Cat5 Cable - Unable to network

[lambo881]

Just installed Cat5 cable through house, but for some reason, I can't use the network. I know it's not equipment, since each machine works fine when connected directly to hub with patch cable. Don't have a tester for line so I spliced in phone line temporarily to test connection and they all work fine. I get a green light on my connected PCs when I connect up through the new cable, but it won't connect up to network. Any ideas on what to check for. Thanks.:|

 

[ScottMac]

How is the cat5 terminated? Do you have "Information Outlets" in the rooms, and a panel in the closet? Did you do it yourself, or did someone else do it(like a contractor, new home construction, etc)?

Do you get the link light at both ends?

Are you patching through the closet with some kind of couplers? or cross-connecting a panel?

FWIW

Scott

 

[lambo881]

2 sets of Cat5 was built into the house to two rooms when the home was constructed in 1997. I put in Cat5 myself to connect from a third room (where hub is) to the box where the original wiring terminated. I ran two sets of Cat5 to the box and spliced in with IDC Communication (UY) connectors. I terminated at each point within the house with Radio Shack Cat5 Snap-in modules. I get link lights on both ends but am unable to communicate across network. Right now, I suspect that I may have a problem with the original wiring in house, perhaps there might be some kinks in it or something.

 

[ScottMac]

Crimp-on splices are way out of spec because you have to kill too much of the twist, and expose too much wire out-of-the-jacket, and they cause a major impedence lump in the cable (expecially at 100Meg).

It would be better to crimp on an RJ45 to each side of the cable and connect them with a coupler.

One thing to watch for as you get your cabling organized, is whether the original contractor used TIA/EIA 568A or 568B components at the outlets and patch bay. The two are similar, except the orange and green pair are swapped (B = pair two is green, pair three is orange, A = pair two is orange, pair three is green).

If you connect a 568A outlet to a 568B panel, the net effect is an Ethernet crossover cable (1&2 swapped with 3&6).

If you're getting link on both ends, the continuity is OK (or you have a short from TX-RX).

Try the network at 10 meg, it *might* work. Put RJ45s on each of the cable-ends (in the closet) and patch 'em together with a hub/switch. That should work.

BTW: '66 blocks are (usually) out of spec for 100 meg as well...there's couple out there, but 110 IDC is recommended (or BIX, Krone, etc...)

FWIW

Scott

 

[lambo881]

Thanks Scott. I'll try your suggestions.

 

[igiveup]

Splicing into a network of Cat5? :Q:disgust::Q Well, stick around long enough and I guess you will hear everything. Cat5 is NOT like regular telephone wire. :frown: Don't worry though, we all started out somewhere.