The Tektronix 1502 Metallic Cable Tester TDR is a Time Domain Reflectometer engineered for precise fault location and characterization in metallic cables. By transmitting a step-rise electrical pulse and analyzing reflections caused by impedance discontinuities, the instrument identifies opens, shorts, crimps, kinks, shield defects, moisture ingress, and unterminated lines across coaxial, twisted pair, and parallel cable types. Maximum test range reaches 2,000 ft (625 m) with fault resolution as fine as 0.6 to 0.8 inch, making it suitable for field deployment in telecommunications, CATV, LAN, and power utility environments.
Technical Specifications
Electrical Performance
• Test signal: Step rise
• Output amplitude: 300 mV nominal into 50 Ω load
• System risetime: 200 ps (10% to 90%), equivalent to 1.15 inches / 2.92 cm
• Output impedance: 50 Ω ±1%
• ESD protection: 1 kV / 500 pF / 1 kΩ
• DC input protection: ±1 A
• Maximum range: 2,000 ft (625 m)
Measurement Resolution & Accuracy
• Distance readout resolution: 0.05 inches (0.12 cm) standard; 0.12 inches / 0.30 cm available; Option 05 provides 24 mm resolution
• Vertical scale: 0.5 mV/div to 500 mV/div
• Vertical accuracy: ±3% full scale
• Distance/division: 0.1 ft/div to 200 ft/div (0.025 m/div to 50 m/div)
• Horizontal accuracy: 1.6 inches (0.041 m) or ±1% of measured distance plus Vp uncertainty, whichever is greater
• Fault resolution: 0.6 to 0.8 inch (1502C model); 0.9 inch on short cables (1502B model)
• Impedance measurement: Resolves 0.5 Ω cable faults on 50 Ω cables (Vp = 0.66)
• Noise filtering: 1 to 128 averages
– Key Features
• Menu-driven interface with on-screen help documentation
• Backlit HyperTwist nematic LCD display with zoom capability
• “Ohms at Cursor” menu function for direct impedance readout
• Cable impedance and velocity of propagation (Vp) information screens
• Waveform storage for comparative analysis
• Vertical and horizontal delta measurement modes
• Rugged, portable field-grade construction
– Typical Applications
• Telecommunications cable plant verification
• CATV network fault diagnosis
• LAN infrastructure testing
• Power utility cable maintenance
• Coaxial, twisted pair, and parallel cable analysis
– Compatibility & Integration
Measures 50 Ω impedance cables; supports user-selectable velocity of propagation settings.
