The iMBAPrice RJ45 Network Cable Tester is a budget-friendly continuity testing tool designed for home users and occasional network installers. Priced around $10-15, it offers basic functionality for verifying cable connections without the bells and whistles of professional-grade equipment. While its plastic construction feels lightweight and somewhat flimsy, its affordability and simplicity make it an attractive option for DIY enthusiasts and homeowners managing small network installations.
Introduction
In today’s connected world, reliable network infrastructure is essential for both homes and businesses. When installing Ethernet cables or troubleshooting connectivity issues, a cable tester can be an invaluable tool that saves hours of frustration. The iMBAPrice RJ45 Network Cable Tester aims to provide a budget-friendly solution for those who need occasional testing capabilities without investing in expensive professional equipment.
As a home technology engineer with experience in various network installations, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate this tester across multiple scenarios, from basic cable verification to more complex troubleshooting situations. This review will provide a comprehensive analysis of the device’s functionality, build quality, ease of use, and overall value proposition based on real-world usage and customer feedback.
Product Specifications
- Compatibility: Tests RJ45, RJ11, RJ12, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, and CAT7 cables
- Testing Capability: Continuity testing, wire sequence verification, detection of opens, shorts, and miswires
- Power Source: Single 9V battery (not included)
- Operation Modes: Fast scanning and slow scanning
- Indicators: LED lights (1-8 for standard connections, G for shield)
- Construction: Plastic housing
- Components: Main unit and detachable remote unit
- Weight: Lightweight (exact specifications not provided)
- Dimensions: Compact, pocket-sized (exact specifications not provided)
Design and Build Quality
Physical Construction
The iMBAPrice cable tester features a simple, utilitarian design with a two-piece construction: a main testing unit and a detachable remote unit. The remote unit slots neatly into the main unit for storage, making it compact and easy to carry. The overall construction is lightweight plastic, which feels appropriate given its budget price point.
The plastic housing is functional but doesn’t inspire confidence in long-term durability. Multiple users noted that the device feels “cheaply made” or “flimsy,” which is a consistent observation across budget testers in this category. The switch mechanism and battery door were highlighted as particularly vulnerable points that might break with regular use.
One user commented: “The switch and battery compartment door feel like they will break just trying to use them,” which suggests caution is warranted during operation. Another mentioned that the jacks “aren’t precisely cut out, so it’s hard to insert and remove the connectors,” indicating potential manufacturing inconsistencies.
Despite these concerns, many users reported that the device has survived multiple drops from ladders (5 feet or more) without affecting performance, suggesting that the housing may be more durable than it initially appears.
Component Quality
The RJ45 ports on both the main and remote units are functional but lack the precision of higher-end testers. Some users reported difficulty inserting and removing connectors due to tight tolerances or misalignment. The battery connection has been a significant point of failure for some users, with reports of difficulty removing the 9V battery after installation or damaged connectors upon battery removal.
One user described: “I found it impossible to remove the 9V battery. As you can see, the negative pole is stuck to the device’s connector. I could not disconnect without damaging the battery terminal.” This suggests potential quality control issues with the battery connector design.
The LED indicators are generally bright and visible, though one user mentioned that “the power LED will fry your retinas with its excessive brightness,” suggesting some inconsistency in component selection.
Functionality and Performance
Basic Operation
The tester operates on a simple principle: it sequentially sends signals through each wire in the cable and displays the results via LED indicators on both the main and remote units. The device has two testing modes: a standard mode (“ON”) that cycles through the tests quickly, and a slow mode (“S”) that allows for more detailed observation of each connection.
To use the tester, you connect one end of the cable to the main unit and the other end to the remote unit, then turn on the device. If all connections are good, the LEDs will light up sequentially from 1 to 8 on both units. If there’s a problem with a particular wire, the corresponding LED will either not light up (on the remote unit) or will glow brighter than normal (on the main unit).
Testing Capabilities
The iMBAPrice tester is designed primarily for continuity testing and basic wire sequence verification. It can detect:
- Open circuits: When a wire is broken or not properly connected
- Miswired connections: When wires are connected to the wrong pins
- Shorts: When wires are making contact with each other inappropriately
- Ground shield continuity: For shielded cables (indicated by the “G” LED)
It’s important to note that this tester only verifies basic connectivity and wire sequence. It does not test for signal quality, crosstalk, or other more advanced parameters that impact network performance, particularly at gigabit speeds. As one user aptly noted: “This works perfect to tell you that you have matching wire pairs on each end of the cable. What it won’t do is tell you that you have a viable CAT6 cable with the wires in the right ORDER. Wire order matters and this won’t tell you if you made a mistake.”
Another user similarly observed: “Only checks continuity, with modern pass-thru terminations this isn’t even needed if you check your work. Cannot detect kinks, unequal lengths, or other issues that cause problems in gigabit cabling.”
Detection Patterns
The tester’s LED patterns require some understanding to interpret correctly:
- Normal operation: LEDs on both units light up sequentially in the same order (1-8)
- Open circuit: The LED on the remote unit does not light up for the affected wire
- Miswired connection: LEDs on the remote unit light up in a different sequence than the main unit
- Short circuit: Multiple LEDs light up simultaneously
One important observation from users is that the main unit will always show the sequence 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 regardless of miswiring, while the remote unit will show the actual wire connections. As one user noted: “A mis-wire is ONLY detectable by watching the REMOTE end as the master end will always show the correct sequence 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.”
Performance in Real-World Scenarios
Users have deployed the iMBAPrice tester in various scenarios:
- Home network installations: “Great for those projects that you just need a confirmation that the wires are good. I used it when I ran new CAT6 cables to the entire house.”
- Troubleshooting existing networks: “Helped me diagnose the issue I had with one of the Ethernet outlets in the apartment – one wire inside the self-crimping connector got detached, dropping link speed from one gigabit to 10 megabits.”
- Cable verification after crimping: “After you make up a cable you just stick each of the ends into this device and it will quickly tell you if you’ve got any wires switched.”
- Cable tracing in buildings: “I used this tester to figure out which cables went to which rooms of the house, and also make sure the cables were in good working order.”
- Security system installations: “As a DYI’r I bought this to install some cat6 cable for a security system and what’s really cool about it is they’ll tell you the individual cables that have a connection issue.”
Ease of Use
The iMBAPrice tester is designed to be straightforward and intuitive, requiring minimal technical expertise to operate. Most users found the device easy to use once they understood the basic principles of operation.
The included instruction manual received nearly universal criticism for its poor translation and confusing explanations. One user described it as “hilarious” but “useless,” noting that sentences like “Any disobeys may also lead to permanent damage of the tester end” were difficult to interpret. Fortunately, the device’s simple operation means most users can figure it out without detailed instructions.
The two testing speeds (normal and slow) received mixed feedback. Some users found the slow mode helpful for more careful observation, while others saw little practical difference between the two modes.
The detachable remote unit was frequently praised for its practical utility when testing cables installed in walls or between rooms: “I like that you can have the sending unit on one end of the cable and the other where ever the other end is. So you can wire up your cable and test when one end is way over at a different place with the receiver end.”
Reliability and Durability
Long-term reliability is a mixed bag for the iMBAPrice tester. Many users reported continued functionality after years of occasional use, while others experienced premature failures, particularly with LEDs 4 and 5 on the remote unit.
Several users reported the same specific failure mode: “Tester showed problems with lights #4 (main box LED lights up, remote box LED doesn’t light) & #5 (neither box lights up).” This consistent failure pattern suggests a potential design flaw rather than random manufacturing defects.
One user noted corrosion on soldered pins after a few years, despite storing the device in a dry plastic box, suggesting potential quality issues with the internal components.
Most failures appear to occur either very early (DOA units) or after extended periods of storage rather than heavy use, indicating that build quality and component selection may be greater factors in reliability than operational wear and tear.
Safety and Precautions
Several users emphasized the importance of disconnecting both ends of the cable from any active equipment before testing. The tester is not designed to be used on live circuits and can be damaged if connected to powered devices. As one user learned the hard way: “Never use this tester until the cable is disconnected on both ends.”
Another user shared: “I was testing a 75′ CAT6 cable… and a bunch of the LEDs flashed briefly and that was the end of the tester. Just to be clear, the other end of the cable wasn’t plugged into anything—I had just unpacked this cable less than a minute prior. There must’ve been some static buildup on the cable, and that was evidently enough to knock out one of the LEDs on the tester.”
These experiences highlight the tester’s sensitivity to electrical discharges and the importance of following proper testing procedures.
Value Proposition
At a price point of $10-15, the iMBAPrice tester represents excellent value for casual users and DIY enthusiasts. As one user summarized: “For the price, it is not bad. Serves the function it is intended very well.”
The value equation changes depending on the user’s specific needs:
- For home users with occasional testing needs: The low cost and basic functionality make it an excellent value despite the build quality limitations.
- For professional installers: The basic functionality and questionable durability make it less suitable, with one user noting: “Don’t bother if you work in the trades but for DIY it’s more than adequate.”
- For educational purposes: The visual LED sequence provides a tangible demonstration of network cable principles, with one parent noting: “The slow blinking LED light going sequentially from 1 to 8 held a certain fascination that went beyond just being entertaining. Now there is talk of abandoning a future in politics for a future in electronics.”
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price point ($10-15)
- Simple, intuitive operation
- Tests multiple cable types (RJ45, RJ11, RJ12)
- Detachable remote unit for testing installed cables
- Compact, portable design
- LED indicators for easy fault identification
- Slow mode option for detailed observation
- Saves significant time compared to manual testing with a multimeter
Cons:
- Lightweight plastic construction feels flimsy
- Questionable long-term durability
- Difficulty with battery installation/removal
- Poor quality instruction manual
- Limited to basic continuity testing
- Cannot detect signal quality issues
- Does not verify cable category compliance
- No protection against electrical discharges
- Consistent failure pattern with LEDs 4 and 5
- Inconsistent quality control
Comparison to Alternatives
The iMBAPrice tester sits at the lowest end of the network tester market. Professional-grade testers with advanced features like signal quality testing, length measurement, and detailed diagnostics typically cost $300-2,500, putting them far outside the budget of casual users.
For basic continuity testing, the iMBAPrice competes with similar budget models that appear to share the same internal design despite different branding. As one user observed: “I found a bunch that although different colors and brand names, they were obviously all the same piece, built by the same manufacturer. Pricing was all over, between $8.99 to $29.99.”
The next step up would typically be testers in the $50-100 range that offer more robust construction and additional features like cable length measurement, but these still focus primarily on physical connectivity rather than signal quality.
Best Use Cases
Based on user experiences, the iMBAPrice tester is best suited for:
- DIY home network installations: “Let’s just say this thing is simple to use, and worked perfectly to test all 6 circuits. It took no time at all to know that I didn’t damage any wires from stapling or handling.”
- Occasional cable verification: “All I wanted was an easy way to quickly check the Ethernet cables that I put together, and this satisfies that need.”
- Troubleshooting basic connectivity issues: “It helped me find the problem with my net cable to a distant POE camera. Eliminating the need to replace the cable.”
- Cable identification in unlabeled installations: “Needed a tester for my new place that had a bunch of ethernet cables coming out of a junction box, none of which were labeled. I used this tester to figure out which cables went to which rooms of the house.”
- Security system installations: “I was installing POE cameras in my house and thought I had a bad camera or two bad wiring cables. This tool allowed me to troubleshoot and get everything working correctly.”
Recommendations for Potential Buyers
If you’re considering the iMBAPrice RJ45 Network Cable Tester, consider these recommendations:
- For home users with occasional testing needs: This tester offers excellent value and sufficient functionality for basic testing. The low price makes it a worthwhile purchase even if you only need it for a few specific projects.
- For DIY network installers: The tester will help you verify your cable terminations and identify basic wiring issues. However, be aware that it won’t detect more subtle issues that could affect network performance, particularly at gigabit speeds.
- For professional installers: Consider investing in a more robust tester with additional features if you’ll be using it regularly. The build quality and limited functionality of the iMBAPrice tester may not meet your needs.
- If purchasing this tester: Remember to buy a 9V battery separately, as it’s not included. Also, be prepared for the possibility of early failure and exercise caution when removing the battery to avoid damaging the connector.
Conclusion
The iMBAPrice RJ45 Network Cable Tester delivers on its core promise: providing basic cable testing functionality at an extremely affordable price point. It’s a practical tool for DIY enthusiasts, homeowners, and anyone who needs occasional network cable verification without investing in expensive professional equipment.
While its plastic construction feels lightweight and somewhat flimsy, and its functionality is limited to basic continuity testing, these limitations are reasonable given its budget price. Most users found it to be an excellent value despite these constraints.
The most significant concerns involve long-term reliability, with several users reporting the same failure pattern with LEDs 4 and 5, and difficulties with the battery connector. These issues suggest potential design or manufacturing inconsistencies that prospective buyers should consider.
Ultimately, if you approach this tester with appropriate expectations – as an affordable, basic tool for occasional use rather than a professional-grade instrument – it will likely meet your needs and save you considerable time and frustration when working with network cables.
The iMBAPrice RJ45 Network Cable Tester won’t replace professional diagnostics equipment, but it fills an important niche for budget-conscious users who need simple cable verification capabilities. As one satisfied user summarized: “It does the job and is way cheaper than the alternatives.”
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