[scott26985]

Hi, I’ve having some problems with my Ethernet cables.

I ran 6 Ethernet cables in my house about 4 years ago as the wireless signal was poor.
I wired them myself and they all worked fine for about 3 years, then they started to stop working one by one. Four of them will not connect to the internet now (even those the pc/ps3 detects the cable and the yellow light flashes). I have tried changing the RJ45 connectors but it didn’t work.

I’m wondering if it’s the crimping tool. I have ordered a new one since the old one wasn’t pushing in all 8 gold pins on the RJ45 on the first go.

Anything else you think this could be? Driving me mad!

[Brush Master]

That's difficult to tell, but poor connections could certainly explain the ageing effect, as corrosion takes hold. Other factors might have changed, too (e.g. power cords running nearby), so that poor wiring could now have a stronger effect. With "poor wiring" I mean incorrect pairing; the Ethernet wiring plan is quite peculiar for a reason.

First of all, I'd try replacing one of the problematic cables with a known good one from the shop, just to be sure it really is the cable (rather than the switch, for example).

[Maxatoria]

I'd get a cable tester as well to check that everything is ok and if theres no dead pairs

oh and theres no new pictures hung on the wall where the cable run are is there?

[Frank1]

Originally Posted by scott26985

Hi, I’ve having some problems with my Ethernet cables.

I ran 6 Ethernet cables in my house about 4 years ago as the wireless signal was poor.
I wired them myself and they all worked fine for about 3 years, then they started to stop working one by one. Four of them will not connect to the internet now (even those the pc/ps3 detects the cable and the yellow light flashes). I have tried changing the RJ45 connectors but it didn’t work.

I’m wondering if it’s the crimping tool. I have ordered a new one since the old one wasn’t pushing in all 8 gold pins on the RJ45 on the first go.

Anything else you think this could be? Driving me mad!

Sounds like your crimp-tool is suspect.
In addition, why not invest in a cheap network cable tester from Eb*y. Instantly shows incorrect or faulty wiring.
Frank

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by scott26985

Hi, I’ve having some problems with my Ethernet cables.

I ran 6 Ethernet cables in my house about 4 years ago as the wireless signal was poor.
I wired them myself and they all worked fine for about 3 years, then they started to stop working one by one. Four of them will not connect to the internet now (even those the pc/ps3 detects the cable and the yellow light flashes). I have tried changing the RJ45 connectors but it didn’t work.

I’m wondering if it’s the crimping tool. I have ordered a new one since the old one wasn’t pushing in all 8 gold pins on the RJ45 on the first go.

Anything else you think this could be? Driving me mad!

the light will flash if you just plug in an unconnected cable. or even just a connector.

[scott26985]

thanks guys Im thinking it maybe my wiring skills. It was the first time Ive done it. Hopefully the new tool and different connectors may fix the problem.

I thought cable testers required you to plug both ends of the cable into the tester? These cables are long running under floors and upstairs, so that's not possible.

[chrisjr]

You can get testers with a remote end. The simplest just light a series of LEDs in sequence. You plug the "control" unit in one end and set it off. The wander off to the other end and plug in the remote unit. Then just see if the LEDs light up in the correct sequence.

If you have an assistant (glamorous or otherwise ) who can watch one end while you watch the other then you might even be able to check both ends light LED 1 etc at the same time.

I use something like this at work for quick and dirty checking of cables I have made up.

http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/xt-...ter/dp/IN05702

[1saintly]

Originally Posted by scott26985

Hi, I’ve having some problems with my Ethernet cables.

I ran 6 Ethernet cables in my house about 4 years ago as the wireless signal was poor.

Well i presume all the cables meet up at a hub or switch or someting, so i would go with that being iffy rather than all the cables starting to fail at the same time.

for the price its worth a try
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8-por...low-control%29

[scott26985]

they do run to a hub which goes into the router. But other ethernet cables in the hub work just fine.

The hub has never been moved but the cables have moved a few times and the connectors do seem rather flimsy.

There is also the possibly a rat or something has chewed a cable. the house it 100+ years old.

[alias alias]

Did you use stiff insulation cables or flexible if you used stiff insulation cable you should put them to a socket and if you already have a Multimeter and spare cable and jacks and a straight joiner you can twist the pairs on one end and use the Multimeter to check the jacks have good connections on all the pairs.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1001Cables-C...m/B000HWXUIA/2

[scott26985]

was flexible cable I guess. I pulled it thought under the floors and down an old chimney, so it had to be flexible stuff.

[scott26985]

Ok, I am totally stuck with this problem now.

Here is a diagram of my setup:

http://i48.tinypic.com/15rfo9d.jpg

4 of the 7 Ethernet cables coming from the hub have stopped working. I have changed the connectors several times, tried the cables in different hub sockets, and examined the wires as much as I can (some parts are not accessible).

All used to work fine. The hub seems to work fine (I moved the working cables into different hub sockets and they still worked).

I just don’t know what the problem could be.

Help!

[1saintly]

Originally Posted by scott26985

Ok, I am totally stuck with this problem now.

Here is a diagram of my setup:

http://i48.tinypic.com/15rfo9d.jpg

4 of the 7 Ethernet cables coming from the hub have stopped working. I have changed the connectors several times, tried the cables in different hub sockets, and examined the wires as much as I can (some parts are not accessible).

All used to work fine. The hub seems to work fine (I moved the working cables into different hub sockets and they still worked).

I just don’t know what the problem could be.

Help!

But yet you still havent tested the cables as advised.

Originally Posted by chrisjr

You can get testers with a remote end. The simplest just light a series of LEDs in sequence. You plug the "control" unit in one end and set it off. The wander off to the other end and plug in the remote unit. Then just see if the LEDs light up in the correct sequence.

If you have an assistant (glamorous or otherwise ) who can watch one end while you watch the other then you might even be able to check both ends light LED 1 etc at the same time.

I use something like this at work for quick and dirty checking of cables I have made up.

http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/xt-...ter/dp/IN05702

Originally Posted by Maxatoria

I'd get a cable tester as well to check that everything is ok and if theres no dead pairs

oh and theres no new pictures hung on the wall where the cable run are is there?

[scott26985]

ok, I have ordered a cable tester.

[Maxatoria]

Originally Posted by scott26985

was flexible cable I guess. I pulled it thought under the floors and down an old chimney, so it had to be flexible stuff.

here we have a winner, probably snagged on bits of cement and the environment of a chimney isn't the best place for pvc cables to live

when pulling the cable you should never have to yank at it, if you do you'll only start to damage the outer sheath and possibly allow damp to enter and if the inner sheaths are damaged to short each other out

so you may have to pull the cables again but perhaps consider a safer route

[scott26985]

Originally Posted by Maxatoria

here we have a winner, probably snagged on bits of cement and the environment of a chimney isn't the best place for pvc cables to live

when pulling the cable you should never have to yank at it, if you do you'll only start to damage the outer sheath and possibly allow damp to enter and if the inner sheaths are damaged to short each other out

so you may have to pull the cables again but perhaps consider a safer route

I'm not so sure about that. I was quite carefull when I was installing them. I also had them taped up. In any case I will try to look down the chimney at them.

So far I have checked the cable in the attic and they looked fine (we had builders in there a few months ago so it seemed the most likely place). Next place to check is the chimney and under the floor. Really down want to go under there again so I'll wait for the cable tester first.

[scott26985]

ok I am truly stuck with this now. The cable tester indicates that cables 4-7 are not working. I have replaced the RJ45s several times and checked the full run of the cables to find no brakes or damage. Ive no idea whats wrong.

Any advice?

[chrisjr]

What type of cable is it? Is it a single copper core to each wire or strands? The solid core stuff can be less flexible and I have know it fracture under stress.

If you are used to it you can often feel where the inner cores have broken even though there is no outward sign of damage. If you bend the cable where there is a break it will bend on a tighter radius than where it's unbroken. It's something you get to know after years chasing cable faults

So even if there is no obvious sign of damage the inner cores can be broken. Anywhere the cable is bent or clipped down or anywhere it can flex are the obvious places to check.

What type of cable tester do you have? Does it indicate continuity of the individual cores? If any of 1, 2, 3 or 6 are broken then a 100Mb/s signal will be affected. If you have gigabit devices then all 8 cores are used.

[scott26985]

Originally Posted by chrisjr

What type of cable is it? Is it a single copper core to each wire or strands? The solid core stuff can be less flexible and I have know it fracture under stress.

If you are used to it you can often feel where the inner cores have broken even though there is no outward sign of damage. If you bend the cable where there is a break it will bend on a tighter radius than where it's unbroken. It's something you get to know after years chasing cable faults

So even if there is no obvious sign of damage the inner cores can be broken. Anywhere the cable is bent or clipped down or anywhere it can flex are the obvious places to check.

What type of cable tester do you have? Does it indicate continuity of the individual cores? If any of 1, 2, 3 or 6 are broken then a 100Mb/s signal will be affected. If you have gigabit devices then all 8 cores are used.

its 8 wires twisted together in sets on 2 (blue and Blue/white etc).

The cable tester has 8 lights that test each wire. On the working cables the lights come on 1 to 8 one after the other. On the broken cables a light will be skipped or stay on.

[RobinOfLoxley]

I'd remove the RJ-45s, strip back the pairs at each end, twist a pair together at one end (short) and then test for continuity with a multimeter from the other end.

If you become convinced they are indeed broken, pull thru' a new cable using the old one "tied-on" if you can.

If you are lucky it is just bad crimping/connectors.

Faceplates and modules are available (eg Screwfix) if you fancy.
(Punchdown tool required). Then just use pre-assembled Patch cords.

[scott26985]

Something odd just happened. I plugged a cable that a tester said was not working into the PS3 and it worked straight away. My only thought is the new RJ45 has fixed the problem.

[chrisjr]

Originally Posted by scott26985

its 8 wires twisted together in sets on 2 (blue and Blue/white etc).

The cable tester has 8 lights that test each wire. On the working cables the lights come on 1 to 8 one after the other. On the broken cables a light will be skipped or stay on.

If a light is skipped then that means a break in that wire. As I posted if that is one of 1, 2, 3 or 6 then that will affect a 100Mb connection. A break on any wire could affect a gigabit connection.

[chrisjr]

Originally Posted by scott26985

Something odd just happened. I plugged a cable that a tester said was not working into the PS3 and it worked straight away. My only thought is the new RJ45 has fixed the problem.

When you crimp a plug on check the contacts have pushed down properly. The system relies on the underside of the contacts in the plug piercing the insulation of the wire and making contact with the copper core.

If you use a cheap and nasty crimp tool or are just a bit light on pressure the contact might not go down properly and fails to connect with the copper core. You can easily spot it as one or more of the contacts will be slightly standing proud of the others. Re-crimping often cures it.

Another one I have done is not trim the cores to the correct length so one doesn't go into the plug quite far enough and the contact misses the wire altogether.

That's why I buy RJ45s in bags of 100 Always waste a few when making up cables.

[spiney2]

surest way is test each individual wire for short or open using cheap multimeter. from diy shop. a bit tedious but foolproof.

[chrisjr]

Originally Posted by spiney2

surest way is test each individual wire for short or open using cheap multimeter. from diy shop. a bit tedious but foolproof.

And only really possible if both ends of the cable are close together. Bit difficult if one end is 30 or 40 metres from the other.

The cheap testers that use a simple LED ladder type display are perfectly OK. Even more so if they have a remote end and a local end that sequences round the 8 LEDs continuously. You just set the local end going, wander over to the other end of the cable plug the remote in and watch the LEDs.