WX500-PLUS

The most affordable tester for copper and fiber LAN cabling certification

Certify up to 10 Gbit/s on copper and 400 Gbit/s on fiber cabling in a few seconds

Fully upgradable to WireXpert 4500 with Category 8 Performance.

It is increasingly common today for electrical contractors to get projects for installing copper and fiber network cabling systems. WireXpert 500-PLUS allows you to maximize the value you can provide to your customers, without adding complexity or heavy cost. Your technicians can certify copper cabling systems from CAT 5e to CAT 6A (Class D to Class E_A) as well as multimode and single mode fiber optic cabling easily with WireXpert 500-PLUS, allowing you to produce professional test reports for your customer.

WireXpert 500-Plus for copper and fiber certification sets new standards for user friendliness, with touch screen graphical interface on both Local and Remote units. The innovative design combines superior
measurement accuracy with low cost of ownership and ease of use. WireXpert is geared up for certifying beyond the widest frequency range of 1-500 MHz.

Features
 

• Combined 500 MHz copper and MM + SM fiber optic tester
• Most advanced cable certification for all standards: Class D/E/EA, Category 5e/6/6A
• Accuracy independently verified by ETL
• Exceeds ISO and TIA Level IIIe accuracy requirements
• Endorsed by companies worldwide
• Many measuring modules available e.g. patchcord testing, Industrial Ethernet, RJ45, MMC PRO
• Perform extended Fiber certification for 850-1,300 MM and 1,310-1,550 SM Fiber
• Advanced reporting and documentation
• The only certifier supporting all data center, premise cabling and industrial ethernet requirements

Yes, starting with software revision 7.4, Softing offers upgrades also for existing WireXpert 500 copper testers to add fiber tier 1 certification.

First of all, there are different classes of fiber testers. The WireXpert 500 fiber only certifiers are full tier1 certifiers with traceable accuracy, complying to international standards doing bidirectional attenuation AND length test on duplex fibers on 2 wavelengths. This class of testers cannot be compared with cheap powermeter & light source devices found in the internet that only run an attenuation test on a simplex fiber in one direction only and also cannot perform length testing. Additionally, the WireXpert 500 fiber certifiers come “copper ready” and can be expanded to a full copper & fiber certifier when needed.

500MHz copper and fiber test licenses can be installed by the user using a license key.

For the 2500MHz copper test upgrade, users must return their unit to a service center for new factory calibration. The factory calibration is included in the upgrade price.

When no fiber optic module is attached during boot up, the fiber only certifier does not “know” which kind of fiber optic certifier it really is, MM, SM or MPO.
Softing therefore decided to show the license menu to remind users that only the fiber test license is installed on that device.

The talkset feature is enabled from version 4.5.1, please check your software version and update to the latest software version, if appropriate.

The device is connected to a power adapter and is being recharged.

Check if you have inserted the flash drive into the main “LOCAL“ unit. Your test results will only be saved in the main unit and data transfer is only possible from the main unit.

Once the Local and the Remote units are connected, the display of memory size will be synchronized and both units will display the same, correct value.

The device is connected to a power adapter and is being recharged.

The device is switched on and ready for testing.

The device is switched on/ready for testing and is being recharged.

Yes, this is possible from software version 4.7. An instruction on this providing an example can be obtained from our technical support.

Unfortunately, the sticker (ON/OFF) was accidentally reversed on some talksets, so these talksets will only work in the “OFF“ position.

Follow the steps below to use the talkset feature:

1. Connect the included talkset headphones via the jack plug to the Local and Remote units.
2. Make sure that the Local and Remote units are connected with each other and the red talkset icon is displayed in the top bar of the units.
3. Check the volume settings and that the headsets are also activated on the two units.
4. Touch the talkset icon in the top bar to connect the call. The units ring and after 3 seconds the call is picked up automatically. The talkset icon is green and a conversation is now possible.
5. To hang up touch the green talkset icon

TIP: If the icon is gray and the receiver is on-hook there is no connection between the Local and Remote units. It is not possible to make a conversation. Check the connection and insert the adapter once more.

This port currently serves to synchronize the units in AXT (Alien Crosstalk) measurements. When connecting two Local units, it is possible to coordinate the test sequence. Further features may possibly be added in future firmware versions.

By default the WireXpert comes with two adapter types to meet the requirements of Channel and Permanent Link measurements compliant for example with ISO/IEC 11801, CENELEC EN 50173-1, or EIA/TIA 568-C standards. Depending on which copper cabling you want to measure, you need the appropriate pair of adapters.

- Use the “CAT 6A Channel adapter“ with the RJ45 interface if you want to perform a Channel measurement.
Please bear in mind when performing a Channel test the patch cords are part of the tested cabling and have to stay in the cabling link after the measurement!
- Use the “CAT 6A Permanent Link adapter“ with the TERA interface if you want to perform a Permanent Link measurement.
Please bear in mind that in a Permanent Link test the patch cords are excluded from the measurement!

A set reference should be performed in the following situations:

- When exchanging the adapters
- In case of strongly varying ambient conditions

A set reference is conducted to compensate for the effects of ambient conditions in the Local and Remote units. External effects, as for instance ambient temperature, can affect measurement results, therefore a reference setting of the Local and Remote units is necessary. This will ensure maximum measurement accuracy of the WireXpert. Follow these steps:

1. A set reference depends on the adapter type used. Use the included CAT 6A Channel adapter or CAT 6A Link adapter for your measurement and proceed as follows.
2. Connect a CAT 6A Channel adapter and a CAT 6A Link adapter to the Local and Remote units. It does not matter which adapter is connected to which unit.
3. Connect the Local and Remote units via one of the included Permanent Link test cords.
Navigate to “TOOLS“ -> “Set Reference“ on the Local unit.
4. Start the reference setting. Wait until this procedure has been completed and an audible signal sounds, then you can continue and start your measurements.

Principally, this can be identified by the following features:

1. Broken connector latch (RJ45/TERA)
2. Opens
3. Strong blackening of the contacts or the screen
4. Broken connectors (RJ45/TERA)
5. „Contours“ of the RJ45 connectors at shield edges that are angular and sharp.
6. Highly varying measurement values

The utilization of worn-out test cords deteriorate the accuracy and reliability of a measurement! Make sure only to use intact cables. A missing latch on the RJ45 connector will reduce stability and contact pressure which also will affect test results.

TIP: Set up a reference link to verify the measurement values for reliability. In case of a variability of several dB, the device needs to be serviced (factory calibration, replacement of wear parts, etc.).

Yes, this is possible without any problem.

Make sure that you have selected the correct limit. The limit value of a higher Class cannot be reached with components of lower Categories and you will always get a fail result!
Another reason could be that the measurement adapters have not snapped in properly. There should be a clear clicking sound when placing the adapter. Remove the adapter and insert it once more.

Yes, in contrast to many other certifiers, the WireXpert can run tests and be recharged at the same time. You do not have to wait until the battery is fully recharged.

To localize cable faults proceed as follows:

1. Perform an autotest or a wiremap test from the TOOLS menu. The distance to the cable fault will be displayed for a short of two or more wires and for opens. Any reverses/miswires cannot be localized.

To localize frequency-dependent faults proceed as follows:

1. Perform an autotest.
2. Select the “Locator“ option
3. Select the desired Locator that matches the failed measurement parameter.
- The X-axis of the graph describes the length of the entire cabling link.
- The Y-axis of the graph describes the relative amplitude of the parameter at a certain place.
This allows to localize which component causes the failure of the certification. Shift the highlighted area as you wish to display the exact position.

None of the cabling testers or certifiers available in the market can do this. There is not any electrical measurement to localize this cable fault.