spoon805

I can't get my network to work under 100Mbps, but if I force the NICS to 10Mbps it will work. I need some insight.

Basically, I have 2 computers connected to a Netgear 4-port 10/100 DSL router. The router is sitting on top of one of these computers. This computer thus has very little cable between it and the router, and connects at 100Mbps. However, the other computer is connected nearly 80+ feet away (strung across the outside of the third story of a condo complex). If the NIC is set on auto-detect or 100Base, it will not detect the network. However, like I said, if I configure the NIC to 10Base, it work perfectly.

Details:
-Cable: Command Link Cat 5 10/100 Riser Rated (Home Depot crap), for indoor and outdoor use (real thick outer layer)
-Router: Netgear RT314
-NICs: both are intergrated into the motherboards (one is 3com, another is intel)
-Note: The 80+ feet cable connection is not "pure", or not one cable (ASCII diagram)

DSL --> Router --> Cable (10 ft.) --> RJ-45 wall jack --> Cable (6 inches) --> RJ-45 wall jack --> Cable (roughly 70+ feet) --> RJ-45 wall jack --> Cable (6 inches) --> RJ-45 wall jack --> Cable (2 ft.) --> PC

My own ideas about the PROBLEM:
-Because of the distance, there is a degredation of bandwidth well above the threshold of a true 100Base network. Therefore, when the router and nic are both set to auto-detect, they detect that connection can support more than 10Base and thus attempt to connect at 100Mbps, but fails.

My own ideas about the SOLUTION:
-I could upgrade to a high grade Cat 6 Cable(yes, CAT SIX...way expensive IMO)
-Since I need to connect more computers on the distant side, I ordered a netgear 10/100 5 port switch that is coming in today. This might correct some of the packet errors enough to achieve a 100Base network again at this distance.

Does anyone else have any ideas what can be causing this problem or possible solutions. I really want to know if the length of the cable is the true culprit.

Blu

There seems to be alot of room for error in your setup. Any one of the wall jacks could be hosed, or some of the interconnecting cable might be shorting. It might be worth getting a cable tester. It's cheaper than redoin the whole thing with Cat 6, and you can always use one later.

Also, what is the push for 100? The internet access shouldn't be any faster, just the computer to computer action.

Blu

BTW - Cable length only matters if the cable is over 200 meters (I think that's the number) if you have decent shielding

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spoon805

there are a lot of brands and price ranges for cable testers...any suggestions?

topane

I think that the minimum cable length for ethernet cable is 18 inches, but it should work anyways. I agree with Blu, you most likely have a hosed wall jack or one of those 800 little pieces of cable isn't all there. Your maximum distance is well within spec (100m).

I have a 2-piece tester from Paladin Tools at work which works great http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=213663 but it's a little expensive if you're just going to use it a couple of times. A former co-worker of mine has this one http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=240795 which is cheaper and works well.


[Edited by topane on 01-31-2001 at 01:21 PM]

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Blu

Well, I spent about $30-40. My tester has a remote that you can put at the end of the line. There are 8 lights that tell you the status and order of the wires in the cable. Better than the ones that just say "ok", b/c if it's bad, you can diagnose what exactly is wrong, a short or a bad crimp.

Expect to spend between $30-50 for it.

Blu

spoon805

what brand was it?

AmRivlin

My neighbor cleared out all of his old BNC cables and OLD old network crap and I was lucky enough to grab them before they hit the trash receptical, I ran the crap wires through the house, 200+ feet, and I am able to auto detect @ 10MBPS, 100 the network does not exist... I decided to test if it was the legnth, which it was not... Recently @ school they threw out many spools of CAT 5, It was all funky and twisted up but I grabbed two and probably about 300 feet is left... I will most likely "upgrade" the walls of my house...Try fixing wall connectors first, then look at cable quality... 100MBPS is quite fast, you will probably not need it unless you are constantly installing/backing up thru the network... The cost of cards is identical, but it doesn't really matter.

spoon805

To anyone that's been following this thread.... It wasn't the patch-jack-cable-jack-patch combination. All those connections proved flawless. It was however the longer cable outside. just FYI

I'm going to try redoing the ends frist. And if that doesn't work, then upgrade the cable.

Thanks EVERYONE for your help and insight.

Smack_Dabb

284 feet max for cat cable. 80 feet should not be a prob at all.

Jeffbx

Spoon -

Keep in mind that it could be a bunch of other factors that could have killed your connection - interference being the most likely, not cable length. If that cable is running anywhere near power wires or sources, forget about a good connection. Strong radio and EM signals can also kill it. When you run that cable outside, make sure it's away from all other cables and power sources. Also, a higher cat rating won't necessarily get you a more stable connection. If you want to swap to better cable, try STP (shielded twisted pair) rather than conventional UTP CAT5.

eSDee

I've run cat 5 many times over 100 feet and have had no problem with connecting at 100 MBs. I agree with Jeffbx that it is most likely interference.

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spoon805

Interference is a definite possibility... check this:

If I connect my laptop with a short cable connected to the jack outside, which is connected to another jack inside that leads to the router, I get a 100 mb network to the router and the internet just fine. Internet works and everything is "dandy"...

If I connect one end of the 80 ft. outside cable to a my 10/100 switch (no jack combo involved here, just a straight thru connection), and a laptop to the other end, I get a 100 mb network fine as well.

But once I replace the short cable with the 80 fts cable, everything goes down. Nothing works at 100mb. Even the switch will not uplink correctly.

In brief:

This works:

DSL-->Router--> cable--->Jack-->cable --> jack--> short cable

This does not work:

DSL --> Router--> cable --> jack --> cable --> jack --> 80 ft cable