NaviTEK IE – cable tester and PROFINET network diagnostics

Cable Tester and PROFINET Network Diagnostics

NaviTEK IE is a portable tester for checking copper and fiber-optic cabling and diagnosing PROFINET and Ethernet networks. It helps during network commissioning, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting during service work. It is suitable for machine builders, system integrators, and maintenance technicians who need to check cabling, device status, and basic network configuration directly on site.

Why Choose NaviTEK IE?

• Helps detect problems before they cause a network or production outage
• Helps identify the type and location of faults in both copper and fiber-optic cabling
• Detects duplicate IP addresses, incorrect device names, packet errors, or overloaded ports in PROFINET networks
• Compares the current network status with a previously saved map and identifies new, missing, or changed devices
• Up to 48 hours of logging helps trace intermittent errors and outages of a selected PROFINET device
• Flashes the LEDs of a selected PROFINET device to help locate it quickly in a control cabinet or production line
• Creates PDF reports for documenting results during machine handover, network inspection, or service work

Testing RJ45 and M12 Copper Cabling

NaviTEK IE tests cables terminated with RJ45 connectors using the main unit and the supplied remote unit, which are connected to opposite ends of the cable. It checks the correct wiring of individual conductors, shielding, and cable length. In the event of an open circuit, short circuit, or wiring fault, it also determines the distance to the fault.

The package includes two RJ45 male – M12 female, D-coded adapter cables. They allow four-wire PROFINET cabling with M12 D-coded connectors to be tested between the main unit and the remote unit. They cannot be used for direct connection to a device that also has an M12 female socket.

What Can You Determine When Testing Copper Cabling?

• cable length and distance to an open circuit, short circuit, or other fault
• correct wiring of individual pairs and each conductor separately
• condition of the cable shielding
• incorrect wiring, split pairs, broken conductors, or short circuits
• wiring of non-standard cables with the option to select tested conductors 1–8 and shielding

Testing Fiber-Optic Cabling

NaviTEK IE has a slot for an optional SFP module, enabling direct connection to 1 Gb/s fiber-optic networks. The tester measures the received optical power level and evaluates it as good, acceptable, or insufficient. A low power level may indicate contaminated connectors or an excessively bent or damaged fiber-optic cable.

100BASE-FX fiber-optic networks operating at 100 Mb/s cannot be connected directly through the tester’s SFP slot. Testing these networks requires an optional external media converter fitted with a suitable SFP module. The media converter converts the 100BASE-FX fiber-optic network to 100BASE-TX copper Ethernet for connection to the tester’s RJ45 port.

The SFP module for direct connection to a 1 Gb/s fiber-optic network, as well as the external media converter and SFP module for 100BASE-FX networks, are not included in the standard package.

PROFINET Device Diagnostics Without a PC

NaviTEK IE detects available PROFINET IO Device stations and displays their basic information, including the device name, IP and MAC address, subnet mask, manufacturer, order code, and firmware and hardware versions.

The tester detects incorrect or duplicate device names, duplicate IP addresses, lost or faulty packets, and high port utilization. The status of individual devices is displayed using green, yellow, or red indicators.

Basic configuration errors can be corrected directly on site. NaviTEK IE allows the user to change the device name, IP address, and subnet mask, restore factory settings, or flash the LEDs on a selected device for easy identification.

PROFINET Network Event Logging for Up to 48 Hours

NaviTEK IE can be connected to a PROFINET RT network to monitor a selected PROFINET device for 1, 24, or 48 hours. At regular intervals, the tester records the device status, outages, and input and output errors in an event log. This helps identify intermittent faults that may not appear during a standard inspection.

For long-term logging, it is recommended to connect the tester to the power adapter.

Detailed Information About PROFINET Devices

NaviTEK IE displays basic identification details, network settings, and operating statistics for individual PROFINET devices. This allows a technician to check the following directly on site:

• device name, IP address, MAC address, and subnet mask,
• order code, serial number, and Device ID,
• firmware and hardware versions,
• number of incoming and outgoing packets,
• number of dropped and damaged incoming and outgoing packets,
• incoming and outgoing port utilization,
• information about the neighboring PROFINET device.

PROFINET Device Status Evaluation

NaviTEK IE evaluates the status of detected PROFINET IO Device stations using green, yellow, or red indicators. This allows technicians to identify quickly which devices are operating correctly and which require inspection.

• Green status: the device has no damaged packets, errors, or alarms, its IP address and name are unique, and port utilization is below 10%.
• Yellow status: the device is operational, but the tester has detected issues such as damaged packets, port utilization between 10–50%, other identical devices with different firmware or hardware versions, a 10 Mb/s connection, or communication in half-duplex mode.
• Red status: the tester has detected a serious problem, such as a duplicate IP address or device name, an incorrect IP address or subnet mask, a device error, an excessive number of damaged packets, or port utilization above 50%.

Report Generation

NaviTEK IE offers three automatic report generation modes: after every test, only after a successfully completed test, or never.

Reports can be generated in PDF or CSV format, with a choice between a summary and a detailed report.

The resulting reports can be exported to a USB flash drive or transferred via a USB Wi-Fi adapter to a mobile device using the TREND AnyWARE application.

Examples of Copper Cabling Test Reports

Before measurement, the appropriate cable type is selected in the tester. The PROFINET 4W option is available for standard four-wire PROFINET cabling. The tester also supports common Ethernet cabling categories and custom wiremap settings.

Example of a cable report with a detected fault:

Example of a correctly wired cable report:

Examples of PROFINET Device Diagnostic Reports

After connecting the tester to the PROFINET network and assigning an available IP address within the PROFINET network range, diagnostics of the available devices can be started. The report then contains their identification details, network settings, communication status, and detected errors.

What Is Included in the Package?

• 1x NaviTEK IE tester with a color touchscreen
• 1x remote unit for testing copper cabling
• 1x rechargeable battery module with up to 5 hours of operating time
• 1x 12 VDC power adapter with EU, UK, and US plug adapters
• 2x shielded Cat 5e patch cables, 30 cm long
• 2x RJ45 male – M12 female, D-coded adapter cables, 1 m long
• 1x USB Wi-Fi adapter
• 1x quick start guide in English
• 1x carrying case