Today’s post is a buyer’s guide to the FLIR i-series cameras (the first in a series of six by me) and also a summary of the key points outlined in FLIR’s new “How to Choose” series of videos.

                Managing an Ethernet Network System can be very disheartening depending on the size of the system. Most systems are housed in a central location with cables running wild as if Hulkamania was in full effect. (You’d have to say your prayers and eat your vitamins to find anything.) Being able to get accurate cable lengths or even seeing which cables run where can be a nightmare. T3 Innovation has developed the new CB300 Cable Prowler to make this task a lot easier.

      A life before technology does not seem to be a life I would like to live in. When I think about how people used to manage a client’s irrigation system, a system that they did not install, I can only imagine how labor intensive that could be. If a valve or wiring was buried how would you find it without using your best judgment and digging random holes? Thankfully, wire and valve locators have been invented to make that an easier task.

      Accurately finding network cable length, opens, and shorts is the bread and butter of many a business. The T3 Innovation SS200 Snap Shot does this perfectly, making it a….Snap. All bad puns aside, this lightweight (12ozs!) tester uses Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry to bring TDR technology into the 21^st Century.

Today let’s talk about inexpensive thermal cameras, specifically the Fluke TiS. As you heard from me previously, and know from being in the field, Fluke is a manufacturer at the top of their game. The Tis is Fluke’s entry level offering in the thermal market and it is, as usual, a solid piece of equipment.

Providing clients with proof that your work is installed properly is becoming more and more commonplace. Companies spend a lot of money to have networks installed in their offices and they want some guarantee that things are what you say they are. The Byte Brothers Real World Certifier does exactly that. In some respects, the RWC1000K is similar to the LVPRO3 that I reviewed last week. What I mean by this is that it will identify split pairs, distances to open/shorts and give you an accurate cable length.

This is a post in praise of Fluke. I honestly carry no bias in this and many companies make great products that are comparable in lots of ways. This post is just to let you know exactly what you are getting when you purchase Fluke, specifically their line of thermal imagers.

Even the most versatile tools won’t do everything. I’m sorry to tell you but the thermal camera that also takes electrical readings, tests fiber optic cables, analyzes combustible gases, and cooks you scrambled eggs hasn’t been invented yet. Joking aside, the lesson is that you need choose a tool that, while flexible, is tailored to tackle your specific job. So how do you choose a Fluke camera?

The Fieldpiece SMAN3 model has been discontinued.

Have you ever had $100 in your pocket and asked yourself, “Man, I’d really love a high quality Cable Tester, but all I have is $100”? Well, have I got news for you sonny! The VDV Scout Pro Tester Kit is a great Cable Tester and can easily be found for under $100.