Gigabit network running at 100Mb

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Over the weekend, I had Google Fiber installed.

My setup is:
Google Fiber Box -> TrendNet Gigabit switch -> Cat5e (568C-2) cable -> Cat5e jacks installed in the wall

If I plug directly into the Google Fiber Box, I get 600Mb+. If I plug directly into the switch, I get 400Mb+. But, when I plug into the wall jack (20 to 50 feet runs), I get 92Mb.

One system recognizes the network as 1Gb but my 2nd system says it's a 100Mb network.

I've removed the switch from the equation, all connections are directly from the Fiber Box.

It seems that the culprit has to be the Cat5e between the Fiber Box and Jack Plates, or the actual terminations. This was my first time terminating Cat5e into jacks and crimping plugs.

I used the 'B' straight thru cable orientation (W/Or, Or, W/Gn, Bl, W/Bl, Gn, W/Br, Br).

Any ideas where the issue may be.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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It sounds like there may be an unterminated wire in the jack. I would re-terminate both ends and see if it makes it better. I believe 10/100 only uses two pairs while gig uses all 4 so if a wire is missing it falls back to 100. On the PC does it actually say it's connecting at 100? Could also be the jacks are only rated for cat5 and not cat5e or cat6.

Though first, try a different cable to patch it through. could be the cable itself too.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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It sounds like there may be an unterminated wire in the jack. I would re-terminate both ends and see if it makes it better. I believe 10/100 only uses two pairs while gig uses all 4 so if a wire is missing it falls back to 100. On the PC does it actually say it's connecting at 100? Could also be the jacks are only rated for cat5 and not cat5e or cat6.

Though first, try a different cable to patch it through. could be the cable itself too.

That is what I'm thinking as well. I just ordered a cable tester off Amazon.

One thing I forgot to mention that makes me think this really is the case: Download was at 92Mb, but upload would hit 450Mb+. So, maybe the receive wire isn't terminated correctly.
 

azazel1024

Senior member
Jan 6, 2014
901
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That sounds like interference. What do you have under network properties for the connection? If it says 100Mbps, its an improperly terminated wire. Any options to run a network connectivity test for your NIC drivers? Intel network tools under their adapter properties have the option and it'll detect things like improperly terminated wires or bad wires.

Just to stress, an improperly terminated wire wouldn't cause a difference an asymetrical speed, it would cause a forced 100Mbps connection instead of 1,000Mbps connection if all 4 twisted pairs are terminated properly.

I've had my fair share of improperly terminated wires and jacks. You could just reterminate the jacks and see if that solves it.

Its possible its poor termination, but not lack of termination causing a big drop in signal strength, that might result in lost packets and/or attenuation sufficient to drop your speed. That is odd that you are getting a slower speed plugging in to the switch. Generally bad wire maybe?

What kind is it (manufacturer, rating, solid copper? Copper coated aluminum? Length of runs?)
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Okay, update time.

I got a cable tester and on my main system, I had a broken wire. I fixed that and gigabit works great. 900Mb+ up and down. It's awesome.

On my HTPC, I checked the cables and when I wired them last year, I used the 568A standard instead of B.
So, I re-wired all the jacks and plugs to the B standard. Everything tests just fine. But, my download is still 92Mb down and 400ish up.

I'm not sure what the issue is. I even updated my motherboard drivers to the latest revision (it is gigabit compatible).

So I'm kind of at a loss here. Any ideas?

FYI: HTPC system is Vista Ultimate 32 bit. Main system (with working gigabit) is Win7 64 bit.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,198
18,669
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Try a different workstation at the HTPC drop to test with. If no change, try direct connecting to the switch port and test again. Process of elimination...
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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Alright, ran a cable to my main system, ran speedtest, 900+.

Bring the same cable, same port down to my HTPC and 92Mb down.

Not sure where to go from here.

System specs:
Intel i5 3330
Intel DQ77MK mobo
16GB Ram
Vista Ultimate SP2, 32-bit

Main function is media server: Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, Plex
Audio Recording (my band): Reaper, assorted VST plugins

Any ideas?
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,198
18,669
146
Boot to a Linux Live cd or usb and test again. If it's the same, then it's the NIC (hardware or firmware) that's the issue, if it changes, then it's a NIC driver issue.
 

Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
5,740
35
91
System specs:
Intel i5 3330
Intel DQ77MK mobo
16GB Ram
Vista Ultimate SP2, 32-bit

Main function is media server: Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, Plex
Audio Recording (my band): Reaper, assorted VST plugins

Any ideas?

This probably has nothing to do with the network speed, but why are you running a 32-bit OS with 16G of RAM?
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
This probably has nothing to do with the network speed, but why are you running a 32-bit OS with 16G of RAM?

I intended to put Win7 on it, but money got tight and a friend gave me his copy of Vista 32-bit. It works, so I never got around to changing it.

I updated the NIC drivers last night. I'm getting ready to flash to the latest BIOS. If no luck there, I'll try booting to linux.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
is full/auto duplex enabled in the nic configuration?

Yes, it's set on Auto Negotiate. I've also set it to 1Gbs with no difference.

When I look at the Local Area Connection Status, under Speed it is listed as 1.0 Gbps.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
I just finished testing with a Linux Live USB drive.

300 down and 900 up. I'm assuming the down was limited by the flash drive.

I think I'm just going to install Win7 on this system and hopefully that will solve the issue, since it doesn't seem to be caused by hardware.