Practice Test Geeks(DCI) Data Cabling Installer Practice Test
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Testing & Troubleshooting Flashcards

7 cards from real DCI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Testing & Troubleshooting flashcards as text

  1. A cable tester reports a 'split pair' fault. What does this indicate?

    Answer: Two conductors from different pairs are wired together at one end

    A split pair occurs when conductors from different pairs are used together, maintaining continuity but severely degrading crosstalk performance.

  2. What does OTDR stand for in fiber optic testing?

    Answer: Optical Time Domain Reflectometer

    An OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) sends pulses of light and measures reflections to locate faults and measure loss along a fiber.

  3. When testing insertion loss on a fiber link, the measured value exceeds the channel limit. Which is the MOST likely cause?

    Answer: Excessive number of connections or splices in the link

    Each connector or splice adds loss; too many in a link can push total insertion loss beyond the channel budget.

  4. A technician finds that wire map shows pins 1 and 2 are reversed at the far end. This is called a:

    Answer: Reversed pair

    A reversed pair (also called a polarity reversal) occurs when both conductors of a pair are swapped at one end.

  5. Which parameter measures the signal strength difference between the transmitted signal and the near-end crosstalk?

    Answer: NEXT

    NEXT (Near-End Crosstalk) measures unwanted signal coupling from one pair to another at the same end where the signal is transmitted.

  6. A fiber optic link fails the insertion loss test after cleaning the connectors. What is the next troubleshooting step?

    Answer: Inspect connector end faces with a fiber scope

    Inspecting end faces with a fiber microscope reveals scratches, cracks, or contamination that cleaning alone may not resolve.

  7. What is the primary purpose of a tone generator and probe in cable testing?

    Answer: To identify and trace cable routes without damaging the jacket

    A tone generator and inductive probe (toner/probe) is used to identify and trace specific cables or pairs without requiring access to both ends simultaneously.