New home network installed - no link question

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greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#189030 14-Dec-2015 19:02

Hi There,

So we have are in the middle of renovating our house (1950s).. and as we go we are installing network points wherever there is a power point. Our first room that we have been able to put them in is completed and the electrician has been and completed their work.

This room has 3 network points with cat6 cable going back to a PP-MINI12-C5E patch panel, which is then patched to a DLINK DGS-1100-08 Switch. All fairly standard.

So i plugged our macbook pro into one of the wall ports, and dont get a link. I tested the cable i was using from macbook to wall directly with the switch and it works, i tested the patch panel cable directly and it works. But from wall to patch panel does not work (i also tested a cross over cable from patch panel to switch, with no luck).

So i spoke to the electrician and they said they tested the link with their testing tool, and said they would come back and test again if we so wanted - but thats pretty much all they can do.

Could it be some sort of incompatibility between the switch and the patch panel? (the electrician mentioned that they have seen this before).

Is their anything obviously dumb that i have missed?

PS ive tested that they labeled the ports wrong :)

Thanks!

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#1450315 14-Dec-2015 20:04

Ask what standard they wired in ie a or b, and check what standard your patch leads are using.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450329 14-Dec-2015 20:37

Ok thanks - so it's either A or B? No other options?

These are a couple of the patch leads I'm using (pic)

Jase2985

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#1450330 14-Dec-2015 20:43

Yes 568A or 568B or something completely wrong

see image

Jase2985

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#1450332 14-Dec-2015 20:44

the patch leads will be fine as you have proved, it will probably be the inwall wiring thats the issue

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450338 14-Dec-2015 21:06

Right! It looks like this is all up the whop!

geocom

594 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1450361 14-Dec-2015 21:26

That wiring looks ok to me. You can use a T568B cable and a T568A cable between the switch and the computer.
It's when you use both on the same cable you have issues.

Do you have a router on the network? The switch will be unable to provide DHCP so the mac will be trying to find a DHCP server. It should give you a self assigned IP address eventually.

Geoff E

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450381 14-Dec-2015 21:31

Ok thanks heaps for all the replies!

Switch is plugged into a orcon genius UFB 'white' modem, all other devices (TV, synology, airport express, linksys voip phone, hikvision cameras) work fine.

So you are saying I can use either A or B spec cables, but not both? Eg A between laptop and wall plug, then B between patch panel and switch?

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geocom

594 posts

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#1450384 14-Dec-2015 21:36

Yes. Its when you put A on one end of the cable and B on the other end of the same cable.

Geoff E

geocom

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#1450399 14-Dec-2015 22:12

Hold on missed a step. So yes you can have any mix of cables. However I think your mixing up the spec with the cable.
The T568A and T568B spec are what order the individual wires within the cable go into the RJ45 Plug or socket.

The CAT rating refers to the cable. You can mix these cables however you will be limited by the lowest number.
The T568 refers to the termination on the end of the cable. This needs to be the same on both ends of the cable. So for example you could have (A plug A Plug)(B Plug B Plug)(A Plug A Plug) or (B Plug B Plug)(A plug A Plug)(A Plug A Plug) etc

Its when you have for example you have (A plug A Plug)(B plug A Plug)(A plug A Plug) that you will have issues

The cable through the wall should be using T568A on both ends according to your photo. On the back of the wall plate the wires should terminate into the socket. This should also be T568A. If it is T568B then they have wired it wrong. However you will need to unscrew the wall plate to see.

If they have a tester it would be rather obvious if they did mix the T568 spec as the LED's on the slave side will be blinking all over the place rather than in order.

My guess would be that they did not actually test it and there is a few dud connections or a nail through the wire.

Geoff E

richms

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#1450403 14-Dec-2015 22:18

Even if you do use A and B mixed and make a crossover cable, it should still get link on anything but really old 100 megabit gear.

Richard rich.ms

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450412 14-Dec-2015 22:38

Thanks guys (awesome geocom).

I tested with a crossover cable as well... Which is why I think something is screwed.

I'm now well informed and know enough to get them to check this.

Thanks again

Amosnz

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#1450417 14-Dec-2015 22:53

greminn: Right! It looks like this is all up the whop!

Did you try all 3 network points in the room?
The top cable here appears to be B while the bottom 2 are A, so if you only tried 1 point you might have chosen the odd one.

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mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
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#1450543 15-Dec-2015 08:57

Amosnz:
greminn: Right! It looks like this is all up the whop!

Did you try all 3 network points in the room?
The top cable here appears to be B while the bottom 2 are A, so if you only tried 1 point you might have chosen the odd one.

Yep I've made that mistake with that particular panel as well. The difference is I actually tested it (not just said I did) and so found it. Having said that...easy to screw up and just as easy to fix

Matthew

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450544 15-Dec-2015 09:00

Amosnz: Did you try all 3 network points in the room?
The top cable here appears to be B while the bottom 2 are A, so if you only tried 1 point you might have chosen the odd one.

Yep - tried every combination :) i will pull off the face plate and take a look. I expect its just mixed up A/B.

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#1450545 15-Dec-2015 09:02

BTW my 8 port switch is going to run out of ports i think.. might need a 48 port :) maybe with a couple of 10gig uplink ports... future proof it!

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