Klein Tools VDV501-851 Cable Tester Kit with Scout Pro 3 for Ethernet/Data, Coax/Video and Phone Cables, 5 Locator Remotes

First and foremost, the build quality of the Scout Pro 3 is exceptional. It's rugged and durable, designed to withstand the demands of daily use in the field. The ergonomic design fits comfortably in hand, and the intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate menus and interpret test results, even in challenging working conditions. The functionality of the Scout Pro 3 is top-notch. It's capable of testing a wide range of cable types, including coaxial, twisted pair, and telephone cables, making it suitable for a variety of applications in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. The ability to detect wiring faults such as opens, shorts, and miswires with pinpoint accuracy saves me valuable time on the job, allowing me to quickly diagnose and resolve issues. One of the standout features of the Scout Pro 3 is its versatility. It offers multiple testing modes, including wiremap, length measurement, and tone generator, providing me with the flexibility to tackle different tasks with ease. The built-in tone generator is particularly useful for tracing cables in complex network installations, saving me hours of manual labor. The reliability of the Scout Pro 3 is also worth mentioning. It delivers consistent and accurate results every time, ensuring that I can trust the integrity of my cable installations. The included remote units make it easy to test cables at both ends without the need for additional equipment, further streamlining the testing process. Overall, I highly recommend the KLEIN TOOLS VDV501-851 Scout Pro 3 Cable Tester to telecommunications technicians and other professionals who require a reliable and efficient tool for testing and troubleshooting cables. Its exceptional build quality, functionality, versatility, reliability, and ease of use make it a standout choice in the market.

Very good piece of kit for networking very happy with it..

Very good quality

The tester is a decent starter package for ethernet cable work but doesn't run from the box without jumper cables (shielded best but un-shielded will allow wire testing), if you're using this, you probably have some short patch leads. The 5 included LAN map ID plugs helped identify the connected ports at the patch panel, but these don't work with the wire test function, for which just one Test-N-Map module is included (the self store item), using just 1 of these meant lots of return trips to swap between outlets and patch panel. Additional kit of 5 costs over £100! Consider which kit to purchase if you want to use 6 modules simultaneously. Build/design.. Not a bad feel initially, but as another reviewer mentioned, the battery compartment is not deep enough. The only way the battery can be fitted causes it to press against the battery power lead when the cover is replaced. Cable test... I purchased this and the cable tracer probe to help identify and locate a fault in an ethernet Cat 6a shielded S/ftp cable which wasn't resolved by reworking connections at each end. The cable test function quickly confirmed an open circuit in a line pair. Tone Generator/Cable Tracing... Unfortunately, the tester tone generator and additional probe couldn't work to trace and locate the fault through the shielded cable or to identify the cable in a bundle! The signal was being attenuated by the shielding. The tester allows selection over which wires to send the test signal, none of the options produce a traceable signal along the outer insulation of shielded wire. Perhaps for cable identifying, users could modify a jumper lead to connect the shield as if it was a signal wire (only for tracing cables). I'll try this later. Most of what I use is shielded, if a modified jumper lead doesn't work, it isn't suitable for the purpose and I'll return the probe. Line length... By default the tester was set to imperial units, measuring cable lines in feet, it can be set to metres, but the resolution is only whole units ( 1mtr is more than 3'). I used line length measurement to compare wire pair lengths from each end, this revealed that lines 1&2 were 4 metres shorter than the the other pairs.... result! The fault was approx 4metres (3-5mtr) along a new line which may have been stressed (by me) during installation. Using the tester alone allowed me roughly locate and plan access to join and replace just 5mtr of cable on a 20mtr run, but only because I was able to manually trace the cable from the outlet. POE... This tester (the 851) doesn't appreciate POE, and can't test it. leads must be disconnected from the switch, hub etc before testing. A later model includes this function and has a specific port for POE testing, but I've only seen it in expensive kits. My review has ended up on both the 851 and 852 models desired Improvements- The POE compatible unit is very similar, how about discontinuing this 851 model? Cable tracing- Include option to Inject the signal to the shield Improve test signal power when sending signal through all wires (more wires produce weaker signal) Improve cable length resolution to 1 decimal when set in metres

Excellent piece of kit and a very good price. The feature set on the scout pro 3 is very good as it encompasses a cable tester, cable toner, cable length guide, and also tests cable for rj11 and coax. Having the ability to run cable length tests on each cable pair is very handy as this will give an idea where the fault lies if the cable tester reports a fault on a particular conductor. Having the ability to tone from this device as well (paired with the klein probe) is a very good feature as it means you don't have to carry lots of different testers in your tool bag. One other great feature is the HUB blink option. When plugged into a wall port that is plugged into a switch, the HUB blink mode will slowly flash the link light to identify where the other end of the cable is connected. Overall this has a large number of features that mean you only need to carry one tool in your bag to fault find or verify cables. Thaddeus benefit of a back-light also means you can read the results in low light conditions where ever you may be.

Very good for use recomand 100%

Brilliant at first but has been intermittent recently .The remote is faulty and when testing cables you have to hold the remote in a certain position for it to register.Going to see if they sell spares to replace unit.This is kept in a separate pouch in my tool bag and is looked after .

Works very well, has saved me a lot of time while installing a wired home network. Would recommend.

Great product

It worked for few days, after that always gives Failed POE hight voltage even if the the cable working fine and Fluke device showed the connection is Passed. Also measuring the cable distance keeps changing each few seconds

Muito boa ferramenta, ajuda bastante e é simples de operar. Gosto bastante da marca, tenho um multímetro Klein Tools já fazem 10 anos!

This is a really great addition to anyone doing Cat (x) cabling with lots of useful info, which pins are shorted, crossed, no contact etc. loop back function with toner, 5 mini loop back plugs really assist finding which wires go where on a patch panel. Maybe not high end Fluke quality, but not nearly as expensive and a huge upgrade from the cheapo units found everywhere.

This is a really great tester. Having the ability to identify lines when you have a bunch of drops was fantastic. I used it to debug a flaky line that had break near the connector. I could watch the lines drop in and out and identify the issue quickly. The built in remote (ID 1) is detached from the unit and checks phone, ethernet and coax. With this you can verify proper pair connectivity and wire length. The kit also came with 5 identifier units (ID1 - ID5) for both coax and ethernet, but these are only checking wire pair 3-6. I kinda wish they had given ID2 through ID6 and I could have used the main unit as an extra connectivity check, but 5 is better than 1. Unit is really solid and comfortable to hold. The display is simple, but easy to read and backlit on demand, so very useful when in the bottom of a wiring closet. This is a tool I wish I had gotten a long time ago. It takes the guesswork out of small issues and can really save some time for those bigger jobs.