All Articles Tagged Tools

Jason Knott | 01/22 09:17 AM, 3 Comments

Most guys (and some gals) have an ongoing love affair with their tools. Having the right tool for the right job can evoke a Tim Allen-like grunt of pleasure. But for integrators and their technicians, tools are even more special. They represent their livelihood. So for a low-voltage/datacomm contractor by any name—voice/data/video (VDV) installer, A/V specialist, security dealer, etc.—there is a short list of tools for both measuring signal strength and terminating twisted-pair and solid-core cable that they cannot live without. According to Dave Mueller, VDV senior product manager at… View this story

Jason Knott | 12/12 09:22 AM, 4 Comments

I spent the past several weeks enjoying a D-Box Motion Simulator in my home (stay tuned for the review). But to connect the stabilizer bars for the D-Box unit to the actual motion modules, I needed two different sets of Allen wrenches. Thank goodness we’ve purchased many pieces of Swedish furniture at IKEA over the years, because when I retrieved my toolbox, it was a mess. The box had one nice set of Allen wrenches in a plastic case that I likely bought at Home Depot many years ago, and… View this story

Robert Archer | 12/07 12:41 PM, 0 Comments

Troubleshooting cables can be one of the most painstaking and frustrating tasks electronics professionals will ever have to do. Worst of all, the process of testing cables can cost companies time and money. Lincolnshire, Ill.-based Klein Tools has introduced its VDV Distance Meter (Cat. No. VDV501-089) that installers can use to test pair-conductor cables without having to use expensive and bulky testers. Klein Tools says the VDV Distance Meter measures voice, data, video, doorbell, lamp wire and NM cables up to 1,500 feet in length, and it features pre-programmed nominal… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/05 08:15 AM, 4 Comments

One of the best places to chat about tools and other toys of the trade is to head to the Installers’ Lounge on RemoteCentral.com. We’ve rounded up some of the liveliest, most informative threads for tool-loving installers. Click on the headlines to read the complete thread. How many of you guys use a siding “zip tool” to run wires? A whole thread about a $5.99 SideSwiper siding removal tool from Malco. One dealer says, the piece “has become one of my most favored tools in the bag.” It’s a must-have… View this story

Mac Burks | 12/03 11:52 AM,

Does the IR emitter work? Is the command being sent? These are questions every installer has been asked or has asked while testing universal remote controls and control system programming. There are a couple of ways to quickly and easily test whether or not your IR emitter is actually outputting IR signals. One is to use blinking emitters. Some emitters have a visible (to the human eye) light that flashes when commands are outputted. Another option is to look at the emitter through your cell phone camera. Some phones will… View this story

Fred Harding | 11/30 09:18 AM, 1 Comment

In a pinch, a 25-foot long Stanley tape measures can do wonderful things.  I’ve used them to fish wires with a couple of modifications. First, roll the hooked tip back over about six inches or so and tape the hook off so it won’t catch on anything.  You now know how far you are when fishing. You can then tape your beaded chain on the end, so that a magnet can pull it through a hole with wire attached.  With care, you can then use the automatic rewind mechanism to… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 11/28 08:57 AM, 7 Comments

Terminating cable in the field is a time-consuming part of any technician’s job. Just how long should it take to do it properly? Judging from the skillsets displayed by some installers, not long. Distributor ADI once again held its Skills Challenge at CEDIA Expo 2012 where technicians were invited to try their hand at fishing cable and terminating coax, Cat 5 and audio cable. As part of the competition, technicians used the proper tool and then had to test the signal integrity. In this video, Brent Remole of Cornerstone Electric… View this story

Arlen Schweiger | 11/28 08:05 AM, 1 Comment

We’ve always been proponents of the “Neat-O!” installations - those that are neat and tidy around the equipment racks, and sometimes come about because a previous installer left a spaghetti-like mess of wires. During CEDIA Expo 2012 I had the pleasure of talking to labeling guru Al Feaster of Dymo, who mentioned industry standards and what integrators need to know. The byproduct of following such standards also leads to an installation that is future-proof when it comes to troubleshooting or swapping gear down the road. He brought up a recently… View this story

Jason Knott | 11/27 10:25 AM, 0 Comments

We are sharing stories about the charitable actions of those in the custom electronics industry. Stay tuned for more charitable stories, and please share your story here. Toolmaker Klein Tools in Lincolnshire, Ill., is dedicated to fighting deadly diseases. The company’s chairman, Mat Klein, learned in 2009 that his granddaughter Anna had the genetic disorder Cystic Fibrosis. The Klein family had no knowledge of this disease or the fact that they silently carried it. Within months the family, spearheaded by Kristyn Klein (Anna’s aunt), participated in their first Great Strides… View this story

Jason Knott | 11/27 09:39 AM, 1 Comment

Audio and video calibration is a potential money-making service integrators can provide to clients either as part of a service contract or as a one-off service call. Either way, you need the right equipment to calibrate A/V systems. Audio Calibration According to David Frangioni of Audio One in Miami, a typical audio calibration for a 5.1 system will take: Good: 30 minutes Better: 4-8 hours or more Best: 1-2 days Frangioni says it’s a one-man job for the most part, but in most cases having an assistant will speed up… View this story