[huntrm]

Very, very odd situation here. I've ran series of Cat5Es throughout my basement (and now it's finished), and it appears that one of the terminating connections will only run at 100mbs verus 1GB.


Here's the configuration:


DHCP ROUTER (DLINK DIR-655 10/100/1000)

-> CAT5E ->

NETWORK SWITCH (8PORT DLINK 2208 10/100/1000)

-> 8 Cat5E strands


I'm taking my laptop which supports 1GB, and I can connect it to several of the 8 strands and I get 1GB. However, with this 1 stand, I'm getting 100mbs only.

Things that I've done to try to isolate the issue:

- I removed both connectors on the strand, replaced them, used the 568B standard - two new connectors used

- All other strands are at 568B - I've removed all of the extra strands from the switch, just leaving the DHCP router and this suspect strand connected


What makes me suspect a wire problem is that it also takes few extra seconds to connect/negotiate with my laptop AND I cannot connect a 5-port Dlink switch to the termination end of this suspect strand with devices connected to the switch.


Finally, the actual distance ran is length of the basement, but the other strands that work at 1GB are the same distance - can't be a distance issue....


I'm pulling my hair out on this one, and am praying it is not a wire problem (not sure how the hell I'm going to run a new wire!).


Help/comments are MUCH needed and appreciated!

 

[Neurorad]

Can you simply use that one 'bad' cat5e cable for something that doesn't require 1000 Mbps?


Is that cable nailed anywhere? That is, can you tape another cable to the end of it, and use it as a pull-wire for a new cable?


My switch tells me with an LED if it's running at 100 Mbps or at 1 GBps. Have you tried other ports on the switch? Can you put a laptop at each end, and measure the speed? A crossover cable was needed for this in the past, but I don't think that's the case anymore.


You can buy an RJ45 electronic tester for pretty cheap, at HD/Lowes. I use mine on every new run, after terminating. I use it to 'ring out' my cables - determining which is which, and it has some pretty lights on it. It probably does more, but I haven't had a problem yet to need it.

 

[huntrm]

Neurorad,


Thanks for the response. I suspected a bad wire, and sure enough it was. I purchased cheap RJ-45 tester, and was able to determine that the brown pairs were somehow damaged. Luckily, I was able to temporarily remove two installed can lights in the ceiling, reach up to the wire, and isolate the damaged section.


3/4 of the installed wire tested fine, and I put connectors on both end. I then had to take out a 4x4in section of ceiling and pull the remaining 1/4 out with new wire connected to it. Then, I used a female/female RJ-45 connector to connect the two pieces of wire.


Can lights are back in place, wire is running 1GB (switch is connected to it with no problems), and second coat of drywall paste is drying!


Reason why I needed this fixed is that this CAT5e connection was ran to my DISH STB and a MediaPC that connected to a server (didn't want to rely on wireless to stream music/videos).


Thanks for your response!

 

[Neurorad]

Wow, great news!