Poor performance from cat 5 network cable

[scotty777]

Hey everyone.

I have a cat 5 network cable that's about 40~50m long, and it's not working fantastically.

It's connecting between an ADSL router and a cheap wifi access point, and the connection just isn't good enough. However, I did try using a killer expensive network switch HP 1810-8G (which I borrowed to test the cable), and everything connects fine, so the cable seems to be working fine.

What do you guys think is at fault here? cat 5 is rated for 100m, so I don't know why this isn't working so well. Are there any cheap Ethernet boosters or strong switches available that don't cost an arm and a leg?

The cable does run outside though, but it's not exposed to either rain or sunlight though, which should be fine?

Merry Christmas btw

 

[Hectic]

What exactly do you classify as "Poor preformance and not working fantastically"?

If you current network is the bottleneck, you can always upgrade to CAT5e if you have Gigabit router/ switch and network cards.

 

[chrisc]

I think you had better check the cable with a network cable tester. There is no reason why such a short cable should cause any problems. I have used many much longer than that without trouble.

All 8 cables must have continuity with no crossovers. Make sure there are no kinks

 

[Venomous]

Is the cable indoors or out?
How old is the cable?
Any visible damage to the plastic casing?

 

[quovadis]

Hey everyone.

I have a cat 5 network cable that's about 40~50m long, and it's not working fantastically.

Merry Christmas btw

Check that everything (Nics and switches etc) is forced to full speed and full duplex.

 

[scotty777]

What exactly do you classify as "Poor preformance and not working fantastically"?

If you current network is the bottleneck, you can always upgrade to CAT5e if you have Gigabit router/ switch and network cards.

I'm getting about 15% packet loss from my laptop being connected to it, and the little wifi access point doesn't connect properly at all!

the cable is outdoors.

 

[SauRoNZA]

What speed does it connect at? 10 / 100 or 1000?

 

[Ipwn 4]

Which end was the switch attached? If it's on the AP side then the AP is the issue

 

[sajunky]

Re: cable
- Solid of stranded wire?
- There are two types of plugs: for solid and stranded wire. Can you identify right plugs were used? Mixing types leads to unreliable contact.
- Note minimum bend radius is 4xcable_diameter

+1 for cable tester. If any resistance problem, changing plugs should help.
When you say about packet loss, is cable plugged directly to the laptop, correct? It could indicate cable fault or damaged port on the ASDL router (lightning?). Try another router, or insert mini switch on the short connection between ADSL router and cable.
<ADSL router> - <switch or hub> -long-cable- <WiFi AP>

Merry Christmas

 

[FallenAme]

Did you make the cable yourself?

Check that the cable has the correct colour wire diagram (G/W G, O/W B, B/W O, B/W, B)

I had major issues with packet loss on cables longer then 2/3 meters when I made the assumption that the colour diagram didn't matter.

And as for running outside, make sure it doesn't run along any power cables that may cause interference, and DON'T bury the cable in the ground.

 

[Pada]

<snip>, and DON'T bury the cable in the ground.

Do you care do explain why you shouldn't bury it in the ground? I'm running a CAT5 cable (inside a PVC pipe) under the ground to my neighbour and it is working beautifully. The pipe is just for incase someone hits it with a spade.

 

[sajunky]

The pipe is just for incase someone hits it with a spade.

Not only. Use conduit also for other reason. And don't let water to go inside the pipe, seal both ends.

 

[FallenAme]

Do you care do explain why you shouldn't bury it in the ground? I'm running a CAT5 cable (inside a PVC pipe) under the ground to my neighbour and it is working beautifully. The pipe is just for incase someone hits it with a spade.

Sorry, should have been clearer, Don't bury the cable bare, PVC pipe would work perfectly.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Sorry, should have been clearer, Don't bury the cable bare, PVC pipe would work perfectly.

Sounds to me like stranded core and not solid core was used. Stranded core is good for flyleads, not great distances. Other possibility is that twisted pairs weren't crimped. You should make sure that 1+2 are a pair, 3+6 are a pair, 4+5 are a pair and 7+8 are a pair (green/green+white, orange/orange+white, blue/blue+white, brown/brown+white). Colours mean little - they're just there for your reference. The main thing is that you have those pins mentioned as pairs and that it's crimped identically on both sides.

 

[DJ...]

However, I did try using a killer expensive network switch HP 1810-8G (which I borrowed to test the cable), and everything connects fine, so the cable seems to be working fine.

I'm not all that technically inclined, but doesn't this part rule out the cable being the problem?

Does it also not identify the router/switch/port as the problem?

 

[Willie Trombone]

I'm not all that technically inclined, but doesn't this part rule out the cable being the problem?

Does it also not identify the router/switch/port as the problem?

A good, fast switch can be forgiving with poor cable... lots of tech built into those things - error correcting, quick throughput, etc.
It could, however, be a combination of poor switching and average cable. I'd look at the pairs and core first.

Certainly a valid assumption - in fact it was my first.

 

[ponder]

Sounds to me like stranded core and not solid core was used. Stranded core is good for flyleads, not great distances. Other possibility is that twisted pairs weren't crimped. You should make sure that 1+2 are a pair, 3+6 are a pair, 4+5 are a pair and 7+8 are a pair (green/green+white, orange/orange+white, blue/blue+white, brown/brown+white). Colours mean little - they're just there for your reference. The main thing is that you have those pins mentioned as pairs and that it's crimped identically on both sides.

picha might make more sense.

 

[Willie Trombone]

picha might make more sense.
...

OK, but don't forget to add that the top two pics are correct with the front (end that you push into the wall jack, PC or other device) away from you and the back (end that you shove the cable in) towards you otherwise you have them the wrong way around.

Back (cable side)

Front (device side)

The colours are obviously not important other than to let you on to which of the 8 are pairs. I haven't yet had a device tell me it prefers orange or green insulation at pin 1

Last thing I'm interested in is...
is that cable verified? i.e. is the word 'verified' printed somewhere on the side of the outer insulation?

 

[scotty777]

Hey everyone!

Ok, so I didn't crimp the cables exactly like in the pictures provided. I'll exchange and see if that's the issue (very likely) since aren't the twisted pairs in specific orientations for long distance coms?

the wire is solid core, not strands.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Hey everyone!

Ok, so I didn't crimp the cables exactly like in the pictures provided. I'll exchange and see if that's the issue (very likely) since aren't the twisted pairs in specific orientations for long distance coms?

the wire is solid core, not strands.

Ponder gave you a picture of a crossover cable. I think it would be best for a straight. Use his second picture and make both end the same as that picture (T586B).