No link activity when plugged into router

[bbrontosaurus]

All, need some help:

House came prewired for networking (Cat-5 cabling). Each room is wired with a network port, with all wires connected to a main box. If I hook up the open end of a room cable directly to the cable modem, I'm able to connect to the internet. However, if I connect the open end of the cable to a router (which is connected the the cable modem), there is no link light (no activity) on the router!! What gives?? I'm using a Motorola Cable Modem from Time Warner connected to a Netgear wireless router.

A couple questions:

1) Do I need a crossover cable from the cable modem to the router?
2) Does distance play a factor? (I.e, whole house is wired, long distance of cable)

Help!! Thanks!

 

[tweekah]

1) Possibly, but I highly doubt it. Make sure you are plugging ethernet cable from modem into the WAN/Internet port on that netgear. All the client computers should be plugged into 1 of the 4 or 8 ports on that netgear.

2)The max length for cat5 is 100meters or 328 feet. I doubt any of your cables are that long.

 

[bbrontosaurus]

Originally posted by: tweekah
1) Possibly, but I highly doubt it. Make sure you are plugging ethernet cable from modem into the WAN/Internet port on that netgear. All the client computers should be plugged into 1 of the 4 or 8 ports on that netgear.

2)The max length for cat5 is 100meters or 328 feet. I doubt any of your cables are that long.

Hrmmm:

1) Yes, I have made sure that the cable from the modem is plugged into the Internet Port of the Netgear router. The client computer cable is then connected to one of the free (4) ports. No link light though!!!! BUT if i connect the client computer cable directly to the cable modem, it freaking works, dammit!! Yaaaaaghhhh!!!

2) Hrmm, I have a 3 story house......

This is driving me batty!!!!

 

[tweekah]

When you are in the client ports on your router, does your computer get ips assigned by DHCP? Don't rely on the lights. If that coord is long enough to get signal directly from modem, then it should from the router. If you release/renew and are getting 169.254.x.x. Then possibly you have a bad router. Try to bring the router closer to the and use a 5foot patch cable and test. You must isolate the problem.

 

[MtnMan]

If you don't get a link light, it is extreemly likely (assuming you are working witht he correct drop on both ends) that the jack is miswired or has a wire(s) not making connection. Beyond that the cable may have been accidently cut at some point, or a nail driven into it or similiar damage.

No link light is a big signal to start looking at wiring/connections and not to waste your time trying to fix it on the computer. A cable tester will almost certianly show a problem with a physical connection at some point.

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: bbrontosaurus

Originally posted by: tweekah
1) Possibly, but I highly doubt it. Make sure you are plugging ethernet cable from modem into the WAN/Internet port on that netgear. All the client computers should be plugged into 1 of the 4 or 8 ports on that netgear.

2)The max length for cat5 is 100meters or 328 feet. I doubt any of your cables are that long.

Hrmmm:

1) Yes, I have made sure that the cable from the modem is plugged into the Internet Port of the Netgear router. The client computer cable is then connected to one of the free (4) ports. No link light though!!!! BUT if i connect the client computer cable directly to the cable modem, it freaking works, dammit!! Yaaaaaghhhh!!!

2) Hrmm, I have a 3 story house......

This is driving me batty!!!!

yelling at people here wont get you jack.

Show us the layout of the network, and we'll be able to help.

 

[bbrontosaurus]

Originally posted by: Mday

Originally posted by: bbrontosaurus

Originally posted by: tweekah
1) Possibly, but I highly doubt it. Make sure you are plugging ethernet cable from modem into the WAN/Internet port on that netgear. All the client computers should be plugged into 1 of the 4 or 8 ports on that netgear.

2)The max length for cat5 is 100meters or 328 feet. I doubt any of your cables are that long.

Hrmmm:

1) Yes, I have made sure that the cable from the modem is plugged into the Internet Port of the Netgear router. The client computer cable is then connected to one of the free (4) ports. No link light though!!!! BUT if i connect the client computer cable directly to the cable modem, it freaking works, dammit!! Yaaaaaghhhh!!!

2) Hrmm, I have a 3 story house......

This is driving me batty!!!!

yelling at people here wont get you jack.

Show us the layout of the network, and we'll be able to help.

Unfortunately, you are mistaking my use of exclaimation marks as yelling at someone...it's not. I'm using those to express my frustration with this problem

 

[bbrontosaurus]

Originally posted by: MtnMan
If you don't get a link light, it is extreemly likely (assuming you are working witht he correct drop on both ends) that the jack is miswired or has a wire(s) not making connection. Beyond that the cable may have been accidently cut at some point, or a nail driven into it or similiar damage.

No link light is a big signal to start looking at wiring/connections and not to waste your time trying to fix it on the computer. A cable tester will almost certianly show a problem with a physical connection at some point.

Hrmm..this sounds like a good idea. Where can I buy one of these cable testers? Is it called a cable tester, or like a sniffer or something?

Thanks

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Before you go out and buy a cable tester, maybe try picking up a crossover cable. I'm sure that that's your problem.

Edit: Or try another room (jack) in your house