Patent ID: 8284904

Claim:
A method for detecting the integrity of a cable shield of a distribution cable carrying telecommunication services to a subscriber, the distribution cable having a first end proximate a connection box, a second end opposite the first end, a plurality of pairs of conductors, each pair of conductors including a tip and a ring, and a shield; the method comprising the steps of: identifying a pair of conductors; shorting and grounding first ends of the tip and ring of said identified pair of conductors; providing a test instrument having a plurality of leads; electrically connecting a first lead of said test instrument to the second end of the tip; electrically connecting a second lead of said test instrument to the second end of said ring; electrically connecting a third lead of said test instrument to the shield of said cable, the shield of said cable electrically connected to ground; utilizing said test instrument to measure a loop resistance of the identified pair; utilizing said test instrument to calculate an expected pair loss of the identified pair based upon said measured loop resistance of the identified pair; utilizing the test instrument to identify a modem output power level; utilizing the test instrument to calculate a predicted signal level; utilizing said test instrument to measure a wideband noise-to-ground on the identified pair; utilizing said test instrument to calculate a predicted noise metallic based on said measured wideband noise-to-ground and a minimum expected pair balance; utilizing said test instrument to calculate and display a predicted signal-to-noise ratio based on said predicted signal level and said predicted noise metallic.