Problematic ethernet cable conectivity. Help needed

[camspy]

I have 3G internet router/receiver in one of the rooms of my house, which has the best 3G reception. There is WIFI router in my living room. I have in-wall cables with ethernet sockets in every room, and all cables come into on "routing box" where I can use patch cables or powered switch to route and share internet connection. So 3G router in one room is connected with WIFI router in another room by a help of a patch cable.

1 week ago I noticed that there is no WIFI connection. I tried lots of things untill I found out that if i unplug the cable from the WIFI router and plug it into my laptop, the LED of the ethernet socket is blinking red, meaning there is no internet connection. If i plug the cable directly into 3G router, the internet is fine. I replaced 4 patch cables and the result was the same, no internet. Then I tried to use my WIFI router in between of the two rooms routing, just one cable went into Internet IN and another went out of Ethernet out (there are 4 of these). This way the LED of the ethernet socket was blinking green and the internet was fine.

Could anyone explain me what's wrong with my ethernet cables? Or what else could it be? Why all of a sudden perfect connection stopped working while none of the cables were cut off? Is there signal degradation and WIFI router works like signal amplificator? I am a no networking specialist. Please help me to find an answer so I would know what to do.

Thanks

 

[camspy]

Anyone? please

 

[Alekim91]

Anyone? please

unfortunately i dont know i am sorry

 

[Reilly1812]

Anyone? please

On the road right now. Give me a couple hours for travel. Will summarize what i understand works and does not work for you. We can then try a couple things to isolate the issue.

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[Reilly1812]

OK. Tell me what you've tried and works, as well as what you've tried and fails.

You've plugged your laptop into your 3G router and you can get to the internet.

You've connected your WiFi router to your 3G router by physically moving it next to your 3G router. You've then tested your laptop, connected wirelessly to the WiFi and via ethernet to your WiFi router and in both cases they work (assuming your WiFi router has ethernet ports.

If everything above is correct and functional, then yes - the problem is your wiring and/or hub/switch that connects all of your cabling.

Put your WiFi router back where it belongs. Patch your 3G directly to your WiFi and test again. You've eliminated everything but the wires. Does it work? If so, then it should be your hub/switch. Doesn't work? Patch your laptop to the 3G at the patch panel. Does it work? If not, then it's your connectors and/or cabling between the 3G router and your patch panel.

Hung any pictures lately where a nail could have penetrated a cable? What's changed?

Eliminate as much a possible at first and then add as little as possible and you will find the problem.

 

[camspy]

OK, i tried wiring my own LAN cables to try things out. What i found is that one part of the problem was that i needed to use one crossed patch cable, straight one had no signal at all if used.
The other part of the problem was that when i tried all combinations, the cable that was plugged into laptop was showing binking red. But my 3G router was showing that there was connection. Apparently the sites were loading in browser, but very slowly. But when i tried testing with speedtest.net, it couldn't pass ping test...
So, i think it could be the bad/crossed wiring in one of the wall cables and it is impossible to test and find exact answer without a tester. So I have ordered a good LAN tester that is capable to detect bad wiring so i will know what custom cable i could make. It should arrive in a week or so.

Thanks for your time and help

 

[Reilly1812]

Confused here. You said it was working up to two weeks ago. Unless you replaced the ends, you can't go from not needing a crossover to needing one. I don't know what kind of gear you have, but some equipment allows you to change the port configuration so that you do or don't need a crossover. Usually this is at the hub/switch level. I've never heard of consumer equipment requiring a crossover. Are you sure you haven't made any config changes to your 3G router, WiFi router, hub/switch, or even laptop?

I don't know that I helped, but I'm glad you found a solution that works. Cheers!

 

[camspy]

I didn't make any changes on routers ends, but there was one day when there was no electicity for like few minutes. You think it could make some harm to routers settings?

 

[Reilly1812]

Assuming power loss outside your control then there could have been a spike either before loss of power or when power restored. Not likely reset but it can't hurt to check. What OS are you running on laptop? Have you tried deleting your wireless config on laptop and recreating?

Everything is a process of elimination. Asking questions since I get the impression you still have a problem.

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[camspy]

Yes i still have a problem, and both the routers work fine when they are close to each other connected with a short patch cable without using wall cables. I revised all settings on them and didn't find anything that could be wrong.
So, i think i gave up for a week or so, till i get the cable tester which will be able to show me the truth about wiring of wall cables

 

[Reilly1812]

Very strange it's the cable but it sure looks that way. Please let me know how it ends up - you've got me hooked.

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[camspy]

OK, sure
http://www.peaktech.de/productdetai...er-mit-digital-multimeter/produkt/p-3365.html
this is what i bought and waiting to receive, i hope it will show the situation

 

[camspy]

Hey Reilly1812,
I have news, I tested the cables and there's a problem in one wall cable.
The tester I was using was testing all fibers in a cable one by one and I found that the fibers 2 and 5 are looped/connected together, as if testing fiber 2 it shows 2 and 5 active in tester, when I was testing 5th fiber again 2 and 5 was active...

Is it possible to get 100% OK internet over these cables and how, if yes?

Thanks

 

[Reilly1812]

Not all pairs are used, but I can't tell you which ones. Unless someone driving nails/drilling I would think the cable ends more likely the culprit and I would think about cutting off the ends and retesting. cable might actually be ok.



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[camspy]

Yes, I See

 

[camspy]

I have success here. I found info that 4,5,7 and 8 wires are unused. So I crossed 2 with 8 in two patch cables and everything works now

 

[Reilly1812]

Good to hear. You just need to know what caused the cable failure in the first place so it doesn't happen again.

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[camspy]

I as you think that the problem is more likely in one of the in wall sockets. But making custom patch cables seemed an easier task for me, so i went this route.

 

[Reilly1812]

Don't you just love this stuff? Cheers!

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