• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Recurring ethernet wiring problem

D

dumkompf

Junior Member
So, allow me to be the first to point out--though I'm relatively competent with networking hardware--I'm more of a software/mainframe person and know only enough about networking nuts and bolts to cause trouble. Here's the problem: I set up a home theater PC for my parents about a year ago, and for part of that I put an RJ45 plug in the wall of their office and another in the room where the PC is housed. I ran the cable beneath the house, but stapled it safely into place inside the floor joists.

Everything worked great...for about three or four months...and then their HTPC could no longer get a network connection. The computer fervently suggested that there was no cable plugged in, so I plugged in a laptop at that port and--sure enough--couldn't get a signal. Suspecting a wire had popped, I cut the cat5 cable short by about an inch, stripped off fresh ends, and rewired the keystone.

VOILA! Everything worked again...for about three or four months..and then their HTPC could no longer get a network connection. This time I got a new plug, not a keystone but a cat6 plug and just matched the wires appropriately. Again, cut the cable by about an inch, stripped off fresh ends, and wired it to the plug.

VOILA! Everything worked again...for about three or four months. Same deal. I'm now trying to figure out what in the world could be going on. Granted, my folks treat me to tasty food and great booze whenever I'm over here trying to troubleshoot the system, but it would be nice if this would quit happening. I'm sure I've done something that's just blatantly stupid, I just can't quite figure out what that would be.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
 
Unless you're really just not punching the wires down securely, I'd try to find out what is pulling on the cable/PC enough to dislodge the wires from the plugs.
 
Is the device plugged into that walljack on wheels or something? How often do your parents vacuum? I agree with Fardringle, something or someone is pulling that cable out. Might wanna ask your mom if she's behind all this. 🙂
 
It could be something is degrading the cable. Are there additional cables contributing noise, such as electrical cables?
 
how hard did you staple the cable? if you stapled it hard enough to crush one of the wires in there it could cause intermittent problems..
 
Did you,perchance, use stranded cable for that run?

If so, that is the problem. Stranded cable does not "punch down," it's meant to terminate in a mod plug (not jack). Stranded cable is meant for jumper cables.
 
I would rerun the run myself. Inside conduit that it bolted to the braces. You should use a decent cat5e / cat6 solid copper core cable run inside conduit and stub up in to the wall since that is a crawl space. You should never use staples as that can crush the cable causing all kinds of issues. You could also likely get away with cable hooks but I think that would be more costly than conduit. Then reterminate everything with a proper 110 punch tool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top