Review on TRENDnet TC-TP1 Network Signal Testing Probe with Adjustable Volume, Speaker and Compatibility for TC-NT2 by Nelson Calafell

To provide you with my qualifications for reviewing this item: I am a Senior Systems Administrator with over 15 years of experience in my field. Over the years I've done more than my fair share of network installations, including contract network installations, ranging from SOHO to multinational enterprise data centers. I've used gauges, tone generators, and probes from many different manufacturers, including Fluke, Ideal, Greenlee, and a few unnamed Chinese curmudgeons. To say I'm familiar with network testing tools is an understatement. Now to business. I bought this probe and matching TC-NT2 Meter/Tone Generator TrendNet Tool to replace a cheap Chinese cable tester and an old set of perfect tones and probes that were on the end of their life cycle after being used too many times over the years had fallen down. . I found it well packaged and well matched. Both the tester and the probe have similar advantages and disadvantages. Pros: #1. First off, it works exactly as expected. Put a battery in the meter, put a battery in the probe, connect the meter to the known end of the cable, send an audio signal down the cable and start sniffing the beam with the probe, and bye! Corresponding cable found with no errors #2. The compact size of the combined pair. The Probe itself is slightly more compact than many of its competitors, sacrificing speaker size in favor of compactness. #3. Audio speaker/headphone jack. The audio speaker is great for a new/quiet room configuration, but if you're running cables in an existing data center, this headphone jack is the ONLY way to hear the probe at all. I find this both good (headphone jack) and bad (low maximum speaker volume). #four. The pre-attached hand strap reduces the chance of accidentally dropping the sensor. #5. Much better than average overall, but the finish isn't exactly perfect either. The switches are reliable and work smoothly. #6. Low cost for a sensor of this quality and performance. There are cheaper sensors out there which I have used and been disappointed with. This probe is good value for money. #7. Includes replaceable probe tip. Bad: #1. Very thin probe tip. Another reviewer mentioned the probe being dropped and the tip broken. I see it happening. That's why they contain a replaceable tip. #2. Low speaker volume, even at full volume when using the internal speaker. That's why, as I mentioned above, it has a headphone jack and to be honest I prefer to use headphones with my probe in noisy environments. This helps me distinguish my probe from the guy next to me. I think this is a design compromise to make the probe thinner/smaller. #3. The case is made of cheap plastic that feels. Slightly better than most, but compared to, say, a Greenlee 701K or a Fluke Pro 3000. Roughly equivalent to a Fox & Hound set of tones and probes. Number 4. It doesn't come with a pouch/carrying case which seems a bit ugly. unusual for this type of instrument. Overall I am very happy with my purchase so far. When I first used/tested the probe in conjunction with the TC-NT2 Cable Tester/Tone Generator I was able to quickly and accurately locate the tinted cable in a series of 20 new runs. Shielded probe cables are known to cause problems with all tone probes. This probe is no exception. Some reviewers complain that this probe doesn't pick up a signal behind the drywall. I would like for the record that you must ignore these reviewers as they obviously have no idea what the Network Tone Generator and Probe is for. If a tone generator produces a signal strong enough to be received through a drywall, it will produce a signal strong enough to be received through every cable in the bundle, making it impossible to identify the specific cable that carries the signal and therefore eliminates the actual usefulness of the tool. Do I expect it to have the same lifespan as, for example, a Fox & Hound or a 701K? Probably no. But considering how often my network testing and termination equipment is stolen from me, the fact is that it will live long after someone with sticky fingers figures out how to steal it from me. With a low price, this theft will be a little less painful. Highly recommended.