Network does not work with 2 50ft CAT5 cables

[Neo_Geo]

I recently tried to set up a network with a D-Link DSS-5+ 5 Port Switch and a couple 50ft CAT5e cables. Using this setup, I could only get a ping perhaps 5% of the time, otherwise the ping would simply timeout.

Then, I tried the same with a couple 25ft cables and everything worked fine. Even if I used one of the 25ft and one 50ft cable, the network would not work.

I thought the length limit for CAT5e cables in an ethernet netword was around 100m... so why don't my 50ft cables work? I purchased the cables already assembled. I think they are made by Belkin.

Any thoughts???

 

[nihil]

could it possible that you have some bad cables?

 

[ScottMac]

Well, first off, the 100 meter limit is for solid conductor cable, stranded has much more loss (jumpers are stranded, "In-the-Wall" stuff is solid).

Next, was the coupler you used to join the two cables rated for Category 5? The specification says (and the equipment was designed for) EVERY component must be rated for Category 5, otherwise the path/system reverts to the least rated component. If you were using a double-female RJ45 coupler, unrated, then your cables were unrated, the system was unrated, and even 10BASE-T requires (specifies) Category 3 cabling.

Check your cabling components, make sure they're in good shape (no nicks in the jacket, kinks, twists, pinches, no compression of the jacket (as in NONE), etc. Also make sure the connectors are in good shape, and the jacket is well situated in the connector.

FWIW

Scott

 

[Neo_Geo]

I am not using a coupler of any kind. Just two 50ft CAT5 cables and a D-Link DSS-5+ Switch. All are rated for 100Mbs network.

The cables are band new and in good condition. My only conclusion is that the cables are bad....

Recap:
NIC - 50ft CAT5e - Switch - 50ft CAT5e - NIC -- Ping works ~10% of the time, rest time out

NIC - 25ft CAT5e - Switch - 25ft CAT5e - NIC -- Everyting works fine

NIC - 25ft CAT5e - Switch - 50ft CAT5e - NIC -- Ping works ~10% of the time, rest time out

 

[Garion]

For your third test, did you try to use BOTH 50' cables, one at a time to make sure one of them isn't bad?

- G

 

[Neo_Geo]

Garion,

Yes, I did try both of the 50ft cables with one of the proven 25ft cables. Both scenarios did not work. Thus, if the problem is the cables, both of them must be bad.

 

[Kell]

It sounds a lot like both 50ft cables are flaky. If you custom-punched them yourself, a repunch might be in order.

This may seem to be a strange question, but are the 50ft cables round or flat? Also, what order are the wires in (color-wise) on each end of the 50ft cables?

 

[nihil]

Edit: uhhh, nevermind. i asked a question that we already had the answer too. but it does sound like those 50ft cables are shot.

 

[spidey07]

throw the cables out. If they are not pre-made, purchased/certified cables then they are probably bad. If you made them yourself...they are probably bad.

If you are using two patch cords, you are off spec. hence probably bad.

if it doesn't work...probably bad.

scottmac has it covered...

 

[Neo_Geo]

OK, we tried one of the 50ft cables out at work and it seemed to work just fine.

So, here is what I am thinking...

Is it possible that the switch I am using is just a sub-standard switch? Perhaps the signals the switch sends out are not powerful enough to properly traverse the 50ft cable.