Home Network Issues

[s_kinton]

My house was re-wired recently and I installed CAT 5e cable around the house, terminated in modular wall sockets in each room.

The cables all run back under the stairs to a Belkin gigabit switch which then feeds into my O2 router.

The problem is that when I plug my PC or PS3 into any of the wall sockets it doesnt show as connected. I've tried different cables, machines and with/without the switch - nothing.

What the best way to diagnose the problem here????

[nightkhaos]

That's not good. How precisely was it wired, and how does it terminate at the switch?

[dshepsman]

My house was re-wired recently and I installed CAT 5e cable around the house, terminated in modular wall sockets in each room.

The cables all run back under the stairs to a Belkin gigabit switch which then feeds into my O2 router.

The problem is that when I plug my PC or PS3 into any of the wall sockets it doesnt show as connected. I've tried different cables, machines and with/without the switch - nothing.

What the best way to diagnose the problem here????

cable tester? - could be incorrectly wired?

[killie99]

you need to get a network cable tester, have a look on ebay, they are about £5.
Do you get any lights coming on on the gigabit router ports when you plug the cables in?

[Disturbedguy]

Connect the PC or if you have one, a laptop into the wall sockets and try pinging the router and/ or any other device on the network.

Just because its not showing doesnt mean that it isn't connect, it just might not be able to complete the connection so to speak.

As has been said, How precisely has it wired? Was it done correctly? Not meaning to question your abilities, but without questions, we cant help to try and get to the problem.

[peterb]

If you aren't getting any lights, you aren't getting a physical connection, so no point in looking for a logical connection.

Is it all sockets? Do you get a connection if you plug the laptop directly into the switch?

Fr Gigabit speeds you need all 4 pairs connected (correctly)

Who did the wiring? Did they use a proper punch down tool to make the terminations?

Have they used a consistent wiring standard? (568B is normal in the UK)

A cable tester is the easiest way to check for both core continuity, sequence and polarity.

You can buy them on e bay - I use this

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...duct&R=0557414

Which gives a quick go/no go indication. Otherwise its a visual inspection of all the terminations. Common problems are cables not punched down and mis-wiring - connectons on the back of sockets don't always follow in sequence, and are different from telephone colour coding.

Cores should be untwisted by the minimum aount for maximum performance.

(I have just been fault finding a network where an inexperienced electrician's apprentice terminated the remote points - and the work exhibited all those faults.)

[s_kinton]

Well, I did the wiring myself according to 568B standards using the punch down tool and propoer crimper.

I'm not getting any lights at the router or switch, meaning theres obviously a problem with my cabling. I've not managed to get a light on any port I've tested in the house meaning theres a problem with my wiring! This was my first ever go at doing this kind of thing so it is likely I've gone wrong somewhere.

Can anyone point me to a cable tester on eBay or scan etc that'll show me where I've gone wrong? i.e. one that will tell me which connections are incorrect or crossed over.

Is this any good?
http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...75&tid=gsearch

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Network-LAN-Ca...item53dd72d5f4

Also, a link to a reputable wiring guide would be nice too - just so I can check it against what I did!?

[killie99]

the ebay one is the same as the one I use, it will tell you if you have the sequence correct and if you have any opens.
Have a look at this for network wiring http://www.swhowto.com/CAT5_Ch1.htm

[peterb]

Can't vouch for that one (I have had something from them before - a cable, that was faulty - they did replace it...) but it does look a little too cheap.

I use this (link missed out of my first post)

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...duct&R=0557414

which cycles through the 4 pairs so you get open cct, reverse polarity and incorrect wire pair termination - and I found very useful.

You can check by visual inspection though - and as I said above, sometimes the connections on the socket don't always follow a 12345678 sequence wit the pairs.

Did you make the patch cables? Crimping those down correctly can be tricky, particularly in preparing the cable ends and ensuring you get the sequence correct (wh/or, or/wh, wh/g, bl/wh,wh/bl, gr/wh, bw/br, br/wh.)

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...a%3DX%26um%3D1

This diagram shows the sockets but you should refer to the documentation that came with your devices, or test them to determine the connection sequence.

http://www.dragon-it.co.uk/files/rj45568AB.gif

[Disturbedguy]

I used the same Cable Tester as PeterB while at Uni, very good bits of kit.

No matter how many times I have made my own cables and how certain I am that they are correct, I always test them before putting them to use.

[s_kinton]

Well I bought the one I linked above from CCL (its only down the road).

I'll be testing over the weekend

[peterb]

Sorry - I was referring to the e bay one! the one from CCL looks fine (I like CCL - bought a few biits and pieces from them)

As disturbedguy says, test everything - the cables you use to connect the tester to the network, and then the cables individually. The reason I say individually is hat I had a case where there were two cables running from the patch panel to the remote point with two sockets. To save time I linked the two runs at the patch panel (with a tested jumpr!) and used the cable tester at the far end - all worked. But when I connected the PC - nothing. The reason - boyth the remote terminations had been consistently mis-wired, so that they worked as a linked pair, but not individually! Took a few minutes to figure that one! (and that was one where the installer didn't realsie the wires crossed over at the socket)

Good luck!

[s_kinton]

Ok, I've got the tester connected, but I'm not sure how to use it!?

Which end goes in tx and rx? There are two parts to the tester, one for each end of the cable I assume?

I tried to test one cable and the lights at 2,3,4 and 5 all lit up green and flashed - what does that mean? Another cable I tested didnt show any green lights on the numbers, but its not working!?!

Any help appreciated...

[Krakkenbus]

From what I remember, when the lights are lit, it signifies the fact that it's wired correctly. no lights would lead me to believe that none of the wires are correctly wired.

[peterb]

Plug a patch cable into the two sockets on the main unit. No lights indicate open cct. Without checking it I can't say if it gives revers connection or not - mine give green for good, red for reverse and no indication for open cct. For testing long lengths, plug the remote unit at one end and the appropriate connection at the other end (there should be a diagram on the unit, if there aren't any instructions)

[killie99]

when 'Peterb' says plug in a patch cable he means plug in a bought one that you know to be working (not one that you've made), that way you'll see what is meant to happen when all 8 wires are wired correctly. Also, make sure the patch cable you use has all 8 wires - I've seen some cheapskate ADSL modem/router manufacturers supply a god awful 4 wire cable to let you configure the router.
Come back and ask if you're still having issues.