Debug It Yourself

By Joel Snyder
Wired Magazine, August 2002

Original Article on Wired Magazine Web Site

No self-respecting geek would try to debug a home network without a handheld LAN tester. How else would you find out that the cable to the kids' room is hooked to the wrong side of the firewall? Top testers include a time-domain reflectometer (TDR) for spotting wire issues and checks if packets are moving.