Customer Reviews

Extech TG30 Tone Generator and Amplifier Wire Tracer Kit

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This isn't professional grade but seems to get the job done. I used it in several homes where installers poorly labeled the data and cable tv lines in a central communications box. Used it in some homes varying from 6 total cable/data lines to one that had over 40. Hasnt disappointed me yet.

PROS:
1. Its cheap. Units with similar capabilities cost about 3 or 4 times as much.
2. Has most of the bells and whistles. The pacakge comes in three pieces. There is a main unit that has only a phone and data connector (RJ11 and RJ45). The add-on unit that has a receptacle for the data connector to connect it to the main unit and offer capability for male coax or alligator clips (the inset picture in the product. The third piece is the sensor itself that looks like a long pen. It has a speaker with volume/sensitivity level control.
3. The sensitivity volume has a range of sensitivity that I haven't fully explored. I have bundled coax and data cables coming into a central hub. When I first tried to find a particular cable, I had the speaker turned up to loudest. This basically caused every cable to give off a signal. I then had to turn it down to isolate only the strongest signal from the cable I was looking for. If adjacent cables can pick up signal, this could be useful in certain situations.
4. It comes with a nice little case that holds and protects everything.

CONS:
1. The plastic packaging was poor (clear plastic shell packaging). The owner's manual had fallen out at somepoint in packaging/shipping process. I just today realized that the manual is available on Amazon's site.
2. Could be an isolated incident, but Amazon's normally speedy service got this to me in about 4 weeks. Very slow by their standards.

Nice compact device. I was hoping the use of the 'Amplified' in the name of the tool would allow me to be able to trace a wire with only one end disconnected from a device. This is not the case. I doubt any tracer can be use on an active line.

I also found the switch to be a little loose in that you can inadvertently throw it to the right most position without knowing it.

The probe is a little too sensitive in that if an active wire is near the one you are trying to trace, you will hear a buzzing along with the tones.

This product arrived in 3 days. It's made of plastic but I don't think this is a problem for people who take care of their tools. The generator uses a 9 volt battery while the won /speaker uses round button cell batteries. It comes with alligator clips, RJ 11, RJ 45 and coax attachments. This is a very useful tool when trying to sort out wires or finding a particular cable.

This product worked for traceing audio cable in a church building where boths ends had been cut off. I would say it is a good value for the money and worth it for home or light commerical use. It does have a continutiy test which was handy.

I bought this to trace out a telephone line in my house.

It worked but the received signal was very weak. It required me to be within a 1/2 inch of the wire to hear any signal. You almost have to trace out the wire by hand, then use the receiver wand to figure out which wire in a bundle was the one you want. You cannot trace the wire within/along a wall, the signal from the wire behind the wall is too weak to hear it.

Working to overcome the effects of a lightning strike, I had to isolate and repair some fried CAT5 cables running between buildings (inaccessible for manual tracing, in a conduit under a paved parking lot). Naturally, the cables coming into the switch were a a tangled mess of identical cables, and labeling was done by whoever set it up years ago ON THE WIRES with a felt tip pen. Illegible. More cables added since then, unlabeled. FUBAR.

The TG30 arrived in two days, and solved the problem. Lacked any documentation, but then, it's not rocket science. You might do well to have an inline connector on hand, as one does not come with the kit. This device is not what I would call "Professional Grade", but it now occupies an honored place in my tool kit, and represents money well spent.

It's really cool to have a tool like this, it works very well and wont break your bank.

FYI, to all prospective buyers, this is a very cheaply made piece of equipment. I would strongly suggest going with a different model adn/or brand.