Which tool would you use to identify a specific cable path in a building by generating a signal and tracing it?

Optimize your success on the FSNA Readiness Exam. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each designed with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your test and excel!

Tracing a specific cable path in a building relies on generating a distinctive signal on the target cable and then following that signal with a receiver. The toner and probe pair does exactly this: the toner injects a tone onto the conductor, and the probe detects that tone through walls, ceilings, and cabinets so you can follow the route of the cable from one end to the other. This method is ideal for locating a particular cable among many in a bundle without disconnecting anything.

A cable tester can check continuity and wiring maps, but it usually needs access to both ends of the cable and doesn’t provide a live trace of the path through the building. A time-domain reflectometer sends pulses to locate faults along a line, not primarily to map the actual routing of cables in a building. A multimeter measures basic electrical values and isn’t designed for tracing cable paths.