Using a TDR also makes sense when you are dealing with longer cables and you have a break in it. Say you have a 50 foot cable with a break. If you can isolate where the break is, then you might end up with, say a working 40 foot & a 6 foot patch cable.... Otherwise, you either toss it or start cutting it, either at alternating ends, or binary-wise (cut into 2 25 foot lengths: 1 good, the other bad, cut bad 1 into 2 12 foot lengths, 1 good, 1 bad... and repeat....)
TDRs are also nice for checking out snakes to decide on repair strategies...
I always wanted a combined TDR & freq. spectrum analyzer to check & characterize cables...
But,. as I mentioned before, by the time you spend that kinda money, you can buy all the cable you want. Snakes too.
You almost had me with the snake, but again, I gotta point out, that snake problems are pretty likely to mirror cable problems, and so far my observed track record is that "Borked channel" is >99% like to to be "borked connector". And so far, my own used and abused snake has lived in that world.
Also, if you look at how cables are used, especially guitar cables, it's not hard to see where the physics is likely to fall. If the problem really is the cable itself, the likelihood is that it's going to be close to the connector, because that's where you're likely to have it break if the cable is yanked upon (which is the most common reason why a cable would break). This isn't rope, it's metal inside insulating jackets, and those jackets make for a lot of physical resistance and friction over distance. Also, closer to the connectors is where the cable experiences the most motion of the twisty turny type. Your other leading scenario will be if the cable gets pinched substantially. I have yet to see a catastrophic pinch NOT have a visible scar that says "Here's your problem!"
But whatever. Go ahead and write to Santa for a TDR if you want one, but my letter is gonna have a wish for better soundgear and a roadie.
While I don't have a purpose built one, I do have a 4-bay Tektronix 7844 'scope with a spectrum analyzer plugin, pulser, and fast preamp, which makes a fairdinkum TDR and spectrum analyzer, in one (somewhat big and heavy) box.
(no subject)
TDRs are also nice for checking out snakes to decide on repair strategies...
I always wanted a combined TDR & freq. spectrum analyzer to check & characterize cables...
Janice
(no subject)
You almost had me with the snake, but again, I gotta point out, that snake problems are pretty likely to mirror cable problems, and so far my observed track record is that "Borked channel" is >99% like to to be "borked connector". And so far, my own used and abused snake has lived in that world.
Also, if you look at how cables are used, especially guitar cables, it's not hard to see where the physics is likely to fall. If the problem really is the cable itself, the likelihood is that it's going to be close to the connector, because that's where you're likely to have it break if the cable is yanked upon (which is the most common reason why a cable would break). This isn't rope, it's metal inside insulating jackets, and those jackets make for a lot of physical resistance and friction over distance. Also, closer to the connectors is where the cable experiences the most motion of the twisty turny type. Your other leading scenario will be if the cable gets pinched substantially. I have yet to see a catastrophic pinch NOT have a visible scar that says "Here's your problem!"
But whatever. Go ahead and write to Santa for a TDR if you want one, but my letter is gonna have a wish for better soundgear and a roadie.
(no subject)
spectrum analyzer plugin, pulser, and fast preamp, which makes a fairdinkum TDR
and spectrum analyzer, in one (somewhat big and heavy) box.