Product Review: VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier
The Instrument Choice team of scientists regularly reviews new and popular products, so you can make more informed decisions when searching for the perfect scientific instrument for your application.
This edition reviews the VDV II Pro, a handheld, easy-to-use cable tester used to assess the integrity of copper cables often found in voice, data or video installations in domestic, commercial and industrial settings.
About Trend Networks
For decades, Trend Networks (formally known as Ideal Industries) has succeeded in its mission to create dependable solutions for the connected world. Devices in Trend Networks’ extensive range of innovative data cable and network testing equipment provide rapid, precise results under any conditions.
Introducing the VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier
The VDV II Pro is a cable tester designed for ease of use when assessing the integrity of copper cables in domestic and commercial voice, data or video installations - like telephone wiring, data network and video cabling.
VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier Applications
Professional network engineers and network cabling contracters and installers use the VDV II Pro for three principal applications:
- Voice: Support for 1, 2 or 3-pair RJ11/12 telephone cable testing
- Video: Tests coax cable through F-connector interface; and
- Cable: Testing of shielded and unshielded Cat 5/5e/6/6A/7 LAN cable.
VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier Features & Benefits
- Highly Accurate: The VDV II Pro utilises TDR to measure cable length and accurately provide distance-to-fault
- Rapid Fault Detection: The VDV II Pro identifies wiring errors almost instantly, providing comprehensive details on such faults as opens, shorts, crossovers and split pairs.
- Intelligent: The integrated RJ11/RJ12 (voice), RJ45 (data), and F-Type (video) connectors on the VDV II Pro allow faster testing of most types of low-voltage cables, eliminating the need for separate testers or adapters.
- Service Running Determination: By detecting the presence of voltage and checking polarity, the VDV II Pro quickly determines which media service (e.g., ISDN, PBX and PoE) currently runs over the cable. This feature facilitates a quick diagnosis.
- RJ-11, RJ-12, RJ-45 and COAX ports: Multiple ports for verification of low voltage copper cables.
- Analog Tone Generator: Easily identify and trace cables with a compatible inductive tone probe (optional).
- Media Service Detection: Identifies analogue (PBX) and digital (ISDN) telephone services.
- Voltage Protection: Be confident you are testing cables safely. The VDV II Pro disables cable testing if >2V is detected.
- Single Screen Results: View instantaneous measurements on the VDV II Pro's large 2.9" backlit display.
- Distance to Open / Short (TDR): Pinpoints cable faults eliminating unnecessary guesswork.
- PoE Detection: Use the VDV II Pro for straightforward PoE service detection with voltage information.
- Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A, Cat 7, UTP and STP Testing: Support for all standard LAN cables (TIA 568A/B wiring schemes).
- Ethernet Detection: The VDV II Pro displays network rate and duplex information.
VDV II Pro Kit Components
The following components are included with the VDV II Pro to ensure detailed cable verification in a vast range of applications.
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VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier Key Specifications
VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier Specifications |
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VDV II Pro Length Measurement Specifications |
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Length to Open Circuit Pair |
Yes |
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Length to Short Circuit Pair |
Yes |
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Length Units |
m / ft |
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NVP Range |
59% to 89% |
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Accuracy (Correct pF/m or NVP set) |
±5% ±0.5m/1.5ft |
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Resolution |
0.1m/0.5ft |
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Length Range |
0.3-450m |
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VDV II Pro Voltage Detection and Measurement Specifications |
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Maximum Withstand Voltage (Test Unit) |
60V (continuous) |
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Maximum Withstand Voltage (Termination) |
10V |
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Voltage Warning |
>-2V |
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Voltage Measurement |
Yes |
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Accuracy |
± 1V |
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Resolution |
± 1V |
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VDV II Pro Tone generator Specifications |
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Number of tones |
8 |
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Applied to |
All pins |
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Level (peak to peak) |
-5V |
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VDV II Pro Ethernet Operation Specifications |
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Ethernet device detection |
Yes |
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Hub blink function |
Yes |
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Ethernet service detection |
Line rate (10Mb/s, 100Mb/s, 1Gb/s) |
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VDV II Pro General Specifications |
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Test Ports |
· 6 pin RJ12 socket for RJ11, RJ12, RJ14 or RJ24 voice cable testing · 75Ω F-Coax socket for video cable testing · 8 pin shielded RJ45 sock for data cable testing |
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Display |
2.9” custom monochrome LCD backlight with adjustable timeout |
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Battery |
9 V Alkaline. |
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Dimensions (including dual-port remote unit) |
160 x 76 x 36mm |
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Weight (including dual-port remote unit) |
0.26kg |
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Temperature |
Operating: 0°C to 50°C Storage: -20°C to 70°C |
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Humidity |
Min: 5% Max: 90% non-condensing |
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IP Rating |
IP20 |
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EMC |
EN55022:2006 / A1:2007 EN55024:1998 / A1:2001 / A2:2003 |
Service Detection Specifications |
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Port |
Service |
Voltage |
Pins |
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Voice |
PBX |
>30v |
3-4 or 2-5 |
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Data |
PoE |
>30v |
1/2-3/6 pr 4/5 – 7/8 |
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PBX |
>30v |
4-5 |
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ISDN |
>30v |
3/6-4/5 |
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Conclusion
What do our scientists conclude about the VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier?
“The innovative VDV II Pro Voice, Data & Video Cable Verifier is overflowing with useful and advanced features. We highly recommend this professional device for almost any voice, data and video cable verification task.”
Need more information on the VDV II Pro? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist: Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
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