NETWORK CABLE TESTER WITH LCD DISPLAY

BAZLINA BMTI BASARAHIM

This Report Is Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of Requirements For The Bachelor

Degree of Electronic Engineering (Industrial Electronic)

Fakulti Kejuruteraan Elektronik dan Kejuruteraan Komputer

Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia

May 2006
 ABSTRAK

Projek ini merupakan satu projek merekabentuk sebuah penguji kabel rangkaian
dengan paparan LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Penguji kabel ini berfimgsi dalam
mengesan kesinambungan dan sebarang masalah pada kabel yang diuji. Status dan
masalah pada kabel UTP yang diuji akan dipaparkan pada skrin LCD. Status dan
masalah yang dipaparkan akan membantu pengguna dalam menganalisa kabel yang
telah diuji. Output yang dipaparkan pada slain LCD adalah seperti 'good cable', 'open'
dan 'short' dan lain-lain. Ciri - ciri utama penguji kabel ini adalah seperti senang untuk
digunakan (hand-held operation). Penguji kabel rangkaian ini membolehkan pengguna
untuk menguji beberapa jenis kabel seperti Wayar Pasangan Berpintal Tanpa Bertebat
(Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)) dan Wayar Pasangan Berpintal Bertebat (Shielded
Twisted Pair (STP)). Projek ini melibatkan dua bahagian utama seperti proses
merekabentuk litar asas elektronik iaitu litar penguji kabel dan juga litar LCD. Selain itu,
projek ini juga memerlukan pengetahuan dan teknik mengenai proses rangkaian dalam
mengenalpasti status dan masalah pada kabel RJ45.
 ABSTRACT

The objective of thfs project is to design and construct a Network Cable Tester
with liquid crystal display (LCD display). This tester can be used to detect the network
cable continuity and polarity. It will be connected at one cable edge of the connection,
where the status can be displayed by using LCD. The status can help the cable installer
to judge on the installation and connection condition. Result is displayed on a backlit
LCD screen indicating continuity, opens, shorts, and mismatches. The features of this
LCD network cable tester are hand-held and easy operation, automatic power shutdown.
This network cable tester will test for several types of cable such as shielded and non-
shielded cables. The shielded and non-shielded cables include unshielded twisted pair
(UTP),and shielded twisted pair. This project requires electronic circuit basic design
about LCD circuit, timer and electronics simulations. Besides, this project also need
network installation knowledge and technique especially on the status and problems of
RJ 45 cables such as continuity, polarity, opens, shorts, and mismatched.
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The main objective of this chapter is to give the ideas about the whole project.
This chapter contains of several subtopics that contains of project overview, the
objective, scope, the methodology and the summary of the thesis. This chapter is also
including of explanation of the implementation process of the project.

1.2 PROJECT OVERVIEW

This project is called the network cable tester with LCD display. Network cable
tester is the perfect solution to testing installed cable and patch leads. This tester can be
used to detect the network cable continuity and polarity. Result which is the problems
of the cable such as open and short are displayed on the LCD screen. The features of
this LCD network cable tester are hand-held and easy operation.
13 PROJECT OaTECTIVE

The main objective of this project is to design a network cable tester with Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD). This cable tester is function to detect the network cable
continuity and polarity and the status can be display by using LCD. In this project, This
LCD network cable tester is hand-held and has an easy operation. Otherwise, the others
advantage this network cable tester is because it completed with LCD display which is
easy to interface, low power method of providing a display in this project. In this
project, the user will find that it is easy to read the cable status, continuity and polarity.
Besides that, the user will automatically find the problem of the cable either it is shorts,
opens or mismatch. Therefore, the process to reconstruct the cable will be easier if the
users know the problems earlier. As results, the user will save cost and time in doing
their jobs.

1.4 SCOPE OF PROJECT

Generally, the main goal of the project is to design and construct the Network
Cable Tester with Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Therefore, to achieve this goal there
are many scopes for this project, which contains many aspects. The scopes contains in
this project is about the network installation and techniques, hardware and electronic
circuit basic and the LCD programmable code.

The first scope is about network installation and technique. In this project, focus
will be given to the RJ45 cable and other cable such as UTP and STP.This project also
needs the characteristics, methods and problems of these cables. Moreover, this project
is design for people who involve seriously in network field. It is also an advantage for
people who are just learned about the network installation because this network cable
tester with LCD display will help them while testing the cable's continuity and polarity.

This project are also involves on hardware and electronic circuit basic and the
technique. The electronic basic involves on design the related circuit such as receiver
and transmitter circuit, LCD circuit, indicator and others. The processes are continuing
with simulation, modification and construct the circuit to the board. This project are
involved on PCB and casing design.

The third scope is about the LCD programmable code. In this project, the
PIC16F877 are used in order to program the LCD display and to make sure that the
circuit that had been design are function as needed. The software involved in this
process is PicBasic Pro and ICProg. This software is used to program the PIC.

1.5 PROJECT METHODOLOGY

In this project, there are several method involved in the implementation process.
The first methodology is by gain a lot of information. The information is from the related
books such as the microcontroller (PIC), the books about the network cable tester and the
books about LCD display. Otherwise, the information fiom the internet is another ways
on gaining the related information. The manual book and the datasheet about the related
IC that are used in this project are also another way of gaining the information. Through
the manual book and the datasheet, we can find the information about the pin
configuration of the PIC and the IC that are used in this project.
1.6 THESIS SUMMARY

Generally, this thesis is divided into five main chapters. The chapters are the
introduction, literature review, the project methodology, the result and finally the
conclusion and suggestion.

The fust chapter is the introduction of the project. In this chapter, there are five
subtopics involved which is the literature review of the project, the project objective, the
scope of the project and the project methodology. This chapter is discussed about the
whole project and the impl-ementationprocess.

The second chapter is about the literature review. This chapter will explain about
the information that had been used while implemented the project. The information is
used as a reference and guideline to make sure that the project run smoothly and achieve
the goal.

The next chapter is about the project methodology. This chapter will explain on
the method that had been chosen in implemented this project. All the methods that had
been chose must be implemented by sequence in order to make sure that this project is
organized and achieve the goals.

The next chapter is about the results. This chapter will show the results either in
pictures, graph and others. All the achievement in this project are then recoded and
displayed through this chapter.
 The last chapter is about the conclusion and the suggestion. The conclusion are
made in order to identify either the objective of this project had been achieved on not.
On the other side, the suggestion is made to improve the project in future.
 CHAPTER I1

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

The main objective of the chapter is to cover about the concepts and theory that
are used in this project. Furthermore, it is also to details all the information contains in
this project. All the information are used to solve and find the solutions if there are any
problems appears. Others, this chapter is also to guide from the theoretical and
conceptual aspects that will be implement in this project.
2.2 NETWORK CABLE TESTER

A cable tester is the most effective tool in certifying whether the network
wiring is capable of transmitting data successfully. Cable testers also known as Time
Domain Reflectometers which are generally compact, battery powered and handheld
devices. They attach to one end of the cable, send out sonar-like pulses, and analyze the
resulting reflections in order to diagnose typical problems such as bad connections,
breaks, shorts, opens, electrical crosstalk, incorrect wire mapping, excess collisions, and
so forth. In other words the network cable tester is physical-layer testing tools.

The UTP Cable Tester can be used for many purposes. It is mainly to test a UTP
network cables of course. However it can also be used to find the right cable in a large
bundle of identical looking cables. In fact the circuit can be used or adapted to test any
type of cable of any number of wires, provided that the tester is equipped with the
appropriate connectors.

The UTP Cable Tester consists of 2 tiny boxes which is a transmitter and a
receiver that have to be connected to each end of the cable under test. One of the
boxes contains a signal generator, powered by a standard 9V battery. The other box
contains 8 LEDs that indicate the cable's condition.

Receiver consists of 8 LEDs with protective resistors, and 8 regular diodes.

Their purpose is to provide ground level using the remaining wires (since they are
held low). Transmitter contains 8 control LEDs and protective resistors.
Theoretically, both the receiver and the transmitter should survive short-time
connection into a working telephone socket. Due to this protection, as well as power
consumption considerations, low-power LEDs need to be used .
 The principle of operation is very simple. A good cable will show a single
walking light. However, when the lights are lit out of order, it shows that some the
cables have been switched in one or both of the connectors. If one or more lights don't
light , its shows that one or more wires are cut. If two or more lights light up
simultaneously you'll know that two or more wires are shorted together.

Cable testing takes place within the Physical Layer of the Open System
Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. The Physical Layer defines the transmission
of bit through a medium, and standards at this layer specify electrical characteristics of
the signal, cable and connector pin-outs.

However, this cable tester has several disadvantages. It was unable to measure
dynamically because it could test only one wire after another and it was not good for
testing in the field since both plugs which is the transmitter and the receiver that were
located on the same unit. For example, it was impossible to test a test to a socket on
the other side of a building.

Figure 2.1: Network cable tester

23 UNSHIELDED TWISTED PAIR (UTP)

UTP stands for "Unshielded Twisted Pairs". UTP is probably the most
common type of wire used today. This cable consists of 4 pairs of wires, where each
pair is constantly twisted along the total length of the cable. This twisting is very
important, for it ensures interference immunity and low radiation emission. The
overall quality of the cable is very important, especially to run the network at
100MbitIsec and beyond.

UTP can support telephone, 4 & 16 Mbps Token Ring, Ethernet, 100 Mbps
Ethernet, Copper FDDI (CDDI), 155 Mbps ATM and others. UTP cable is rated by the
EIAITIA standards into categories.

Category 3 is rated to 10 MHz, suitable for Ethernet (10 Mbls)

Category 4 is rated to 20 MHz, suitable for Token Ring (16 Mbls).
Category 5 is rated to 100 MHz,suitable for Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s) and ATM
(155 Mbls).

UTP cable is generally wired in a star topology, with the troubleshooting

advantages associated with stars. Although most of the topologies listed above require
only 2 pair (4 wires), the specific 2 pair used varies by network type. Telephone
requires only 1 pair for a single line phone. If you install 4 pair cabling, it will support
any possible combination without requiring you to reterminate (put new connectors)
on each connection if you change network types.
 UTP is also found in the walls (in spaces called plenums) throughout most
buildings. It is used to complete the local loop from the building entrance to the
telephone wall plates in the rooms. UTP has found extensive use as a cheap medium for
the distribution of medium speed computer network data connectivity.Ethemet data is
routinely transmitted in a signaling system known as 10Base-T Ethernet in which UTP
cable is used for distances up to 100 m (328 feet).

UTP can be made with a variety of materials, sizes of conductors and numbers of
pairs inside a single cable. A particularly high quality UTP is called UTP-5. This cable
type has been used to support 100 Mbps Ethemet transmissions over distances of 100
meters .

UTP consists of 4 twisted pairs. The standard colors are:

whitelblue - blue
whitdorange - orange
whitdgreen - green
whitehrown - brown

Figure 2.2: The UTP cable

2.4 CABLE TESTING

Network cabling is hctioned to provide a medium for the transport of data

among users, servers, printers, switches, and routers. A cable blocking the flow of data
will seriously degrade or even halt network operations. The proper implementation of
proactive testing will help minimize network downtime and save a great deal of stress in
fixing cable problems. A cable tester is the most effective tool in certifying whether the
network wiring is capable-oftransmitting data successfully.

Cable testing takes place within the Physical Layer of the Open System
Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. The Physical Layer defines the transmission of
bits through a medium, and standards at this layer specify electrical characteristics of the
signal, cable, and connector pin-outs.

It's worth repeating that cable problems rank very high as causes of networking
troubles. Mechanical elements, such as cabling, connectors, wall plates, tend to fail more
often than active electronic devices like network adaptem and switches. It's also much
easier to make unnoticeable mistakes when installation wiring and connectors.
Approximately 85% of cable problems arise from the installation and these cable faults
come in all shapes and sizes. This may have a large or small affect on the network,
depending on which user or server cable was cut or improperly installed.
2.5 TYPES OF CABLE TESTS

2.5.1 Attenuation to crosstalk ratio (ACR)

The first thing to understand about testing data cables is the ACR. This stands for
attenuation to crosstalk ratio. The pink area in the graph is the attenuation. Attenuation is
the reduction in signal strength over the length of the cable and frequency range. The
blue area is the crosstalk. Crosstalk is the external noise that is introduced into the cable.
So, if the two areas meet, .the data signal will be lost because the crosstalk noise will be
at the same level as the attenuated signal. ACR is the most important result when testing
a link because it represents the overall performance of the cable.

3 ACF

Figure 2.5: Attenuation to Crosstalk Ratio

2.5.2 Length

The length of a cable is one of the more obvious causes of attenuation because
the longer it is, the more resistance it has, and therefore less of the signal will get
through. To measure the length, a cable tester uses Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR).
A pulse is sent down the cable and when it reaches the far end it reflects back. By
measuring the time it takes to travel down the cable and back again, the tester can
determine how long the cable is. To do this, the tester also needs to know how fast the
pulsed signal is traveling. This is called the Nominal Velocity of Propagation (NVP) and
is expressed as a percentage of the speed of light. The NVP is usually somewhere
between 60% and 90% of the speed of light, with most Cat 5E cables being around 70%.
Due to the twists in the cable, the measured length will be greater than the physical
length, so if a run looks like it might be over 80m it would be wise to check it before it is
tied up and terminated.

2.53 Skin effect

Skin effect is phengmena which happen at high frequencies where the signal tries
to escape from the confines of the copper and into the air. The signal travels along the
outer 'skin' of the copper which effectively reduces the cross sectional area of the cable
and therefore increases its resistance.

2.5.4 Wire map

The test is to ensure that the two ends have been terminated pin for pin. For
example, the pin 1 at the patch panel goes to pin 1 at the outlet, pin 2 goes to pin 2 and
others. The wire map also checks for continuity, shorts, crossed pairs, reversed pairs and
split pairs. A split pair is probably the only thing that requires an explanation here, as
they are undetectable with a simple continuity tester. This is because pin for pin they
seem to be correct and balanced line operation requires that the signal is transmitted over
a pair of wires that are twisted together. With a 'split pair' the signal would be split
between two different pairs.
2.6 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a thin, flat display device made up of any
number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It
is prized by engineers because it uses very small amounts of electric power, and is
therefore suitable for use in battery-powered electronic devices.

Each pixel consists of a column of liquid crystal molecules suspended between

two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing filters, the axes of polarity of which are
perpendicular to each other. Without the liquid crystals between them, light passing
through one would be blocked by the other. The liquid crystal twists the polarization
of light entering one filter to allow it to pass through the other.

The molecules of the liquid crystal have electric charges on them. By applying
small electrical charges to transparent electrodes over each pixel or subpixel, the
molecules are twisted by electrostatic forces. This changes the twist of the light
passing through the molecules, and allows varying degrees of light to pass (or not to
pass) through the polarizing filters.

Before applying an electrical charge, the liquid crystal molecules are in a

relaxed state. Charges on the molecules cause these molecules to align themselves in a
helical structure, or twist (the "crystal"). In some LCDs, the electrode may have a
chemical surface that seeds the crystal, so it crystallizes at the needed angle. Light
passing through one filter is rotated as it passes through the liquid crystal, allowing it
to pass through the second polarized filter. A small amount of light is absorbed by the
polarizing filters, but otherwise the entire assembly is transparent.

When an electrical charge is applied to the electrodes, the molecules of the

liquid crystal align themselves parallel to the electric field, thus limiting the rotation of
entering light. If the liquid crystals are completely untwisted, light passing through
them will be polarized perpendicular to the second filter, and thus be completely
blocked. The pixel will appear unlit. By controlling the twist of the liquid crystals in
each pixel, light can be allowed to pass though in varying amounts, correspondingly
illuminating the pixel. '

Many LCDs are driven to darkness by an alternating current, which disrupts

the twisting effect, and become faint or transparent when no current is applied.To save
cost in the electronics, LCDs are often multiplexed. In a multiplexed display,
electrodes on one side of the display are grouped and wired together, and each group
gets its own voltage source. On the other side, the electrodes are also grouped, with
each group getting a voltage sink. The groups are designed so each pixel has a unique,
unshared combination of source and sink. The electronics, or the software driving the
electronics then turns on sinks in sequence, and drives sources for the pixels of each
sink.

Important factors to consider when evaluating an LCD monitor include

resolution, viewable size, response time (sync rate), matrix type (passive or active),
viewing angle, color support, brightness and contrast ratio, aspect ratio, and input ports
(e.g. DVI or VGA).
 Figure 2.6: the LCD 16x2

2.6.1 LCD Module

The LCDs can add a lot to the application in terms of providing an useful
interface for the user, debugging an application orjust giving it a professional look. The
most common type of LCD controller is the Hitatchi 44780 which provides a relatively
simple interface between a processor and a LCD.

The 44780 standard requires 3 control lines as well as either 4 or 8 YO lines for
the data bus. The user may select whether the LCD is to operate with a 4-bit data bus or
an 8-bit data bus. If a 4-bit data bus is used the LCD will require a total of 7 data lines (3
control lines plus the 4 lines for the data bus). If an 8-bit data bus is used the LCD will
require a total of 11 data lines (3 control lines plus the 8 lines for the data bus
2.62 Three Control Lines Of LCD:

1. The EN line is called "Enable." This control line is used to tell the LCD that
you are sending it data. To send data to the LCD, your program should make
sure this line is low (0) and then set the other two control lines andlor put data
on the data bus. When the other lines are completely ready, bring EN high (1)
and wait for the minimum amount of time required by the LCD datasheet (this
varies from LCD to LCD), and end by bringing it low (0) again.

2. The RS line is the "Register Select" line. When RS is low (O), the data is to be
treated as a command or special instruction (such as clear screen, position
cursor, etc.). When RS is high (I), the data being sent is text data which sould
be displayed on the screen. For example, to display the letter "T" on the screen
you would set RS high.

3. The RW line is the "Readlwrite" control line. When RW is low (O), the
information on the data bus is being written to the LCD. When RW is high (I),
the program is effectively querying (or reading) the LCD.
2.6.3 Liquid Crystal Display Pin Description:

Table 2.1: LCD pin description

0:write to LCD; 1: read h m LCD RAM)

2.7 MICROCONTROLLER

A microcontroller is a computer-on-a-chip used to control electronic devices. It

is a type of microprocessor emphasizing self-sufficiency and cost-effectiveness, in
contrast to a general-purpose microprocessor, the kind used in a PC. A typical
microcontroller contains all the memory, peripherals and inputloutput interfaces
needed, whereas a general purpose microprocessor requires additional chips to provide
these functions.
 Microcontrollers are a component in many kinds of electronic equipment. They
are the vast majority of all processor chips sold. Over 50% are "simple" controllers,
and another 20% are more specialized digital signal processors (DSPs). A typical
home in a developed country is likely to have only one or two general-purpose
microprocessors but somewhere between one and two dozen microcontrollers. They
can be found in almost any electrical device, washing machines, microwave ovens,
telephones and others .

Microcontroller is a single integrated circuit containing specialized circuits and

fbnctions that are applicable to intelligent control based systems. The microcontrollers
are low-cost and high performance devices and mostly use Reduced Instruction Set
Computer (RISC) architecture. The core blocks of a microcontroller are similar to
those of a microprocessor . The main different between microprocessor and
microcontroller is that microcontrollers also incorporate on board RAM , EEPROM
for data storage), and peripherals, which would be externally interfaced on a
microprocessor system. This arrangement simplifies the design of microcontroller
systems. On the other hand, the peripherals are generally simpler than external device
and the amount of available memory would be much smaller.
2.8 PICBASIC PRO

The PicBasic Pro is the easiest way to program the fast and powerfbl Microchip
Technology PICmicro micro controllers. PicBasic Pro converts your BASIC programs
into files that can be programmed directly into a PICmicro MCU. The PicBasic Pro
Compiler features: BASIC Stamp I1 commands, direct and library routine access to pins
on PORTA, C, D, E, as well as PORTB, arrays, real IF..THEN..ELSE and interrupt
processing in BASIC.

The PicBasic Pro Compiler gives direct access to all of the PICmicro MCU
registers - VO ports, AD converters, hardware serial ports, etc. - easily and in BASIC. It
automatically takes care of the page boundaries and RAM banks. It even includes built-
in commands to control intelligent LCD modules.

The PicBasic Pro Compiler instruction set is upward compatible with the BASIC
Stamp I1 and Pro uses BS2 syntax. Programs can be compiled and programmed directly
into a PICmicro MCU, eliminating the need for a BASIC Stamp module. These
programs execute much faster and may be longer than their Stamp equivalents. They
may also be protected so no one can wpy your code

The PicBasic Pro Compiler is a DOS command line application (it also works in
Windows) and runs on PC compatibles. It can create programs for any of Microchip's
PICmicro micro controllers and works with most PICmicro MCU programmers,
including our EPIC Plus PICmicro Programmer. A printed manual and sample programs
are included to get you started.
 The PicBasic Pro Compiler can also be used inside Microchip's MPLAB IDE.
This allows programs to be edited and simulated within Windows. More information is
on the MPLAB page.

The features of PicBasic Pro:

True compiler provides faster program execution and longer programs than basic
interpreters
..
11. Direct and library routine access to any pin or register
...
111. Define own custopl variables, including arrays of bits, bytes or words.
iv. Real If..Then..Else..Endif
v. Built-in LCD support
vi. Oscillator support from 3.58MHz to 40MHz
vii. MPLAB I MPASM 1 ICE compatibility
... I2C instructions to access more external devices including serial EEPROMs
m11.

ix. Use in DOS or Windows

X. Supports all Microchip PICmicro micro controllers
xi. Uses 5- 10% less code space than standard compiler.
xii. Syntax is less demanding
...
x
11. Debug information can be generated for Microchip development tools
 PROJECT METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter will explain on how this project will be implemented. It is included
each process from the beginning until the end of this project. Each process and method
that had been implemented in this process are explained in details in order to show how
the process are.