What test is used to ensure a cable is properly terminated?

The wire map test is essential for ensuring that a cable is properly terminated. This test verifies that the connections at each end of the cable are made correctly and that there are no miswires, reversals, or opens. It checks for continuity and the proper pairing of wires, which is critical in maintaining signal integrity across the cable.

When a wire map test is performed, it typically provides a visual or numerical confirmation that each wire within the cable is correctly connected to its corresponding pin at both ends. This is crucial for applications such as Ethernet networks, where improper terminations can lead to data transmission errors, network inefficiencies, or outright failures.

The other tests mentioned, while important for assessing other attributes of a cable, do not specifically confirm the correctness of terminations. For instance, an attenuation test measures the reduction in signal strength as it travels through the cable, while a resistance test evaluates the electrical resistance of the conductors. The propagation delay test looks at the time it takes for a signal to travel through the cable. None of these tests focus on verifying the correctness of end-to-end connections as comprehensively as the wire map test does.