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Net Chaser™
USER MANUAL
TM
www.platinumtools.com
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Table of Contents
Introduction.........................................................................................4
Kit Contents....................................................................................... 5
Optional Accessories......................................................................... 6
Safety Information............................................................................. 7
Net Chaser Description...................................................................... 8
Active Remote Description................................................................. 9
Net Chaser Touch Screen and Buttons.............................................. 10
General Operations.......................................................................... 11
System Settings...............................................................................12
First System Settings Screen (IP Setup)........................................... 12
Second System Settings Screen (Language).................................... 13
Third System Settings Screen (Display Settings).............................. 13
Fourth System Settings Screen (Time and Date)...............................14
Fifth System Settings Screen (Timeout Settings).............................. 15
Sixth System Settings Screen (User Information).............................. 16
Seventh System Settings Screen (Firmware).................................... 17
Eighth System Settings Screen (Firmware/Hardware versions)......... 21
Active Remote................................................................................. 22
Cable Test........................................................................................23
Cable Test Overview.........................................................................24
Cable Test Setup..............................................................................25
Cable Type.......................................................................................26
New Cable Type.......................................................................... 26
Edit Existing Cable Type.............................................................. 27
Select Cable Type....................................................................... 27
Cable Name................................................................................ 27
Ethernet Cable Test..................................................................... 27
Cable Faults..................................................................................... 28
Saving Cable Tests as PDF................................................................ 29
Saving a PDF Report........................................................................ 30
Saving Test List as CSV.................................................................... 30
Create a New Test List..................................................................... 31
File Manager.................................................................................... 31
Link Test.......................................................................................... 32
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Port Discovery.................................................................................. 32
POE Test.......................................................................................... 32
Tone................................................................................................ 32
Link Light........................................................................................ 33
BERT Only Test................................................................................ 33
Network Test.................................................................................... 34
Link Test.......................................................................................... 34
DHCP............................................................................................... 34
Ping Test.......................................................................................... 35
Trace Route..................................................................................... 35
VLAN............................................................................................... 36
Discovery Protocols......................................................................... 37
File Manager.................................................................................... 38
USB Mode........................................................................................ 38
Icon Glossary................................................................................... 39
Frequently Asked Questions............................................................. 40
Maintenance.................................................................................... 43
Customer Service............................................................................ 43
Specications.................................................................................. 44
Warranty Information....................................................................... 45
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Introduction
The Net Chaser Ethernet Speed Certier & Network Tester offers a
complete solution to test copper cables. The Net Chaser performs speed
certication to test the data-carrying capabilities of electrical Ethernet
network cable up to 1 Gb/s by testing for noise in the network, detecting
faults in the cable wiring, and ensuring that cables are able to support the
speed capabilities of active equipment.
To certify Ethernet speed performance of copper cable runs, the Net
Chaser handheld tester conducts Bit Error Rate (BER) tests by sending data
packets down specied cable runs at dened data rates to check for errors
at the maximum throughput of the link. The Net Chaser also reports on
signal quality that can impact high-speed data transmission by measuring
signal to noise ratio (SNR). Skew measurements report on the signal time
delay between pairs that can impact Ethernet data transmission. The Net
Chaser also provides continuity testing that detects opens, shorts, miswires,
split pairs, reversals, and high-resistance faults while accurately measuring
distance to faults and total cable length.
The Net Chaser includes a comprehensive set of features for testing
active network capabilities: measure Power over Ethernet (PoE) to ensure
the correct power is available on the correct pins, use Port Discovery to
ensure the correct speed and duplex capability are available; connect
at gigabit Ethernet and run ping tests to verify connectivity to IP hosts;
discover network devices using Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) or Link Layer
Discovery Protocol (LLDP); VLAN discovery; Trace Route function displays the
path internet packets travel to reach a specied destination. The Net Chaser
also saves test reports and exports to PCs.
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Net Chaser
The Net Chaser comes in one kit that will cover all your needs.
Part Number Description
Net Chaser Main Unit
Active Remote
Power Supply (2)
Network Patch Cables (2)
TNC950AR
NOTE
To optimize the life of the rechargable Lithium-ion battery, please fully
charge and fully exhaust the battery in the tester three times before
charging the battery at mid-levels.
RJ45 Port Saver Cables (2)
4GB SD Card
Micro USB Cable
Hanging Strap with Carabiner Clips
Large Carrying Case
User Manual
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Optional Accessories
P/N Description
T138 #1-8 Network Testing and ID Remotes
TRK120 #1-20 ID Only Coax Remotes (Not for RF testing)
TRK220 #1-20 ID Only Network Remotes (for Mapping only)
Network Accessory Kit includes:
(4x) 1ft. Network Patch Cables,
TAK030
TAR104 Net Chaser Active Remote with selectable ID’s #1-4
TP150 Tone & Probe Kit
TAK010 Hanging strap with carabiner clip
TPS120
21025C RJ45 Port Saver for extending life of modular plug
TCA015 24 inch cable assembly 8-way alligator clips to RJ45
TCA016 1 ft. Network patch cables
4007 Hanging pouch
18301 F-Connector Coupler (F81)
(2x) RJ45 to 8-way Alligator Clips,
(2x) F-Jack to BNC Adapter,
(2x) RJ45 Port Savers
AC to DC Power Supply: 12V 2.5A
Includes international adapter plugs NA/EU/AU/UK
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Safety Information
To ensure safe operations of the Net Chaser, follow instructions carefully
and observe warning and caution messages in this manual. Failure to
observe warnings can result in severe injury or death and can damage the
equipment.
Notication Denition
Warning/caution: potential for personal injury or
damage to equipment
Voltage! Warning: hazards could cause harm or death
Conformité Européenne. Conforms to European
Economic Area directives
Disposal Information
Warning!
To avoid possible re, electric shock, or personal injury:
• Do not open the case: no user-serviceable parts are inside.
• Do not modify the tester.
• Do not use the tester if damaged. Inspect the tester before use.
• The tester is not intended to be connected to active telephone
inputs, systems, or equipment, including ISDN devices.
Prolonged exposure to the voltages applied by these interfaces
may damage the tester.
• The Lithium Ion battery pack should be serviced by qualied
personnel. Only the original battery pack type should be used
with this product.
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Net Chaser Description
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Active Remote
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Net Chaser Buttons and Touch Screen
The Net Chaser features buttons and a full color capacitive touch screen to
allow for easy navigation
Touch an icon to select an option
Touch and drag a list to scroll up or down or touch the Up/
Down arrows
The Net Chaser buttons assis with Navigation, starting and
stopping a test
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Settings - The Settings button will display the settings menu. Pressing the
settings while in the settings menu will display additional menu screens.
Home - The Home button will display the home screen from any menu.
Back - The Back button will display the previous screen.
Test - The Test button will start/stop a test.
General Operations
On/Off
• Turn Net Chaser on by pressing the Power button
• Tap the Power button to put the Net Chaser in sleep mode.
• Press and hold the Power button to power the unit off.
Automatic Power Down
The Net Chaser automatically enters sleep mode to conserve battery power if
no input or activity is performed on the device. See System Settings on page
15 to adjust the length of time before the automatic power down occurs.
Net Chaser Active Remote
Check the Active Remote battery status and last test result by pressing the
Status button.
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System Settings
The Net Chaser Setup consists of eight screens to congure the unit to the
user’s preference. Use the Settings button to navigate through the
settings screens.
First System Settings Screen: IPV4 Setup
In the IPV4 setup screen, the Net Chaser’s network tests can be congured
to use DHCP or a Static IP addresses. The Net Chaser can also be set to use
a DHCP provided DNS or a xed DNS IP
• Turn the Net Chaser on by pressing the Power button .
• Touch System Settings on the home screen.
• “Use DHCP” is set as default. To enter static IP’s touch “Use Static IP”
and enter the following:
• Touch “Set IP” and enter the Net Chaser IP address using the numeric
keypad, then touch OK.
• Touch “Set Subnet Mask” and enter the Subnet Mask IP address using
the numeric keypad, then touch OK.
• Touch “Set Gateway” and enter the Gateway IP address, then touch
OK.
• Use “DHCP DNS” is set as default. To manually enter DNS addresses,
touch “Choose DNS”.
• Touch “Set DNS” and use the numeric keypad to enter a preferred DNS
IP address and touch OK.
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Second Systems Settings Screen:
Language/Date Format
Language
• Select the desired Language.
Date Format
• Select the desired date format:
• Month/day/year or day/month/year
Third Systems Settings Screen: Display Settings
Length settings:
• Under Display Units, touch either Feet or Meters.
• Under “Standard”, touch either T568A or T568B. The touched wiring
standard will be displayed in the cable test wiring diagram.
LCD Screen Brightness:
• To the right of Brightness, touch Set.
• Enter a number between 5 and 100 then touch OK. To cancel, press
the Back button .
• To continue, touch More Settings or press the Settings button .
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Fourth Systems Settings Screen: Display Units
Set time/clock/date:
• Under Time Format, touch either 12-hour or 24-hour format.
• To the right of Hours (1–12), touch Set Hour. Enter the hour you wish
to display then touch OK.
• To cancel, press the Back button .
• To the right of Minutes (0-59), touch Set Minute. Enter the minutes you
wish to display then touch OK. To cancel, press the Back button
.
• Under AM/PM, touch AM or PM on the screen.
• Under Date, set the month, day, and year: Touch Set Month. Enter the
number of the month, and then touch OK. To cancel, press the Back
button .
• Touch Set Day. Enter the number of the day, and then touch OK. To
cancel, press the Back button .
• Touch Set Year. Enter the year (all four digits), then touch OK. To
cancel, press the Back button .
• To continue, touch More Settings or press the Settings button .
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Fifth Systems Settings Screen: Timeout Settings
• To set Standby power down:
• Touch Set to the right of Stand-by (default is 10 min).
• Enter a whole number from 1-10 for the number of minutes then
touch OK. To cancel, press the Back button .
• To set System Shutdown Time:
• Touch Set to the right of System Shutdown (4 hours is the default
setting).
• Touch the number between 1 and 8 for the hours before system
shutdown then touch OK. To cancel, press the Back button .
• To congure .tst le backup to SD, touch Disable/Enable. This allows
the test les to be saved to the SD card in the event of critical memory
loss.
• To continue, touch More Settings or press the Settings button .
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Sixth Systems Settings Screen: User Information
• The User Information screen allows the user to enter Company name,
user’s name, and email to be included on the Net Chaser test reports.
• Touch Set Company and use the keypad to enter the company name
(Max 20 Characters) then touch OK.
• Touch Set Name (Max 20 Characters) and use the keypad to enter a
name then touch OK.
• Touch Set E-mail and use the keypad to enter an email address then
touch OK.
• Touch Set Phone and use the keypad to enter a phone number (20
characters maximum) then touch OK.
• To include a company logo, copy the desired image (jpg les only) from
your computer to the Logo folder on the Net Chaser SD card. The jpg
image size cannot exceed 586x163 dpi. Touch the “Enable/Disable”
button to include the company logo.
NOTE: If the SD card does not have a logo folder, right click in the SD Card
dialog box and click on a new folder. Name the new folder “logo”.
• To continue, touch More Settings or press the Settings button .
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Seventh Systems Settings Screen: Firmware
You can have more than one version of rmware on the SD card – all
rmware les on the SD Card will be displayed on this screen. Use the Up
and Down buttons to scroll through multiple rmware les.
• The factory installed rmware revision (default rmware) is displayed
above the rmware le table.
• The current rmware revision that is being used is displayed above the
rmware le table Current x.xx.
How to update the Net Chaser Firmware
Warning! Do not update the rmware if the battery charge is less than
20%, unless the Net Chaser is plugged into A/C power.
• Go to http://www.platinumtools.com/support/software-updates/
• Download the rmware le to your computer. Take note of where the
Firmware le is saved.
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Upload rmware using the SD Card:
• Remove the SD Card (located on the left side of Net Chaser) and
insert it into your computer using an SD Card reader. Your computer
will recognize the SD Card as a removable drive. Open the removable
drive folder and copy the rmware le(s) from your computer to the
removable drive window. Image les may be included as part of the
update, be sure to copy all les from the rmware update folder to the
SD card. Re-insert the SD Card into the Net Chaser.
• Proceed Installation; “Net Chaser Update” below to install complete the
update.
* NOTE: When installing SD Card with rmware update refresh the
rmware table by exiting and then reentering the rmware screen.
Upload Net Chaser rmware using the Micro USB cable:
• Plug the included micro USB cable into the Net Chaser then plug the
other end of the cable into your computer.
• Touch File Manager .
• Touch More Options .
• Touch USB . The Net Chaser will reboot into File Transfer Mode as
shown in the image below.
• The Net Chaser will be recognized by your computer as a removable
drive. If your computer does not automatically prompt you to view the
removable drive, click on the windows start menu, click on “Computer”,
and then double click on the removable drive.
* NOTE: The removable drive may be listed in “Computer” as an SD
Card, as the Net Chaser simulates an SD Card reader.
• Navigate to the rmware le(s) that was saved to the computer from.
Right click on the rmware le(s) then click on “Copy”. Image les may
be included as part of the update. Be sure to copy all les from the
rmware update download.
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• Navigate back to the Net Chaser removable drive and right click in the
removable drive window and click on “Paste”.
• Close the removable drive window then click on “safely remove
hardware” on your computers toolbar on the bottom left. Eject “MQX
Mass Storage Device”.
• Remove the micro USB cable from the Net Chaser.
• The Net Chaser will automatically reboot. Follow the instructions below
to complete the update.
Install Net Chaser Update:
• From the home screen, Touch System Settings .
• Touch More Settings or press the Settings button until the
rmware screen is displayed (7th settings screen).
• Update by touching the rmware le in the rmware table then touch
Update Firmware on the screen. A new screen will appear,
conrming that you are updating rmware. Touch OK to continue or
Cancel. Another window will appear: Updating rmware.
Press OK to continue or Cancel.
• To reset to the factory rmware, touch the Reload Factory Firmware
. A new screen will appear, conrming that you are deleting the
rmware update and restoring to factory default. You will be prompted
to touch OK to continue or Cancel to cancel, the Net Chaser will then
restart.
• To reset to the factory settings, touch Reset Settings . A new
screen will appear, conrming that you are restoring factory Cable Type
list. You will be prompted to touch OK to continue or Cancel to cancel.
To Update the Bootloader:
• To download the Net Chaser bootloader, visit www.platinumtools.com/
netchaserdownloads.
• Download the Bootloader le to your computer.
• For Windows 10, update from SD Card.
• Connect the Net Chaser to your computer using the included USB cable.
• Press and hold the wrench key , then press and release the
power button . The Net Chaser will display a solid color on the
touch screen and the Link LED will ash. You can release the wrench
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key at this point.
• Open the removable drive named “Bootloader”.
• Copy and paste only the bootloader le to the removable drive.
• Power off the Net Chaser, unplug it from your computer, and then
power it back on.
To Update the PIC rmware:
• To update the Net Chaser PIC rmware, visit http://www.platinumtools.
com/support/software-updates/.
• Download the Pic update le to your computer.
• Follow “Upload rmware using the SD Card” or “Upload
Net Chaser rmware using the Micro USB cable”
instructions on page 18 to upload the PIC update le to your Net
Chaser.
• Go to the Net Chaser Firmware Update screen (7th Settings Screen) and
touch the PIC update le in the Firmware table.
• Touch the install rmware icon . A new screen will appear,
conrming that you are deleting the rmware update and restoring to
factory default. You will be prompted to touch OK to continue or Cancel
to cancel. Net Chaser will then restart.
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Eighth System Settings Screen: Firmware/
Hardware Versions
This screen will display which versions of rmware and hardware are in your
Net Chaser.
Firmware
• Boot (initializes hardware, loads, and executes operating system)
• GUI (Graphical User Interface)
• PIC (Net Chaser Processor)
Hardware
• Serial Number (Net Chaser MAC Address)
• Module revision (number of your updated module)
• Battery (type of battery)
• NAND size (ash memory in megabytes)
Press the More Settings soft key to return to the rst System Settings
screen or press the Home button to return to the Home Screen.
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Active Remote
The Active Remote is used with the Net Chaser to perform a speed
certication test. The Active remote can be congured to display 1-4 remote
ID’s
• Press the Status button to display the battery percentage and the Pass/
Fail result of the previous cable test.
• To set the remote ID, remove the battery door screws (see Active
Remote on pg.8) and remove the battery door.
• Gently pull out the battery (it is not necessary to unplug the battery to
access the ID indicator switch.
WARNING! Do not pull on the battery wires as this may damage the
battery. If the battery is removed, use caution as it plugs in one way. Do
not force the plug in to the remote as this will damage the plug and/or
remote.
• Push the desired ID switch up and push the other keys down (see
image below).
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Cable Test
The Net Chaser performs a wire map test, measures cable length using
capacitance and TDR, and speed certies cables up to 1 Gigabit.
Test Options
There are four test options depending on the type of remote being used or if
no remote being used. Below are descriptions of the test results given for
each test option. To see a full screen view of the results, touch Full Screen
. Press the Back button to exit the full screen view.
Active Remote:
When an active remote is being used to perform a cable test, the Net Chaser
will display the cable wire map, active remote ID, SNR, SKEW, and BER test
results. The Net Chaser will display a green check mark to indicate that
the cable has passed the network speed certication test. A VoIP check mark
will also be displayed on the test report. The Net Chaser qualies cables
for use with VoIP if they have successfully transmitted at least 100Mbps.
Network Testing Remote:
When a network remote is being used, the Net Chaser will display the wire
map, cable length, ID, and an orange check mark indicating that the
cable passes the wire map test.
Coax Remote:
When using coax remotes, the Net Chaser will display the remote ID. If a
short or open is detected, the Net Chaser will measure the distance to the
fault.
Open Ended Test
When no remote it being used, the Net Chaser will display the cable length
and “Status” for each pair.
ID Only Remote RJ45/Coax
When an ID only remote is being used, the Net Chaser will only show the
remote ID on the Detailed Test Results screen. The ID remotes are used to
assist with mapping and labeling network cable runs.
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Cable Test Overview
Detailed Test Results Cable Test List
The Cable Test menu saves all tests to internal memory and to the SD
card, except when using ID only remotes, to a le with the extension “.tst”. If
the SD Card is not inserted into the unit, a warning will appear upon entering
the Cable Test Screen; “AutoSave cable test to SD enabled but SD card not
found”. See 5th Systems Settings screen to Enable/Disable auto save to SD.
The Cable Test has two screens; a Detailed Results screen and a
spreadsheet-like Test List screen. Testing can be initiated from either screen
by pressing the Test button . When initiating a test from the Test List
Screen, only a summary of the results is shown. If no test le is dened by
the user, “UNTITLED1.TST” will be used to save test results to. The test le
name that is being used appears in the title bar along with the current
function, Cable Test.
To navigate from the Detailed Results screen to the Test List, touch List
at the bottom of screen. If the List icon is not displayed at the bottom of the
screen, touch more options on the bottom right of the screen . The Test
List will be displayed with a highlighted cable test in the list which the
Detailed Results screen was displaying results for. To navigate from the Test
List to the Detailed Results screen, highlight a cable test in the list that you
would like to display the test details for and touch Select at the bottom
of the screen. To exit the Test List without making a selection, press the Back
button .
Before testing a cable, the list le should be selected or created to save
results to. The cable type should be selected or created from the cable type
list and the cable name prex and beginning index number can be dened
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or kept as default. Each test performed will use the currently selected test
denition.
Note: All these test setup functions are on the Detailed Results screen.
Cable Test Setup
From the home screen, touch Cable Test . If the list screen is displayed,
touch Select at the bottom of the screen or the Back button to go
to the Detailed Results screen:
Creating a New Test List:
Touch New File at the bottom of the Detailed Results screen, enter a le
name (20 characters max.), and touch OK. Returns to Detailed Results
screen. Test List name will appear in the title bar. See File Manager section
on page 38 for additional File manager instructions.
Opening a Test List:
If a Test List (.tst) le already exists, it can be selected from a directory list,
by touching File Manager . The le manager screen will open showing
the internal memory directory of TST les. Touch to highlight the desired le
in the list and select File Open to open the test list and return to the
Detailed Results screen.
Selecting a Cable Type:
Touch Cable Type on the right-hand side of the Detailed Results screen.
A list of dened cable types will be displayed with a scroll bar on the righthand side. If the cable type to be used is in the list, highlight it by touching
the line and touch select to make it the current cable type and return to
the Detailed Results screen. See Cable Type section on page 26 for
instructions to edit, add or delete cable types.
Setting Cable ID Names:
The cable ID naming convention is a prex plus an incrementing three
digit index number. The prex should be limited to 9 characters. With the
three digit index there will be a total of 12 characters in the name. From the
Detailed Result screen, touch Edit on the right-hand side of the Detailed
Result screen.
The Cable Test Setup screen will appear with the current values for prex
and index displayed. Touch Edit to the right of the value to be changed,
type in new name or index and touch OK.
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To add up to 200 cables to the test list at once, touch add , and enter
the number of cables to add and then touch OK. Touch Save to keep
the edited values or touch Cancel to exit without saving.
Cable ID’s can also be edited from the Test List to be any 12 character
name, with or without numbers. See the Test List section on page 30 for
instructions on editing, adding and deleting cables.
WARNING! Each cable test le (.tst) refers to the cable type denition
when creating a test list. If a cable type is edited, the existing test results
in the test will be updated with the edited values, such as 2 or 4 pair
tests and capacitance value. Be sure to edit an existing cable type prior
to testing or simply create a new cable type.
Cable Type
The cable type list contains a list of all the dened cable types to be tested.
Cable type list is used to select the test criteria for cables to be tested and
manage the list by editing, adding or deleting entries.
New Cable Type
• From the Cable Test Screen, touch Cable Type .
• To add a new cable type, touch New .
• Enter cable name on next screen and press OK.
• Touch test connector “RJ45” or “Coax” and press OK.
• Touch a data rate (100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2-pair 100Mbps, or 0 Mbps) for a
Bit Error Rate test and touch OK (coax skips this step).
• Enter length constant in pF/foot or pF/meter and press OK.
Typical cable length constants (pF/ft, pF/m):
Cable Type Cable Length Constants
CAT5/5E 15 pF/ft
CAT6 15 pF/ft
CAT7 15 pF/ft
RG6 16.5 pF/ft
RG58 27 pF/ft
RG59 16.5 pF/ft
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• Touch Shielded cable, Non-shielded Cable, or Ignore Shield then touch
OK.
Edit Existing Cable Types
• Touch a cable type from the Cable Type list. With a line highlighted, the
buttons functions are:
• Touch Edit to edit the highlighted entry. The name may be
changed or kept default. All other settings are entered as in New Cable
Type.
• To delete highlighted entry, touch Delete .
• Touch OK to conrm action or cancel.
Select a Cable Type to Test
• Touch a cable type from the Cable Type list. Add the highlighted cable
type to the test list by touching Select . The Cable Test screen will
appear with the added cable type displayed in the lower left of the
screen.
Cable Name
• From the Detailed Results screen, touch edit .
• To enter a cable name prex touch Edit . The prex is the rst part
of the cable name that does not increment when a cable is added to
the test list. Enter the desired prex using the touchscreen keypad and
touch OK.
• Touch Cable Index to edit the incrementing numerical portion of
the Cable ID. When the desired Index is entered, touch OK.
• To accept the changes, touch Save . To exit without saving, touch
Cancel .
Ethernet Cable Test
• From the home screen, touch Cable Test .
• Connect an Ethernet cable to the Net Chaser then connect the Active
Remote to the opposite end of the cable. If an active remote is not
being used, connect a Network testing ID remote to the opposite end of
the cable.
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* NOTE: If testing an Ethernet cable that is terminated to a wall plate,
use the included RJ45 patch cables to connect to the wall plate or
modular RJ45 jack.
• Touch Cable Type .
• Touch the desired cable type from the cable type list and then touch
select Type .
• Press the Test button to perform a test. The Net Chaser will add
an incremented cable name to the Test List and perform a test.
• To perform another test, press Test button . The Net Chaser will
add another cable to the test list and perform a test.
• To re-test another cable test, touch the left or right arrows to navigate
to the desired cable test then touch Retest .
Calibration
• To calibrate the length measurement to 0ft, touch Edit from the Cable
Test screen to enter the Cable Test Setup. Be sure to remove
connected cables unless a patch cable is being used. Touch Coax
Connector or RJ45 Connector.
• To calibrate a patch cable to 0ft, connect a patch cable to the Net
Chaser then select Coax Connector or RJ45 Connector.
* NOTE: The maximum 0 length calibration is 10ft or 150 picoFarads.
Coax Cable Test:
• Connect the included F81 barrel adaptor to the Net Chaser module and
then connect a Coax ID Remote to the opposite end of the cable
• From the Home Screen, touch Cable Test .
• Touch Cable Type .
• Touch the desired coax cable type from the cable type list then Select
.
• Press the Test button to perform a test.
Cable Faults
Below are the types of cable faults that the Net Chaser will detect and
display if the cable under test is damaged or faulty:
Open: The wire(s) is not continuous throughout the cable. This may be
caused by improper termination or a break in the cable.
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Short: Two or more wires in the cable are connected. This may be
caused by an improperly terminated cable, damaged RJ45 plug/
jack, or a damaged cable.
Miswire: Cable’s wire connection does not follow TIA568A/B Ethernet
cabling standards. This occurs when there is an error made when
terminating the cable.
Split: The cable has been wired with correct continuity but not with
correct circuitry pairing. This most often happens when the cable
is terminated consistently at both ends but in the wrong order.
Skew: The delay skew is higher than 35 nanoseconds. This may be
caused by velocity of propagation or length difference between
the cable pairs.
SNR: The Signal to Noise Ratio is lower than 22db. This may be caused
by attenuation, excessive crosstalk, or noise that is imposed on
the cable from an external source such as electrical cabling,
uorescent lighting, or electrical equipment.
Length: The Net Chaser will fail an Ethernet cable when performing a
speed certication test if the cable length exceeds 328 feet or
100 meters.
BERT: The Net Caser performs a Bit Error Rate Test to ensure error free
data transmission. A BERT of up to 1 Gig is performed using
10 Gigabytes of data. The test will fail if it detects more than 3
errors.
Saving Cable Tests as a PDF
In the Detailed Results screen there are two options; the Net Chaser can
save the last cable test results as PDF, or the entire test list can be saved as
a report.
• From the Detailed Result screen, touch More Options .
• Touch PDF .
• Enter the desired le name for your test and touch OK.
• Net Chaser will save the PDF under your new le name to external
memory (SD Card).
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Saving a PDF Report
• From the Detailed Results screen, touch More Options .
• Touch the PDF Report on the Cable Test screen.
• Enter the desired le name for your test report and touch OK.
• Net Chaser will save the PDF under the new le name to external
memory (SD Card).
Saving the Test List as a CSV le
The test list can be saved as a CSV le to be opened with excel or CSV
compatible software.
• From the Cable Test screen, touch More Options .
• Touch CSV .
• Use the keypad to enter a le name then touch OK.
• The CSV le will be saved to external memory (SD Card).
** DO NOT REMOVE SD CARD UNTIL DIALOG BOX
DISAPPEARS **
Test List
The Test List screen contains a list of cables that have been tested. The Test
List allows the user to view, save, retest, add, or edit cable tests.
• From the Cable Test screen, touch Test List .
• Touch the Up and Down arrows to scroll through the cable test
list.
• To edit the cable name of an existing cable test, touch edit .
• Use the keypad to enter a new cable name then touch OK.
• To add a cable from the test list screen touch Add .
• Touch OK to accept the automatically incremented cable name or use
the keypad to enter a new cable name then touch OK.
• To delete a cable from the test list touch Delete .
• To retest a cable from the test list, touch a cable from the list, touch
select then touch retest . Pressing the test button again will
add a new cable to the test list and a test will be performed. The test
list can have up to 256 cable tests. If you will be testing more than 256
cables, create a new Test List to continue testing (see “Cable Name” on
page 27 for instructions on how to increment the cable name).
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Create a new Test List
When a Test list is created, The Net Chaser automatically saves your test list
as a .tst le to internal memory. The .tst le can be transferred to an SD card
or computer. TST les can be reopened by a Net Chaser for editing, retesting,
or adding new tests.
• To create a new .tst le, touch Cable Test from the home screen.
• Touch New File and enter a le name then touch
will be saved to internal memory.
OK
. The .tst le
File Manager
• From the Cable Test screen touch File Manager .
• File manager contains tst, pdf, and csv les that
have been saved to internal or external memory. See “File Manager” on
page 38 for File manager instructions.
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Link Test
The Link Test menu displays port services provided by an active switch,
router, or NIC.
• From the home screen, touch Link Test .
• Touch the desired Link Test option.
Port Discovery
The Port Discovery test will display port services and capabilities such as
link speed, MDI/MDI-X, auto negotiation, and SNR of each pair within the
cable.
• Port Discovery is the default Link Test option.
• Press the Test button to perform a Port Discovery test.
• Touch PDF to save the Port Discovery test results.
• Use the keypad to enter a le name then touch OK.
POE Test
• The detailed POE test displays POE mode, type, and min/max load.
• From the Link Test screen, touch POE .
• Press the Test button to perform a POE test.
• Touch PDF to save the POE test.
• Use the keypad to enter a le name then touch OK.
Tone
The tone generator will transmit a frequency onto a cable to be made
audible using a tone probe. The tone generator will assist in locating an
inactive cable in a bundle, patch panel, or wall plate.
• From the Link Test screen , touch Tone .
• Press the test button to transmit the tone.
• Touch Previous or Next to alternate which pin or pair to
transmit the tone.
• Touch Low/High to change the tone output level and cadence (default is
set to low).
• Use a tone probe to trace the tone alongside or at the end of the cable.
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Link Light
The Link light blinks the port LED on a switch or router to identify which port
the Net Chaser is connected to.
• Connect the Net Chaser to a cable that it plugged into an active hub,
switch or router.
• From the Link Test screen , touch Link Light .
• Press the Test button .The Link Light graphic will begin to blink
indicating that the test is running.
• The LED of the port you are connected to on a switch or router will
blink at a slow and consistent cadence for easy identication.
• To select the Link speed, touch the Left or Right arrows . The
Link Light can be connected at 10Mbps half or full duplex, 100 Mbps
half or full duplex, 1Gbps half or full duplex or auto.
BERT Test
The BERT Test will allow you to manually perform a Bit Error Rate Test
without regard to TIA wiring specications such as length maximum and
pinout. This will allow you to identify if a cable can support 100Mbps or
1Gbps using up to 250 Gigabytes of data.
• From the Link Test screen , touch More Options .
• Touch BERT 100Mb to perform a 100MB test or touch 1Gb to perform a
1Gb test.
• Touch the left or right arrows to select the amount of data to
transmit. The amount of time it takes to test is displayed in seconds
under the data amount to transmit.
• To save the BERT Test, touch the PDF icon , enter a le name, and
then touch OK.
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Network Test
The Network Test menu provides advanced network tests to discover, verify
and troubleshoot the network.
• From the home screen, touch Network Test .
• The Net Chaser will automatically establish a link upon entering the
Network Test screen.
Link Test
Upon entering the Link Test screen, the Net Chaser will automatically
perform a port test by acquiring an IP address and DHCP information.
DHCP
• Touch DHCP from the Network test screen.
• Press the Test button .
• To save the DHCP test results, touch PDF on the lower right of the
LCD screen. Enter a le name then touch OK.
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Ping Test
• Connect the Net Chaser to an active Ethernet port or cable.
• Touch Ping from the Network test screen.
• Touch Add . The saved target list will be displayed.
• Touch add or Edit to enter a new IP address or URL.
• Use the keypad to enter an IP or URL
• To edit or remove an address, touch an address under “IP/URL” then
touch Edit or Delete .
• To add an IP address or URL to the target list, touch an address under
IP/URL then touch Add .
• To ping the Targets, press the Test button .
• To stop the ping test, press the Test button .
Trace Route
Trace route is an ICMP ping test that shows much more detail than a regular
Ping Test. Choose a target and each device along the route to the target will
be displayed with a corresponding hop number. The largest hop number
will be the destination. If a device does not respond to ICMP dashes will be
shown next to the hop number. Three pings will be sent to each hop and the
response times will be shown.
• From the Network Test screen, touch Trace Route .
• To Add/Edit trace route IP addresses, touch List .
• To delete an address, touch Delete .
• To add an IP address or URL, touch Add .
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• To edit an IP address or URL, touch Edit .
• Use the keypad to add or edit the IP address or URL then touch OK.
• To add an IP address or URL to the trace route test, touch the desired
address from the list and touch Select .
• Press the Test button to begin the Trace Route test.
• The Net Chaser will display the hop number, IP address, and response
time. If a device does not respond with an IP, the Net Chaser will display
dashes “- - - -“ for that device.
• To save the Trace Route test list, touch CSV .
• Use the keypad to name the CSV le then touch OK.
VLAN
The Net Chaser identies Virtual Local Area Networks and displays them in a
list for easy identication. The list will include the VLAN ID and Priority.
• From the Network Test screen, touch VLAN .The Net Chaser will
automatically list the available VLAN’s.
• Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll through the VLAN list.
• To save the VLAN results, touch CSV .
• Use the Keypad to name the CSV le then touch OK.
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Discovery Protocols
The Discovery Protocol menu provides Cisco switch Protocol and Link Layer
Protocol information.
• Connect the Net Chaser to an active Ethernet port or cable.
• Touch CDP/LLDP .
• Touch CDP to display Cisco switch information.
• Touch LLDP to display Link Layer switch information.
NOTE: the information displayed may vary depending on the information
provided by the switch.
• Touch the left or right arrows to view additional CDP or LLDP
devices that may be present on the network.
• Touch Clear to clear the CDP or LLDP screen.
• To save the results, touch PDF .
• Use the keypad to enter a le name then touch OK.
NOTE: CDP/LLDP information is obtained from a broadcast packet from a
switch or switches on the network. The time between packets is a switch
setting and can be in excess of 30 seconds or tuned off. Usually, only
managed switches support CDP and or LLDP.
IP Settings
Touch IP to congure the Net Chaser IP setup (see “First System
Settings” on page 12 for additional instructions).
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File Manager
The File manager contains saved PDF, CSV, and TST test les. In this menu,
they can be renamed, deleted, or transferred between internal and external
memory.
Managing Files
• From the home screen, touch the File Manager .
• The File Manager displays les from internal memory and external
memory (SD Card). Touch Show Internal or Show SD to view
the desired memory location.
• To display PDF les only, touch PDF .
• To display CSV les only, touch CSV .
• Touch the Up and Down arrows to scroll through the le list.
• To copy les, touch one or more les from the list, then touch Copy to
SD or Copy to Internal .
• Touch for more options.
• To open a .tst le, touch a .tst le then touch Open .
• To delete a le, touch a le from the list and touch delete .
USB Mode (Not Compatible with Windows 10)
Files can be uploaded to a computer by removing the SD card and inserting
it into an SD Card reader, or by plugging the Net Chaser into a computer via
USB.
• To upload les from the Net Chaser to a computer via USB, plug a micro
USB cable into a computer then into the Net Chaser.
• From the File Manager screen, touch More options .
• Touch USB. A dialog box will appear to conrm the selection. Touch OK
to proceed or Cancel to return to the le manager screen.
• Open the removable storage device drive on your computer.
• Double click on the PDF or CSV folders to view the test les.
• Copy the desired les to your computer.
SD Card
Remove the SD Card from the Net Chaser. Push the SD Card inward then
release to unlock the SD Card.
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Icon Glossary
Cable Test Menu Retest
Link Test Menu Reload Factory Software
Network Test Menu Restore Defaults
File Manager Menu Save one Test to a PDF
System Settings Menu Save *.tst le to a PDF
Cable Type Save *.tst le as CSV
Add Ping Test
Edit DHCP request
Edit Index Trace Route
Delete Tone Test
Select Blink Link Light
Page Up PoE Test
Page Down Setup IP Addresses
Previous LLDP/CDP Screen
Next VLAN
List Clear Screen
File Manager
New File
Save Copy to SD Card
Cancel File Open
More Options Delete File
Full Screen Copy to Internal Memory
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SD Card/Internal Memory
View Toggle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the 4 inch RJ45 dongles in the Net Chaser Kit?
A. They are RJ45 Port Savers (21025). They are to be plugged into the Net
Chaser and the Active Remote during testing to prolong the life of the Net
Chaser and Active Remote RJ45 jacks.
Q. Why does the Net Chaser display the cable length in red and fail the
cable test?
A. The Net Chaser tests to TIA568 A and B interconnect specications. If
your cable exceeds 328ft/100m, the Net Chaser will not perform the speed
certication test and fail the cable length.
Q. Whats is a .TST le?
A. The .tst les consist of cable tests that have been performed in each le.
Q. Whats is pF/ft?
A. pF/ft stands for “picofarad per foot”. It is the capacitance length
measurement value used by the Net Chaser to measure a cable. The Net
Chaser also uses TDR when a short is detected to measure the distance to
the short.
Q. What’s the difference between the Link Test and Network Test menu?
A. The Link Test menu identies port services such as link speed (Port
Discovery), PoE, and port location options such as tone generation and link
light ashing. The Network Test menu network features include ping, VLAN
detection, Traceroute, LLDP/CDP, and DHCP.
Q. How do I get a Firmware update the Net Chaser?
A. To access updates, go to http://www.platinumtools.com/support/
software-updates/
Q. Why don’t I get DHCP results in the Link Test or Network Test menus?
A. There may be a few of reasons why the Net Chaser cannot obtain DHCP.
Make sure that use DHCP and Use DHCP DNS are selected in the settings
menu, perform a VLAN test and make sure you are not connected to a
tagged VLAN port. If you still do cannot get a DHCP, check to make sure the
cable is connected to an active port.
Q. Why does the test report display Pass VoIP?
A. The Net Chaser qualies a speed certied cable as VoIP capable as it has
successfully transmitted at least 100mbps. VoIP requires at least 100mbps
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capability to function correctly.
Q. Why won’t the Net Chaser display VLAN results?
A. VLAN detection relies on VLAN tagged LLDP or CDP packets. Perform a
LLDP or CDP test and if no results are displayed, enable LLDP or CDP on the
switch you are testing.
Q. How many cable tests can the Net Chaser save?
A. The Net Chaser can save 10’s of thousands of cable tests to internal and
external memory combined. Each TST le is limited to 250 cable tests to
keep the le size small and to keep the test list from becoming cumbersome
to navigate.
Q. Does the Net Chaser detect PoE?
A. Yes, The Net Chaser detects PoE and PoE plus, PoE mode, and min/max
voltages.
Q. How do I test unterminated Ethernet cables?
A. The 8-way Alligator Clip Cord Set (TCA015) allows you to test
unterminated Ethernet cable. This unique cord set has an RJ45 plug on
one end and an alligator clip connected to each wire on the other end. This
accessory allows you to make sure cables have not been damaged before
you spend the time and money to terminate them.
Q. How do you test an Ethernet cable via Ethernet wall plate/server/router
ports?
A. The 12inch Ethernet Patch Cable (TCA016) allows you to connect to an
RJ45 plug to test a shielded or non-shielded Ethernet cable.
Q. How do I extend the life of my RJ45 Jack?
A. The RJ45 Port Saver Cable (P/N 21025C) extends the life of the RJ45
jacks on your tester and remote(s). Plug the Port Saver into the tester or
remote and then plug the cables to be tested into the RJ45 Port Saver.
Continue testing cables with the Port Savers plugged into the tester or
remote(s). If the Port Savers become worn or damaged, simply replace them.
This prevents downtime and saves money by not having to send your tester
in for an RJ45 jack replacement.
Q. How do I test cables with BNC connectors?
A. The F-jack to BNC jack allows you to easily test coax cables that have
been terminated with BNC connectors.
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Q. Why are the length wrong and split errors on all my cable drops?
A. This issue is most common when punching down cables to a patch
panel. Some patch panels reroute continuity through PCB boards, have LED’s
connected to a pair to identify the presence of trafc, or noise isolators.
These features will change the cable characteristics and affect the test
results.
Q. What is SNR, and how is it measured?
A. The Signal to Noise Ratio is performed by measuring the signal generated
by the far end (active remote/switch). The far end device transmits Ethernet
signals by which the Net Chaser measures the quality of the Ethernet
signals. If the signal jitter is outside the Ethernet spectrum, it affects the
quality of the signal, which is identied as an SNR dB measurement. The Net
Chaser will fail the cable if the SNR is below 20dB.
Q. What is SKEW?
A. SKEW is the signal delay between pairs. Excessive delay can cause
data to be received in the incorrect order, negatively impacting network
performance.
Q. What is BERT, and how is does it work?
A. BERT stands for Bit Error Rate Test. The Net Chaser generates data
packets equaling up to 10 Gigabytes, then sends the data packets to the
Active Remote at 1Gbps. The active remote receives and returns the same
data to the Net Chaser. This test ensures successful data transmission at
maximum data rate for 1 Gig. The Chaser will fail the cable if there are more
than 3 BERT Errors.
Q. Is the Net Chaser Windows 10 compatible?
A. The Net Chaser USB interface is currently not compatible with Windows
10. Windows 10 compatibility will be included in a future update. If using a
Windows 10 computer, you can remove the SD Card from the Net Chaser
and plug it directly into your computer for Firmware updates, loading
a Company Logo, and loading test results to and from your PC. If your
computer does not have an SD Card slot, you can use a USB SD Card reader.
Q. Can I purchase additional active remotes?
A. Yes, the Net Chaser Active Remote TAR104 has selectable ID’s (#1-#4)
so users can have up to 4 remotes with different ID’s.
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Maintenance
Batteries
• The Net Chaser is powered by a rechargeable Lithium ion battery.
• To charge the battery, plug the charger into the side port and then plug
the charger into the power source.
• Net Chaser battery is not user serviceable. In the event you need to
remove the battery, unscrew the back panel of the Net Chaser and
unplug the battery from the Net Chaser. Be sure to remove all the leads
connecting the battery to the device.
NOTE: The advanced Lithium ion battery is designed to last the life of the
unit and should not have to be replaced.
Lithium ion batteries are hazardous waste and should be disposed of in
compliance with local, state, and federal hazardous waste regulations.
Cleaning
• Use a clean, damp cloth to clean the Net Chaser.
• Before cleaning, disconnect all cables from the Net Chaser. Failing to
disconnect cables can damage the device and cause personal injury.
• Do not use harsh cleaners, abrasives, or solvents.
• Storage
• When not in use, store the Net Chaser in the included protective case.
• Do not expose the Net Chaser to high temperatures (above 80°C) or
humidity. See the specications section for temperature l
Customer Service
For technical information, visit www.platinumtools.com. For customer
service, email info@platinumtools.com
Contact Numbers: 800-749-5783 / 805-384-2777
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Specications
Length Measurement Time Domain Reectometry & Capacitance
Wall Power Adapter: Input 100-240VAC
50/60Hz, Output 12VDC 2.5A, International
plug adapters: (NA/EU/AU/UK)
DC Input Jack: 10-28VDC, 20 watts max
Power
Output Connectors
Interfaces Micro USB, SD ash card
Languages EN, FR, ESP, DEU, ITA
Battery Life
Altitude 10,000 ft. (3,048 m) operating altitude
Temperature
Humidity 10 to 90% non-condensing
Enclosure
Size
Weight With batteries: 1 lb 12 oz
Warranty 1 Year
Battery pack:
Rechargeable Li-ion rated 7.8V, 5500mAh,
initial capacity
Battery life - Linked @ 1Gb - 8 hours
minimum
8-Position shielded modular jack (Data),
F-coax (video)
Battery pack - Rechargeable Li-ion rated 7.8V,
5500mAh, initial capacity
Battery life
- Linked @ 1Gb - 8 hours min.
- Active, not linked - 20 hours
Operating: -10 to 60°C
Storage: -30 to 70°C
Charging temperature range: 10°C to 45°C
High-strength PC/ABS plastic with UL94 V0
rating with boot
2.41”H x 4.18”W x 9.03”L
(6.12 x 10.61 x 22.94 cm)
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Warranty Information
Platinum Tools guarantees that its products will be free of all defects in
material and workmanship. This warranty extends for a period of 12 months
for the Platinum Tools test equipment from the date of manufacture or proofof-purchase. Accessories and damage to items caused by normal wear or
use are not covered by this warranty.
All products deemed defective under this warranty will be repaired or
replaced at Platinum Tools’ discretion. No further warranties either implied
or expressed will apply, nor will responsibility for operation of this device be
assumed by Platinum Tools.
Product Registration
Registering your Net Chaser allows you to access support information and
receive product updates. Register your products on the Platinum Tools
website: www.platinumtools.com/warranty.
Disposal
WEEE Compliant: Prior to disposal of this product, please contact Platinum
Tools for proper disposal options.
Returns
Prior to returning any product to Platinum Tools, you must rst request a
Return Merchandise Authorization Number by contacting the Customer
Service Department at 805-384-2777 or by emailing returns@platinumtools.
com.
Note: Shipments will not be accepted without this number, which must be
clearly marked on the shipping label.
1. Prior to packing, include a copy of the sales receipt if available.
Otherwise the date of manufacturer will be used to calculate warranty
date.
2. Provide a description of the operational problem with the product(s)
being returned.
3. Include a contact name, phone number, and e-mail address.
4. Pack items securely to prevent damage during shipping.
5. Ship prepaid to: Platinum Tools
2450 Turquoise Circle
Newbury Park, CA 91320 USA
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Notes
Page 47
Notes
Page 48
Net Chaser™
User Manual
For technical information and customer support, please visit
www.platinumtools.com or send an email to info@platinumtools.com.
Contact Numbers:
Toll Free (US only): 800-749-5783
Toll: 805-384-2777
Address:
Platinum Tools, Inc.
2450 Turquoise Circle
Newbury Park, CA 91320
TM
www.platinumtools.com
IS TNC950AR Rev B GJ 08/16
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