Rev. 11/10/00
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The Revised Sidekick 7A
A Leakage test was added to the original Sidekick and the patented Noise Test was
renamed the Line Test. Color coding was also added to the meter scale and the toggle
switches which replaced the original push buttons. The Leakage test continued to use DC
voltage that was higher than existing instruments to read insulation integrity between the
wires in a pair or a wire and ground. With this higher
voltage and the technician’s ability to reverse the polarity,
technicians could “Punch through” the galvanic corrosion
that often built up on unused pairs. This corrosion which
acts like a false insulator, often masks a pair’s fault that
returns after only a few applications of ring voltage.
Word began to spread that technicians using the Sidekick
were doing a better job. There were fewer problems and
fewer repeat trouble reports when a Sidekick was used.
After approximately forty-five hundred of these were
produced, the next generation of Sidekicks began to arrive – the Sidekick 7B.
The Sidekick 7B
In 1993, the Sidekick received a complete face lift and
some ergonomic improvements based on recommendations
from the field. The meter was enlarged and moved to the
top of the case. The case was redesigned to round out the
“Boxy look” and the “Line Test” was renamed the now
famous “Stress Test.” Industry praise bolstered sales that
had steadily climbed; further embedding the Sidekick in
the telecommunications marketplace
.
The Tempo 7B
In 1995, the Tempo 7B became the first Sidekick to use the
“Big Head” design. The case was redesigned, not only to
accommodate an even larger meter face, but to also provide
expansion for additional features. AC voltage testing was
added and the switch positions were relocated to take
advantage of this new design The old push button style
switches were put back in service. Unfortunately, the field
technicians preferred toggle switches. Only four thousand
were sold before being replace by the Sidekick 7B “Big
Head”.
