In reply to a post by AthlonBoy:

Could the switch be faulty? Is there some new setting I need?

Hi, check-out the RJ45 patch lead. No configuration for the Netgear switch, if everything
works as normal without the switch it must be faulty, return it and ask for a refund.

In reply to a post by AthlonBoy:

Could the switch be faulty?

Either the switch or the cable from switch to router.

Is there some new setting I need?

No, the switch should set everything up automatically.

What you should do is tke the switch out of the equation.

Connect your PC or Xbox direct to the ADSl router and turn it on. This will then gets its IP address etc using DHCP and should work at the 'best' speed. Mane sure you are happy with the repnse/game play. With these all powered on, then put the switch between them, making sure not to turn off the xbox etc... Just links the cables as needed, then retest. If the speed goes down and is not working correctly, then this is either the switch (try different ports) or one of the cables (try different ones). If it is slow like this, and it should be ok with no difference, then the switch/cable is faulty.

What this sounds like to me is a mis-negotiation between the network card and the switch, or the switch and router.

What sometimes happens is that one device decides to use 100Mb Full duplex, while the other decides to use 100Mb half duplex.

Result is millions of collisions and retries, and your performance on that link drops like a stone.

On every device you can, lock the port speed and duplex to 100Mb Full Duplex. I suspect this will be the PC and maybe xbox, the switch definitely doesn't let you, and I doubt the router does. One of the snags of low-end networking gear.

On your PC, you could probably use wireshark to investigate the traffic and see if the PC is suffering millions of collisions.

The switch should appear "invisible" to the network. Connect port4 of the router to port1 of the switch. Use ports 2 and 3 to connect to the computer and the X-Box respectively. If there's no improvement, reseat/change the NICs and change cables.

CAT5/6 should be fairly immune to noise but out of interest, does your cabling run anywhere near electrical cables or equipment?