1 out of 3 won't work

Ok this appears to be a strange problem. I have a Linksys 4 port router. I have three computers hooked up to it. Two of the computers work fine but the 3rd computer is working at a snail's pace. I can see the network but when I click on IE it takes forever to load the site(s). I hooked this computer up to another internet connection and it works fine. I have checked the wire with an ohm(sp)metre and everything checks out AOK. Any suggestions other than replacing the wire which I will do if it comes down to it but it will be a pain. Can distance from router have anything to do with this?

TIA Lorreen

 

Distance and the cable routing could both affect this. How long is the cable, and is it routed nearby or parallel to any other cable/device (such as power cables, flourescent lights etc.)?

Have you tried another port on the router?

 

Yes I've tried another port... same results. The only other cable this runs side by side with is the television cable.

 

I have seen similar problems and worse. I suspect the cable length is longer for this outlet than for others?

Try this:

If you bring up the Networking Menu (depends on OS) and get properties of NIC --you should be able to force the card to 10Mbps Halp Duplex. This generally allows more reliable operation than the 100Mbps Full duplex. You probably have to re-boot after making this change.

If this does not work, borrow an older 10Mbps HUB and uplink it to the Router, and connect your problematic connection thru this 10Mbps which should enable more reliable connectivity over longer cable lengths than the 10/100 which is built into your Router.

Good luck
Dan

 

Besides following Dan's excellent advice, can you try moving/re-routing the cable so it doesn't run parallel to the TV cable? The network cable might be picking up some interferance from the TV cable.

How long is the network cable?

 

Is this a manufactured cable or did someone crimp the ends on it?

 

I crimped the ends. Also did the ends on the other machines. Checked those and they are all lined up right. Even cut them off once and put new ends on.

 

Dan, how does one check the networking menu? How do I force half duplex? I have Win98 on all of the machines.

I don't believe the cable to this machine is any longer than the other machines, in fact, it maybe a little shorter.

Thanks, Lorreen

 

Here you go:

1. Right click on Netwk Neighborhood
2. Choose Properties on bottom of list
3. In network menu find network card and double click
4. Then Choose Advanced Tab
5. In the Values window you should have a bunch of choices (10Mbps Half Duplex etc.)


Good luck,

Dan

 

Dan, you're a genius. It worked.... YEAH!!!!!!!!
I fiddle with this bugger for the last couple of days. Thank you sooooooo much. My foster kid (whose room the computer is in) will be psyched.

Again thank you.... I love it when a plan comes together.

Lorreen

 

I'm glad that Dan's solution worked, but it is really a bandaid to a problem. You're dropping your capability to 1/20th of what it should be!!

If you are sure the cable lenght is within spec (100m) and you are sure the end equipment is solid, then it is more than likely a termination issue. I would cut the ends off of one end at a time and re-crimp them. What you probably have is too much NEXT or FEXT and which is causing a BUNCH of errors! I doubt seriously that the RG6 is causing any interference, as it is a shielded cable.

 

MJG: Thanks for the advice but it doesn't appear to be slower than any of the other machines in the house now that I've changed it to the half duplex.

Not sure what you mean by 1/20th of the capabilities. Would you explain please.

I did change ends twice now (and those little buggers are about a $1.00 a piece)and there was no significant difference. I am positive that the cable is less than 100 m so that shouldn't be the problem.

Will there be problems in the future using the half duplex. Also please keep in mind this is for a 13 year old kid who is just using the machine for internet exploration and games.

Really do appreciate your and everyone elses advice and help.

Thanks, Lorreen

 

Loreen,
Just for the sake of us all learning something here what pin to color configuration did you do on your connections?
Give them to us with the flat side of the connector up and from left to right.

 

Ok here's the configuration

Connection Pin down, left to right.

Blue, blue/white, brown/white, brown, orange, orange/white, green, green/white

I used this configuration because that's the way they fell when I attached and crimped the first pin.

Hope this is clear.

Lorreen

 

You might want to look at these.
http://www.lanshack.com/highlights/cat5notes.htm

http://www.lanshack.com/highlights/makepatch.htm

 

Now we're on to something! T568B would have you wiring in this order: wh/o, o, wh/gr, bl, wh/bl, gr, wh/br, br. Try cutting 'em off and recrimping like that. I don't know where you're buying your RJ45s from, but I would call a local electronics shop and pick up a bag of 50 or 100....should be less than what you've already spent!!

It's not so much that the 10Mb/s is ever going to be a problem, but this is something you should understand. Personally, when something "just starts working ", I want to know why! If you've got a switch that can push 100Mb/s full duplex, then I wouldn't settle for anything less....even for a little 13yr old!!

It is also quite possible that the other two computers that you think are working just fine, have probably stepped back to HD....or are having a BUNCH or errors trying to sustain 100Mb/s FD. Try transferring a large file (100MB+) from one computer to the other. Shouldn't take more than about 15 secs on a relatively new machine, even with the IP overhead.

Just my two pennies!!!

 

SSMITH, are you suggesting that if I re-pin my cable to "568-B wiring specs" I may no longer have the problem I was experiencing. I'm willing to give this a try if you think it will work and will be better than the half duplex solution.

Lorreen

PS: Nice car on you homepage

 

Lorreen,
Been there, done that, have a whole box of T shirts.
I have seen 10/base networks work perfectly fine until they upgrade to 100Mb networks and nothing works.
You said quote: "I used this configuration because that's the way they fell when I attached and crimped the first pin. "
Well a lot of people did what you did so don't feel foolish. The correct way is harder but necessary to eliminate the cross talk that prevents high-speed traffic from working. I guess a good analogy would be like this; if you had an interstate highway with no median there wouldn’t be anything to separate the north bound traffic from the south bound traffic, and you would have collisions all over the place. It's the same with your Ethernet cable. The crossed over pair acts like a median to stop collisions.
10Mb half duplex is like having a one lane bridge and you have to wait for the on coming car to cross before you can go. A 100Mb full duplex is like a 6 lane interstate! That’s why MJG1973 used the number "20%â€.
It doesn't matter if you use the 568A or the 568B as long as you use the same a both ends.
Do yourself a favor and correct your ends. You will be thankful down the road.

PS
Thanks for the complement on the home page!

 

Ok guys, I will change all the ends to the specs that SSMITH suggested and keep my fingers crossed. I won't be able to do this until next weekend but I'll post back the results then. I do so thank you for all of your help and I have certainly learned something here. I must admit I was really psyched when after getting the router for a christmas present I was able to get as far as I did even if it wasn't exactly right, it still worked.

As far as the RJ-45's, someone I spoke to said just make sure you have the same colors going in the same way at both ends and it should work. Oh well, you live and learn.

Once again a great big THANKYOU

Lorreen

 

The 1/20 speed is because your switch will provide data at 100mbs and full duplex (traffic in both directions at once). The hub can only give a maximum of 10mbs and the half-duplex means you have traffic only one way at a time.

You won't notice any speed issues with the internet since it can't get anywhere near even the 10mbs half-duplex speed. You will notice a significant slow down if doing large file transfers within your LAN. Probably worse than just a 20 time slow down as the errors cause re-transmits which slows things down even more.

Is it possible that you have a piece of Cat3 cable on the problem leg? It is not reliable above 10mbs at all. Otherwise, I'd say either ends, the cable itself, a nearby source of static, or a mis-behaving NIC. If you can, try moving the problem machine to one of the other wires and running it. If it does fine at 100Mbs full-duplex then your problem is with the cable. If it does poorly, you have an issue with the NIC.