MICROTEST INTRODUCES PENTASCANNER 350 FOR LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

Cable Tester Now Measures Performance of 350MHz Cabling

(Phoenix, March 28, 1996)--Microtest Inc. (NASDAQ: MTST) today announced
the availability of the PentaScanner 350. The product is the only tester
that supports the advanced capabilities of the new, wider dynamic range
cable types designed to operate at 350 MHz. The PentaScanner 350 is used
by cable installers and LAN administrators for the installation and
maintenance of cabling for Local Area Networks (LANs).  PentaScanner 350
is available with PentaScanner+ for $4,795 (U.S. list) or as an upgrade to
existing PentaScanner+ owners for $495 (U.S. list) through Microtest's
network of authorized distributors.

This product is the result of an industry initiative that promotes the
performance grading of premium high quality cabling on Category 5
networks. The initiative is supported by premiere suppliers of Category 5
cabling and components, such as: Belden, Krone, Mohawk, CommScope,
Berk-Tek, Thomas & Betts, and Bell Global Solutions. The initiative is the
result of the growing availability of higher performance cables and
connector systems that are often rated to 350 MHz or more.

Link quality depends upon a complex combination of factors including
cables, components and installation techniques. With networks relying on
today's advanced communications technologies to transmit data, it is even
more important for LANs with Category 5 cabling to be certified for
performance at higher speeds.

Prior to the release of the PentaScanner 350 product, performance could not
be tested beyond a simple pass/fail measurement; testers couldn't
distinguish between links that barely meet Category 5 requirements and
those offering superior performance. Now users can verify if their
installed links exceed Category 5 performance standards, thereby ensuring
support for future high speed applications.

"We agree that performance grading more clearly defines the quality of a
link than a simple pass or fail rating. The accuracy of the PentaScanner+
has been verified by CommScope's Test and Measurement laboratory to meet
Level II NEXT accuracy. This is true even for [CommScope's] Category 5
Ultra links, typically measuring 15 to 20 dB better than specification,"
Rob Wessels, engineering manager, at CommScope said.

"Users who certify their network links using the PentaScanner 350 can now
be confident that their links will meet requirements well into the
future." Chris Hudson, vice president, network management products said.
"It is imperative for LANs that run high-speed applications to have
performance quality graded by the new PentaScanner 350. Now, companies
that rely on high speed networks can validate the higher performance
cabling."

Introduced in 1995, PentaScanner+ certifies cable links up to 100 MHz.
PentaScanner+ with 2-Way Injector+ is Microtest's most advanced cable
management system and is capable of certifying cable links to 100MHz
performance specifications. PentaScanner+ offers professional cable
installers, service providers and network managers an easy-to-use,
handheld solution for installing, managing and troubleshooting Category 5
and ISO Class D cabling systems. The 2-Way Injector+ is an accessory to
the PentaScanner+ that measures Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) and Attenuation-
to-Crosstalk Ratio (ACR) from both ends of the installed network cable
link which saves installation time. It also performs wire map, frequency
generation and far-end termination. PentaScanner+ with 2-Way Injector+
sells for $4,595 (U.S. List) and can be purchased through authorized
Microtest distributors.

Founded in 1984, Microtest is a leading worldwide manufacturer of
diagnostic, certification and connectivity products for local area
networks. Microtest's mission is to make information technology easy to
apply. The company has pioneered several networking products, such as
PentaScanner, COMPAS, and DiscPort. Microtest is headquartered at 4747
North 22nd Street, Phoenix, AZ. Microtest's European headquarters are
located at 2A Kingfisher House, Northwood Park, Gatwick Road, Crawley,
West Sussex, RH10 2XN, United Kingdom. Microtest's stock is traded on the
NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol MTST.

More information is available on our World Wide Web site at
http://www.microtest.com, or e-mail us at info@microtest.com in U.S.; in
Europe, e-mail the company at infoMTE@microtest.com.
 
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