Dropped packets on WLAN access point?

Hi All, so i'm a bit of networking numpty and have recently relocated an inherited D-Link DAP 2553 access point in my house. This means I've had to run a longish (20m) homemade patch cable to it from the switch in the loft and after I set it up I had a look at the WLAN stats on it's status page. On the Transmitted Count it's showing around 23000-40000 packets regularly being dropped. Is this bad and if so what could be causing ??? Remember I'm a networking numpty so words of one syllable please. :)

Have you tested the cable?

That was my 1st thought, cable tester arriving tomorrow:).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimborae

That was my 1st thought, cable tester arriving tomorrow:).

---

Unless you have spent upwards of £750 for some time domain reflectormetry equipment, you have probably got a continuity and sequence tester. They are good for checking that the polarity and continuity of the cores is correct, but won't tell you much about the transmission characteristics.

Good quality cable has each pair twisted at a different pitch to minimise crosstalk between adjacent pairs (something that flat 'cat5' can't achieve, for example) sharp bends or pinching the cable with (for example) staples can also affect the transmission characteristics.

You can also lose packets if the one of the NICs isn't up the job.

But check the wiring, then check the layout. For long runs you should probably use solid cable, rather than stranded, and use cable of know provenance. Problem with that is you may end up getting a long reel, when you only need a relatively short amount.

I've got some shielded Cat6 I could run instead that may improve things, as the cat5 I've used got pretty twisted and was a bit troublesome laying.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimborae

I've got some shielded Cat6 I could run instead that may improve things, as the cat5 I've used got pretty twisted and was a bit troublesome laying.

---

You could, although you still have to be careful about bend radius and cable pinching. CAt6 tends to be harder to manage than cat 5 as it is slightly larger, and you really need shielded plugs/sockets to make use of the shielding, and that includes any patch cables in the run. (Unless it is one length with plugs at each end).

Does it run over an mains? In the old place I spent days trying to figure out what was wrong with a connection only to realise it was running along a trailing socket lead.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by herulach

Does it run over an mains? In the old place I spent days trying to figure out what was wrong with a connection only to realise it was running along a trailing socket lead.

---

If you mean is the Cat5 cable run along side a mains cable run the answer is yes, in some places they are zipped tied together. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimborae

Hi All, so i'm a bit of networking numpty and have recently relocated an inherited D-Link DAP 2553 access point in my house. This means I've had to run a longish (20m) homemade patch cable to it from the switch in the loft and after I set it up I had a look at the WLAN stats on it's status page. On the Transmitted Count it's showing around 23000-40000 packets regularly being dropped. Is this bad and if so what could be causing ??? Remember I'm a networking numpty so words of one syllable please. :)

---

Did you follow a proper Type A or Type B wiring diagram? Just connecting one colour to pin 1 and another to pin 2 etc does not work properly (or at all in some cases).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jimborae

If you mean is the Cat5 cable run along side a mains cable run the answer is yes, in some places they are zipped tied together. :(

---

Move it, bet it fixes the problem.

Thanks, 568B mate, followed a proper diagram and have correct tools etc. My cheapo cable tester tells me all is good with the RJ45 cable connections.:thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by herulach

Move it, bet it fixes the problem.

---

Cool, I'll try running a new cable with the shielded Cat6 and see if that makes a difference with routing it away from the mains.