotes also available for
wiremapping on home runs.
Cable Length
Determines cable run length and reports
the location of an open or unterminated
cable.
Quality of Network
Measures overall network quality and
clearly depicts network reading as both a
bar graph and a digital return loss number,
measured in dB.
Tone Tracing
Traces coax runs with four unique tones
to quickly distinguish between respective
outlets.
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
Test. Identify. Qualify.
User Manual
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for T3 Innovation Coax Clarifier TCC200
Summary of Contents for T3 Innovation Coax Clarifier TCC200
- Page 1 Coax Clarifier Test. Identify. Qualify. User Manual Coax Run Mapping Maps runs through splitters to show an accurate picture of the coax system layout using up to 4 Coax RF Remotes. Up to 12 ID Only Coax Remotes also available for wiremapping on home runs.
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Coax Clarifier Test. Identify. Qualify. Table of ConTenTs About this Manual..............1 Symbols and Icons..............2 Terms and Descriptions............3 Safety Information..............4 Accessories..............4 Design Features...............6 Coax Clarifier™ Description.............7 F-Connector..............7 LCD Display Screen............8 Keypad..............14 Operations..............16 Turning the Unit On/Off...........16 Automatic Power Down...........16 Cable Testing General Guidelines........17 Using Tone Mode.............18 Trace Cable Runs..............18 Measure Network Insertion Loss........19... -
Page 3: About This Manual
aboUT THIs ManUal The Coax Clarifier™ is a self contained, hand-held, battery powered analyzer used by contractors, repair technicians, and other authorized users. This device is used to quickly map coax cable runs, measure network performance, determine cable length, and locate faults in “Dark” (unpowered) residential and business cable networks. -
Page 4: Symbols And Icons
symbols & Icons The following symbols are used throughout the manual or in the display screen of the Coax Clarifier™ to help you avoid personal injury and potential damage to the test equipment (see Table 1). Table 1. Symbols and Icons symbol Definition Warning: Potential for personal injury... -
Page 5: Terms And Descriptions
Terms and Descriptions Table 2 defines the terms used throughout the manual and provides information to assist you with proper operation and understanding of the unit and its functions. Table 2. Terms and Descriptions Terms Description and Uses Coax Cable Video cable with a single pair (2 pin) wiring system. -
Page 6: Safety Information
safety Information To ensure safe operation of the Coax Clarifier™, follow the instructions carefully and observe the warning and caution messages listed in Table 3. Failure to observe warnings can result in severe injury or death and can damage the unit. Table 3. - Page 7 Table 4. Coax Clarifier™ Accessories accessory Product Description number 18303 Adapter, F-Jack to BNC Jack 18304 Adapter, F–Jack to Push-On Plug F-Connector Coupler, F81 18301 18306 F-Terminator Plug Cable Assembly, Screw-On F-Jack to TCA004 Push-On F-Plug Cable – 12” Coax RF Remotes ▪...
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Page 8: Design Features
DesIGn feaTURes ▪ Easy to operate ▪ One pass coax cable run mapping ▪ Tests through splitters ▪ Identifies open (unterminated) cables ▪ Extra large seven-segment, backlight LCD screen with icons that clearly display test results ▪ Displays coax cable run quality ▪... -
Page 9: Coax Clarifier™ Description
Coax ClaRIfIeR™ DesCRIPTIon The Coax Clarifier™, illustrated in Figure 1, has three main parts: the F-Connector, the LCD display screen, and the keypad. figure 1. Coax Clarifier™ f-Connector One F-Connector is located at the top of the Coax Clarifier™. The connector enables you to test and measure single cables and coax networks. -
Page 10: Lcd Display Screen
lCD Display screen The Coax Clarifier™ has a high contrast, backlight LCD display screen, shown in Figure 2 below. The LCD display screen shows the following: cable conditions, test modes and related icons, calibration icon, voltage detected warning, active signal warning, and battery capacity. Battery Low Icon Detected Remotes Voltage Detected Warning... - Page 11 ID Mode When the Coax Clarifier™ is set to ID Mode, the “ID” and “RF” icons appear in the top left corner of the LCD display screen. Table 6 describes the numbers and icons that appear in the display screen according to three testing scenarios.
- Page 12 Note: When the network quality is low, be sure that all cable ends are terminated. Unterminated cables result in signal loss. Use F-Terminator Plugs as needed to improve network quality. length Mode The “Length” icon appears in the left side of the LCD display screen when the LENGTH button is pressed.
- Page 13 Note: Refer to the Using Length Mode section to learn how to change the unit of measurement, adjust the length constant value for each cable type, and measure cable length. Quality Mode When the QUALITY button is pressed the “Quality” icon displays in the lower right corner of the LCD display screen and a bouncing ball activity indicator is shown in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Page 14 Tone Mode When the TONE button is pressed, the “Tone” icon appears in the middle of the LCD display screen and a bouncing ball activity indicator is shown in the lower left corner of the screen. The “RF” symbol will display to the left of the “Tone”...
- Page 15 The “Cal” icon flashes in the middle of the LCD display screen when editing the length constant value in Length Mode and during calibration testing. The Coax Clarifier™ performs a calibration and self-test pass before starting Quality or ID testing. If calibration fails, the “Cal”...
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Page 16: Keypad
Keypad The Coax Clarifier™ is equipped with seven buttons, illustrated in Figure 9. Four buttons, appearing in the top two rows of the keypad, are used to operate test modes (ID, Length, Quality, and Tone). Two Up/Down buttons are used to edit. - Page 17 Table 9. Keypad (Continued) button function Tone The Tone Mode button offers two types of testing: tone tracing (TONE) and measuring network insertion loss (RF TONE). Tone ▪ A short press of the button transmits a 0 – 1 kHz cadence from the unit through the connected cable.
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Page 18: Operations
oPeRaTIons To ensure safe operation of the Coax Clarifier™, follow the instructions carefully and pay attention to warning and caution symbols. Failure to observe warnings can result in severe injury or death and can damage the unit. Turning the Unit on/off Turn Unit on ▪... -
Page 19: Cable Testing General Guidelines
Cable Testing General Guidelines The Coax Clarifier™ tests several coax cable network parameters by measuring the overall network quality, determining the network’s insertion loss, identifying cable runs by sound, locating remotes, and calibrating cable length. Important Points to note ▪ The unit should be OFF when you connect a cable. ▪... -
Page 20: Using Tone Mode
Using Tone Mode Tone Mode offers two types of testing: tone tracing (TONE) and measur- ing network insertion loss (RF TONE). Setting the unit to TONE emits a cadence from the test unit through the connected cable. With the use of a tone probe, you can easily locate the cable carrying sound. -
Page 21: Measure Network Insertion Loss
3. Select a cable-tracing cadence by pressing the UP and DOWN buttons until the display screen updates with the desired tone. There are four cadences to choose from: HL1, HL2, Hi, and Lo. Whenever you change the cadence, the coax cable is tested for the presence of an active signal or voltage. -
Page 22: Calibrate Db Loss Meter
2. Press the TONE button. The LCD display screen shows the following icons upon entering Tone Mode: ▪ The test last used (TONE or RF TONE). ▪ A bouncing ball activity indicator in the lower left corner. ▪ The tone path: coax pin (P), coax shield (S), or both coax pin and shield (PS). -
Page 23: Measure Network Insertion Loss
to perform the test. These accessories will not be included in the loss measurement reading. 3. When the dB Loss meter is calibrated to the network being tested, disconnect the meter from the Coax Clarifier™. Measure network Insertion loss 1. Connect the Coax Clarifier™ to one end of the network and the dB Loss meter to the other end of the network. -
Page 24: Using Length Mode
Test individual splitters by connecting the Coax Clarifier™ to the splitter input (cable run through the splitter) and connecting the dB Loss meter to the splitter outputs (cable(s) exiting the splitter). Note: With a multiple output splitter, you may need to connect the dB Loss meter to each cable exiting the splitter to verify that each output produces a good reading. - Page 25 ▪ Cable type: RG6, RG59, or no specified cable type (the cable type field in the display screen will appear blank). ▪ Length constant value measured in pF (picofarads) per foot or per meter. The unit of measurement (feet or meters) defaults to the value last selected.
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Page 26: Adjust Length Constant Value
▪ The length constant value adjusts to the unit of measurement selected in the lower left corner of the screen. ▪ A moving bar activity indicator above the measured cable length remains on. Note: When the measurement is set to meters, the length is displayed fractionally in ½... - Page 27 Note: The length constant value last set for each cable type is stored in the unit’s memory. If you have not adjusted the length constant value for any or all cable types, the default values, shown in Table 11 above, will be stored in the unit’s memory. The length constant can be adjusted at any time.
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Page 28: Length Constant Accuracy
4. Press the UP and DOWN buttons to increment or decrement the length constant value. The capacitance constant range is 10.0 pF/ft to 40.0 pF/ft (33 pF/m to 132 pF/m). Press and hold the UP or DOWN buttons to quickly increase or decrease the length constant value. Note: While editing, the measured cable length (shown in the lower right corner of the display screen) updates as you adjust the length constant value to reflect an accurate length reading... -
Page 29: Using Id Mode
Using ID Mode You can use ID Mode to identify RF remotes, for coax networks with splitters, and ID Only Coax remotes for individual coax cables. ID Only Coax remotes should not be used on coax networks. Each RF remote has an LED light to indicate when the remote is responding to the main unit during testing. - Page 30 When ID mapping begins, the coax cable is tested for the presence of an active signal or voltage. A dynamic voltage warning is displayed until the detected voltage or active signal is removed. If not removed, the unit turns off automatically after 90 seconds.
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Page 31: Rf Remote Battery Life
4. Press the ID button again to run another scan of the network. ID mapping runs once when the ID button is pressed. Subsequent presses of the ID button execute additional scans of the network. 5. Interpret display results and trouble-shoot potential cable conditions (Open, Short, or Terminated). -
Page 32: Rf Remotes And Network Quality
Table 12. Network Quality Bar Graph number of bars network Quality (db) 0 – 9.9 dB 10.0 - 19.9 dB 20.0 - 26.9 dB 27.0 - 32.9 dB 33.0 - 39.9 dB 40.0 dB + In order to measure the return loss, the network must be terminated. If the network being measured is unterminated, the “Open”... - Page 33 1. Connect one end of the coax cable into the F-Connector coupler. 2. Press the QUALITY button to measure the network’s return loss. The LCD display screen shows the following icons upon entering Quality Mode (see Figure 18): ▪ A bouncing ball activity indicator appears in the lower left corner. ▪...
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Page 34: Maintenance
MaInTenanCe Coax Clarifier™ Battery Replacement 1. Remove the single screw on the battery door, located in the back of the Coax Clarifier™ towards the bottom of the unit, with a #1 Philips head screwdriver. 2. Take off the battery door and remove old batteries. 3. -
Page 35: Cleaning
Cleaning Use a damp, clean cloth to clean the test unit. Disconnect all cables from the Coax Clarifier™ prior to cleaning. Failing to do so can damage the unit and result in personal injury. Do not use abrasive, harsh cleaners, or solvents to clean the Coax Clarifier™. -
Page 36: Customer Service
CUsToMeR seRVICe Contacting Platinum Tools For technical information and customer support, please visit www.platinumtools.com or send an email to support@platinumtools.com. Contact numbers: Phone: 805-384-2777 Fax: 805-384-2778 address: 806 Calle Plano Camarillo, CA 93012 additional accessories and Kits Table 13 lists the pouches provided in the four kits. These pouches are used to carry your Coax Clarifier accessories. - Page 37 Table 14 Coax Clarifier™ Kits Kit TCC200 Product number Quantity Description TCR001 No. 1 Coax RF Remote TCR002 No. 2 Coax RF Remote TRK104 Nos. 1 - 4 ID Only Coax Remote Set in Foam Holder TCA004 Cable Assembly, Screw-On F-Jack to Push- On F-Plug Cable - 12"...
- Page 38 sPeCIfICaTIons Size: 17.3 x 8.0 x 3.3 cm (6.8 x 3.15 x 1.3 inches) Physical Dimensions Weight: 340 grams (12.0 oz.) with battery 4 AA alkaline batteries ▪ Standby: 4 years Power ▪ Active: 20 hours average ▪ Operating temperature: 0 to 50 °C (32 to 122 °F) ▪...
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Page 39: Warranty Information
Warranty Information activate your Warranty Register your purchase to activate your warrranty and access support information and receive notifications of product updates. Go to the Platinum Tools website at www.platinumtools.com/warranty. Platinum Tools guarantees that its products will be free of all defects in material and workmanship.