Cat5 cable works w/ the switch but not router

[Cooky]

I have a PC that connects to a LinkSys WRT54G router. The LEDs of the router port and the NIC on the PC indicate that there's connectivity. However, windows (win2k pro to be precise) says otherwise: it says the cable is unplugged. Tried different ports on router, same thing.
Then I daisy chained a Siemens SpeedStream switch to the router and connect the PC to the switch, it works!!

Could someone please explain to me why the cable works on the switch but not the router??

 

[JackMDS]

Cause the cable is probably crossover.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Yep, and the router probably has auto-sensing ports so it'll reverse to function with either connection.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: gunrunnerjohn
Yep, and the router probably has auto-sensing ports so it'll reverse to function with either connection.

Yep, check your switch, it probably says N-way port sensing on it which means the ports will negotiate any old way with any cable. At least that is what they call the autosensing on the D-link switches I always use.

 

[Cooky]

Thanks for your feedbacks.
Checked the cable and it's not cross-over...any ideas?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Cooky
Thanks for your feedbacks.
Checked the cable and it's not cross-over...any ideas?

Could just be a bad cable. The switch doesn't care and sends and recieves packets over any connection it can find while the Router will not Transmit & Receive if it doesn't detect a perfect connection.

Did you try different cables?

 

[Cooky]

Those cables were working w/o any problem w/ a switch and a hub and another brand of router (Siemens SpeedStream) I upgraded the router to the one I'm having trouble with.

Since the cables are home made do you think maybe different brands of devices have different level of tolerence for the quality of the cables??

 

[Matthias99]

Maybe, but if the cable works with other equipment (check it *now* -- it could have broken while swapping/moving them), then I rather suspect a bad port on the new router. Does the router work with other cables?

 

[JackMDS]

Home Made Cables.

LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

Days of aggravation for few pennies saving.

:Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart:

Link to: Wiring - I would like to wire my Networked Computers (Home Wiring).

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Home Made Cables.

LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

Days of aggravation for few pennies saving.

:Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart::Q:brokenheart:

Link to: Wiring - I would like to wire my Networked Computers (Home Wiring).

Mmmmmm Ok then. I've made a lot of cables and haven't had any problems.

 

[JackMDS]

I started to make cables more than 40 years ago. There was no CAT5 yet, but there was a lot of other cramps (excuse me crimps).

It takes many Cables down the drain before you become proficient, and to insure the cable correctness you need the proper tool (Believe it or not Fluke was already in the business 40 years ago).

You have to start if you are planing to work for a professional "Cabler", otherwise it is rarely that a person get to be proficient from cramping (excuse me crimping) few cables here and there

Let me remind you that long time ago people use to mix their own medication. I do not think that you care to see the mortality statistic at that time.

 

[Cooky]

All the ports on the new router work so I guess it's the quality of the cable.
I'm no professional "cabler" like JackMDS but I'm experienced enough that I can memorize the order of the color scheme...but even w/ that I guess it's not enough. :-(

 

[JackMDS]

The issue with CAT5 is not the knowledge of the correct color scheme or the right order of the Wires. To produce CAT5 you have to crimp 8 wires (usually stranded) into a tiny plug. CAT5 carries 100Mb/sec. of electric signal, every little (fraction of an inch) mess-up in the wire can create a loose contact and or unusual capacitance that degrade the signal. Capacitance acts as a short to High frequency signal, the degradation can be from slow down to non-traffic. If CAT5 cable would be regular cable you could use a simple Ohm meter to certify them, there is a reason why it takes a $1000 Fluke to certify CAT5 wires.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

OTOH, with the proper crimping tool and a little mechanical aptitude, it's not that difficult to make good cables. As you say, you'll make a few bad ones along the way, that's why you also learn how to debug bad cable installations!

I wish I had a nickel for all the cables laid by "professional" installers that I've had to redo in order to get the network working...