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Finally, I know these aren't "hand tools" but a good line test set is really a life saver. I have a Sidekick, a Triplet Model 5 and a Dynatel 965. Funny you mention the Dynatel 965... after ajkula66 posted that you could pick up a Sidekick inexpensively on eBay, I got to browsing around and found a Dynatel for ~$100 and was wondering if it was worth checking out. Same seller had a Sidekick and a Sunrise Sundown xDSL pretty reasonably priced so I was kicking it all around. Looks like the Triplett can be had pretty inexpensively too... If you were going to just get one (or maybe two!  ), which would you go for?
"There is one thing and only one thing in which it is granted to you to be free in life, all else being beyond your power: that is to recognize and profess the truth." - Leo Tolstoy
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Depends on what kind of service work you do. We have a huge copper plant in western PA, and a lot of independent telcos who still have a lot of POTS lines serving customers. The Dynatel will perform all the basic tests automatically and it is reliable, however, 3M does not support it and if you need service and can't repair it on your own, you have a nifty boat anchor.
I have had the Triplett for 25 years and it is my go to tester. It's light, does all the relevant tests and it uses components that are easily replaced. I use the Sidekick when I'm working at the coal mines. The copper lines are long and a sidekick will give a quick and dirty line test. You can also blow apart wet bridges and some cable faults to allow time to repair the problem properly. Of all three, the Triplett is my favorite.
Rcaman
Americom, Inc.
Where The Art And Science Of Communications Meet
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Cool, I snagged a Triplett for $75 shipped... Will probably grab some flavor of Sidekick as well but this'll get me started. Shame I won't have it for tomorrow - have to test some POTS lines that AT&T/VZN have already said were good. They /were/ working when we extended the demarc, now I gotta figure out what happened.
"There is one thing and only one thing in which it is granted to you to be free in life, all else being beyond your power: that is to recognize and profess the truth." - Leo Tolstoy
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My most used and favorite tool is my little tiny screwdriver.
Last edited by Coral Tech; 07/30/13 06:52 PM.
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here is my setup- ![[Linked Image from i1246.photobucket.com]](https://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg619/jefflocks/C9570F30-837C-406C-8BA9-B7AD1917E643-24365-00000768A4BFDB3F_zps3cd0f536.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i1246.photobucket.com]](https://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg619/jefflocks/B84D7186-D985-4AA6-BCBA-068844C2BD74-24365-00000768AAAE504F_zpsf2ae60c1.jpg)
Jeff Moss
Moss Communications
Computer Repair-Networking-Cabling
MBSWWYPBX, JGAE
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Arthur P. Bloom
"30 years of faithful service...15 years on hold"
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the bag is new
Jeff Moss
Moss Communications
Computer Repair-Networking-Cabling
MBSWWYPBX, JGAE
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Depends on what kind of service work you do. We have a huge copper plant in western PA, and a lot of independent telcos who still have a lot of POTS lines serving customers. The Dynatel will perform all the basic tests automatically and it is reliable, however, 3M does not support it and if you need service and can't repair it on your own, you have a nifty boat anchor. I have had the Triplett for 25 years and it is my go to tester. It's light, does all the relevant tests and it uses components that are easily replaced. I use the Sidekick when I'm working at the coal mines. The copper lines are long and a sidekick will give a quick and dirty line test. You can also blow apart wet bridges and some cable faults to allow time to repair the problem properly. Of all three, the Triplett is my favorite.
In my world, I've retired most of my old test equipment once I was issued a JDSU HST-3000. However, most of the folks around here will never need something that expensive to troubleshoot the messes that we leave behind for them...
My $0.02 only...
"...Time moves slowly and it goes so fast..."
(Sandy Denny)
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Spam Hunter
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I use a JDSU HST-3000 for FE and GigE circuit acceptance testing in our switch sites. It is a great test set!
Last edited by dexman; 07/30/13 11:20 PM.
I Love FEATURE 00
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Yeah my father-in-law is a lineman for Windstream and he has one of those on his truck... I keep suggesting he could 'lose' it as a Christmas present or something but no luck yet. =)
"There is one thing and only one thing in which it is granted to you to be free in life, all else being beyond your power: that is to recognize and profess the truth." - Leo Tolstoy
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