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

Hey all! So we all know ML is doing AMAs now (very exciting!) and I've been toying with doing Fluke Networks (/NETSCOUTs) first EVER AMA here! Thanks to @Minion-Queen for the invite!
First, would ya'll want us to do one?! And IF we were to do one here, what tech topics do you think you'd be asking questions about? Wired troubleshooting? Wifi? Monitoring? VoIP testing? Application Monitoring? Granted it's open for everything, I'm just trying to figure out which of our tech experts I need to bribe with pizza

Thanks @jenuinecase! Glad to be here

/nervously sweats hoping no one else has used this meme previously in the thread that I didn't fully read/

Thanks to everyone who participated in the AMA! Some great conversation today, we had a ton of fun.
I know I owe you some more info on network taps @travisdh1 and @dafyre so I will post back in here once I can track something down for you.
I'm super happy to announce the winner of the LinkSprinter Network Tester chosen at random very scientifically by me closing my eyes and scrolling through the thread is... @Dashrender! Congrats!! I'll PM you for shipping information.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to PM me or tag me in a thread. As one last note, just a reminder that the Enterprise/network test side of Fluke Networks (everything we talked about here today) is now with NETSCOUT! So be sure to check us out there in the future.

Thanks again everyone!!

I might be able to get a LinkSprinter or something to do a giveaway during the AMA if ya'll want?

@MattSpeller said:

@gjacobse said:

@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.

Absolutely agree. You'll pry my 179 from my cold dead fingers.

Haha! This thread just made my day

@DustinB3403 Check out the LinkSprinter 300. Not only will this help you out to quickly determine general troubleshooting such as, is the problem in the PC or hte Network and if the Network, where. For cable test and identification, it will also give you distance to fault and show open/short/split. Another handy feature is it has flash port, so if you don't know what's connected to what and you have an un-managed switch, you plug the LinkSprinter in at the wall jack and watch the ports, you'll see one light blinking in a different pattern, that's your connection. In a managed switch, will just tell you what switch/slot/port VLAN you are plugged into.

@Dashrender Any device with a browser and the ability to connect to choose a wifi connection is supported! We decided not to do an app specifically for that reason, so it could support as many devices as possible.

A quick follow up for @travisdh1 and @dafyre - The network taps we offer are through VSS Monitoring. They were a sister company to Fluke Networks, but were also part of the NETSCOUT acquisition.
Here's a link to a single port fiber tap that might be of interest:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/high-density-fiber-tap/
But here's a more general view of everything we have:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/products/

I honestly don't have much of a background here personally, but I'm more than happy to connect you with our VSS team if you're looking for something more detailed or have additional questions! Just PM me.

We're crazy Christmas decorators in my house as well! We tend to keep it simple with a gold and white tree

@JaredBusch said in SpiceWorld Craziness 2016:

@TechnicalAngel talking about women in IT.

Really bummed I missed this session, it looked like a really good one! How'd it go?

@Dashrender said:

Fastest prize delivery in the west!

Thanks again @KendallHershey and Fluke! and of course ML!

I'm magic. Shh don't tell.

@crustachio said:

The AirCheck tool sounds pretty intriguing. How does it compare to something like Wi-Spy (MetaGeek's USB dongle that works with their InSSIDer/Chanalyzer product)?

@crustachio They're really completely different products. The AirCheck is an instant-on custom built tool with active test mechanisms. It can do most everything that MetaGeek does plus optional directional antennas for locationing, profiles for easy attach and testing, network health, and so on. Does that help?

A quick follow up for @travisdh1 and @dafyre - The network taps we offer are through VSS Monitoring. They were a sister company to Fluke Networks, but were also part of the NETSCOUT acquisition.
Here's a link to a single port fiber tap that might be of interest:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/high-density-fiber-tap/
But here's a more general view of everything we have:
http://www.vssmonitoring.com/products/

I honestly don't have much of a background here personally, but I'm more than happy to connect you with our VSS team if you're looking for something more detailed or have additional questions! Just PM me.

@Dashrender Did you hear that Fluke Networks split and part of us was acquired by NETSCOUT? So we're currently transition our products and part of the company to NETSCOUT - although the datacom installation and certification will stay with Fluke. Here's a link that outlines everything a bit more: http://www.flukenetworks.com/content/fnet-netscout-social-migration-page

Thanks to everyone who participated in the AMA! Some great conversation today, we had a ton of fun.
I know I owe you some more info on network taps @travisdh1 and @dafyre so I will post back in here once I can track something down for you.
I'm super happy to announce the winner of the LinkSprinter Network Tester chosen at random very scientifically by me closing my eyes and scrolling through the thread is... @Dashrender! Congrats!! I'll PM you for shipping information.

If anyone has any other questions, feel free to PM me or tag me in a thread. As one last note, just a reminder that the Enterprise/network test side of Fluke Networks (everything we talked about here today) is now with NETSCOUT! So be sure to check us out there in the future.

Thanks again everyone!!

@travisdh1 said:

Didn't think I had any questions for Fluke, but I do! What's the pricing on your gigabit network taps?

It can range - from several hundred dollars for a single port inline tap to 100K for multiple port 10/40G taps. I could track down more info for you if you like, just let me know.

@Dashrender said:

@KendallHershey said:

The MSRP of the Survey/Planner bundle is $4,360.

And there's the reason we'll never own one. A survey will cost less than $1000. It would take dozens or more calls after a survey to make it worth the cost.

Definitely a tool meant for someone who does this regularly.

Yea, I will say most of the users I talk to of these tools are installers. Or someone with multiple locations that they're doing deployments for.

@Dashrender said:

@Minion-Queen said:

I know a lot of guys around here talk about SMB cost for things. How can a single shop IT guy not use this stuff? Yes there is a cost to purchase said item but, the cost saving in time and frustration, now that is where it's at!

So I'm thinking about this. I guess it boils down to - how much do I have to pay someone who already owns this equipment to come in and do a survey versus buying the equipment myself, learning to use (always a good skill - I do get this) and then using it. If the cost of purchase vs paying a company to do a survey is close, then buying starts making sense, especially when you look at the ability to use it in the future at low/no cost.

The MSRP of the Survey/Planner bundle is $4,360. The skill is very valuable to learn! But, that's always the key question. We've got a ton of resources to help you learn about migrating to 11ac, for example, if you're interested: http://www.flukenetworks.com/content/802-11ac-University?ls=PRML&lsd=WLAN11acUni

But I think either way, you're going to want a post-install troubleshooting tool. Wireless can be extremely tricky. Sometimes something like getting a new microwave in the kitchen could cause issues for the users on the other side of the wall. In my experience, it can require more upkeep than something more static like a wired infrastructure. It's very dependent on many different factors.

@Minion-Queen said:

I know a lot of guys around here talk about SMB cost for things. How can a single shop IT guy not use this stuff? Yes there is a cost to purchase said item but, the cost saving in time and frustration, now that is where it's at!

That's a great point - we had one university that used to verify the connection of all ports in all of the dorms. With student help it used to take them 4 full weeks running around with a laptop and a clipboard verifying each drop, and with a LinkSprinter they could cut the project time down to one week. And with the online results management platform that automatically flags failed tests (and stored all of the test information), their follow time on any issues decreased dramatically as well!

Another school district I talked to had multiple locations, and left a LinkSprinter with each on-site admin (because it's so simple anyone can use it). And when someone had an issue they would go plug it in, the IT team could see the results remotely, and sometimes they could avoid a truck roll to the district which saved them a ton of time and money. Then they had a LinkRunner that all of their techs shared for some more advanced troubleshooting. Quite a cool set up!