Automatic measurements of the electrical characteristics of telephone cables

The paper first outlines briefly the manual methods used to measure the electrical characteristics of multiple pair telephone cables. Prior to the application of the final covering or sheath, a series of electrical tests are performed on the several conductors to ensure that no serious manufacturing errors are present, and automatic methods by which the measurements required at this stage can be carried out are described. When a trunk cable has been completed, a wide range of tests are carried out to determine the final electrical characteristics and to check the performance of the cable. Methods adopted on distribution cables where the test procedures are not quite so exacting, but more of a ¿go/no-go¿ procedure, are outlined.