CT100B TDR Cable Analyzer

High-Resolution TDR with Frequency-Domain Analysis!



Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) Cable Analyzer - MOHR CT100B

CT100B Features

  • Sampling resolution is independent of display resolution --> every cable fault is visible at every scale
  • Arbitrary length waveforms up to 1.5 million points
  • Two independent cursors simplify differential impedance, return loss, and distance-to-fault measurements.
  • Calibrated S-parameter measurements
    • Real-time frequency-domain measurements
    • Return loss (S11)
    • Cable loss / insertion loss (S21)
    • S11 Between Cursors time-windows the feature of interest
    • Smith charts simplify complex impedance matching problems
    • Normalized TDR traces with adjustable rise time
  • Optimized menu system to simplify common tasks
  • New multicore CPU is much faster than the original CT100
  • 16 times more RAM memory than the CT100


Applications

  • Tests all types of cable and connectors
    • Coaxial cable
    • Twisted-pair cable
    • Multiconductor cable (e.g., MIL-STD-1553B, MIL-STD-38999)
  • Detects subtle partial faults, opens, shorts, kinks, taps, shield damage, thermal damage, sunlight/UV damage, water ingress, loosened or corroded interconnects, and poor-quality cables and connectors.
  • Aging Aircraft
  • CATV, Power, Telephony
  • Naval / Marine
  • Wireless Infrastructure
  • PCB Impedance Measurements
  • Soil Moisture, Geophysics
  • Tank Farms


Other Great Features of the CT100 TDRs

  • Layer-Peeling reduces TDR waveform impedance errors caused by multiple reflections.
  • Transform impedance waveform to display in Ohms or VSWR as well as millirho.
  • Intermittent Fault Detection displays probability density or min/max envelope with impedance-at-cursor.
  • Enhanced Calibration provides the industry's best impedance accuracy.
  • AutoFit button scales the display to fit the cable.
  • Configuration library makes repeat measurements as easy as a press of a button.
  • Save thousands of TDR traces that you can later zoom in/out on, and compare or subtract from live or previously saved traces.
  • Live LAN/WAN/Internet streaming and remote control of any CT100 Series TDR. Leverage real-time engineering oversight from thousands of miles away.
  • Download your TDR data to a PC and review it later with the included CT Viewer 2 software.


Ergonomics and Ease of Use

  • Bright 4.3" color TFT-LCD display is easy to read in any environment.
  • Intuitive multifunction key panels simplify TDR use.
  • Lightweight and portable, operates for a full shift without recharging.
  • Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connectivity.
  • USB peripherals include mouse, keyboard, flash drive, and barcode reader.


General TDR Options

  • CT100B-BNC, self-grounding BNC test port
    • Electrically rugged, multipurpose metallic TDR designed for high-resolution testing of a wide range of coaxial and twisted-pair cable types and lengths -- in the field, on the manufacturing floor, or in the lab. Exceeds all Tektronix® 1502C TDR specifications.
  • CT100B-SMA, stainless-steel SMA test port
    • CT100B TDR configured with SMA test port assembly. Improved data signal with slightly less electrical overstress protection than the standard CT100B.
  • CT100HF, stainless-steel SMA test port
    • Higher-bandwidth version of the CT100B-SMA featuring the fastest TDR system risetime for testing higher-frequency cables and interconnects.
How to choose between the CT100 models

Standard Accessories (included with instrument)

  • CT Viewer 2 TDR Waveform Analysis Software Package
  • CT100B Operator's Manual
  • CT Viewer 2 Quick User Guide
  • External AC Power Adapter
  • 2700 mA-hr NiMH Battery Pack
  • Rugged Soft-Sided Carrying Case
    • Plenty of room for calibration accessories, manuals, and optional small form-factor keyboard.
  • Calibration Verification Pack
    • Precision coaxial test cable and BNC/SMA adapters necessary for verifying TDR instrument calibration and performance.
  • NIST-Traceable Calibration Certificate
  • Standard 12-Month Limited Warranty


Optional Accessories

Impedance Matching Adapter Kit
  • Impedance Matching Adapter Kit photoUseful for specialized applications requiring precision impedance matching to the cable / device-under-test (DUT).
BNC Adapter Kit
  • BNC RF Adapter Kit photoPrecision BNC RF adapters offer direct high-bandwidth coupling for testing most coaxial cables and interconnects.
MIL-STD-1553B Data Bus TRB Adapter Kit
  • 1553B TRB Adapter Kit photoHigh-bandwidth controlled-impedance adapter kit for testing TRB-terminated (triaxial BNC) cables such as aerospace MIL-STD-1553B twinax cables.
Small Form-Factor Keyboard
  • Keyboard photoThis popular, recommended accessory simplifies data entry and fits in the instrument's carrying case.

Click here to see the complete list of optional accessories.


Datasheet

pdf icon CT100B TDR Cable Analyzer Datasheet (12/10/2019).


Application Notes

TDR vs. FDR: Distance to Fault (HTML) or [pdf icon PDF]

TDR for Microwave/RF and Digital Cables (HTML) or [pdf icon PDF]

pdf icon Mohr CT100 TDR and CT Viewer™ Cable and Interconnect Quality Control Example: Interconnect Impedance Profile and Electrical Length Variation in 50 Ohm SMA and BNC Cables

pdf icon AN-2016-1 1553B Data Bus Cable Fault Detection Through Multiple Transformer Couplings

pdf icon AN-2016-2 1553B Data Bus Cable Compression Damage Detection Through Transformer Couplings

Replacement for the Tektronix 1502/1502B/1502C

Industry's only portable Time Domain Reflectometer exceeding all Tektronix® 1502/1502B/1502C TDR specifications. See comparison.

Key Specifications

  • Industry's only high-resolution portable TDR - resolves connector detail (<1 cm separation)
     (At least 8-10x sharper spatial resolution than competing TDR instruments [<100 ps rise time]; catch subtle changes before they cause system failure)
  • Industry's only portable TDR with frequency-domain measurements (return loss [S11], cable loss [S21])
  • Much faster and easier to use than VNA with much better distance-to-fault precision and accuracy
     (NO range/resolution/bandwidth tradeoffs, NO calibration drift)
  • Industry's most accurate impedance measurements
     (16-bit ADC, advanced calibration features)
  • Industry's most accurate cable length measurements
     (25 μm [0.76 ps] cursor resolution, 6-digit VoP)
  • Industry's fastest intermittent fault detection
     (up to 250,000 samples per second, 500 Hz continuous full waveform capture)

High-resolution TDR comparison of SMA and BNC connectors.

High-Resolution TDR. Confidently characterize normal cables and connectors so that you can identify impedance abnormalities early. The BNC (black) and SMA (red) connectors show approximately 0.8 Ω and 0.4 Ω excess impedance, respectively.



Display independent Resolution ensures that every detectable cable fault is visible at every horizontal scale.

Display Independent Resolution. Display Independent Resolution ensures that every detectable cable fault is visible at every horizontal scale. The figure shows the result of Display Independent Resolution on an 820 ft. (250 m) cable with a highlighted flaw. (The flaw is actually a mismatched splice in the cable.) Inferior TDRs only scan at the displayed resolution and measure only a couple of hundred points in a scan. The CT100B can measure over a million points in a scan and display them all.



TDR S11 Return Loss plot showing 2.4 GHz WiFi patch antenna with 21.5 dB return loss from 2.3-2.7 GHz.

S-Parameter Frequency-Domain Measurements. The figure shows S11 Return Loss plot (orange) and TDR waveform(red) of a 2.4 GHz WiFi patch antenna, showing average return loss of 21.5 dB from 2.3-2.7 GHz.



S11 return loss between cursors isolates / time-windows the feature of interest.

S11 Return Loss Between Cursors. The CT100B TDR provides the unique ability to time-window or isolate the feature of interest such as a connector or cable fault increasing measurement accuracy. In this case the figure shows cursors selecting an SMA connector with corresponding time-windowed S11 return loss plot.



Smith Chart Display of Frequency-Domain Data

Smith Chart Display of Frequency-Domain Data. Use Smith charts to simplify complex impedance matching tasks. Measure complex impedance at the cursor position. The figure shows Smith chart of a 200 Ω terminator with cursor at 0.0 MHz.



Intermittent / Transient Fault Detection

Intermittent / Transient Fault Detection. Use the CT100B's Envelope Plot mode to capture transient faults down to 2 ms temporal resolution. The figure shows intermittent fault detection with left cursor at the fault location.


CT100B in covered case

Physical Dimensions

4.3(H) x 11.5(W) x 6.9(L) in.
(10.9 x 29.2 x 17.5 cm)

5.1 lbs. (2.3 kg), with cover
4.7 lbs. (2.2 kg), without cover


Environmental

Operating Temperature: 0°C to +50°C
Non-operating Temperature: -20°C to +60°C


Regulatory

CE compliance logo
Complies with all applicable EU directives, as specified by the Declaration of Conformity supplied with the instrument.

Complies with Canadian ICES-003.

EMC: MIL-PRF-28800F. MIL-STD-461F RE102, CE102. IEC 61000
Shock/Vibration: MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 3)
Temperature/Humidity: MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 3)
Explosive Atm.: MIL-STD-810G 511.5 Procedure 1 (+55°C, 0-4600 m)



How to purchase or rent

For purchasing and rental options, please visit our How to Buy page. For eligible purchasers, the CT100 is NSN listed:(7Z) 6625-01-579-6793.