New generation of touch screen TDRs for metallic cable faultfinding.
The most modern TDRs designed to locate multiple events along different metallic cables or pinpointing water-leaks in district heating pipelines
SPRINGBOK
Tracker series TDRs
What is the Tracker?
The Tracker is a multipurpose metallic time domain reflectometer (TDR). It is a cable fault locator designed to quickly and easily diagnose metallic cables. The Tracker series TDRs combine the latest technology and user-friendly operation, creating a versatile and accurate TDR. It uses square pulse widths with very fast rising and falling edges. This unique capability creates high frequencies that allow for the most accurate reading of small faults in the cable even at very short distances less than 1m from the source of the test pulse.
How does it work?
Using time domain reflectometry, or cable radar, the TDR transmits a signal down the cable. Impedance discontinues along the length of the cable reflect some or all of the signal energy back to the instrument. These reflections are measured and displayed on the Tracker’s color LCD touch screen as both a waveform and a numeric distance to the fault. The Tracker TDR will test all types of metallic paired cables for opens, shorts and impedance mismatch. It is also a perfect tool for monitoring and faultfinding on alarm systems of modern district heating networks.
New features
The Tracker series TDR is a product of Springbok Instruments, USA, whose founders created RiserBond over three decades ago – a world known brand of metallic cable TDRs. As compared to all existing TDRs, Springbok Instruments have introduced some revolutionary new features as standard: a high resolution color touch LCD screen and the Tracker Store – a unique system of storing up to 60 measurements, each file being a full waveform in all the available pulse widths regardless of what is on screen.
#01 Tracker Pro TDR
Key Features
- the most modern TDR technology based on high frequency energy test pulses
- locates faults (cable impedance discontinuities) for most of metallic cable types
- long testing range up to 16km on coax cables or 19km on district heating pipelines
- detects faults at very short distances – less than 1m with a 5ns pulse width
- high resolution large color touch LCD screen
- Auto-Search mode for ease of operation
- IFD (Intermittent Fault Detection) feature
- three measurement cursors and multiple marking system
- screen comparison of two measurements (live + Memory or Memory1 + Memory 2)
- intuitive interface combined with accurate diagnose & locating of multiple events
- unique „one-touch storage of all pulse width” Tracker Store System for 60 network tests
- Bluetooth 4 and USB connectivity to tablets and smartphones
- splash proof USB connection and Tracker View PC software at standard delivery
- updates of the Tracker Pro’s operating system & Tracker View software via internet for free
- increased operating time of the internal battery exceeding 9 hours in standard conditions
- rugged and field tested case
Typical field applications
- coax cable TV troubleshooting,
- telecom copper cable faultfinding,
- LAN network troubleshooting,
- LV power cable faultfinding,
- district heating network troubleshooting.
#02 TeleTracker TDR
Key Features
- the most modern TDR technology based on high frequency energy test pulses,
- locates faults (cable impedance discontinuities) for most of metallic cable types,
- locates Crosstalk on telecom cables,
- intuitive interface combined with accurate diagnose & locating of multiple events on a cable,
- detects faults at very short distances – less than 1m with a 5ns pulse width,
- maximum testing range of 18 km (8 different pulsewidths),
- high resolution 5” color touch LCD screen,
- impedance balancing 50Ω – 137Ω,
- Auto-Search mode for ease of operation,
- IFD mode (Intermittent Fault Location),
- Waveform Overlay function (viewing live cable or waveforms recalled from memory)
- dual channel mode including on-screen overlay of waveforms,
- LCD screen reverse color mode for better visibility at open sun conditions,
- unique „one-touch storage of all pulse width” Tracker Store System for 40 cable tests,
- splash proof USB connection and Tracker View PC software at standard delivery,
- Bluetooth 4 and USB connectivity to tablets and smartphones,
- 2100 mAh nickel-metal-hydride battery,
- rugged and field tested case and a standard carry bag,
- updates of the TDR’s operating system & Tracker View software via internet for free.
Typical field applications
- telecom copper cable faultfinding,
- coax cable TV troubleshooting,
- LAN network troubleshooting,
- LV power cable faultfinding,
- district heating network troubleshooting.
#03 Tracker Standard TDR
Key Features
- the most modern TDR technology based on high frequency energy test pulses,
- locates faults (cable impedance discontinuities) for most of metallic cable types,
- intuitive interface combined with accurate diagnose & locating of multiple events on a cable,
- detects faults at very short distances – less than 1m with a 5ns pulse width,
- high resolution 5” color touch LCD screen,
- Auto-Search mode for ease of operation,
- unique „one-touch storage of all pulse width” Tracker Store System for 10 cable tests,
- splash proof USB connection and Tracker View PC software at standard delivery,
- Bluetooth 4 and USB connectivity to tablets and smartphones,
- 2100 mAh nickel-metal-hydride battery,
- rugged and field tested case and a standard carry bag,
- updates of the TDR’s operating system & Tracker View software via internet for free.
Typical field applications
- coax cable TV troubleshooting,
- telecom copper cable faultfinding,
- LAN network troubleshooting,
- LV power cable faultfinding,
- district heating network troubleshooting.
#Software – Tracker View PC Application
Overview
TrackerView application for PC is a standard part of delivery while purchasing of Tracker series TDRs. The software can be used for deeper analysis of waveforms on a larger screen, printing test reports, and archiving measuring data – both for future reference and for comparing historical data with current measurements in the process of monitoring of various types of networks. The TrackerView application is very easy to use – its layout is basically the same as for the Tracker series TDR screen and its functionality reflects the TDR’s everyday use plus it gives some extra features.
Key features
The Tracker View allows the user:
- to download, manipulate, save, print and email Tracker Pro stored waveform files from field cable testing,
- to compare historical data with current measurements on the same screen at all available pulse widths,
- it also allows a port into the internet for free updating the Tracker Pro’s operating system.