Paralan ST1000 SCSI Cable Tester

• Simple to Use - Fast - Inexpensive
• All tests are run from one end of the cable
• Tests: Continuity
• Tests: Integrity (Twisted Pairs)
• Tests: Bus Type and Termination Power
• Tests cables with High Density 68 pin (HD 68) connectors.
• Tests cables with VHDCI or 50-pin connectors with the use of adapters.

ST1000 is the world's only hand-held SCSI cable tester designed to fully test cable assemblies made to SCSI specifications!

At today's SCSI speeds continuity tests alone are no longer sufficient to qualify SCSI cable assemblies. Proper testing of SCSI cables includes a test for correct connection of twisted pairs and shielding. Continuity tests check only that wires are making connections on both ends of a cable.

Twisted pairs in the cable must be matched with the correct SCSI signal pairs – otherwise, it is possible to have a SCSI signal pair placed on wires that are not in the same physical twisted pair (see diagram below right). This will cause crosstalk with resultant SCSI errors.

The ST1000 SCSI Cable Tester is designed with an emphasis on simplicity of use. Connect a cable, press a switch and the LCD indicates the test results within 5 seconds. In addition to Continuity and Integrity, the ST1000 also tests to determine that the critical REQ and ACK signal pairs are located in the inner layers of the cable.

All tests are made with only one end of the cable connected to the tester. Therefore it is not necessary to remove installed cables.

Prevent Costly Downtime

When a SCSI system has a cable problem the symptoms vary greatly. Examples of problems caused by poorly made SCSI cable:

1. The most extreme -- the system won't run.
2. The system partially boots before stopping.
3. The system will run if an extra terminator is inserted somewhere.
4. The system will run with some lengths of cable but not others even though the total cable length is within SCSI limits.
5. The system runs slower than expected.
   * NOTE: SCSI systems can mask intermittent transmissions with SCSI "retries" and Domain Validation, which may reduce system throughput.
6. The system runs for long periods but will then hang-up.
7. The system runs for long periods but will then have errors.
   * NOTE: Specific data pattern combinations can cause errors if cable pairs are not properly assigned within the cable. Random intermittent errors or SCSI "hangup" may occur; resulting in excessive system installation delays and costs.