Network cable tester advice

Hi
I have problem with a particular pc not being able to sync at 1GB. By sync I mean the connection status when I check it within windows says 100mb not 1GB. It must be something wrong with the cable because it works on a different ethernet socket. So I was wondering how much would a tester cost? Can you recommend a decent one I can use to find out what the heck is wrong? How can I test if it's the cable itself i.e. maybe one of the conductors is snapped in the middle of the cable?

If your eyesite is good you should be able to spot the coloured wires and compare to wiring diagrams

http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html
I have used the Straight-Through Ethernet Cable Pin Out for T568B for years and on long runs of cable with no problems.

Testers start at £7
http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?products_i...
(not recommendation, as not used that model) and can cost £1000's

maybe one of the conductors is snapped in the middle of the cable?

most cable faults are at the connectors.

however, you have already identified the cable as faulty, and replacement is usually the easiest solution.

ps 100mbit uses just 2 pairs, 1gbit all 4pairs.

I think the issue is I've used stranded cable connector rather than solid cable connector. I'm finding it difficult to find ones that are for solid core. Most don't say if they are for solid or not. I need solid because my hard wired keystone jacks use solid core cat5e. Can you recommend a brand of connector thats suitable for solid core wire?

http://www.solwise.co.uk/networking_sundries_plugs.htm

4th item down.

Are you talking about 8P8C RJ45 plugs?

Yes they can be found but why are you terminating infrastructure cable into the plugs? Standard/best practice is to use solid conductor into the keystone jacks and multicore into the connectors they meet with.

More to the point RJ45 plugs use an insulation piercing system which needs multi-strand cable for a reliable connection. From experience if you get it wrong it works for a bit, then fails randomly.

Edit: Actually I've re-read picky_user's last post and he does say that he's used stranded for the patch and solid in the keystone jacks which would be correct, I think.

Edited by mr_bean (Wed 21-Dec-11 11:29:08)

Not in all cases - you can get some RJ45s that use IDC type connections. They have a very small Krone type pair of baldes and are staggered to get all 8 in te connector.

Ok, well that's something I didn't know - thanks.

You are probably the same as me - and work conventions and use the right cable/connector for th install.

Infrastructure cabling - solid and terminated in IDCs - either on patch panels, Krone strips or the rear of sockets.

Patch leads, flexible or trailing cables - use multi-strand and terminate in insulation piercing connectors.

Are you saying am doing it all wrong!! At one end of the cable I've used keystone IDC punch down jacks. But I must have a plug at the other end or else how do connect the keystone to my router? It's not functional unless I connect to a router right?

You terminate the cable with keystone IDC punch down jacks at both ends, and then have a short patch cable from that socket to the router.

The advantage being the patch cable is the one the dog/hoover/child destroys then, not the infrastructure cable neatly hidden away

Hi
I used a generic punch down tool to punch down solid core cat5e cable onto these RJ45 modules.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/philex-rj45-cat5e-jack-pun...

So I'm supposed to have two of these keystones on a cable. One end is connected to the router via patch cable and the other is connected to the computer using patch cable. Have I installed it correctly now? It's not made a difference it's still giving me 100MB why? I've made sure the individual conductors are pushed down as far as they will go on both keystones.

Drag the two computers closer together and see if they can manage 1Gbps when using just a short patch cable.

You have double checked that the actual network cards can both do 1Gbps, and that this is enabled.

If a short pre-made cable works, then time to look at the cable you made, and what exact wiring plan you used. Also to use keystones you have to untwist the pairs, keeping those to a minimum of untwisting is important.

I've used the B standard on both keystones as well as the other links that don't have this issue.
I read on the website you linked to the standard are the electrically the same so I assumed I'll get the same speed regardless which one I used. Is that not correct ?

Edited by deleted (Thu 22-Dec-11 17:20:16)