and connectors using TDR
http://www.edn.com/article/CA231568.html
http://www.edn.com/article/CA250817.html
using a multimeter with capacitance-measurement capability
http://www.edn.com/article/CA244152.html
ECL exclusive-NOR gate (F100107) and a length of cable form a simple ring oscillator, the delay from the cable and the gate determine the ring oscillators frequency, 100m cable yields approximately a 1 MHz oscillation frequency
http://www.edn.com/archives/1994/051294/10di9.htm
how short and open circuits can be located easily
http://www.nasatech.com/Briefs/Apr98/KSC11866.html
to look at the characteristic impedance along the entire length of the cable
http://www.thom-tech.com/tdr.htm
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/latching.html
offers a short-circuit test current of less than 200uA and detects resistance values of less than 10 ohms
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/cntnuit2.htm