Home networking problem

[Gamingphreek]

I'm having trouble getting a very basic network working. This sounds like a wiring problem but I haven't noticed anything wrong so far. My best guess as to the wiring problem is a 568A and 568B crossover.

Basically, I'm getting a solid Green light on my router but no Amber light whatsoever.

Here is my current setup:
ONT --- coax ---> Actiontec Router (LAN1) --- CAT5e ---> Asus Wireless Router (LAN1)

Until I can switch my FiOS connection over to Ethernet, this is how I would like to route it (so my router can be in a different room than the Actiontec):
ONT --- coax ---> Actiontec Router (LAN1) --- CAT5e ---> Wall --- CAT5e ---> Punch Panel --- CAT 5e ---> Wall --- CAT5e ---> Asus Wireless Router (LAN1)

Any ideas? Wiring problem or something else?

Thanks,
-GP

 

[ch33zw1z]

under the "current setup", everything works ok, right?

and under the second setup, it's not working?

If this is the case, check the punch downs to make sure they're nice and secure. While you're at it check the pinouts and see what is being used.

 

[Gamingphreek]

under the "current setup", everything works ok, right?

and under the second setup, it's not working?

If this is the case, check the punch downs to make sure they're nice and secure. While you're at it check the pinouts and see what is being used.

Sorry - yes - that is correct. The current setup works whereas the second one does not.

-Kevin

 

[ch33zw1z]

Sorry - yes - that is correct. The current setup works whereas the second one does not.

-Kevin

When you say "Wall", is there any terminations at the walls, or only at the patch panel?

I would guess that the crossover issue is probably not the issue, since almost all switches (including those inside SOHO routers) are auto MDI-X, which means it figures it out for you. The cabling should be either 568A or 568B. Start with the physical layer and make sure everything is wired and terminated ok.

 

[Gamingphreek]

When you say "Wall", is there any terminations at the walls, or only at the patch panel?

I would guess that the crossover issue is probably not the issue, since almost all switches (including those inside SOHO routers) are auto MDI-X, which means it figures it out for you. The cabling should be either 568A or 568B. Start with the physical layer and make sure everything is wired and terminated ok.

The walls plates are punch terminals on the back side.

I tried multiple outlets and each has the same result, so if it is the wiring, everything is wired incorrectly.

-GP

 

[ch33zw1z]

Do you have a switch at the patch panel?

Can you put up a pic of the panel area?

 

[EricFiskCGD]

I had a similar problem with my home network - I was trying to get my Win7 machines to "see" my Win2k Server. Turns out that if the time AND date aren't the same than they can't communicate.

The Win2K Server was told it was January 11th, 2013, not 2014! Fixed the time and date and eureka!

Special thanks to "The_Madz" for the solution.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Do you have a switch at the patch panel?

Can you put up a pic of the panel area?

Sure! Here is the panel itself.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B21oF1M_FtvuNkUwVGg4NUhDZms/edit?usp=sharing

Just for reference, the top port doesn't have anything in there because I don't have FiOS switched over to ethernet yet. As such, if I'm not mistaken, the patch panel should just act as a private network hub for all the ports in my house.

Also had the thought that, since I moved the Asus Router all around the house with the same results, the wall plate the FiOS router is connected to could be the problem while everything else is fine (if this is indeed a physical layer issue)

Thanks,
-GP

Edit: If only I could get my multimeter and just do a continuity test... unfortunately I don't have 100ft of cable to use for that :-\ - Network RJ45 tester would fix that problem; but, unfortunately, I don't have one of those either.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Sure! Here is the panel itself.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B21oF1M_FtvuNkUwVGg4NUhDZms/edit?usp=sharing

Just for reference, the top port doesn't have anything in there because I don't have FiOS switched over to ethernet yet. As such, if I'm not mistaken, the patch panel should just act as a private network hub for all the ports in my house.

Also had the thought that, since I moved the Asus Router all around the house with the same results, the wall plate the FiOS router is connected to could be the problem while everything else is fine (if this is indeed a physical layer issue)

I don't think that patch panel is also a switch. There's no other electronics on the PCB. Got a model # of the panel? or a shot at the front?

If you know which ports go to the wall plates, just take a cat5/5e/6 and jumper the associated patch panel ports together. That will complete the physical connection between the two paths to the wall plates...

or put a switch near there and plug the ports into it.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So I enlarged the picture you linked, model pwb 58141-02 is on the PCB. When I searched google, this is the first hit:

http://communities.leviton.com/thread/2976

 

[Gamingphreek]

So I enlarged the picture you linked, model pwb 58141-02 is on the PCB. When I searched google, this is the first hit:

http://communities.leviton.com/thread/2976

Oh wow that is really interesting. I never would have suspected the patch panel because, all wires in the CAT5 UTP have a connection while the phone would only use the center 2.

Purely for educational purposes, is there more circuitry involved that I am overlooking? I thought if the traces were all there, it would, in essence, simply be a dumb hub.

Thanks,
-GP

 

[ch33zw1z]

I'm not too knowledgeable when it gets down to circuitry. The short answer is yes, the designer can engineer it to do different things but to someone like me would probably still look the same.

"Dumb hubs" for networking aren't really used anymore. Switches replaced hubs long ago.

difference between hub and switch:

http://darron.net/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hub-and-a-switch/

Patch panel for Layer 1 (Physical), Switches to activate ports at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

 

[Mushkins]

Yeah, as was stated that patch panel is no bueno.

Patch panels aside, your setup is also going to create Double NAT by default. You should configure the actiontec as a bridge and disable the wireless/firewall on it, though if you have TV or phone service from it you need to get a little tricky to leave those on while just bridging the internet. Note that Verizon does not officially support an Actiontec configured as a bridge, though if they have to roll a truck the tech that shows up will more than likely know what you're doing with it once he sees the amber light

In fact, with FiOS since you have the ONT right there, i'd get them to switch your ONT over to ethernet instead of coax and plug right into your Asus router (assuming you dont need TV/phone) and toss the actiontec in the closet.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I believe he's got the Asus setup as a WAP, hence "Asus Wireless Router (LAN1)"

 

[Gamingphreek]

I believe he's got the Asus setup as a WAP, hence "Asus Wireless Router (LAN1)"

That's correct

 

[ch33zw1z]

So you have a couple options:

1. Get the correct patch panel and/or switch

2. Pull the cables off the back of the patch panel and punch them into keystones, then connect them to a switch patch cables, or connect the two you need directly with a cat5e

3. Do the same as option two, except put RJ45 heads on the cables then use a switch, or connect the two cables you need directly with a RJ45 female-to-female coupler

All depends on what you want to do for now, and how you want to do it.