Problem with ethernet connection to Modem

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bck

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I battling to get a connection to my modem with the ethernet cable. The cable worked fine when I first tried it, but I usually use USB so I can check signal status. I had difficulty getting a link to the modem last week with the ethernet cable, then eventually succeeded after much plugging and unplugging of cables (modem connected directly to Mecer wireless hub/router - normal port which I assume does auto crossover).
I have now spent a couple of hors at work trying to connect the modem first to our network using a crossover cable with F-F adapter, then to my laptop with no joy.
I have noted the following when trying to connect the modem directly to the laptop (no crossover cable as I assume the ethernet cable is a crossover)
If I leave the Link speed & Duplex of the NIC to auto I have no link and the green light on the cable is off.
If I set it to 10Mbps full or hal duplex i get the same as above.
If I set to 100Mbps full or half duplex, the green light on the cable comes on, but the laptop still shows cable disconnected.

Has anybody had a problem liket this before or know whether the cable or modem is faulty? I've tried all the usual things like power modem off, have confirmed that my laptop NIC and crossover cables work correctly. I've also opened the connector that plugs into the modem to confirm that none of the solder joins have broken off. What should the connection be set as if not auto 10/100 full or half duplex?

Have tried contacting SlowComm but am still waiting for them to come back to me.
 
From the way I have used the modem with ethernet cable I think the cable is a crossover. I had it connected to a normal Accton hub which does not do any auto crossover detection on our office network and in order to get it to work, I had to use a crossover cable and F-F adapter. At home I had it connected to a combination hub and wireless router withou the crossover cable - I think this does automatic crossover detection.

In a post by regardtv in the following thread:
http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2729
he also says that the cable is a crossover.

Can anybody confirm this?
 
The modem Ethernet cable is intended to plug directly into an RJ-45 Ethernet port on a PC, and most 10/100Base-T NICs should be able to autosense the connection speed if set to "auto". Set Win2k/WinXP to "Show icon in taskbar when connected" (Network properties), which will also help you to see if the PC sees a connection and the speed of that connection.

This also implies you cannot plug the modem Ethernet cable into one of the normal ports of a hub/switch (unless the hub/switch is auto cable sensing). However, you can plug it into the MDI/Daisy Chain/Expansion port of a hub/switch. The modem is a 10Base-T ONLY device, so ensure that any 10/100Base-T hub/switch is capable of auto-sensing the speed, as well as being able to interconnect the internal 10 and 100 busses (some early switches had this limitation).
 
I finally went to the Broadband Zone shop at Village Walk and they replaced the cable for me - It was faulty.

I am still waiting for somebody at Fastcomm to return my phone call after 4 phone calls to them - they are as bad as Sentech!
 
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