Platinum Tools VDV MapMaster (T119) — Instruction Sheet

Instruction sheet for the Platinum Tools VDV MapMaster™ (P/N T119) — a portable voice-data-video cable tester for RJ11, RJ12, RJ45, and F-connector terminated cables, with built-in tone generation for cable tracing.

General Specifications

• Dimensions: 6.4" x 2.8" x 1.4" (16.3 x 7.1 x 3.6 cm)
• Weight: 9.0 oz (256 g) with battery and remote
• Operating Temperature: 0°C/32°F to 50°C/122°F
• Humidity: 10% to 90%, non-condensing
• Maximum voltage between any two connector pins without damage: RJ Jack 66V DC or 55V AC; F-Connector 50V DC or AC
• Battery life: 9V alkaline typical — Standby 4 years, Active 425 hours
• Cable types: Shielded or Unshielded; Cat7, Cat6x, Cat5e, Cat5, Cat4, Cat3, Coax
• Maximum RJ cable length: 0 to 1,000 feet (305 meters)
• Minimum cable length for split pair detection: 1.5 feet (0.5 meters)

Maximum Coax Cable Length by Type

Safety Warnings

• The VDV MapMaster™ is designed for use on unenergized cabling systems. Connecting it to live AC power may damage it and pose a safety hazard.
• Poorly terminated RJ plugs can damage the tester's jacks. Visually inspect an RJ plug before inserting — contacts should be recessed into the plastic housing. Plugging 6-position plugs into the 8-position jack can damage the outermost contacts unless the plug is specifically designed for that purpose.

Battery Replacement

1. Remove the single screw in the middle of the back of the unit with a #1 Phillips head screwdriver. Remove the battery door.
2. Remove the old battery and disconnect the battery cable.
3. Replace with an ANSI 1604A, 9-volt alkaline battery (Energizer 522, Duracell Mn1604). Reattach cable and insert into the battery compartment.
4. Replace battery door and screw. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.

Display Indicators

• Mode: Top line shows the cable type test mode or tone generation mode.
• Pass/Special Cables: "Pass" lights for a properly wired 4-pair T568A/B data cable, 3-pair one-to-one voice cable, or fault-free video cable. "X-over" lights for a properly wired cross-over (uplink) cable; "Rev" for a properly wired reverse-pinned voice cable.
• Cable Faults: "Fail" lights only if the cable doesn't match a cabling standard. Open/short errors take precedence over miswires. "Split" lights if designated pairs aren't twisted together (an AC signal fault).
• Shield: "Shielded" illuminates when a shielded data cable is properly connected at both ends; flashes if there's a short to a wire in the cable (with pin number and "Short" indicator).
• Tester-End / Remote-End Wire Map: Top line shows tester-end pins in order, mapped to remote-end pins directly below. Dash lines on the remote line indicate short pins; missing pin numbers indicate open pairs.
• Battery Low: Symbol illuminates when nearing depletion, flashes when replacement is needed (results may be unreliable at that point).
• Location ID: In video or ID modes, shows the remote ID number or an "Open"/"Short" error.
• Voltage Detected Warning: The "Voltage!" icon lights if voltage is detected on any tester connector. A voltage check runs before every test; if voltage is found, no test runs — disconnect the tester immediately from the voltage source.

Keypad Functions

• Voice: Runs one test on the 6-position RJ jack; auto-off after 20 seconds. Press and hold until "LOOP ON" displays for continuous testing (useful for intermittent problems), until the O/ID button is pressed or 5 minutes of no change.
• Video: Starts the ID test for the F-connector (video continuity test is the same as ID test); loops continuously until O/ID is pressed or 5 minutes of no change.
• Data: Runs one test on the 8-position RJ jack; auto-off after 15 seconds. Press and hold for continuous loop mode.
• Tone: Sends an audio tone for the last-tested connector, using the previously selected pins/cadence. Press a different connector type button to change; press the same button again to change pins; press Tone to cycle cadences. Tone is compatible with analog tone tracers. VDV MapMaster™ auto-off after 60 minutes of no button press.
• Off/ID (O/ID): Turns off the tester from any mode. From off, starts ID test mode, scanning for all possible ID types (voice, video, data). Shows "ID" and a progression of "o" while scanning. If no remotes are found, "Open" displays. Loops continuously until O/ID is pressed or 5 minutes after last change.

Note: The RJ jacks share internal connections, so only one RJ cable can be connected at a time for accurate results. An RJ cable and a coax cable may be connected simultaneously. In ID mode, all connectors may be connected at the same time.

ID/Mapping

Press the O/ID button to start ID test mode. ID/MAP up to 19 locations at once with numbered custom ID remotes — Voice (RJ12/11), Video (coax), or Data (RJ45). Place ID remotes at one end, the VDV MapMaster™ at the other, and start scanning.

Wiring & Display Examples

T568A and T568B are electrically identical but swap the green and orange pairs. Either standard works as long as the same one is used at both ends of a run/patch cable — mixing "A" and "B" creates a cross-over cable.

• Split Pairs: A common wiring error puts all pairs in pin sequence 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, producing correct continuity but wrong pair placement (pairs should land on pins 3-6 and 4-5 in the middle for phone-wiring compatibility). Only the split-pair test catches this since continuity looks fine.
• Short and Open: Flashing pins with dashes on the remote line indicate a short; missing numbers indicate an open pair.
• Miswire with Unrecognized Continuity: A "U" for remote pin numbers indicates continuity that's neither a clean short nor open — can also occur if an ID remote is connected while in cable test mode.

Master Remote & Accessories

The Master Remote tests both Voice (RJ12/11) and Data (RJ45) networks; patch cables can be tested without removing the remote from storage. Extra master remotes can be used simultaneously if mapping is done first so each can be identified.

• Coax Remote Set (P/N T120C): ID/MAP 19 video (coax) cables at once with numbered custom F remotes.
• Data Remote Set (P/N T121C): ID/MAP 19 data (twisted pair) cables/ports at once with numbered custom RJ45 remotes.
• Master Remote (P/N T124C): Replacement/extra master remote(s) — map your network first to identify them.
• Toner Cable (P/N T125C): RJ45/Alligator cable for shooting tone via the data port; conductors terminated on contacts #1 and #2 (program tone on pair 1 and 2).
• NO-Fault Cable (P/N T126C): 7.5" RJ12-to-RJ12 patch cable with no-fault connectors on both ends, protecting the RJ45 jacks — ideal for mapping or shooting tone.
• RJ45 PortSaver (P/N 21025): Sacrificial cable to extend the life of the tester port by absorbing wear from repeated plugging/unplugging.

Manufacturer

Platinum Tools, Inc. www.platinumtools.com. ©2011 Platinum Tools Inc. All rights reserved.