Cable Problem

HotCPU · 10-02-2009, 06:29 AM

I live in a house with 3 others and we have Sky broadband. We used wireless for a while but it cut out a lot, so an electrician came and installed ethernet cable to 4 rooms from where the router is downstairs. We have the Sky router with a switch attached to it, then all the cables into the switch.

It was all working fine for a couple of days, no cut outs at all. But today I got a cable unplugged error so I went down to see what was going on, the switch had stopped detecting all of our computers. I then tested each computer directly into the router and into the switch, they both gave a cable unplugged error for each PC. I also tested with just a small length of ethernet cable from the router to a PC and from the switch to the PC, both worked fine. I also tried power cycling the router, switch and PC.

I assume that the cables from the router to the bedrooms are the problem, but I have no idea what could cause four seperate ethernet cables to all stop working at the same time.

Any ideas?

sysnewbie · 10-02-2009, 07:17 AM

Hi HOTCPU,
Your problem seems to look like there is no problem with the computers or either with the switch nor with the ADSL(sky router), because all are working fine when connected to a wire of small length but not working when connected with a lengthy cord.

This looks like the signal is not propagating so far, or in other words the signal does not have strength to move so far. I am assuming this to be the problem as you said all the four computers are showing up with network cable unplugged all at the same time. Check with your service provider and ask him to check the signal strength.

One more solution to this is to have a repeater in between which can improve your signal strength if you can figure out it is the main culprit.

HotCPU · 10-02-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sysnewbie

Hi HOTCPU,
Your problem seems to look like there is no problem with the computers or either with the switch nor with the ADSL(sky router), because all are working fine when connected to a wire of small length but not working when connected with a lengthy cord.

This looks like the signal is not propagating so far, or in other words the signal does not have strength to move so far. I am assuming this to be the problem as you said all the four computers are showing up with network cable unplugged all at the same time. Check with your service provider and ask him to check the signal strength.

One more solution to this is to have a repeater in between which can improve your signal strength if you can figure out it is the main culprit.

Why would it stop being able to do this after a couple of days, as it was fine before. And why would all four stop at the same time, surely just the longest one?

Also my max cable length is no where near 100m.

clyde123 · 10-02-2009, 12:49 PM

I would power down (switch off) the router and the switch. After maybe half a minute, start them up again. Then see if everything works again as it should.

**wrench97** · 10-02-2009, 02:05 PM

Are the wires run inside the Wall or on the outside where they are visible?

Any possibility of a rodent problem?

HotCPU · 10-03-2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyde123

I would power down (switch off) the router and the switch. After maybe half a minute, start them up again. Then see if everything works again as it should.

I tried that with the router and the switch. Very strange though, this morning when I woke up the cable was woking fine (and is now). I assume this can happen again so I'd still like to figure out what's going on.

Quote:

Are the wires run inside the Wall or on the outside where they are visible?

Any possibility of a rodent problem? .

They are not in the walls, under carpet and through floor. They were installed a few days ago and I don't think we have a rodent problem.

Thanks for your help so far.

EDIT: I just had a cut out for a few seconds and then got connection again (I don't know if this is helpful).

**wrench97** · 10-03-2009, 05:09 AM

When it's not working check the connection status lights on the PC's and router, if it's intermittent it may take some time, but if the connection light is out on the router plug a patch cable into that port to a pc near it to see if it lights up then the original cable back in to see if it lights up again also.

HotCPU · 10-03-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

When it's not working check the connection status lights on the PC's and router, if it's intermittent it may take some time, but if the connection light is out on the router plug a patch cable into that port to a pc near it to see if it lights up then the original cable back in to see if it lights up again also.

I tried that before and the lights blinked for the patch cable but the long cable showed nothing.

**wrench97** · 10-03-2009, 07:56 AM

Did you then plug the long cable back in to see if the lights blinked, if so and they did not it's a wire issue, if the PC then reconnected (lights blinked after unplugging and plugging back in) it's a router issue.

HotCPU · 10-04-2009, 07:11 AM

They didn't blink when I replugged the long cable. But why would this happen intermittently?

**wrench97** · 10-04-2009, 07:18 AM

Broken wire or bad connection at the connector comes to mind.

HotCPU · 10-04-2009, 07:38 AM

That's the strange thing, it happens to all four seperate wires at the same time, that's why I didn't think it could be the wires.

**wrench97** · 10-04-2009, 07:53 AM

Try disconnecting 1 at a time from the router and running the system minus the disconnected PC, if runs ok for a while reconnect and disconnect another one.

HotCPU · 10-04-2009, 08:10 AM

I already did that, just one at the time in the router, power cycling each time, no lights or anything. The router wireless works with cut outs like it always has, that's what I'm using at the moment if it matters.

**wrench97** · 10-04-2009, 08:13 AM

If your convinced it's not a cable issue return the router it's not software or configuration related if there are not any connection lights.

HotCPU · 10-04-2009, 09:48 AM

Right now I am getting flashing on my PC port when the cable is plugged in, it flashes every few seconds. But the router/ switch don't show any flashes.

**wrench97** · 10-04-2009, 12:21 PM

The PC is showing a connection and the router is not, would be a router issue.

HotCPU · 10-07-2009, 07:44 AM

But also, I tried the switch as well at the time when the router doesn't register the cables and that doesn't register the cables ethier, which points to a cable issue? Sorry for posting so much I'm just trying to get my head around this.

HotCPU · 10-07-2009, 08:16 AM

I can't edit my post so here is my update:

I have just made a giant patch cable from my room to the router, I have internet access. I assume this means it's the cables that are the problem, I will wait a while though to see if I maintain the connection. Is this the right thing to do?

**wrench97** · 10-07-2009, 12:23 PM

Yes if the patch cable works it's a cable issue, look for tears, rips or staples that are too tight

10-02-2009, 06:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Cable Problem I live in a house with 3 others and we have Sky broadband. We used wireless for a while but it cut out a lot, so an electrician came and installed ethernet cable to 4 rooms from where the router is downstairs. We have the Sky router with a switch attached to it, then all the cables into the switch. It was all working fine for a couple of days, no cut outs at all. But today I got a cable unplugged error so I went down to see what was going on, the switch had stopped detecting all of our computers. I then tested each computer directly into the router and into the switch, they both gave a cable unplugged error for each PC. I also tested with just a small length of ethernet cable from the router to a PC and from the switch to the PC, both worked fine. I also tried power cycling the router, switch and PC. I assume that the cables from the router to the bedrooms are the problem, but I have no idea what could cause four seperate ethernet cables to all stop working at the same time. Any ideas? Last edited by HotCPU; 10-02-2009 at 06:33 AM.

10-02-2009, 07:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
sysnewbie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: windows 7	Re: Cable Problem Hi HOTCPU, Your problem seems to look like there is no problem with the computers or either with the switch nor with the ADSL(sky router), because all are working fine when connected to a wire of small length but not working when connected with a lengthy cord. This looks like the signal is not propagating so far, or in other words the signal does not have strength to move so far. I am assuming this to be the problem as you said all the four computers are showing up with network cable unplugged all at the same time. Check with your service provider and ask him to check the signal strength. One more solution to this is to have a repeater in between which can improve your signal strength if you can figure out it is the main culprit.

10-02-2009, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
clyde123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 400 OS: xp sp2	Re: Cable Problem I would power down (switch off) the router and the switch. After maybe half a minute, start them up again. Then see if everything works again as it should.

10-02-2009, 02:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem Are the wires run inside the Wall or on the outside where they are visible? Any possibility of a rodent problem? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-03-2009, 05:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem When it's not working check the connection status lights on the PC's and router, if it's intermittent it may take some time, but if the connection light is out on the router plug a patch cable into that port to a pc near it to see if it lights up then the original cable back in to see if it lights up again also. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-03-2009, 07:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem Did you then plug the long cable back in to see if the lights blinked, if so and they did not it's a wire issue, if the PC then reconnected (lights blinked after unplugging and plugging back in) it's a router issue. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-04-2009, 07:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem They didn't blink when I replugged the long cable. But why would this happen intermittently?

10-04-2009, 07:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem Broken wire or bad connection at the connector comes to mind. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-04-2009, 07:38 AM	#12 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem That's the strange thing, it happens to all four seperate wires at the same time, that's why I didn't think it could be the wires.

10-04-2009, 07:53 AM	#13 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem Try disconnecting 1 at a time from the router and running the system minus the disconnected PC, if runs ok for a while reconnect and disconnect another one. __________________ Power Supply and Selection Last edited by wrench97; 10-04-2009 at 07:55 AM.

10-04-2009, 08:10 AM	#14 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem I already did that, just one at the time in the router, power cycling each time, no lights or anything. The router wireless works with cut outs like it always has, that's what I'm using at the moment if it matters.

10-04-2009, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem If your convinced it's not a cable issue return the router it's not software or configuration related if there are not any connection lights. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-04-2009, 09:48 AM	#16 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem Right now I am getting flashing on my PC port when the cable is plugged in, it flashes every few seconds. But the router/ switch don't show any flashes.

10-04-2009, 12:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem The PC is showing a connection and the router is not, would be a router issue. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-07-2009, 07:44 AM	#18 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem But also, I tried the switch as well at the time when the router doesn't register the cables and that doesn't register the cables ethier, which points to a cable issue? Sorry for posting so much I'm just trying to get my head around this.

10-07-2009, 08:16 AM	#19 (permalink)
HotCPU Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21 OS: Windows 7	Re: Cable Problem I can't edit my post so here is my update: I have just made a giant patch cable from my room to the router, I have internet access. I assume this means it's the cables that are the problem, I will wait a while though to see if I maintain the connection. Is this the right thing to do?

10-07-2009, 12:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,681 OS: Win7	Re: Cable Problem Yes if the patch cable works it's a cable issue, look for tears, rips or staples that are too tight __________________ Power Supply and Selection