Testing shield continuity of a cable or cabling installation using common mode insertion loss

摘要

A method and apparatus for testing shield continuity are provided. In the method and apparatus, a transmitter transmits a first signal in common mode over a plurality of conductors of a cable or cabling installation having a shield. The first signal is transmitted in the common mode at a first end of the plurality of conductors. A receiver receives a plurality of second signals representative of the first signal at a second end of the plurality of conductors, respectively, and outputs data representative of the plurality of second signals. A processor receives the data representative of the plurality of second signals, determines a common mode insertion loss for the cable or cabling installation based on the plurality of second signals, determines, based on the common mode insertion loss, whether the shield is continuous or discontinuous and outputs data representative of whether the shield is continuous or discontinuous.