Layer One Fault

Hunting down a cabling issue that was preventing LAN connection coming up at 1Gb/s.

Tester link:

[dennisolsson]

I have had factory made patch cables broken fresh from the packaging, so I 100% support making your own.

The cable tester is nice to see the ordering too. Just this week I got proud for not having any faulty crimps and the next cable I did I switched the browns around :)

[MasterLuke]

Always nice to go back to basics and still know how to fix even the most basic of physical faults. But thanks for the reminder that network monitoring is always good for this too.👍

[stevemoores]

I wish someone with your sort of channel audience would tackle fiber optic terminations. Many network engineers are scared to attempt to DIY this yet it's become so simple with cold connection mechanical connectors that take only a minute to install and yield loss levels that are insignificant compared with fusion splicing. The whole toolkit is less than $100 AUD now, in fact less than $50 if one tackles it in a minimalist way. If you are unfamiliar with doing this, take us along on your journey of finding out how and discovering how simple it has become and if it's something you already know how to do then all the more reason for it to be a topic.

[Tmms]

The outlets should have a clip over the wires so they don’t pop out. Well in fact with new installations with CAT6A the wires are heavily embedded into the mech and can’t come out.

That cabling is of CAT5 standard where the wire can just fall out.

[chrisdixon]

I got a tester in with my RJ45 ends and cable crimp tool - definitely worth having in your toolbox!

[vkfbab]

I'm sure your terminations would fail a test with a cable certifier. The pairs look to have been untwisted quite a lot. The magic in UTP is the twist ratios. Each of the 4 pairs has a different twist rate that is not a mulriple of the others. When you untwist the pair you allow noise to enter. Modern silicon seems to handle a bit of noise. Might struggle with 2.5G or 10G.

[hdwill]

"..direct access to "microsoft support"".

[scottmowbray]

Those testers aren't bad for a quick check but i have had that type of tester show all connections as good but still having a fault at one of the connectors still, obviously enough connection to bell out but no connectivity. Had to resort to replacing both end connections to resolve connection. They are great for a basic first quick check though.

[ipullstuffapart]

Good troubleshooting vid. You probably already know this but its more ideal to punchdown with as little untwisted cable as possible and put the plastic retainer cap on the back of the mechs. I prefer to punchdown straight into the back instead of off to the side of the mech but each to their own. Keeps the outer insulation embedded all the way into the back of the mech and makes it a bit more mechanically secure.

[twentyrothmans]

I bought one of those from Jaycar in about 1998. They are great.

[HueMongus]

The Southwire M550 network tester is a bit better and more compact. It doesn't show results on both sides of the cable, but it only takes a second to pass/fail the cable. Favorite cable tester right now.

[bitosdelaplaya]

Network basics (when you made you own cable)

[keneagle]

For people that live in Oz, you can get a cable tester from Bunnings for less than $30.

[wouter]

I used that little device to find out I had two of the white wires crossed. Neat thing!

[TimSumpton]

If there was a bell on your tester, you probably would have cut the speaker from past noise makers in your house 😉

[mkebede]

Had the same issue with a data drop at the house, i thought builder had cheaped out and ran cat5, tested the keystone and sure enough one of the strands wasn't punched properly, replaced it and voila 1gb.

[haroldcruz]

Hi Paul what is the network monitoring software that you were using in the video

[Kieran]

You don’t need anything fancy for punchdowns I literally use a pair of small scissors to punch 110 blocks in a pinch and until recently didn’t even own a proper krone tool, fancy tools make no difference if the person using them is a tool

[tcpnetworks]

I'm lucky to have a Fluke cable compliance tool...

[wildekek]

If you want the patch panel behind the bed to not get fucked, you should move the bed further away from the wall.