INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Sidekick® Plus
Test Set
Read and understand all of the
instructions and safety information
in this manual before operating or
servicing this tool.
Register this product at www.greenlee.com
© 2012 Greenlee Textron Inc.
52063747 10/12
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................... 5
Description........................................................... 5
Safety................................................................... 5
Purpose of this Manual......................................... 5
Test Lead Terminology.......................................... 6
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION............................. 8
Measurement Categories...................................... 9
COMPONENTS.......................................................... 10
Base Unit............................................................ 11
OPERATION............................................................... 14
Function Keys..................................................... 15
Measuring Voltage.............................................. 18
Measuring Loop Current..................................... 22
Stress Balance Measurements........................... 23
Ground Resistance Test...................................... 25
Leakage/Resistance........................................... 26
Measuring Cable Length..................................... 29
Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR)...................... 31
Resistance Fault Locator (RFL)............................ 38
Checking for Load Coils...................................... 43
Measuring Circuit Loss....................................... 45
Measuring Circuit Noise
and Power Influence (PI)..................................... 47
Automatic Test.................................................... 51
TOOLS MENU............................................................ 52
1 Dial................................................................ 52
2 Phone Book.................................................... 52
3 Cord Calibration.............................................. 52
4 Impulse Noise (optional)................................. 52
5 R/D Calculation............................................... 52
6 Tones............................................................. 53
7 Caller ID......................................................... 53
MAIN MENU.............................................................. 54
1 Config............................................................ 54
2 Cable Config................................................... 58
3 Autotest Config............................................... 58
4 About............................................................. 59

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

MAINTENANCE.......................................................... 60
Cleaning............................................................. 60
Battery............................................................... 60
SPECIFICATIONS....................................................... 63
Sidekick® Plus Test Set....................................... 63
Measurements................................................... 63
WARRANTY............................................................... 66
General Provisions.............................................. 66
Work Hereunder................................................. 66
Specific Warranty Provisions............................... 67
APPENDIX A: STARTUP............................................. 68
APPENDIX B: IMPULSE NOISE FEATURE (optional)..... 70
Testing Impulse Noise......................................... 70
Graphing the Data.............................................. 70
Configuring Impulse Noise Settings.................... 71
APPENDIX C: STEP TDR FEATURE (optional).............. 73
Testing with Step TDR......................................... 73
Interpreting Step TDR Results............................. 74
Detecting Bridged Tap in Autotest....................... 78
APPENDIX D: WIDEBAND FEATURES (optional).......... 79
Wideband Loss................................................... 79
Wideband Noise................................................. 79
Longitudinal Noise.............................................. 80
Noise Spectrum Analyzer.................................... 80
Reference Tone................................................... 81
APPENDIX E: ADSL/VDSL FEATURE (optional)............ 82

All specifications are nominal and may change as design

improvements occur. Greenlee Textron Inc. shall not be liable
for damages resulting from misapplication or misuse of its
products.
Sidekick is a registered trademark of Greenlee Textron Inc.

Do not discard this product or throw away!

For recycling information, go to
www.greenlee.com.

KEEP THIS MANUAL

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

INTRODUCTION
Description
The Sidekick® Plus test set facilitates the technician’s
work in the field. By combining the functions of a volt-
ohmmeter, longitudinal balance tester, and open meter
with five transmission and noise tests, this tool reduces
repeat reports and improves quality of service.
Added functions to the Sidekick® Plus test set include a
time domain reflectometer (TDR) and a resistance fault
locator (RFL).
The Sidekick® Plus test set’s intuitive user interface
and USB communication make it necessary equipment
for field work.
This test set is a compact, battery-powered instrument
that can be conveniently held in the technician’s hand.
For questions on operation, requests for field training,
or for additional service, call Greenlee in Vista, CA
at 1-760-598-8900 or toll free 1-800-642-2155.
Outside of North America, contact your local Greenlee
distributor
This manual describes the operation of the software at
the time of publication. Minor changes and exten-
sions may have been made to released software in
the meantime, and updates may have been made to
any particular unit. Please refer to the on-screen help
(Fn+F1) where available, or contact Greenlee technical
support for details of any updated software and the
corresponding instruction manual.

Safety
Safety is essential in the use and maintenance of
Greenlee tools and equipment. This instruction manual
and any markings on the tool provide information for
avoiding hazards and unsafe practices related to the
use of this tool. Observe all of the safety information
provided.

Purpose of this Manual

This instruction manual is intended to familiarize
all personnel with the safe operation and mainte-
nance procedures for the Greenlee Communications
Sidekick® Plus Test Set.
Keep this manual available to all personnel.
Replacement manuals are available upon request at no
charge at www.greenlee.com.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Test Lead Terminology

This manual assumes the North American terminology
use of “Tip” (T), “Ring” (R), and “Ground” (G) for the test
leads. This terminology dates back to the days of jack &
plug fields where the names were literal, the “tip” being
the end terminal, the “ring” being in the middle, and the
sleeve (or ground connector) being the main body of the
plug. In other parts of the world these are known differ-
ently (described relative to the lead colors) as:
• Red = Ring (R) = B = Negative battery
• Black = Tip (T) = A = Positive battery
• Green = Ground (G) = Earth = Reference
Using the Config menu (refer to the “Device Setting
Screens” in the “Main Menu” section of this manual),
the user can change the terminology used on the
screen during tests. However, the online help will
always refer to tip, ring, and ground.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

SAFETY ALERT
SYMBOL
This symbol is used to call your attention to
hazards or unsafe practices which could result
in an injury or property damage. The signal
word, defined below, indicates the severity of
the hazard. The message after the signal word
provides information for preventing or avoiding
the hazard.

Immediate hazards which, if not avoided, WILL

result in severe injury or death.

Hazards which, if not avoided, COULD result in

severe injury or death.

Hazards or unsafe practices which, if not avoided,

MAY result in injury or property damage.

Read and understand this material

before operating or servicing this
equipment. Failure to understand
how to safely operate this tool could
result in an accident causing serious
injury or death.

Electric shock hazard:

Contact with live circuits could result
in severe injury or death.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Explosion hazard:
Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
Failure to observe this warning could result in severe
injury or death.

Electric shock hazard:

• Do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
• Do not use if the unit is wet or damaged.
• For measurement of Category I circuits only. For
measurements on circuits NOT directly connected
to mains. CAT I, 250 VAC, 300 VDC, 100 mA
maximum.
• Never make measurements on CAT II, CAT III, or
CAT IV circuits with this instrument.
• Use this unit for the manufacturer’s intended
purpose only as described in this manual. Any
other use can impair the protection provided by
the unit.
• Do not operate with the battery compartment
open.
Failure to observe these warnings could result in
severe injury or death.

Electric shock hazard:

• Do not attempt to repair this unit. It contains no
user-serviceable parts.
• Do not expose to extremes in temperature or high
humidity. Refer to “Specifications.”
• If the unit becomes visibly coated with condensa-
tion, allow its temperature to equalize with the
surroundings and dry it thoroughly before use.
• Use of the unit while damp may affect high
­impedance measurements or may impair the
unit’s means of protection.
• Do not allow dust or dirt to build up.
• The supplied AC or mains charger is suitable for
indoor use only.
Failure to observe these precautions may result in
injury and can damage the unit.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measurement Categories
These definitions were derived from the international
safety standard for insulation coordination as it applies
to measurement, control, and laboratory equipment.
These measurement categories are explained in more
detail by the International Electrotechnical Commission;
refer to either of their publications: IEC 61010-1 or
IEC 60664.
Measurement Category I
Signal level. Electronic and telecommunication
equipment, or parts thereof. Some examples include
transient-protected electronic circuits inside photocopi-
ers and modems.
Measurement Category II
Local level. Appliances, portable equipment, and the
circuits they are plugged into. Some examples include
light fixtures, televisions, and long branch circuits.
Measurement Category III
Distribution level. Permanently installed machines and
the circuits they are hard-wired to. Some examples
include conveyor systems and the main circuit breaker
panels of a building’s electrical system.
Measurement Category IV
Primary supply level. Overhead lines and other cable
systems. Some examples include cables, meters,
transformers, and other exterior equipment owned by
the power utility.

Warning
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions in the user
manual, may cause interference to radio communi-
cations. It has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class A computing device pursuant
to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are
designated to provide reasonable protection against
such interference when operated in a commercial
environment. Operation of this equipment in a resi-
dential area is likely to cause interference, in which
case, the user, at his or her expense, will be required
to take whatever measures may be required to
correct the interference.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

COMPONENTS
The Sidekick® Plus kit contains the following:
• Base unit
• Primary test leads (red, green, black)
• Main carrying case
• Accessory carrying case
• Instruction Manual
• Secondary test leads (blue and yellow)
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack
• AA battery carrier (batteries not included)
• AC adapter/charger (100 to 250 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz,
1 A in, 12 Vdc 2.5 A min. out)
• 12 VDC charger with cigarette lighter plug
• Media CD-ROM with electronic manual
and Greenlee Record Manager
• Test strap for the resistive fault locator (RFL)
operation
• USB cable
Replacements are available for all components except
the base unit.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Base Unit
The front of the base unit is divided into three major
sections: an LCD screen with four function keys, a
rotary selector knob, and a standard keypad. The front
also contains connectors for the primary test leads
(red, black, and green) and for the secondary test leads
(yellow and blue).
The top of the unit contains a socket for the battery
charger, two USB ports, and an RJ-45 Ethernet port.
The back of the unit contains the battery compartment.
The battery compartment door can be accessed with
a screwdriver. Information on battery replacement is
included in the “Maintenance” section.
Function Keys
The four keys beneath the LCD function as follows:
• F1 with a question mark symbol accesses the HELP
screen.
• F2 with a sun symbol changes the contrast, b­ acklight,
and speaker volume.
• F3 with an analog meter depicted accesses the
analog meter.
• F4 with a sheet of paper symbol accesses the
MAIN MENU.
To enable any specific function key, the Fn key on
the keypad must be pressed in conjunction with the
function key.
Operation of these function keys is discussed in the
next section, “Operation.”

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Rotary Selector Knob

The center of the base unit contains the rotary selector
knob. The OFF position is at the nine o’clock position.
Starting clockwise from the OFF position, the following
positions are available for selection:
• VOLTS/CURRENT
• STRESS/GRT (ground resistance)
• LEAKAGE/OHMS
• LENGTH
• TDR (time domain reflectometer)
• RFL (resistance fault locator)
• COILS
• LOSS
• NOISE/PI (power influence)
• VDSL/ADSL
• AUTOTEST/TOOLS
Operation of each of these positions is discussed in the
next section, “Operation.”

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Keypad
The keypad is the standard telephone keypad with the
following additions:
• Fn key is used to enter the secondary function
modes.
• O (Back) key is used to exit the current menu page.
• 1 (Zoom-Out) key in TDR and Spectrum views.
• 3 (Zoom-In) key in TDR and Spectrum views.
• 7 (File Utilities) key.
• 9 (Save/Recall) key.
• * (Marker) key in TDR and Spectrum views.
• # (Display Hold) key.
• Arrows for up, left, down, and right are displayed
respectively on the 2, 4, 8, and 6 keys.
• The # key is used as an Enter key in modes where
the keypad is being used.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

OPERATION
Note: Fully charge the batteries for at least 8 hours
prior to first use.

Electric shock hazard:

For safety and measurement accuracy reasons do
not connect to the measurement leads while using
USB ports or battery charger.
Failure to observe this warning could result in severe
injury or death.

Notes:
• All measurement functions are disabled when a
connection is detected on the Sidekick® Plus test set
USB port.
• All measurement functions except TDR and impulse
noise are disabled when the AC power adapter is
connected to the Sidekick® Plus test set.
A visual display of battery power is always displayed
in the upper left corner of the LCD screen. Each bar
represents 25% power. Full power or 100% is shown
as four bars.
A low battery warning flashes on the display screen
when the battery is in critical state. The unit turns itself
off if the low battery warning flashes for more than one
minute.
Move the rotary knob to any position to activate the
base unit. Once the base unit is activated, the function
keys can be accessed.
Press the Fn key on the keypad while simultaneously
pressing the appropriate function key. The LCD screen
then displays the appropriate information.
The LCD display has a row at the bottom of the screen
where new screens can be accessed with the function
keys below. It is not necessary to press the keypad
Fn key to access the menu at the bottom of the LCD
screen.
The first time a new Sidekick® Plus test set is powered
up, the user will be prompted to choose the menu
language, unit, and settings to be used. (Please refer to
“Appendix A” for setup details.)

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Function Keys
F1 HELP
Access the HELP screen by pressing and holding the Fn
key. Then press the F1 HELP function key.
This screen displays instructions directly related to the
position of the rotary selector knob. If the knob is in the
VOLTS position, the instructions explain how to obtain a
voltage measurement.
F3 Next accesses the next page in the instructions.
F4 Exit returns the display to where it was when HELP
was accessed.
F2 CONTRAST/SPEAKER VOLUME
The Contrast screen allows the technician to adjust the
LCD display for the current light environment. Press
and hold the Fn key. Then press the F2 CONTRAST key.

Press F1 Bklt ON to disable the auto-off timer. Press

F2 Bklt OFF to turn the backlight off. Press F3 Bklt
Auto to enable the 5 second auto-off timer. With the
timer enabled, the backlight turns on whenever a key
is pressed or the knob is rotated. The backlight then
turns off after 5 seconds (time may be adjusted in the
configuration setting).
To adjust the Contrast, Speaker, or Backlight, use the
up (2) and down (8) keys to select. Then use the left (4)
and right (6) keys to adjust the selected slider.
Note: If the Contrast is set too high, it can be difficult to
distinguish active selections. It is recommended to set
the Contrast first.
Speaker volume defaults to 50% when the * (asterisk)
on the keypad is pressed.
• Press 0 on keypad to mute speaker.
• Press # on keypad for maximum 100% volume.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

F3 ANALOG METER
All measurements are displayed in digital form.
However, because many users prefer to use an analog
format, the Sidekick® Plus test set provides the techni-
cian with an analog meter.
Press and hold the Fn key. Then press the F3 ANALOG
key. An analog meter is now displayed. Regardless of
analog or digital mode, the function keys are the same.

The following tests allow the analog meter function:

• AC/DC voltage
• Stress
• Leakage
• Loop Current
To return to a digital display mode, press and hold Fn
and the F3 ANALOG key a second time.
Note: The word “REV” appears and flashes if the DC
voltage or current has a reversed polarity or a negative
value.
The display will return to the digital mode when the unit
is turned off or reset.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

F4 MAIN MENU
To access the MAIN MENU, press and hold the Fn
key. Press the F4 MAIN MENU key. The menu may be
accessed directly from all modes except TDR, RFL,
Autotest, and Impulse Noise.
Pressing the appropriate number key on the keypad
accesses each section of the menu. Items on the
MAIN MENU are needed during various tests and
measurements.
These items are discussed in detail in a later section or
when the function is required.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measuring Voltage
AC
The first test available on the rotary knob is the VOLTS
test. This position allows the technician to test both AC
and DC volts. The Volts menu allows the technician to
jump between AC and DC.
1. Connect the black lead to tip, the red lead to ring,
and the green lead to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the VOLTS position and
press F4 AC.

The LCD screen displays the AC voltage on a single pair

tip-to-ring. “T-R” is displayed in the upper left corner.
• F1 T-G displays tip-to-ground; “T-G” now in the
upper left corner and “T-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F1 again.
• F2 R-G displays ring-to-ground; “R-G” now in the
upper left corner and “R-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F2 again.
• F3 3-Lead displays three readings, T-G, R-G, and T-R.
(Only AC will be displayed.)
• F4 AC toggles between AC and DC. “AC” is high-
lighted when the AC measurement is primary.
To exit the voltage function, move the rotary knob to
another position.

Electric shock hazard:

If more than 25 volts of AC is detected on R-T, T-G,
or R-G, check the company’s safety procedures for
working with hazardous voltage levels.
Failure to observe this warning could result in severe
injury or death.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Note: Normally there should never be any measurable

amount of AC voltage on a twisted pair. If AC voltage
is detected on a telephone pair, this problem must be
isolated and corrected immediately because AC voltage
may affect other tests. The unit will beep slowly if there
is more than 60 VDC or 30 VAC. The beep is rapid for
voltages greater than 300 VDC and 250 VAC.
3-Lead
To check the AC voltage on 3-lead, press the F3 3-Lead
key.

AC voltage is displayed from the tip-to-ring, tip-to-

ground, and ring-to-ground in sequence, with the active
measurement in bold.
Press the F3 3-Lead key to return the screen to the
single pair AC menu. Press the F4 AC key to switch the
display to DC voltage.
AC meter specifications are as follows:
• Range: 0 to 250 volts
• Resolution:
0 to 9.99 V = 0.01 V
10 to 250 V = 0.1 V
• Accuracy: ±3%
• Frequency response: 40 Hz to 70 Hz

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

DC
Move the rotary knob to the VOLTS position. The LCD
screen now displays DC voltage on a single pair tip-to-
ring. “T-R” is displayed in the upper left corner.

• F1 T-G displays tip-to-ground; “T-G” now in the

upper left corner and “T-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F1 again.
• F2 R-G displays ring-to-ground; “R-G” now in the
upper left corner and “R-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F2 again.
• F3 3-Lead displays three readings, T-G, R-G, and T-R.
• F4 AC toggles between AC and DC. “AC” is high-
lighted when the AC measurement is primary.
To exit the voltage function, move the rotary knob to
another position.
Note: If the tip-to-ring reading is a positive voltage,
either the test leads or the central office (CO) battery is
reversed on this pair.

Electric shock hazard:

If the DC voltage reading is over 60 V, refer to your
company’s procedures for working with hazardous
voltages.
Failure to observe this warning could result in severe
injury or death.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

3-Lead
To check the DC voltage on 3-lead, press the
F3 3-Lead key. DC voltage is displayed from the tip-
to-ring, tip-to-ground, and ring-to-ground in sequence,
with the active measurement in bold.

Press the F3 3-Lead key to return the screen to the

single pair DC menu. Press the F4 AC key to switch the
display to AC voltage.
DC meter specifications are as follows:
• Range: 0 to 300 volts
• Resolution:
0 to 9.99 V = 0.01 V
10 to 300 V = 0.1 V
• Accuracy: ±3%

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measuring Loop Current

Loop current is inversely proportional to resistance. If a
pair’s loop resistance increases, its current decreases.
Measuring the loop current, therefore, provides an
important indicator if there are any resistance problems
on an active pair.
To measure loop current, perform the following steps:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the VOLTS position and
press Fn.

Note: The ring-to-ground current should be at least 1.5

times the tip-to-ring loop current. If it is not, there may
be a ground fault at the central office. There should be
no tip-to-ground current.
The following is a guideline for pair performance for
DC current:
• Scale: 0 to 110 mA
• Acceptable: 23 mA and higher*
• Marginal: 20 to 23 mA
• Unacceptable: below 20 mA
*per Bellcore/Telcordia standards; specific company or
local standards may be different.
A single pair measurement appears on the LCD screen.
To change the single pair measured or make another
choice, use the following function keys:
• F1 T-G displays tip-to-ground; “T-G” now in the
upper left corner and “T-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F1 again.
• F2 R-G displays ring-to-ground; “R-G” now in the
upper left corner and “R-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F2 again.
• F3 3-Lead accesses the 3-lead screen.
• F4 AC toggles between AC and DC. “AC” is high-
lighted when the AC measurement is primary.
To exit the LOOP CURRENT function, move the rotary
knob to any other position.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

3-Lead
To access the 3-lead screen, press F3 3-Lead. The
initial measurements of the tip-to-ring and ring-to-
ground occur when the LCD screen first appears.
The measurements are shown in sequence, with the
active measurement in bold.

Return to the Single Pair screen by pressing the

F3 3-Lead key. Press F4 AC to switch the display to AC.
Current meter specifications are as follows:
• Range: 0 to 110 mA
• Resolution:
0 to 9.99 mA = 0.01 mA
10 to 100 mA = 0.1 mA
> 100 mA = 1 mA
• Accuracy: ±2 mA
Current measurement in the Sidekick® Plus test set
uses a different technique to that used in a typical
multimeter: A resistance simulating a telephone load
is placed in the circuit. In order to protect the unit, a
thermal cut-out will halt the measurement if this test is
used for too long at higher currents.

Stress Balance Measurements

The STRESS selection identifies and isolates the
following:
• High joint or high resistance opens
(series resistance faults)
• Capacitive imbalances
(conductor lengths are unequal)
• Unbalanced load coils or build-out networks
• Crosses
• Grounds
• Split pairs

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Stress Test Effectiveness

The stress test identifies capacitive imbalances
(i.e., unequal conductor lengths) and DC problems
(i.e., crosses and grounds) anywhere along the length
of a dry or idle-working pair.
The STRESS measurement on the Sidekick® Plus test
set is more sensitive to pair imbalance problems than
noise metallic and ordinary longitudinal balance tests.
Series faults that cause static noise, however, need
305 m (1000 ft) of pair beyond the fault to cause a bad
stress reading.
The closer the technician is to a fault, the higher the
stress reading will be.
Note: The STRESS measurement does not identify
shorts because a shorted pair is balanced and pro-
duces good stressed noise readings. Use the LEAKAGE
measurement to identify shorts.
STRESS Measurement
To perform the STRESS measurement:
1. Connect the black lead to tip, the red lead to ring,
and the green lead to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the STRESS position.
To exit the STRESS function, move the rotary knob to
any other position.

The following is a guideline for pair performance:

• Scale: 0 to 82 dBrnC
• Acceptable: 20 dBrnC and lower
• Marginal: 20 to 30 dBrnC
• Unacceptable: above 30 dBrnC
Specifications for this measurement are as follows:
• Range: 0 to 82 dBrnC
• Resolution: 0.1 dBrnC
• Accuracy: ±5 dBrnC overall;
±2 dBrnC from 10 to 50 dBrnC
• Longitudinal excitation: +90 dBrnC; ±6 dBrnC

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Ground Resistance Test

Ground resistance testing is useful when evaluating
whether a station, or premise, ground is sufficient. The
reading is a direct indication of the ground integrity
and measures the earth resistance. High readings
are potentially due to short ground rods, poor ground
connections, etc. Readings greater than 25 Ω are
considered failing for DSL (consult local practices for
exact values).

Follow this procedure to obtain ground resistance

measurements:
1. Disconnect the shield of the drop wire from the
local ground.
2. Connect the green lead to the local ground rod that
you are trying to measure.
3. Connect the red and black leads to tip and ring as
you would normally do.
4. Connect the blue lead to a 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 ft)
wire extension, which should be connected to a
probe that is placed in the ground about 6 to 9 m
(20 to 30 ft) from the ground point to be measured.
Place the probe approximately in the same direc-
tion the telephone line is running, if known.
5. Move the rotary knob to the STRESS/GRT position.
6. Press the Fn key to access the Ground Resistance
screen. The unit will display a connection diagram
similar to the one above.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

7. Press F1 Start to read the earth ground resistance

of the ground rod. Less than 25 Ω is typically
considered good.

Leakage/Resistance
LEAKAGE
The LEAKAGE measurement applies 150 VDC to the
pair under test to detect intermittent resistance faults
that normal VOM tests cannot detect.
To conduct a leakage measurement, perform the fol-
lowing steps:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the LEAKAGE/OHMS
position.
The Leakage display is the default display.

The leakage measurement for a single pair appears in

the LCD. The measurement updates continuously. The
leakage test also has the option to reverse the polarity
of the 150 VDC by pressing F3 REV.
For best results, leave the polarity in either direction for
at least 15 seconds. Then change it again and continue
to check the readings. A sudden drop in the resistance,
or readings that waver or change from one polarity to
the other, is a sign of galvanic corrosion breakdown.
Also the tip-to-ground and ring-to-ground measure-
ments should be rechecked for any change after the
polarity reversal.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

To change the measurement, use the following function

keys:
• F1 T-G to access tip-to-ground measurement.
• F2 R-G to access ring-to-ground measurement.
• F3 REV to reverse polarity.
• F4 selects between 3 ranges:
R x 1k measures up to 1MΩ
R x 10k measures up to 100 MΩ
R x 100k measures up to 999 MΩ
To exit the LEAKAGE function, move the rotary knob
to another position or press the Fn key to access
resistance measuring.
Leakage specifications are as follows:
• Range: 0 to 999 MΩ
• Resolution:
1 kΩ to 1 MΩ
10 kΩ from 1 MΩ to 10 MΩ
100 kΩ from 10 MΩ to 100 MΩ
1 MΩ from 100 MΩ to 999MΩ
• Accuracy: ±3%
OHMS
To perform this measurement, follow these steps:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the LEAKAGE/OHMS
position.
3. Press the Fn key to access the Resistance screen.

The initial LCD screen displays single pair resistance

for tip-to-ring. The function keys have the following
choices:
• F1 T-G to access tip-to-ground measurement.
• F2 R-G to access ring-to-ground measurement.
• F3 3-Lead to display all three leads.
• F4 Compensate to measure ohms when foreign DC
voltage is detected.
To exit the OHMS function, move the rotary knob to
another position or press the Fn key to access the
leakage measurement.

27
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

3-Lead
Press F3 3-Lead to access resistance measurements
of all three leads in sequence on the LCD screen. The
active measurement will be in bold.

To check the resistance measurement of a single pair,

press the F3 Single Pair key to return to the single pair
LCD menu.
Range: 0 to 100 MΩ, autoranging
0 to 99 Ω
• Resolution: 0.1 Ω
• Accuracy: ±3% or 1 Ω
100 Ω to 100 MΩ
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: ±3%

28
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measuring Cable Length

The LENGTH selection measures the distance to an
open, mutual capacitance as well as the conductor to
ground capacitance of the pair.
Note: This Sidekick® Plus test set can subtract the test
lead length from the LENGTH measurement. Refer to
“Cord Calibration’” in the “Tools Menu” section.
To measure cable length, perform the following steps:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the LENGTH position.
A single pair measurement in feet (or meters) appears
on the LCD screen.

To change the single pair measured or make another

choice, use the following function keys:
• F1 T-G displays tip-to-ground; “T-G” now in the
upper left corner and “T-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F1 again.
• F2 R-G displays ring-to-ground; “R-G” now in the
upper left corner and “R-G” button is highlighted.
To return to tip-to-ring, press F2 again.
• F3 3-Lead accesses the 3-lead screen.
• F4 Setup shows the measurement configuration. The
measurement unit, mutual capacitance, and ground
capacitance is set on this page. Press the O (Back)
key to return to the measurement.
To exit the LENGTH function, move the rotary knob to
any other position.
Changing Capacitance per Distance
Use the up (2) and down (8) keys to adjust capacitance
per unit length displayed in the upper right of the
screen. Adjust the capacitance per distance value to
match a known length of cable or a known capacitance
per distance for a given cable.
Note that there are two capacitance per distance
values. One is for the T-G and R-G capacitance, while
the other is for T-R.

29
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

3-Lead
To obtain a 3-lead measurement, press F3 3-Lead
while on the Length menu. The length or capacitance
measurement is displayed from the ring-to-tip, tip-to-
ground, and ring-to-ground in sequence, with the active
measurement in bold.

Return to the Single Pair screen by pressing the

F3 3-Lead key.
Specifications for this measurement are the following:
Range: 0 to 30 km (0 to 100,000 ft)
0 to 30 m (0 to 99 ft)
• Resolution: 0.3 m (1 foot)
• Accuracy: 5%/0.6 m (5%/2 ft)
30 to 6095 m (100 to 19,999 ft)
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: 4%
6096+ m (20,000+ ft)
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: 10%
Changing Distance Units
The distance measurement may be toggled between
feet and meters through the F4 Setup screen.
1. Press F4 Setup.
2. If necessary, use the up (2) or down (8) arrow keys
on the keypad to highlight “Unit.”
3. Use the right (6) arrow key to toggle between
“Feet”, “Metres”, and “Capacitance”.
To exit back to the LENGTH function, press the
O (Back) key.

30
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR)

The TDR position of the rotary knob converts the
Sidekick® Plus test set into a time domain r­ eflectometer
that sends out pulses of energy and then measures the
time interval of the reflections.
The way energy is reflected and the amount of the
energy reflected indicate the condition of the cable.
A TDR can detect normal occurrences such as taps,
splitters, couplers, and loop extenders. It also can
­accurately pinpoint trouble such as shorts and opens.
A TDR also provides a rough estimate of the total
amount of cable that is wet and the approximate
­location of the wet section.

The TDR displays a graph of the tested cable with

distance (time to reflection) on the horizontal axis. The
on-screen cursor helps by displaying in feet or meters
to a point on the cable. The vertical axis on the TDR
screen shows the type and severity of the fault.
1. Connect the test leads: red to ring and black to tip.
2. Move the rotary knob to the TDR position.
A TDR must know the characteristics of the cable to
accurately display the distance to faults. The Sidekick®
Plus test set has the characteristics of some cable
types preset.
When the TDR feature is first used after the unit
is turned on, the screen begins in the Cable Type
Selection menu. Afterwards, the cable type can be
selected through the TDR main screen:
1. Press F3 Config.
2. Press F1 Single Cable.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Cable Type

Use the keypad arrow keys (2 and 8) to scroll through

the cable types. Once the correct one has been high-
lighted, press the F4 key to exit.
If the cable type is not listed, the user may create a
new cable type by accessing the MAIN MENU (Fn-F4)
and selecting 2 Cable Config.
To use a simple custom cable, move to the bottom of
the list and select “Custom Cable”. Use the keypad
arrow keys (2 and 8) until the “VP(%)” column is high-
lighted. Press F1 Edit, and then use the keypad to enter
the velocity of propagation.
Press the O (Back) key when the cable is selected or
“Custom Cable” is defined.
Measuring and Reading Traces
The TDR main display contains the following controls:
• Up (2) or down (8) arrows change the value of the
parameter selected by the F2 Adjust key.
• F1 Less Cable shortens the amount of cable
examined.
• F2 Adjust selects the parameter for adjustment:
Gain/Offset/Averages/VP/PW. Use the up (2) and
down (8) arrows to make changes to the selected
parameter.
• F3 Config function allows the user to adjust all
parameters of the TDR. Press the O (Back) key to
return to the TDR display.
• F4 More Cable increases the amount of cable
examined.

32
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Zoom
The zoom feature allows the user to get a closer look at
the TDR trace. It displays the following controls:
• 1 (Zoom In) gives the user a more detailed look at
the data over a smaller range.
• 3 (Zoom Out) gives the user a broader look of the
data over a larger range.
• * (Marker) displays a marker at the current location
of the cursor. The distance from the marker to the
cursor is displayed on the right side of the screen
next to the delta signal.
Distance/Open/Short
1. Press F4 More Cable until the reflection is
displayed.
2. Use the up (2) and down (8) arrows to adjust the
waveform height.
3. Use the left (4) and right (6) arrows to move the
cursor to the leading edge of the reflection.
The illustration below shows a typical open display.

The illustration below shows a typical short.

33
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Load Coils
Note: Load coil waveforms look very similar to an open
waveform (see previous illustration). Typically, the load
coil is located at its appropriate spacing, depending on
the loading scheme being used. TDR will not be able to
see past the load coil.
The illustration below shows a typical load coil display.

Bridged Taps/Laterals
Note: If there is more than one bridged tap on the pair,
the additional lateral might be sufficient to obscure the
end of the cable. If necessary, remove the first bridged
tap and retest the cable to locate the next tap.
The illustrations below show single and multiple
bridged taps.

34
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Water
1. Press F4 More Cable until the reflection is
displayed.
2. Use the up (2) and down (8) arrows keys to adjust
the waveform height.
3. Use the left (4) and right (6) arrows to move the
cursor to the beginning of the wet section (“A” on
the illustration below). This is the distance to the
water.
4. Use the left (4) and right (6) arrows to move the
cursor to the end of the wet section (“B” on the
illustration below).
“A” to “B” is the wet section.

Note: The distance from the front panel to the water

(A) is correct. The wet section distance (A to B) is not
correct because water changes the velocity of propaga-
tion (Vp). Subtract the dry section distance from the
cable map to obtain the wet distance. Or measure from
both ends of the cable to the wet section.
Comparing Two Pairs
The Sidekick® Plus test set can display two TDR traces
at the same time or perform mathematical comparisons
of the traces. The accessory kit contains a second set
of reference leads (yellow and blue).
1. Connect the primary test leads to the first pair:
red to ring and black to tip.
2. Connect the yellow and blue reference leads to the
second pair.
3. Move the rotary knob to the TDR position.
4. Press F3 Config.
5. Press the down (8) key until “Test Type” is
highlighted.

35
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

6. Press the right (6) key until the desired type is high-
lighted, or the keypad number key of the desired
type:
• Test Pair: Red and black leads.
• Test Pair/Reference Pair: Both test
(red/black) and reference (yellow/blue)
test leads are displayed.
• Test Pair/Difference/Reference Pair: The test,
reference, and difference (test-reference) pairs
are displayed simultaneously.
• Test Pair–Reference Pair: The difference of the
test and reference pairs is displayed.
• Test Pair (Intermittent): Continuously displays all
TDR traces to capture intermittent faults.
• Reference Pair: Yellow and blue leads.

7. Press the O (Back) key to select the type of test

and exit.
Changing the gain or cable length will affect all test
waveforms.
The illustration below shows both test and reference
waveforms.

Step TDR Functionality (optional)

On units that contain the Step TDR feature, the “Unit”
option in the TDR Config menu shows “Step TDR” as
option 2. This will switch the unit from displaying pulse
TDR information to step TDR information. The step TDR
feature is useful in discovering bridge taps and other
faults that are more difficult to see with a pulse TDR.

36
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Saving a Trace
The Sidekick® Plus test set can save TDR traces to its
internal memory. The user can later either display them
on the unit or download them to a PC with the Greenlee
Record Manager.
To save a TDR trace:
1. Press the 9 (Save) key while the trace is displayed
on the screen to access the Save/Recall menu.
The menu bar will change to display the following
features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.
2. Press F1 Save. Enter a name for the trace with the
keypad. Press a key repeatedly to rotate through
the letters and numbers of the key.
3. Press F4 Done when complete.
4. Use the Greenlee Record Manager to download the
traces to a PC.
Displaying a Saved Trace
The Sidekick® Plus test set can display a previously
saved TDR trace on the unit. To display a saved trace:
1. From the MAIN MENU, press 9 (Save) to enter the
Save/Recall menu. The menu bar will change to
display the following features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.
2. Press F2 Recall. The unit will provide a list of saved
traces.
3. Select the correct trace using the up (2) and down
(8) keys.
4. Press F4 Select when complete. The previously
saved trace will be displayed on the screen.
5. When finished examining the data, press the #
(Pause/Resume) key to return to live data.

37
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Deleting a Saved Trace

The Sidekick® Plus test set can delete a previously
saved TDR trace from the unit. To delete a saved trace:
1. From the MAIN MENU, press 9 (Save) to enter the
Save/Recall menu. The menu bar will change to
display the following features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.
2. Press F3 Delete. The unit will provide a list of
saved traces.
3. Select the correct trace using the up (2) and down
(8) keys.
4. Press F4 Select when complete. The previously
saved trace will be deleted

Resistance Fault Locator (RFL)

The RFL position of the rotary knob provides a resis-
tance fault locator that reads out the distance to high
and low resistive shorts, grounds, crosses, and battery
crosses. Readings show the distance to the far end
strap, the distance to the fault, and the distance from
the strap to the fault.
The faults can be either low or high resistance or solid
or varying (wet). The readings are accurate even with
voltage present (battery contacts). The locator is fully
automatic and provides digital readouts with no nulls to
set. Accuracy is within ±0.5%.
Low and high resistance shorts, earths, contacts, and
battery faults need either one or two good conductors
to bridge the faulted wire between accesses. If only
one conductor is used, it must be the same gauge and
length as the faulted conductor.
Two Good Conductors
For the most accurate results, two good conductors
must be used to short the yellow, blue, and red leads
together at the far end. The two good conductors may
be of any gauge or temperature. They can be either
longer or shorter than the faulted conductor. Wire left
on a reel or strung in a short-cut between accesses
does not affect readings.
These conductors must test good, reach the far end,
and be strapped to the faulted conductor.

38
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

One Good Conductor

If two good conductors are not available, the RFL can
work in 3-lead mode with the yellow lead unused. If
3-lead mode is used, the blue lead conductor must be
in the same cable as the red. Use the strap included
in the accessories case to short the two conductors
together at the far end.
The measurement for fault to strap is calculated in this
mode and is denoted by a (C) following the value.
RFL Test
To begin the RFL test:
1. Move the rotary knob to the RFL position.

2. Connect leads and strap:

• Red lead: Conductor with fault.
• Black lead: Fault’s return path (may be another
conductor or cable’s ground).
• Blue lead: Good conductor (must be in same
cable if only one good conductor used).
• Yellow lead: Second good conductor for 4-wire
mode.
• Strap: Shorts red and blue (and yellow if 4-wire)
at the far end. Different possible test configura-
tions can be displayed on the screen by pressing
either the left (4) or right (6) buttons. However,
the Test Result screen will indicate only those
leads under test.
3. Press F1 START.

39
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

The next two displays illustrate a 3-wire connection

and a 4-wire configuration if the yellow lead is con-
nected to the cable.
Sidekick® Plus test set connections are on the left;
the strap is on the right. The resistance of the fault is
highlighted.
Note: A “B fault” error is displayed if voltage is
detected between the black and red lead.

Press F1 Next.
The display now shows the resistance of the conductor
connected to the blue lead.
Press F3 Switch To ft to convert resistance into dis-
tance. To accurately calculate the distance, the gauge
and temperature of the blue lead must be set.

40
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Changing Gauge and Temperature

Press F2 Setup.
1. Use the up (2) and down (8) arrow keys to adjust
temperature displayed at the top in the center.
2. Once the correct temperature is displayed, press
F2 Setup again.
3. Use the arrow keys to modify the wire gauge
displayed at the top right.
4. Press F2 Setup to exit.
Press F1 Next.
The display now shows the resistance to the conductor
connected to the yellow lead.
The gauge and temperature must also be set for the
yellow lead for distance measurement. Press F2 Setup
to change gauge and temperature.
Press F1 Next.
The display now includes distance or resistance from
the test set to the fault.
Press F1 Next.
The display now includes distance or resistance from
the strap to the fault.

Verification
The Sidekick® Plus test set automatically verifies that
the previous measurements agree with each other. It
posts the result in the upper right corner.
• Verify Good: Distance-to-fault plus the fault-to-strap
equals the distance to strap.
• Verify Bad: Calculation was more than ±0.7% off.
• Verify Invalid: Verification is not possible in 3-wire
mode.

41
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Special Connection of Leads/Strap

On shorts, the black clip is connected to the other side
of the short.

On a contact fault, the black clip is connected to the

other side of the contact (see illustration below).

On an earth, the black clip is connected to the cable

shield or earth (see illustration below).

Specifications are as follows:

• Distance measurement accuracy:
±0.5% of full scale, ±1 digit
• Maximum fault resistance: 2 MΩ
• Fault check/ohms range: 0 to 19.99 MΩ
• Distance range: 0 to 61 km (0 to 199,999 ft)
• Fault current: 73 uA and 730 uA depending on fault

42
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Checking for Load Coils

To check for load coils, perform the following steps:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the COILS position.
The graph represents the impedance of the line. It
reveals the load coils as a dip and the corresponding
peak. F1 ReTest allows the technician to double-check
the test.
Note: The C.O. battery should be disconnected during
detection of load coils. Some C.O. battery and office
connections can mask one to all coils from being
detected. If problems exist on a pair, three or fewer load
coils may be detected. For example, if the trouble is on
the end segment of a pair, the fourth load coil may not
be detected.
Note: The Sidekick® Plus test set will not be able to
detect load coils within 152 m (500 ft) of the unit or
load coils that are less than 914 m (3000 ft) from the
end of the span. In those cases, testing from both ends
is advised.
If desired, the user can save, recall, or delete load coil
traces by pressing the 9 (Save/Recall) key.

Saving a Trace
The Sidekick® Plus test set can save load coil traces to
its internal memory. The user can either display them
on the unit or download them to a PC with the Greenlee
Record Manager.
To save a load coil trace:
1. Press the 9 (Save) key while the trace is displayed
on the screen to access the Save/Recall menu.
The menu bar will change to display the following
features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.

43
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

2. Press F1 Save. Enter a name for the trace with the

keypad. Press a key repeatedly to rotate through
the letters and numbers of the key.
3. Press F4 Done when complete.
4. Use the Greenlee Record Manager to download the
traces to a PC.
Displaying a Saved Trace
The Sidekick® Plus test set can display a previously
saved load coil trace on the unit. To display a saved
trace:
1. From the MAIN MENU, press 9 (Save) to enter the
Save/Recall menu. The menu bar will change to
display the following features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.
2. Press F2 Recall. The unit will provide a list of saved
traces.
3. Select the correct trace using the up (2) and down
(8) keys.
4. Press F4 Select when complete. The previously
saved trace will be displayed on the screen.
5. When finished examining the data, press the
F4 Exit key to return to live data.
Deleting a Saved Trace
The Sidekick® Plus test set can delete a previously
saved load coil trace from the unit. To delete a saved
trace:
1. From the MAIN MENU, press 9 (Save) to enter the
Save/Recall menu. The menu bar will change to
display the following features:
• F1 Save saves the current trace.
• F2 Recall displays a previously saved trace on
the screen.
• F3 Delete deletes a previously saved trace.
• F4 Exit returns to the previous menu.
2. Press F3 Delete. The unit will provide a list of
saved traces.
3. Select the correct trace using the up (2) and down
(8) keys.
4. Press F4 Select when complete. The previously
saved trace will be deleted.

44
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measuring Circuit Loss

The CKT LOSS selection measures the signal attenu-
ation on the pair from the central office (C.O.) to the
point of test. Values less than 0 dB display as a nega-
tive number.
The test requires a 0 dBm (one milliwatt in 600 ohm),
1004 Hz test tone transmitted from the C.O.
The farther away from the test signal’s injection point,
the more loss because of the increased distance the
signal must travel. Because circuit loss is cumulative,
the reading taken at the point of test indicates the total
loss present on a pair.
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the LOSS position.

3. Activate the test signal by dialing from an external

buttset or with the Sidekick® Plus test set’s internal
dialing menu.

4. Press F3 Dial to access the internal dialing menu.

Refer to the “Main Menu” section for details on
internal dialing.
To exit the CKT LOSS function, move the rotary knob to
another position.
The following chart is a guideline for pair performance:
• Acceptable: 0 to –8.5 dB
• Marginal: –8.6 to –10.0 dB
• Unacceptable: Below –10 dB

45
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Specifications for the circuit loss measurements are

as follows:
• Range: +3 to –70 dB
• Resolution: 0.1 dB
• Accuracy: ±0.5 dB
Phone Book

Pressing F2 Phone Book on the Ckt Loss main screen

displays frequently used phone numbers dialed for
circuit loss. Use the up (2) and down (8) keys to select
the active phone book entry.
• F1 Dial dials the selected phone book number.
• F2 New inserts a new entry into the phone book.
The user will be prompted for the name and phone
number once F2 has been selected.
• F3 Delete deletes the selected phone book entry.
• The O (Back) key returns to the previous screen.
Measuring Wideband Loss (optional)
On units that contain the Wideband feature,
the F4 key displays an impedance selection
(600 Ω/135 Ω/100 Ω/75 Ω). This line impedance is
used to compute the Loss value.
Refer to “Appendix D” for more information about
wideband measurements.

46
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Measuring Circuit Noise

and Power Influence (PI)
The circuit noise and power influence measurements
are performed on the same display.
Power Influence
The power influence measurement specifically
identifies electromagnetic interferences (EMI) from
external sources (mainly power lines). When this test
is activated, the Sidekick® Plus test set shorts ring and
tip while simultaneously measuring the noise to ground.
Circuit Noise
Circuit noise on cable pairs is generated internally
by pair imbalances or externally by C.O. equipment,
subscriber equipment, or electromagnetic interfer-
ence (EMI) equipment (radio transmitters, generators,
transformers, etc.).
Normally, a poor ground or sheath on the cable pair or
the external equipment allows noise to “leak” onto the
cable pair.
Balance
Balance is a longitudinal measurement calculated by
subtracting the circuit noise measurement from the
power influence measurement. Balance represents the
overall quality of those measurements.
When the power influence and circuit noise mea-
surements are complete, the test set automatically
calculates and displays the balance.
The Sidekick® Plus test set measures the amount of
circuit noise present across tip and ring. The procedure
is as follows:
1. Connect the black lead to tip, the red lead to ring,
and the green lead to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the NOISE/PI position.

3. Press F3 Dial to dial a quiet line termination. The

“Power Influence” reading appears on the screen.
F2 Phone Book may be selected to choose a
number in the stored phone book. Frequently used
numbers can be saved under this menu.

47
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

4. Use the down (8) key to highlight the “Noise” line.

The noise reading appears immediately followed by the
balance, which the test set calculated.

Note: Once connected to the quiet line, the user can

toggle between the noise and power influence mea-
surements. The Sidekick® Plus test set will maintain the
connection until the test leads are disconnected or the
user turns the knob to another test.
Also, some central offices have one telephone number
that provides both a milliwatt tone and a quiet termina-
tion. The milliwatt tone lasts for a set time and then
changes to quiet termination. The Sidekick® Plus test
set can handle this change. When the quiet termina-
tion activates, the user simply turns the knob from CKT
LOSS to NOISE/PI.
The following charts are a guideline for pair
performance:
Power Influence
• Scale: 30 to 110 dBrnC
• Acceptable: 60 to 80 dBrnC*
• Marginal: 81 to 90 dBrnC
• Unacceptable: Above 90 dBrnC
Circuit Noise
• Scale: 0 to 90 dBrnC
• Acceptable: 0 to 20 dBrnC*
• Marginal: 21 to 30 dBrnC
• Unacceptable: Above 30 dBrnC
*Bellcore/Telcordia standards; specific company or
local standards may be different.
Measuring Wideband Noise (optional)
On units that contain the Wideband feature, the F4 key
displays a filter selection. The selected filter is active
during the Noise measurement.
Refer to “Appendix D” for more information about
wideband measurements.

48
 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Voiceband Spectrum Analyzer

A spectral graph for analysis of power influence and
noise may be accessed through the NOISE/PI function.
This graph will be useful in determining the types of
noise, frequency of the noise in the voiceband, and the
amplitude at each frequency. To access the SPECTRUM
ANALYZER test, use the up (2) and down (8) arrows
on the keypad to highlight the required measurement.
Press F1 Spectrum to see the result displayed as a
real-time graph. The default may be changed from dBm
to dBrn in the configuration settings.
Power Influence
This measurement shows the Power Influence affecting
the circuit across the voiceband up to 4 kHz. To use
the Power Influence Spectrum Analyzer, perform the
following:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Select the Power Influence display using the up (2)
and down (8) keys.
3. Press F3 Dial to dial a quiet line termination. A
previously saved number can also be dialed from
the memory by pressing F2 Phone Book.
4. Once connected, select F1 Spectrum to enter
spectrum analyzer.

The value of the measured POWER INFLUENCE at the

cursor position is shown in the top right of the screen in
dBrn. The total Power Influence across the bandwidth is
shown at the bottom left in dBrnC.
The cursor position may be moved using the left (4) and
right (6) arrows on the keypad.
The following function keys are available in this screen:
• F1 Spectrum returns to the summary screen.
• F2 Phone allows the user to dial a number.
• F3 Peak enables a peak-hold function to capture fast
moving signals.
The * key will display a marker and allow the user to
navigate to a point of interest. The # key pauses the
display until it is pressed again.

49
Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Noise Spectral Analysis

This measurement shows the background Noise on the
circuit across the voiceband up to 4 kHz. To use the
Noise Spectrum Analyzer, perform the following:
1. Connect the test leads: black to tip, red to ring, and
green to ground.
2. Select the Noise display using the up (2) and down
(8) keys.
3. Dial a quiet termination or use the one already
established for the Power Influence tests.
4. Once connected, select F1 Spectrum to enter the
spectrum analyzer.

The following function keys are available in this screen:

• F1 Spectrum returns to the summary screen.
• F2 Phone allows the user to dial a number.
• F3 Peak enables a peak-hold function to capture fast
moving signals.
The * key will display a marker and allow the user
to navigate to point of interest. The # key pauses the
display until it is pressed again.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Automatic Test
The AUTOTEST selection checks most of the tool’s tests
and measurements by comparing them to tolerances
set by the Autotest configuration selected. It is a quick
check to qualify a line against specific standards.
The AUTOTEST runs through all the tool’s tests except
the TDR, impulse noise, ground resistance, and RFL.
To run the AUTOTEST:
1. Connect the black lead to tip, the red lead to ring,
and the green lead to ground.
2. Move the rotary knob to the AUTOTEST position.
3. The first time AUTOTEST is selected, the unit will
prompt you to choose an AUTOTEST to perform.
Use the arrow keys to select the proper test, and
then press F4 Select.

The following selections are available on the Autotest

menu:
• F2 Start begins the test.
• F4 Config allows the user to select/edit the Autotest
configuration that the unit will test against. (Refer to
the next section, “Main Menu,” for more information
on the CONFIG section.)
Press 9 (Save) to enter the Save/Recall menu. The
current Autotest result can be saved, and previously
saved results can be viewed.
To exit the Autotest menu, move the rotary knob to
another position.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

TOOLS MENU
To access the TOOLS MENU, rotate the rotary knob to
AUTOTEST/TOOLS, and then press the Fn key.

1 Dial
Pressing the 1 key allows the Sidekick® Plus test set to
make phone calls by dialing numbers on the keypad.

2 Phone Book
When the 2 key is pressed, the phone book is
accessed. A list of names previously entered appears
with the following choices:
• F1 Dial dials the person/number highlighted.
• F2 New adds a new person/number.
• F3 Delete deletes the person/number highlighted.
• The O (Back) key returns to the MAIN MENU.

3 Cord Calibration
When the 3 key is pressed, the Cord Calibration screen
is displayed.
A cord-open calibration is performed with all test leads
connected to the unit, but not connected to a line.
Press F1 Open to perform the cord-open calibration
when each test lead is not connected or touching any
terminal or wire.
A cord-shorted calibration is performed with the Black,
Red, Blue, and Yellow leads terminated to the Green
test clip. Press F2 Shorted to perform the cord-shorted
calibration.
Press the O (Back) key to exit the Cord Calibration
menu.

4 Impulse Noise (optional)

Refer to “Appendix B”.

5 R/D Calculation
Pressing the 5 key provides the technician with a
resistance vs. distance calculator.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

1. The up (2) and down (8) arrow keys highlight the

various possibilities. Enter correct pair type, wire
gauge and wire temperature with the left (4) and
right (6) arrow keys.
2. Enter the known resistance or distance by scrolling
down until the correct field is highlighted.
3. Press F1 Edit and enter the value desired.
4. When finished, press F4 Done.
• F2 Calc R calculates resistance.
• F3 Calc D calculates distance.

6 Tones
Pressing 6 while on the TOOLS MENU screen accesses
the Tones screen.

Select tone type with the right (6) key while the “Tone
Type” field is highlighted. Choices include the following:
• Metallic: Ring to tip
• Loss reference tone: Ring to tip with output level
control; only use on dry lines
• Simplex: Both ring- and tip-to-ground; for all digital
circuits
• Grnded Ring: Ring to ground tone
• Grnded Tip: Tip to ground tone
To adjust the tone frequency, use the arrow keys (2 and
8) until “Frequency” is highlighted, and then press 6.
Enter the desired frequency using the keypad number
pad, and then press # (Enter).
Wideband Reference Tone (optional)
On units that contain the Wideband feature, Loss Ref
Tone can transmit signals above voiceband frequencies.
Refer to “Appendix D” for more information about
wideband measurements.

7 Caller ID
Pressing 7 while on the TOOLS MENU screen identifies
the incoming call.
Press the O (Back) key to return to the TOOLS MENU.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

MAIN MENU
The MAIN MENU may be accessed from any test screen
except the TDR, RFL, and Autotest. To access the MAIN
MENU, press and hold the Fn key. Press the F4 key.
Pressing the appropriate number key on the phone
keypad accesses each section of the menu.

1 Config
From the MAIN MENU, use the keypad to select
1 Config. The Sidekick® Plus test set will present
several options to the user, which are detailed on each
of the following screens.
Device Setting Screens

The first Device Setting screen provides the following

options to the user. Each option can be reached by
using the up (2) or down (8) buttons:
• Mains Frequency: This option is used to cancel out
the effects of nearby AC noise on various readings,
such as resistance. Select “50Hz” or “60Hz” by using
the left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default setting
is “60Hz”.
• Impedance: This option allows the user to select
the input impedance for the unit. Select “1MΩ” or
“100KΩ” by using the left (4) and right (6) buttons.
The default setting is “1MΩ”.
• Cable Pair Identification: This option allows the
user to select how the test leads should be identified.
Select “T-R” or “A-B” by using the left (4) and right
(6) buttons. The default setting is selected by the user
when the unit is first used.
• Language: This option allows the user to select
which language will be used for displays. Options for
English, Spanish, French, German, and Russian are
available and can be selected by using the left (4)
and right (6) buttons. The default setting is selected
by the user when the unit is first used.
• Graph Font: This option allows the user to select
the size of the font displayed with spectral noise and
power influence data. Select “Small” or “Large” by
using the left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default
setting is “Small”.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

To move to the next options menu, select F3 Next. If no

more changes are required, press the O (Back) key.

The second Device Setting screen provides the follow-

ing options to the user. Each option can be reached by
using the up (2) or down (8) buttons:
• Length Unit: This option allows the user to select
which distance unit is used for displays. Select “ft”
for feet or “Meters” for meters by using the left (4)
and right (6) buttons. The default setting is selected
by the user when the unit is first used.
• Temp. Unit: This option allows the user to select
which temperature unit is used for displays. Select
“°F” for Fahrenheit or “°C” for Celsius by using the
left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default setting is
selected by the user when the unit is first used.
• dBm/dBrn: This option allows the user to select the
unit used to display spectral noise and power influ-
ence data. Select “dBm” or “dBrn” by using the left
(4) and right (6) buttons. The default setting is “dBm”.
• Resistivity: This setting allows the user to change
the units used in displaying and changing the cable
resistivity in the cable configuration table. Select “Ω/
Kft”, “Ω/Km”, “ft/Ω”, or “m/Ω” by using the left (4)
and right (6) buttons. The default setting is “Ω/Kft”.
• VP: This setting allows the user to change the units
used in displaying and changing the cable velocity of
propagation in the cable configuration table. Select
“%”, “m/mS”, “ft/mS”, “Km/mS”, or “Kft/mS” by
using the left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default
setting is “%”.
To move to the previous options menu, select
F2 Previous. To move to the next options menu,
select F3 Next. If no more changes are required, press
the O (Back) key.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Date/Time Setting Screen

The Date/Time Setting screen provides the user with

various time-related options. Each option can be
reached by using the up (2) or down (8) buttons:
• System Date: Displays the current system date.
To modify the date, press F1 Edit. The unit will then
prompt to enter for the current date. Once the date
is entered, press F4 Done to return to the Date/Time
Setting screen.
• System Time: Displays the current system time.
To modify the time, press F1 Edit. The unit will then
prompt to enter for the current time. Once the time
is entered, press F4 Done to return to the Date/Time
Setting screen.
• Time Zone: This unit can now set the time zone,
which is used in synchronizing the time with a PC.
Use the left (4) and right (6) buttons to select a time
zone.
• Daylight Savings: This unit can now set daylight
savings time on or off, which is used in synchroniz-
ing the time with a PC. Choose if daylight savings is
enabled by selecting “Yes” or “No” using the left (4)
and right (6) buttons.

• Idle Timer: This option allows the user to select the

idle shutdown timeout for the system. If the unit is
inactive for the amount of time given by this timer
(meaning no keypress or rotary switch events), the
unit will shut itself down to conserve battery power.
The idle timer can be configured from 3 to 120
minutes by using the left (4) and right (6) buttons.
The default setting is 10 minutes.
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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

• Backlight Timer: This option allows the user to

select the backlight timeout for the system. If the
unit is inactive for the amount of time given by this
timer (meaning no keypress or rotary switch events),
the screen backlight will be turned off to conserve
battery power. (Note that the screen will still be on;
only the backlight is affected). The backlight timer
can be configured from 5 to 60 seconds by using
the left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default setting
is 5 seconds. The backlight timer can be disabled
by turning the backlight either on or off through the
Display menu.
• Date Format: This option allows the user to select
the display format for the date. The two options
available are “MMDDYYYY” (Month/Day/Year) or
“DDMMYYYY” (Day/Month/Year) and can be selected
by using the left (4) and right (6) buttons. The default
setting is Month/Day/Year.
To move to the previous options menu, select F2
Previous. To move to the next options menu, select
F3 Next. If no more changes are required, press the
O (Back) key.
Battery Information Screen

The Battery Info screen provides the user with the state
of the battery. There are no options that can be config-
ured by the user; this is merely an information screen.
The information provided includes:
• Battery Type: Displays the battery type installed.
Values include “Lithium” or “Alkaline”.
• Battery Voltage: Displays the voltage of the battery
installed.
• Charge State: Indicates the charge state of the
battery. This value can be either “Charging” or “N/A”.
To move to the previous options menu, select F2
Previous. To move to the next options menu, select
F3 Next. If no more changes are required, press the
O (Back) key.
Note: Units that have the optional impulse noise
feature installed will have additional configuration
screens available. For details on these configuration
screens, refer to “Appendix B”.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

2 Cable Config
Pressing 2 while on the MAIN MENU screen accesses
the Cable Configuration screen. This screen allows the
user to make any one of a number of changes or addi-
tions to the cables configured for use in TDR, RFL, and
the R-D calculator.

This table is configured in a spreadsheet format, where

additional fields can be accessed by using the left (4)
and right (6) buttons. To view additional cables, use the
up (2) and down (4) buttons. To edit the selected field,
press F1 Edit. Once all the cable changes have been
made, press # (Enter).
• Cable: This field contains a description of the type of
cable used, such as air-cored, filled poly, etc.
• Dia.: This field contains the description of the cable
size, either in metric or AWG.
• Mat.: This field contains the cable material. Available
choices include “Cu” (copper) and “Al” (aluminum),
“Ag” (gold), or “Au” (silver).
• Resistivity: This field contains the cable resistivity.
• Temp.: This field contains the base temperature
used for the cable’s temperature coefficient (i.e., the
temperature in which the coefficient is zero).
• Temp. Coeff.: This field contains the temperature
coefficient for the cable per each degree. The use
of Celcius or Fahrenheit is set in the configuration
menu.
• VP: This field contains the cable’s velocity of
propagation.
To save the changes to the table, press F3 Save. To
exit, press the O (Back) key.

3 Autotest Config
Pressing 3 while on the MAIN MENU screen accesses
the Autotest configurations selection. Here the Autotest
configuration can be selected. (The same screen can
also be accessed on the Autotest menu screen by
pressing the F4 key.)

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Autotest configurations allow Autotest to be customized

for different test scenarios. Other configurations may be
downloaded into the unit through the Greenlee Record
Manager.
• F1 Edit to make changes to test thresholds and
select which test is to be included (only the
CustomScript may be edited by the unit).
• F4 Select to use the highlighted script in the Autotest.

Thresholds for ACV and DCV

4 About
Pressing 4 while on the MAIN MENU screen accesses
information about the Sidekick® Plus unit. This includes
software and firmware versions as well as the serial
number of the unit.

Press press the O (Back) key to return to the

MAIN MENU.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

MAINTENANCE
Cleaning
If the Sidekick® Plus test set requires cleaning, mix a
solution of mild detergent and warm water.
1. Dip a soft, lint-free rag into water.
2. Wring excess water from the rag until it is slightly
damp.
3. Wipe surfaces clean.
4. Repeat with a damp rinse rag.

Do NOT use alcohol or other chemical solvent

cleansers. These may remove the protective cover-
ing, break down test lead insulation, or damage the
plastic case and meter face.

Do NOT immerse the unit in water or rinse it under a

tap or hose.
The carrying case can be cleaned in the same manner.
A soft-bristled brush may be used to remove dirt
embedded in the material.
Be sure to remove the base unit from the softcase prior
to cleaning. Immersion of the carrying case in water
may cause some shrinkage.
Dry the carrying case thoroughly before replacing the
test set.
Please call Greenlee at 1-800-642-2155 with any
questions about cleaning.

Battery
Recharging
Recharge the Sidekick® Plus battery pack after every
day of use. Use the provided AC/DC power supply to
provide 12 V to the jack on the top of the Sidekick®
Plus case.
Recharging from a dead state should take approxi-
mately four hours.
Auto Off
To conserve battery power, the test set automatically
turns itself off after a set time (default is 10 minutes) if
no key is pressed. This automatic action prevents acci-
dentally leaving the unit on and draining the batteries.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Battery Warning
When the batteries are significantly depleted and
could cause the unit to fail during a test, a low battery
warning appears on the screen each time a test is
attempted. If the unit is kept on with low batteries, the
low battery warning flashes for one minute and then
the unit turns itself off.
Once these warnings appear, Greenlee cannot guaran-
tee how long the accuracy remains within the published
limits. See the “Specifications” section for those limits.
Greenlee recommends charging the batteries as soon
as possible to ensure accurate measurements. Refer to
the next section for instructions.
Note: If the technician turns the unit on and the LCD
does not display, check the batteries first.
If recharging the batteries is not an option, the unit can
operate from six AA alkaline cells. Use the AA battery
holder from the accessories bag.
This battery holder must be installed in place of the
rechargeable battery pack.
Follow the replacement instructions in the next section
to swap battery packs.
Battery Replacement
To replace the batteries:
1. Disconnect all leads from any circuits, and turn unit
off.
2. Remove the battery compartment door by loosen-
ing the screw toward the bottom of the door.
3. Slide the battery out of the holder.
4. Remove and reinsert the rechargeable Li-ion
battery pack or the battery carrier with six new AA
batteries. When inserting AA batteries into the tray,
place each battery’s negative (–) end on a spring
contact.
5. Replace the holder in the battery compartment.
6. Replace the door and tighten the screw.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

REPLACEMENT PARTS
AND ACCESSORIES
Do not attempt to replace or repair any of the
­components inside the main body of the Sidekick® Plus
test set.
If your test set requires service, please contact
Greenlee at 1-800-642-2155 for the location of the
nearest authorized repair and calibration facility.
The following user-replaceable parts and ­accessories
do not void the warranty:
1155-0611 Replacement Red/Green/Black cordset
1155-0614 Replacement Yellow/Blue cordset
1155-0616 Ground-resistance kit
1160-0104 Li-ion rechargeable battery pack
1155-0554 AA alkaline battery holder
1155-0555 Battery door assembly
1155-0553 AC wall charger
1155-0526 In-vehicle charger

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

SPECIFICATIONS
Sidekick® Plus Test Set
Dimensions: 279 x 121 x 76 mm (11 x 4.75 x 3 in);
305 x 140 x 114 mm (12 x 5.5 x 4.5 in) (in soft case)
Weight: 1.4 kg (3 lb) (includes Li-ion battery pack, soft
case, and test leads)
Batteries: Greenlee rechargeable battery pack
(Li-ion 3-cell) or 6 AA alkaline batteries

Measurements
Volts AC
• Range: 0 to 250 volts
• Resolution: 0 to 9.99 V = 0.01 V; 10 to 250 V = 0.1 V
• Accuracy: ±3%
• Frequency response: 40 Hz to 70 Hz
Volts DC
• Range: 0 to 300 volts
• Resolution: 0 to 9.99 V = 0.01 V; 10 to 300 V = 0.1 V
• Accuracy: ±3%
Stress Test
• Range: 0 to 82 dBrnC
• Resolution: 0.1 dBrnC
• Accuracy: ±5 dBrnC overall;
±2 dBrnC from 10 to 50 dBrnC
• Longitudinal excitation: +90 dBrnC; ±6 dBrnC
Leakage
• Range: 0 to 999 MΩ
• Resolution:
1 kΩ to 1 MΩ
10 kΩ from 1 MΩ to 10 MΩ
100 kΩ from 10 MΩ to 100 MΩ
1 MΩ from 100 MΩ to 999 MΩ
• Accuracy: ±3%
Resistance
Range: 0 to 100 MΩ, autoranging
0 to 99 Ω
• Resolution: 0.1 Ω
• Accuracy: ±3% or 1 Ω
100 Ω to 100 MΩ
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: ±3%

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Distance to Open (Meter)

Range: 0 to 30 km (0 to 100,000 ft)
0 to 30 m (0 to 99 ft)
• Resolution: 0.3 m (1 foot)
• Accuracy: 5%/0.6 m (5%/2 ft)
30 to 6095 m (100 to 19,999 ft)
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: 4%
6096+ m (20,000+ ft)
• Resolution: 4 digits
• Accuracy: 10%
Loop Current
• Range: 0 to 110 mA
• Resolution: 0 to 9.99 mA = 0.01 mA;
10 to 100 mA = 0.1 mA; >100 mA = 1 mA
• Accuracy: ±2 mA
Load Coils
• Locates up to 4 load coils
Circuit Noise
• Range: 0 to 90 dBrnC
• Resolution: 0.1 dBrnC
• Accuracy: ±2 dBrnC
Power Influence
• Range: 30 to 110 dBrnC
• Resolution: 0.1 dBrnC
• Accuracy: ±2 dBrnC
Circuit Loss
• Range: +3 to –70 dB
• Resolution: 0.1 dB
• Accuracy: ±0.5 dB
RFL
• Distance measurement accuracy:
±0.5% of full scale, ±1 digit
• Maximum fault resistance: 2 MΩ
• Fault check/ohms range: 0 to 19.99 MΩ
• Distance range: 0 to 61 km (0 to 199,999 ft)
• Fault current: 73 uA and 730 uA depending on fault

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Tone
• Tracing tone generator (metallic and common
mode): 500 to 3500 Hz
• Reference tone: +14 to –20 dBm; 200 Hz to 20 kHz
TDR
• Range: 10 km (33 kft)
Ground Resistance Test
• Method: Fall of Potential
• Measurement range: 0 to 250 Ω
Impulse Noise (optional)
• Filters:
C (700 Hz to 3000 Hz)
E (1 kHz to 50 kHz)
F (5 kHz to 245 kHz)
G (20 kHz to 1100 kHz)
V (to 30 MHz) for VDSL-1 and VDSL-2 circuits
• Number of available thresholds: 3
• Threshold settings: -65 dBm to +5 dBm
• Blank time: 10 ms, 125 ms, 1000 ms
• Termination: 100 Ω, 135 Ω, 120 Ω
• Measurement time: 1 minute to 24 hours
• Standards: ANSI/IEEE 743
Environmental
• Operating temperature: –18 °C to 50 °C
(0 °F to 120 °F)
• Storage temperature: –18 °C to 50 °C
(0 °F to 120 °F)
• Operating humidity: BS EN 61010 “normal
­conditions”. Up to 80% to 31 °C decreasing to 50%
at 40 °C. Condensation is not permitted.
• Environmental protection: This product is protected
to BS EN 60529 level IP20CW; do not use in wet
conditions (rain or high humidity).
Note: Supplied mains power charger is designed for
indoor use only. Use in other circumstances may place
the user at risk of electric shock.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

WARRANTY
General Provisions
Seller warrants to Buyer that products furnished
hereunder will be merchantable, free from defects in
design, material, and workmanship, fit and sufficient
for the purposes intended by Buyer, free from all liens
and encumbrances and will conform to and perform
in accordance with the specifications set forth in the
Agreement for a period of One Year, commencing with
the date of acceptance by Buyer.
Defective products will, at Buyer’s option, be either
returned to Seller, or Seller’s Authorized Repair Agency,
for repair or replacement, with risk of in-transit loss
and damage borne and transportation charges paid
by Seller, or repaired or replaced by Seller, or Seller’s
Authorized Repair Agency, on site at Seller’s expense.
Unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, Seller,
or Seller’s Authorized Repair Agency, will complete
repairs and ship the repaired product within five (5)
days of receipt of the defective product or, at Buyer’s
option, ship replacement product within five (5) days
after receipt of oral notification from the Buyer. Seller,
or Seller’s Authorized Repair Agency, will bear the risk
of in-transit loss and damage and will prepay and bear
the cost of transportation charges for shipments to
Buyer of repaired or replaced products. If requested by
Buyer, Seller, or Seller’s Authorized Repair Agency, at
Seller’s expense, will begin on-site repairs within three
(3) days after receiving verbal notification from Buyer.
If product returned to Seller, or Seller’s Authorized
Repair Agency, or made available to Seller, or Seller’s
Authorized Repair Agency, on site for repair, as provided
for in this clause is determined to be beyond repair,
Seller, or Seller’s Authorized Repair Agency, will
promptly so notify Buyer and, unless otherwise agreed
to be the party.
Any replacement, repair, modification, installation, or
other service performed by Seller, or Seller’s Authorized
Repair Agency, pursuant hereto will be warranted as
herein provided based upon the date performance of
the services is completed and accepted by Buyer for
the remainder of the unexpired period of the original
warranty or for a new period of one (1) year, whichever
is longer.
All services, if any, provided under this Agreement will
be provided in a fully professional manner.

Work Hereunder
It is understood that visits by representatives of
Seller or its suppliers for inspection, adjustment or
other similar purposes in connection with products
purchased hereunder will for all purposes be deemed
“work hereunder” and will be at no charge to Buyer
unless otherwise agreed in writing with Buyer.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Specific Warranty Provisions

Factory Warranty
Greenlee Textron Inc. warrants all products against
defects in material or workmanship for a period of one
year from date of shipment to the original purchaser. All
units returned to a Greenlee authorized repair center,
delivery charges prepaid, that are deemed defective
under this warranty will be replaced or repaired at
Greenlee’s option. This warranty shall not apply to any
defect, failure, or damage caused by improper use or
inadequate maintenance. This warranty does not apply
to worn or damaged accessories such as test leads,
batteries, and soft cases. Calibration is not covered
under factory warranty.
Product sold through distribution carries a 15-month
warranty due to turn-around time.
Contracted Service
Greenlee Textron Inc. offers contracted warranty for
specific products. The Sales Department negotiates
these contracts at the time of purchase. Such contracts
are customer and/or marketing driven. Contracts are
product/customer specific.
Extended Warranty
Extended warranty is available at the buyer’s option.
Warranty on Repaired Products
Greenlee Textron Inc. offers a 90-day warranty against
defects in material or workmanship for repaired
products. Extended repair warranty may be avail-
able for select customers and is negotiated by sales
department.
Flat Rate Repair Contracts
Flat rate repair contracts for pricing and product cover-
age are available for non-warranty repairs. The sales
department negotiates these contracts.
PCB (Module) Exchange
It is the discretion of Greenlee to exchange defective or
damaged PCB modules with refurbished PCB modules.
Non-Warranty Repairs
Greenlee will charge time and material for all product
repairs that are non-warranty.
Any Greenlee manufactured unit that is received with a
broken seal (opened by someone other than Greenlee
authorized personnel) will be considered non-warranty
and repaired as such.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

APPENDIX A: STARTUP
When the Sidekick® Plus test set is used for the first
time, the user has the option to set several options.
These options are described on each of the following
screens.

The first screen allows the user to select the display

language. The choices are English, Spanish, French,
German, Russian, and Italian. Press the number on
the keypad for the desired language (for instance, 1
for “English”), and then press F4 to move to the next
option.

The second option selects the default distance unit.

The user can select either “Feet” or “Metres”. Once
an option is selected, press F4 to continue to the
next option. (To move back to previous configuration
screens, press F1).

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

The third option selects the cable pair identification.

Select either “Tip/Ring” or “A/B”, and then press F4 to
continue to the next option.

The fourth option selects the temperature unit. Select

either “Fahrenheit” or “Celsius”, and then press F4 to
continue to the next option.

These options can be modified at any time by selecting

the Config option on the MAIN MENU.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

APPENDIX B: IMPULSE NOISE

FEATURE (optional)
The IMPULSE NOISE test detects and counts noise
‘hits’ over a period of time and above an established
threshold. The user may opt to display the results as a
real-time histogram of hits against time.

Testing Impulse Noise

To use the impulse noise test:
1. Move the knob to AUTOTEST/TOOLS position, and
then press the Fn key.
2. Select F4 Imp. Noise.
3. Connect the black to tip, the red to ring, and the
green to ground.
4. Press F2 Start to begin the test.

The screen shows thresholds of –40 dBm, –45 dBm,

and –50 dBm set, and test in progress (“Running”).
There are three function keys available:
• F1 Graph to display a histogram of hits over time.
• F2 Run to start a new test or stop the test in prog-
ress. Once the test is started, the key will highlight
and will halt the test if it is selected.
• F4 Config to access the Impulse Noise configuration
menu.

Graphing the Data

From the Impulse Noise Test screen, press F1 Graph to
show a bar chart of the impulses received.

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The impulse noise graph shows hits detected over time

since the test was started. The remaining test time is
displayed on the top line and the total hits detected are
shown on the right portion of the screen. If more than
one threshold has been set, then the number of hits
exceeding each threshold are shown.
The cursor position is shown by the triangle icon. The
cursor displays the time period for a horizontal location
on the graph. The cursor position may be moved using
the left (4) and right (6) arrows on the keypad.
The user can see a summary of the results by pressing
F1 Meter. A total count of all hits detected since the
test started will be shown on the summary screen.

Configuring Impulse Noise Settings

The user may configure the impulse noise settings by
pressing F4 from the Impulse Noise Test screen.

The Impulse Noise Setup screen provides the user with

the test options available for performing impulse noise
measurements. Each option can be reached by using
the up (2) or down (8) buttons:
• Measurement Filter: Selects the filter used when
detecting impulses. Available filters are:
C – For voiceband circuits (~700 Hz to 3 kHz)
E – For ISDN circuits (1 kHz to 50 kHz)
F – For HDSL circuits (5 kHz to 245 kHz)
G – For ADSL circuits (20 kHz to 1.1 MHz)
V9 – For ADSL & VDSL circuits (up to 8.8 MHz)
V17 – For VDSL circuits (up to 17.7 MHz)
V35 – For VDSL circuits (up to 35 MHz)
Each can be selected by using the left (4) and right
(6) buttons. The default value is the V filter.
• Termination Mode: Selects the termination resis-
tance for the test. For the C Filter, this value is fixed at
“600Ω”. For the remaining filters, the user can select
135Ω, 120Ω, or 100Ω. The default value depends on
the filter selected.

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• Test Time (min): Selects how long the test should

run. The test can be set to run for as short as
1 minute or as long as 24 hours (1440 minutes)
depending on battery life. To edit the value, press
F1 Edit and enter the test time. Once it’s entered,
press F4 Done to return to the Impulse Noise Setup
screen.
• Blank Time: Sets the time after a hit is detected
before another may be counted. The blanking time
can be set to 10mS, 125mS, or 1000mS and can be
selected by using the left (4) and right (6) buttons.
The default value is “125mS”.
To modify the thresholds values, select F3 Next.

The second Impulse Noise Setup screen provides

the user with the thresholds available for performing
impulse noise measurements. Three thresholds may
be set, but a minimum of one will be active at any
time. A count will be registered when testing each time
a noise impulse exceeds the respective thresholds.
The thresholds may be set for pass, marginal, and fail
values if desired. To change a threshold, select it by
using the up (2) or down (8) buttons and then do one of
the following:
• To change a selected threshold, press F1 Edit. The
unit will prompt for a threshold value. Enter the new
value and press F4 Done. The unit will return to the
Threshold Setup screen and the new threshold will
be displayed.
• To remove a selected threshold (and return it to “Not
set”), press the # key or program the threshold to be
the same as another threshold to make it “Not set”.
Note: When changing thresholds, be aware that the
unit will re-order the thresholds in descending order
after every change.
Once the impulse noise parameters are set, press the
O (Back) key to return to the Test screen.

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APPENDIX C: STEP TDR FEATURE

(optional)
In addition to the traditional Pulse TDR, the Sidekick®
Plus test set also offers an optional Step TDR feature.
The Step TDR feature allows the unit to automatically
detect bridged tap that can cause trouble and limit
bandwidth in the DSL network. Using a Step TDR also
makes copper troubles more visible on the TDR screen
and easier to interpret. The Step TDR feature offers the
following benefits:
• A Zero distance deadzone: Faults can be detected at
the end of the test leads.
• Detects bridged taps as short as 1.2 m (4 ft).
• “Close in” faults can be seen more easily.
• Easier to see small impedance changes that occur
because of twist, taps, series resistance, etc.
• Excellent for analyzing inside wiring and drop wire.

Testing with Step TDR

To use the Step TDR test:
1. Move the knob to the TDR position. If the TDR
feature has not been used, the Cable Selection
screen will be displayed. Otherwise, press the F3
button to enter the Cable Selection screen.
2. From the Cable Selection screen, select the appro-
priate cable type, and then press the O (Back) key.
The Test Pair screen will be displayed.
3. To display the Step TDR, press F3 Config, and
then use the up (2) and down (8) keys to highlight
the Unit selection. Press the right (6) key to toggle
between Pulse TDR and Step TDR.
4. Select the Step TDR test, and then press the
O (Back) key. The unit will then start the Step TDR
test.

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Interpreting Step TDR Results

A Step TDR trace looks different than a traditional pulse
TDR. Essentially, the Step TDR allows you to roughly
measure the impedance of the line over distance. This
is extremely useful for detecting bridged taps because
the extra cable causes a drop in the impedance of the
line over the length of the bridge. The examples below
should provide some guidance in determining the type
of fault that has been detected by the Step TDR.

No Fault over 450 Feet of Cable

The resistance gradually rises until reaching the end
of the cable, where it jumps to an open.

Close-in Bridged Tap at 30 Feet

The bridged tap causes a sudden drop in resistance,
which then picks up again at the end of the bridge.

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Bridged Tap at 980 Feet

The same thing occurs, just less dramatically
as distance increases.

1KΩ Short
The resistance drops lower, and then
starts to rise again.

Bad Splice
A sudden spike in the resistance.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Cross

Hard Short
The short causes the resistance to drop to zero.

Split

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Untwisted Pair
The resistance jumps during the length
of the untwisted cable.

Water
The water causes a drop in impedance for
the length the cable is in water, and then
rises slowly again afterwards.

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Detecting Bridged Tap in Autotest

With the Step TDR feature enabled, the unit also
provides a bridged tap detection test in the autotest.
This test can be selected by editing the custom script
and enabling the Bridge Tap test. When the custom
autotest script, the unit will perform a Step TDR test
over the length of the cable and determine if a bridged
tap exists. If so, the autotest will fail and provide the
distance to the bridged tap (as shown below).

If no bridged taps are detected, the autotest will pass

and show no bridged taps (as shown below).

In some cases, it may be that there is a disturber on the

line that may or may not be bridge tap (e.g., a splice,
split, or resistive imbalance). In that case, a bridge tap
will be shown with the hazard icon instead of with
the “X” mark.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

APPENDIX D: WIDEBAND
FEATURES (optional)
The Wideband Features option enables the following
features:
• Wideband Loss, Wideband Noise, and Longitudinal
Noise measurements
• Noise Spectrum Analyzer
• Reference Tones up to 4.4 MHz

Wideband Loss
The Wideband Loss measurement is accessed in the
LOSS rotary knob position. In the LOSS knob position,
press F4 to select the line impedance.

• “600 Ω” measures loss throughout voiceband region;

300 Hz to 3 kHz.
• “135 Ω”, “100 Ω”, and “75 Ω” line impedances are
selected to measure the loss of reference signals up
to 4.4 MHz.

Wideband Noise
The Wideband Noise measurement is accessed from
the NOISE/PI knob position. Turn the rotary knob to the
NOISE/PI knob position, and then press F4 to select the
line impedance.

“C (voice)” filter is a C-message filter for voiceband

300 Hz to 3 kHz.

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The E, F, G, V9, V17, and V35 filters each have a differ-

ent high-frequency cut-off:
E – For ISDN circuits (up to 50 kHz)
F – For HDSL circuits (up to 245 kHz)
G – For ADSL circuits (up to 1.1 MHz)
V9 – For ADSL and VDSL circuits (up to 8.8 MHz)
V17 – For VDSL circuits (up to 17.7 MHz)
V35 – For VDSL circuits (up to 35 MHz)

Longitudinal Noise
The Longitudinal Noise measurement is accessed from
the NOISE/PI knob position. Turn the rotary knob to the
NOISE/PI knob position, press the Fn key to select the
PI measurement, and then press F4 to select the line
impedance.

“C (voice)” filter is a C-message filter for voiceband

300 Hz to 3 kHz.
G filter is selected to identify and measure longitudinal
(DSL interference) signals up to 1.1 MHz.

Noise Spectrum Analyzer

In the Wideband Noise and Longitudinal Noise
measurements, press F1 Spectrum to display the
frequency distribution of the measured noise.
Use the * (Marker), 1 (Zoom Out), 3 (Zoom In), and
9 (Save) keys in the spectrum graph to analyze and
save the noise spectrum graph.
Press F1 Spectrum again to return to the digital meter.

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 Sidekick® Plus Test Set

Reference Tone
Wideband Reference Tone is a feature added to the
Tones menu. To enter the TOOLS MENU, turn the knob
to AUTOTEST/ TOOLS, and then press the Fn key.
With the Wideband feature, the “Loss Ref Tone” trans-
mits a reference tone frequency up to 4.4 MHz.
Use the keypad arrow keys (2 and 8) until the imped-
ance parameter is highlighted. Press the right (6) key
until the desired line impedance is highlighted, or the
keypad number key of the desired type.

Voiceband Tones
“600 Ω” will send a reference tone on a frequency
between 200 Hz and 20 kHz, with 600 Ω being the line
impedance.

Wideband Tones
“135 Ω”, “100 Ω”, and “75 Ω” impedance selec-
tions will send a reference tone on a user-selectable
frequency between 20 kHz and 4.4 MHz.

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Sidekick® Plus Test Set

APPENDIX E: ADSL/VDSL FEATURE

(optional)
The Sidekick® Plus test set offers an optional integrated
ADSL/VDSL modem for performing the following xDSL
tests:
• Display of DSL Showtime information
• Link rate
• Maximum rate
• Capacity
• Signal-to-noise margin
• Power level
• Signal attenuation
• INP
• Delay
• Detects errors and alarms
• Graphical display of bits-per-tone, signal-to-noise
margin, and H-Log data
• Upper layer testing such as Ping, Traceroute, HTTP,
and FTP
Refer to the ADSL/VDSL supplement for more informa-
tion about the ADSL/VDSL option for the Sidekick® Plus
test set.

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