sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Where would 463A plugs be found in the field?

Awhile ago, I picked up a used Harris (now Fluke Networks) Spotcheck ADSL tester on eBay for dirt cheap. It's nothing more than a Westell modem board with another circuit board glued to it that accepts 6 AA batteries and shuts off the Spotcheck after 5 minutes of use (to save battery life). The unit has a test cord coming out of it with standard small alligator clips and this beige 463A test plug (plug has 5 pins arranged in 2 rows). I've never seen anything in the field, either at customer side or in the CO (VZ/Fairpoint to be exact) that this test plug would fit in. So where would these 463A connectors be used? Or on what hardware.

I ran across a site which sells adapter cables that look like this:

https://i39.tinypic.com/2r2rkwi.jpg

It's an adapter cable with angled bed-of-nails clips and RJ11 test jack. This would make a nice replacement for the Spotcheck test leads currently attached that aren't very friendly for what I need them for. I could cut off the RJ45 connector on the other end, and solder the wiring onto the board inside. Maybe even get some cloth wire covering to protect the cabling.

Reason I bought it is that it is helpful to have a modem to connect to the line in the field so that the tech back at the NOC can see the modem connected and get the stats from the interface off the DSLAM. Sometimes there aren't power outlets near the NID or in the CO and running a long extension cord is a pain.

Doesn't that connector fit into the protector in place of the 5-pin gas tube?


Looking at the Harris site, it looks like the Spotcheck has a "regular" line cord that ends in the connector and a couple of cheesy clips. Can you cut the cord, crimp on a modular plug, plug that into a cord coupler and plug your new test cord into that?

BTW, what is the source for that test cord? Looks interesting!

I have no idea. I haven't seen any of these 5-pin gas tubes.

After some google searching, there appears to be different models of this Harris (now Fluke) Spotcheck testers.

Here is a pic of the Spotcheck I have with the test leads I like to replace:


So my idea is to unsolder the existing test leads and replace them with those that I found online, as the ones shown there appear to have angled bed-of-nails + RJ11 test connector. I was thinking of doing this myself with some wire and some buttsplices, but I'd like something a bit more permanent.

PM'd you on the source.

I would just leave it alone and use it with a banjo. Those test leads are tinsel copper and you won't be able to work with it very well. Not sure about those alligator clips, usually there is a ring terminal crimped on the end of the lead that goes under a screw on the clip. If so you can just replace them with ABN's. Another option is to replace the test lead with one for a butt set.

-Hal

Thanks for the better picture - yes, that plug is designed for you to pull the gas tube protector out of a building entrance terminal, and plug in instead. That will eliminate any inside wiring from the equation when testing for DSL.

And, from your better picture, as compared to the website, they have used a nice cloth covered cord, so crimping on a modular plug is out of the question.

You could replace the cheap clips with angled bed of nails clips, then remove the 463 plug, use the leads to solder on a short modular line cord with a K-style plug, and cover it with heat shrink. If the leads don't already have spade tips on them inside of the 463 plug, you'd have to crimp on some insulation piercing spade tips to have something to solder to. I'd just leave the test cord alone at the tester side.

Interesting, I never knew what those types of plugs were for. I learn something every day!