My 'Cat6' cable is only 100Mbps

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RyanDre

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#268057 26-Feb-2020 09:14

Hi everyone. Last year I bought a roll of Cat6 cable from trademe, and installed it (about 20 metres) from my modem to my Nvidia Shield Tv. I have jut realized the link speed is 100Mbps )plus I got occasional issue with it dropping to 10Mbps and had to replug it). I tried another cable and get 1000Mbps testing to my laptop.

I made a short 1 metre cable and tried it and only get 100Mbps to my computer in testing.

So I figure the cable isnt very good. I have ordered another roll of Cat6 to try out.

I have just realized I have also used some of that cable from my VDSL master filter to the modem - would this cause any issue as well?

We only have max about 40Mbps download speed - so it may not make any difference if the link speed was only 100Mbps anyway I guess? But I figured it cant hurt to have a better cable.

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#2427232 26-Feb-2020 09:21

I purchased "CAT6" couple years ago from TM, only after running it under the house etc did I discover it was NOT Cat6. Shouldve known better by the price.... :)

When you say you tried another cable, I assume you mean one from a different source ?

Between devices in your network will be running better than 100 (assuming theyre cabled), so going to Cat6 isnt a bad idea :)

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mdooher

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#2427236 26-Feb-2020 09:29

it wont be the cable. Even my crappy old cat 5e will run gigabit for 50m or so.

either you have really bad connections or more likely your nic is playing up...unless of course you have wrapped it around your microwave

Matthew

chevrolux

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#2427238 26-Feb-2020 09:31

Over 20m it would be highly unlikely to not get gigabit speeds over anything but the worst possible cable out there.

I would suggest the crimp/module hasn't been done properly and you are just missing pairs. Remember it needs all four pairs for 1000Base-T. If you are getting 100Base-T, then check the blue/brown pairs.

trig42

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#2427239 26-Feb-2020 09:32

It must be really crappy cable to not be running at 1Gbps.

Cat5E, and Cat5 will run at 1Gbps.

I'm assuming you have terminated the cables yourself. Are you sure the terminations are correct, and have you checked with a cable tester? Are you using the correct plugs (stranded/solid)?

Dugimodo

168 posts

Master Geek

#2427244 26-Feb-2020 09:49

Yeah all of the above :)

Also make sure whatever equipment you are using is all gigbit capable.

Under my house laying on the ground is a 15M run of cat5 cable that's been there since before gigbit ethernet was available. It used to be split in half to give 2 x 100M connections but when gigabit became common I rewired it to use all 4 pairs. It's been reterminated and moved multiple times, was only ever CAT 5 to begin with, and works at gigabit speeds just fine.

Over a short run you can get away with a lot, and 20M is a short run.

Edit: Also avoid sharp bends.

hio77

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#2427245 26-Feb-2020 09:50

One should never buy cable off trademe....

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Varkk

630 posts

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#2427251 26-Feb-2020 09:59

How are they terminated? Did you use CAT6 punchdown blocks? Or handcrimp some RJ45 ends on to them? I was told by a cabling installer once that hand crimped cable usually only conforms to CAT3 standard. However for home use this is probably fine. First thing is test with a toner to check for continuity if one or more of the pairs is broken. If the right pair is broken you will still get a link but will be limited to 10/100MBPS.

Gordy7

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#2427268 26-Feb-2020 10:25

The correct RJ45 crimp connector should be used for solid or stranded Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 cable.

Gordy

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chevrolux

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#2427271 26-Feb-2020 10:30

Varkk:

How are they terminated? Did you use CAT6 punchdown blocks? Or handcrimp some RJ45 ends on to them? I was told by a cabling installer once that hand crimped cable usually only conforms to CAT3 standard. However for home use this is probably fine. First thing is test with a toner to check for continuity if one or more of the pairs is broken. If the right pair is broken you will still get a link but will be limited to 10/100MBPS.

A "hand crimped" cable done properly will happily connect at 10Gbps if required. The most common issue is using the wrong modules (stranded v. solid), or just not get the wires in the module correctly and therefore missing some pins/dropping the pair.

K8Toledo

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Ultimate Geek

#2427272 26-Feb-2020 10:31

hio77:

One should never buy cable off trademe....

It's probably safe as long as the cable is a known brand.

In the past I've used partial reels of Cat6 Dynamix & General Cable purchased off TM, but I agree stay away from uncertified garbage.

Also agree with @chevrolux most likely the cable isn't crimped properly or else plug could be damaged.

mdooher

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#2427275 26-Feb-2020 10:36

Varkk:

How are they terminated? Did you use CAT6 punchdown blocks? Or handcrimp some RJ45 ends on to them? I was told by a cabling installer once that hand crimped cable usually only conforms to CAT3 standard. However for home use this is probably fine. First thing is test with a toner to check for continuity if one or more of the pairs is broken. If the right pair is broken you will still get a link but will be limited to 10/100MBPS.

I used to teach people how to crimp RJ45 connectors on patch leads. if done correctly they can easily pass the cat 5e standard but to pass the cat 6 tests is a bit more difficult

I wouldn't recommend putting an RJ45 on a cat 6 cable even though there are some connectors available that fit. Terminate them on a punch-down block.

Having said all that, even a rubbish job will run gigabit, unless you miss a conductor or use one of those cheap side entry crimpers that push the pin in too far or use solid cable and stranded connector

Matthew

RyanDre

59 posts

Master Geek

#2427375 26-Feb-2020 11:47

Thanks for all the replies

I have tried multiple times crimping different leads, long and short, with plain clear plastic RJ45 hand crimped on fittings.

I have a basic cable tester and all the 8 lights light up with each other correctly.

When I tested, I used a short 1m pre made 5e cable I had lying around from my modem to my laptop and link speed was 1000Mbps, then when I switched to my home made cable it was 100Mbps.

So the problem is either with my home made cable or crimped fittings, not any devices.

One thing I noticed is the color of the wires in the cable, the colors are red, black, dark green, light green, dark blue, light blue, grey, purple - which seems different colors to what I see online. I have wired them straight through matching colors at each end.

There is no shielding or anything in the cable, just a centre clear plastic thing for strength.

Unfortunately its going to be a pain to replace the cable to my Shield, I will make sure to test the link speed before installing!

trig42

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#2427377 26-Feb-2020 11:54

Pretty sure wiring them straight through will bugger up the pairs.

The standard is expecting data down a twisted pair, and by wiring straight through, you will be sending data down pairs that aren't twisted together.

Assuming:

Red/Black are twisted together

Dark Gr/Light Gr ""

Dark Blue/Light Blue ""

Grey/Purple ""

You should wire as follows:

Pin1 Light Green

Pin2 Dark Green

Pin3 Red

Pin4 Dark Blue

Pin5 Light Blue

Pin6 Black

Pin7 Grey

Pin8 Purple

(check a wiring standard diagram, and substitute the colours you have in pairs, for the colours they *should* be).

RyanDre

59 posts

Master Geek

#2427380 26-Feb-2020 11:56

trig42:

Pretty sure wiring them straight through will bugger up the pairs.

The standard is expecting data down a twisted pair.

Assuming Red/Black are twisted together

Dark Gr/Light Gr

Dark Blue/Light Blue

Grey/Purple

You should wire as follows:

Pin1 Light Green

Pin2 Dark Green

Pin3 Red

Pin4 Dark Blue

Pin5 Light Blue

Pin6 Black

Pin7 Grey

Pin8 Purple

(check a wiring standard diagram, and substitute the colours you have in pairs, for the colours they *should* be).

Hmm ok, thanks, so I do it like this on each end of cable? I can try this soon and see if it works.

mdooher

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#2427381 26-Feb-2020 11:57

RyanDre:

Thanks for all the replies

I have tried multiple times crimping different leads, long and short, with plain clear plastic RJ45 hand crimped on fittings.

I have a basic cable tester and all the 8 lights light up with each other correctly.

When I tested, I used a short 1m pre made 5e cable I had lying around from my modem to my laptop and link speed was 1000Mbps, then when I switched to my home made cable it was 100Mbps.

So the problem is either with my home made cable or crimped fittings, not any devices.

One thing I noticed is the color of the wires in the cable, the colors are red, black, dark green, light green, dark blue, light blue, grey, purple - which seems different colors to what I see online. I have wired them straight through matching colors at each end.

There is no shielding or anything in the cable, just a centre clear plastic thing for strength.

Unfortunately its going to be a pain to replace the cable to my Shield, I will make sure to test the link speed before installing!

there is your problem the cable is not network cable, (is it security cable?) and in any-case you must follow the correct colour code when you get the right stuff or else you will end up with split pairs

Matthew

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