*** Buy a sniffer/sender direct from Sound Tools @ soundtools.com/products/sniffersender.php or shop for other cable testers at amzn.to/2o7JeBZ (this is an affiliate link that helps support the channel at no extra cost to you, thanks!)
I don't know if this is a different model or not, but I had one a number of years ago, well before 2010. Unfortunately, my briefcase kit grew legs, and I no longer have it. I should really order another one. As to other cable testers, I was never happy with the Whirlwind units of 15 years ago, and found that they had some quirks. The tester that I liked the most, which was also in the afore mentioned briefcase, was one from Miles Tech, which unfortunately is NLA, because I would buy another in a heartbeat.
I would love to get one. But broken cables are not common for me, since I only see about handful of faulty cables per year. And if I do have one, I replace it immediately or switch channels on the multi. Although pretty much all stageboxes I use these days work on Dante or Madi. After the replacement I check the faulty cable at both connectors. If I don't see any obvious soldering mistakes, the cable is tested back at the warehouse (read: thrown away). I still want the Rat sniffer though.
I think elimination of the power switch was a mistake. I have [only] the newer twist model and I'm never quite confident how far to turn it so it won't twist itself back on... or have the battery fall out. As a result I store it with the sniffer and sender physically disconnected from each other.
If you're running an analog audio over cat-5 snake, then yes. If you are talking about a digital cat-5 snake, then no, you wouldn't be able to test the continuity through that system with the sniffer.
Thanks Josh! It's totally worth picking one up... I've got my eye on the NL4 next, I think it would be nice to have in a pocket while flying arrays and dealing with NL8 to NL4 breakins and outs.
Hey Steve, have you ever seen all lights on one of these go red? I have the newer model than what you are showing here, so it has the single LED on the sender and for some reason all 4 LEDs are red when I connect a correctly soldered cable... This just started happening recently and I can't seem to find anyone else that has this issue. Just trying to figure out if the tester will still work, and the lights are inverted, or if I need to get a new one.
Hey Mike, sorry for not getting back to you over the weekend. I have not seen one do what you are describing, have you reached out to SoundTools yet to ask them? I know they'll want to know what's up & will make it right.
I posted a comment on one of Dave’s videos. He got back to me. Turns out if the lights are all red, the battery is backwards. I just couldn’t get it to work the other way. The secondary problem was that the spring was bent so that if the battery was in there correctly, it wouldn’t make contact. I bent the spring a little and everything works!
*** Buy a sniffer/sender direct from Sound Tools @ soundtools.com/products/sniffersender.php or shop for other cable testers at amzn.to/2o7JeBZ (this is an affiliate link that helps support the channel at no extra cost to you, thanks!)
that soldering rant was the funniest thing i've heard in a long time! thanks for the laugh and for your videos, love them!
Ha! Thanks for reaching out, it's great to hear people are enjoying the videos.
I couldn't stop laughing
Bought one of these from a friend at Rat Sound at NAMM a few years back; it's been invaluable to me since!
I don't know if this is a different model or not, but I had one a number of years ago, well before 2010.
Unfortunately, my briefcase kit grew legs, and I no longer have it. I should really order another one.
As to other cable testers, I was never happy with the Whirlwind units of 15 years ago, and found that they had some quirks.
The tester that I liked the most, which was also in the afore mentioned briefcase, was one from Miles Tech, which unfortunately is NLA, because I would buy another in a heartbeat.
Dave offers the whole kit now which allows you to test 1/4 in, dmx, and speakon cables!
I would love to get one. But broken cables are not common for me, since I only see about handful of faulty cables per year. And if I do have one, I replace it immediately or switch channels on the multi. Although pretty much all stageboxes I use these days work on Dante or Madi. After the replacement I check the faulty cable at both connectors. If I don't see any obvious soldering mistakes, the cable is tested back at the warehouse (read: thrown away). I still want the Rat sniffer though.
Like your idea of heatshrinking the code chart. I stole that idea for all of my sniffers! Good deal!
I think elimination of the power switch was a mistake. I have [only] the newer twist model and I'm never quite confident how far to turn it so it won't twist itself back on... or have the battery fall out. As a result I store it with the sniffer and sender physically disconnected from each other.
Ok so I'm really new to the whole audio thing. If you're running a cat5 snake would you be able to test your cables and connections with this tester?
If you're running an analog audio over cat-5 snake, then yes. If you are talking about a digital cat-5 snake, then no, you wouldn't be able to test the continuity through that system with the sniffer.
love your videos. ill have to get one now!
Thanks Josh! It's totally worth picking one up... I've got my eye on the NL4 next, I think it would be nice to have in a pocket while flying arrays and dealing with NL8 to NL4 breakins and outs.
Hey Steve, have you ever seen all lights on one of these go red? I have the newer model than what you are showing here, so it has the single LED on the sender and for some reason all 4 LEDs are red when I connect a correctly soldered cable... This just started happening recently and I can't seem to find anyone else that has this issue. Just trying to figure out if the tester will still work, and the lights are inverted, or if I need to get a new one.
Hey Mike, sorry for not getting back to you over the weekend. I have not seen one do what you are describing, have you reached out to SoundTools yet to ask them? I know they'll want to know what's up & will make it right.
I posted a comment on one of Dave’s videos. He got back to me. Turns out if the lights are all red, the battery is backwards. I just couldn’t get it to work the other way. The secondary problem was that the spring was bent so that if the battery was in there correctly, it wouldn’t make contact. I bent the spring a little and everything works!
I love your videos so much!
+Macdog1717 Thanks! I appreciate hearing that!
the same result is achievable making an adaptor and using a cat cable tester