The Quick Answer
The Net Chaser Ethernet Speed Certifier sits between basic continuity testers and full TIA-compliant certifiers. It does the things a customer actually wants to see: proves the cable is wired correctly, measures its length, and validates that the link runs at the speed the customer paid for. For most low-voltage installers, that is exactly the right level of testing.
What the Net Chaser Tests
The Net Chaser runs four core tests in sequence when you trigger an Autotest. Each test isolates a different failure mode so you can pinpoint exactly where a cable is broken.
| Test | What It Checks | Common Failures |
|---|---|---|
| Wire Map | Pin-to-pin continuity and pair correctness | Open, short, reversed pair, crossed pair, split pair |
| Length | Cable length using TDR (time domain reflectometry) | Run exceeds 100m, length mismatch between pairs |
| Skew | Propagation delay difference between pairs | Skew exceeds 50ns, indicating mixed cable or bad termination |
| Speed | Active link negotiation at 100M / 1G / 2.5G / 5G / 10G | Link cannot establish at rated speed; bit errors during transmit |
Skew and speed certification are what make the Net Chaser worth carrying. Most field testers stop at wire map and length. Those tests catch about 80% of cable problems. The other 20% are subtle issues with bandwidth, signal integrity, or marginal terminations that only show up when traffic actually moves through the cable. The Net Chaser catches those too.
Initial Setup
Out of the box, charge the main unit and the active remote. Both have internal lithium batteries and use the same charging cable. A full charge on the main unit is good for roughly a day of continuous testing.
Configure your job
Power on the main unit and step into Settings. Set:
- Cable type: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, or shielded variants. The Net Chaser uses this to apply the correct length-of-velocity-of-propagation constant and the correct speed test thresholds.
- NVP (nominal velocity of propagation): Use the default for the cable type unless the manufacturer publishes a specific NVP for that exact cable. Set NVP correctly or the length measurement will be off.
- Job name: Create a new job for each customer. Test results are stored under the job and cable ID.
- Cable ID format: Choose between sequential numbering, custom prefix, or manual entry per cable.
Verify with a known-good cable
Before you start the real testing, run an Autotest on a short factory-made patch cable. The Net Chaser should report a clean wire map, a length within an inch or two of the actual length, and a speed test pass at the rated speed. If the verification cable fails, the tester is the problem, not the cabling. Power-cycle and try again before troubleshooting any field cables.
Running an Autotest
Autotest is the workflow you will use 95% of the time. Here is the sequence.
Connect both ends
Plug the main unit into one end of the cable run. For a horizontal run terminated at a patch panel and a wall jack, plug into the patch panel side. Plug the active remote into the wall jack at the far end.
Use a known-good patch cord on each side. The Net Chaser tests from RJ45 plug to RJ45 plug, so a bad patch cord at either end will show up as a failure on the cable under test. Keep a couple of certified patch cords reserved exclusively for testing.
Hit Autotest
Press the Autotest button on the main unit. The unit runs the four tests in sequence and displays Pass or Fail for each. The whole sequence takes about 10 to 15 seconds per cable.
If any test fails, the screen shows the specific failure. Wire map failures show a graphic of the cable with the bad pin or pair highlighted. Length failures show the measured length and the expected limit. Skew failures show the worst-offending pair. Speed failures show the highest speed the link could establish.
Save the result
After Autotest completes, save the result to the current job with a cable ID. The unit auto-increments cable IDs by default. Add notes if a cable failed and you re-tested after rework, so the report shows the final state clearly.
Interpreting Wire Map Results
Wire map is the first test in the Autotest sequence and the most common point of failure on freshly terminated cable. The Net Chaser shows a visual representation of all eight pins on each end of the cable.
Reading the wire map graphic
A passing wire map shows all 8 pins on the main unit connected by straight lines to the corresponding pins on the remote. Any deviation from straight lines is a fault.
- Open: A pin shows no line at all on one or both ends. The conductor is not making contact at the connector.
- Short: Two pins on the same end are joined by a horizontal line. Two wires are touching inside the connector or jack.
- Reversed pair: A pair's two pins are crossed at the remote end. The pair is connected, but with polarity swapped.
- Crossed pair: Two whole pairs are swapped between the ends. Usually a T568A vs T568B mismatch.
- Split pair: The lines look like they pass, but the pairing is wrong. The Net Chaser detects this by sensing the impedance signature of properly twisted pairs vs improperly paired wires.
Most wire map failures trace to a bad termination at the connector or the jack. For RJ45 plugs, see our RJ45 termination mistakes guide. For jacks, re-punch the offending pair and re-test.
Interpreting Length and Skew
Length and skew are subtler tests but they catch problems wire map cannot.
Length
The Net Chaser reports the length of each pair separately. In a properly manufactured cable, all four pairs are within a few feet of each other in length. If one pair shows significantly different length, you have either a damaged conductor, a junction in the middle of the run, or a crushed section of cable that has changed the effective electrical length.
The 100-meter (328-foot) limit is for the entire end-to-end channel including patch cords. The horizontal cable itself is typically limited to 90 meters, with up to 10 meters total for patch cords on both ends.
Skew
Skew is the time difference between the slowest and fastest pair. The TIA limit for Cat6A is 50ns over 100m. The Net Chaser reports actual skew in nanoseconds.
If skew fails, the most likely causes are:
- Mixed cable types: A run that combines Cat5e and Cat6 in the same channel will have inconsistent propagation speeds.
- Damaged cable: A crushed section can change the effective length of one or two pairs.
- Bad termination: Excessive untwist at the jack changes the pair's effective length at the termination.
Interpreting Speed Certification
Speed certification is the headline feature. The Net Chaser actually establishes a link between the main unit and the remote at successively higher speeds, then transmits test traffic and counts bit errors at each speed.
What a passing speed test means
For a Cat6A cable, a passing test means the unit successfully linked at 10 Gbps and transmitted the full test pattern with zero bit errors. For Cat6, the target is 1 Gbps over a full 100m channel, with 10 Gbps possible but not required for compliance. For Cat5e, the target is 1 Gbps.
If the speed test fails, the unit reports the highest speed the link did establish. Common patterns:
- Linked at 1 Gbps but failed 10 Gbps: The cable is technically functional but does not meet Cat6A spec. Usually a marginal termination or a length issue.
- Linked at 100 Mbps: Two pairs are working but two are bad. Check for opens or shorts on the unused pairs (4-5 and 7-8 are not used at 100 Mbps).
- Did not link at all: Severe wiring fault or no continuity at all. Check wire map first.
PoE Verification
The Net Chaser also tests PoE voltage. Plug the main unit into the cable behind a powered switch port and the unit reports the voltage and PoE class on each pair.
This is useful for verifying that an installed cable run is delivering power correctly at the device end. If a camera or access point is failing to boot, plug the Net Chaser into the cable to confirm the switch is delivering the expected voltage. If the voltage is normal at the patch panel but droops at the device end, the cable run has excessive resistance, often from a marginal termination or a too-thin conductor.
For a deeper look at PoE wiring requirements, see our PoE cable requirements guide.
Generating a Customer Report
At the end of a job, dock the Net Chaser to a computer over USB and open the IDEAL Networks software. The software downloads all stored results and lets you generate a PDF report.
Report contents
- Cover page with your company logo and the customer's job name
- Summary table showing each cable ID and overall pass/fail
- Detail page per cable with full wire map, length, skew, and speed results
- Pass/fail count and percentage
Customize the cover page with your logo before generating reports. A professional report with your branding goes a long way toward justifying the labor on a structured cabling job and makes it clear the testing was thorough.
When to Choose Net Chaser vs Other Testers
The Net Chaser is one of several testers in the lineup. Here is when to reach for it vs alternatives.
Net Chaser
- Wire map + length + skew
- Speed certification 10M to 10G
- PoE voltage verification
- PDF reports with branding
- Best for Cat6A jobs and customer documentation
VDV MapMaster 3.0
- Wire map + length
- Tone generation for tracing
- Coax and phone testing
- No speed certification
- Best for service work and basic verification
The VDV MapMaster 3.0 is the right tool for service calls, troubleshooting, and basic continuity. The Net Chaser is the right tool for new installations where the customer wants documented speed certification. Many installers carry both: the MapMaster for daily work and the Net Chaser for cert jobs.
For a broader comparison of testers, see our best network cable testers guide.
Recommended Products
Speed Certification
Validate every cable runs at full rated speed
Wire map, length, skew, and speed test up to 10 Gbps with PDF reporting.
Service and Troubleshooting
Daily-driver testers for installation and rework
For wire map, length, and tone tracing without full speed certification.
Tracing and ID
Locate cables in walls, ceilings, and panels
Pair with the Net Chaser when you need to identify cables before testing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Net Chaser actually test?
The Net Chaser tests wire map, cable length, skew, and end-to-end Ethernet speed up to 10 Gbps. It validates that a finished link will actually carry the traffic it is rated for, not just that the eight conductors are connected. It also identifies opens, shorts, miswires, split pairs, and PoE voltage.
Is the Net Chaser a true cable certifier?
The Net Chaser is a speed certifier, which is different from a TIA-compliant performance certifier. It validates active throughput at the rated speed but does not measure all of the parameters a TIA-compliant certifier reports. For most installers and for warranty purposes outside of large commercial certification jobs, speed certification is what customers actually want to see: proof the link runs at full speed.
Do I need a remote unit to use the Net Chaser?
Yes, for most tests. The Net Chaser ships with an active remote that plugs into the far end of the cable. The two units talk to each other over the cable to run wire map, length, skew, and speed tests. For pin map testing on a single jack you can also use a passive identifier remote.
How do I save and export Net Chaser test results?
The Net Chaser stores results in internal memory by job and cable ID. Connect the unit to a computer over USB and use the included software to download results, group them by job, and export PDF reports for the customer. You can also customize the report header with your company information and logo.
What does a skew failure mean?
Skew is the time difference between the four pairs in a cable. A skew failure means one pair carries the signal noticeably faster or slower than the others, usually because of a bad termination, a damaged cable, or mixing different cable types in the same run. Excessive skew prevents the receiving NIC from reassembling the parallel data streams, which kills throughput.
Certify Every Cable, Every Job
Stop guessing whether the link will hold 10 Gbps. The Net Chaser validates speed end-to-end and prints the report your customer expects.