What is in your Toolkit?

coliver

@coliver said:

@gjacobse said:

@scottalanmiller said:

$1,500, they are nowhere near that price.

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong model?

That's for copper and fiber, check out just the copper one. It should be around 1,000$.

That is still way out of my available budget.

Mine too... I found the Fluke toning kit worked for 90% of cabling issues when I was with an SMB.

gjacobse

I have a toner and a LinkMaster cable tester. Nothing fancy.

I have wondered for several years about building one from a Basic Stamp, Beagle Bone or now the Raspberry Pi...

Jason

I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-MS2-100-MicroScanner2-Verifier/dp/B000QJ3G42

Along with the toner for it and Office IDs. Rarely use it. Most of that stuff we contract out.

gjacobse

USB Linux boot system..
Hirens boot CD/ USB - but there are questions of it's legality.

JaredBusch

Ah, yeah. I mean the Sprinter for the tech bag.

stacksofplates

Here's most of the stuff in my bag:

Small toolkit. I got one from iFixit that has a screwdriver set, prying tools, and some nice tweezers.
Couple flash drives
Power Supply tester
Some small pliers
Box of RJ45 ends
Cable crimper and wire strippers
Small HDD duplicator

I'm sure there's a couple more things but that's the main stuff.

gjacobse

@JaredBusch said:

Ah, yeah. I mean the Sprinter for the tech bag.

That is something I could be add to my box:

FlukeSprinter
0_1449089258203_513B5mzLl7L.SL1000[1].jpg

scottalanmiller

@gjacobse yup, we have several of those. You don't do field work so you probably have not seen them. I know that we have multiple and they get loaned out to people heading to the field. They upload to a central account which is pretty cool because it alerts the tech alias and we can see stuff come in in a central console. Love those.

nadnerB

Ideally

Large capacity USB
PSTools
Process Explorer
Process Monitor
Portable Chrome/Firefox
GetFileSize Portable
BlueScreenView
OpenHardwareMonitor
Torch with a mounting magnet (Flashlight)
Linux Boot CD/USB
Command line Ninja-ery
Network Cable tester
Screw drivers
Torx set
Spare Cat5e or 6
Laptop
Smartphone (with hotspot capabilities)

(Edit: Added Flashlight notation - You English and your terms.)

KendallHershey

Hey guys! I'm Kendall with Fluke Networks, for those of you who don't know me. Seems like there's a few questions, so let me see what I can help with

You definitely got the main delineation between LinkRunner AT 1000 & 2000 right - 2000 also offers network testing over fiber. LinkRunner ATs have a lot of functionality over LinkSprinters, but I tend to lean towards grabbing my LinkRunner for unmanaged environments. They allow for faster wire mapping and tracing, and are actually tone generators as well. The main crowd pleaser for LinkSprinter is it's ability to get the switch advertisement info (CDP/LLDP/EDP) and check PoE, test DHCP, Gateway/router, and make sure you can get an internet connection at that drop (all of this is also built into the LinkRunner ATs).

It packs a punch and the starting model is only $199. It was really made to solve 80% of your troubleshooting issues at a better price point for SMBs. Solid addition to a tool kit!

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm kinda new here, but I'll be around

scottalanmiller

Welcome! Great to see Fluke here, that is awesome.

Reid Cooper

Fluke makes great stuff. Hard to go wrong with their stuff in your "go bag." And another vote for a large USB stick. And if you can find a small screwdriver kit with a lot of different sizes and types and don't forget about Torx.

gjacobse

Thanks @KendallHershey - this is on my list of tools to pick up in 2016. I don't do much cable work these days,.. but it's great to have when i do get the chance.

KendallHershey

Thanks for the warm welcome folks!

Minion Queen

I love seeing familiar faces here on ML!

art_of_shred

@MattSpeller said:

Customer service baseball bat. Occasionally one needs percussive maintenance and my hands are critical to making my living.

I hope that qualifies under "favorite" more than "most used".

coliver

@art_of_shred said:

@MattSpeller said:

Customer service baseball bat. Occasionally one needs percussive maintenance and my hands are critical to making my living.

I hope that qualifies under "favorite" more than "most used".

Why not both?

art_of_shred

@coliver Remind me not to let you work on anything for one of our customers...

coliver

@art_of_shred said:

@coliver Remind me not to let you work on anything for one of our customers...

The equipment would be safe that's for sure.

gjacobse

@Reid-Cooper said:

Fluke makes great stuff. Hard to go wrong with their stuff in your "go bag." And another vote for a large USB stick. And if you can find a small screwdriver kit with a lot of different sizes and types and don't forget about Torx.

Yes,.. Fluke is the standard when talking about testing and metering. I would love to have some of their gear,.. but there is a limit on what I need / much less afford. They make some of the best DVM and network tools.