Ethernet Network Help Please

[everton66]

Hi all. Long time no speak. Was wondering if you could advise me?

I have taken an ethernet cable from my router (Virgin media Superhub) to my office in the house. However the laptop wont recognise the cable, says cable unplugged in Network Connections. However if I put the same cable into another laptop, it works fine.

I've tried my laptop on a different cable and it works fine. So the problem is my laptop with this new cable I've put in. Both work fine independently of each other. Its got me confused.

Thanks.

[snoozy]

There are two types of cable: crossover and straight-through. If your laptop network port doesn't "auto detect" it will only work with the correct one.

Or there may be a physical problem like a bent connector. Do you have LED indicators next to the network socket?

[everton66]

Hi Snoozy. There are lights on the back of the laptop but neither light up. Hear what you are saying about connectors but both the laptop and the cable in question work separate to each other - ie laptop works on cable downstairs and the cable works with a different laptop.

[centaur]

It's possible that this 'new' cable has an intermittent fault with the internal wiring not being properly fixed to the contact strips on the terminal ends. Have you tried flexing it or connecting it the opposite way around ?

Either way, if it is this, it should be replaced.

[silver]

my guess goes along with snoozy's, some ethernet ports auto sense and put in (or take out) the crossover when needed and others won't

this is going back some time http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t5874.html

how I have mine setup is ethernet between router downstairs and a little switch upstairs so upstairs PCs just connect to the switch, other ideas would be wireless or something I keep meaning to try is ethernet over mains plugs which are getting cheaper / faster these days

[gem]

..... I keep meaning to try is ethernet over mains plugs which are getting cheaper / faster these days

Originally Posted by silver

I have been using it for a couple of years for my Hi-fi (internet radio) and now the TV and Blu-ray player. They are downstairs and the modem/router is upstairs. Not that latest and fastest but it works well.

[silver]

that's cool to have blu-ray over mains ethernet, what have you got either end of the link, special blu-ray player that can transmit other ethernet?

[gem]

Ah! Should have explained better. The Blu-ray player uses Ethernet for iPlayer etc and to obtain video 'extras' to particular Br dvd's.

[snoozy]

silver - don't wait any longer!

I got a pair of second-hand Comtrend plugs a couple of weeks ago. They are genuinely plug and play (just check which one is set to connect to the router) - and so fast and stable. I wish I had ditched my wifi years ago. Take a look at the customer reviews on Amazon. Around £45.

[silver]

I know they are coming down in price or have been (as well as getting faster)

at home we have a laptop on wireless the rest of the PCs are on cat5 ethernet - which in some places runs over the top of carpets, ethernet plugs should be cool, thanks

[silver]

PS, I do have one question for the ethernet plug gurus, scenario is - router in location A, PC1 - location B, PC2 location C

if I were to have 3 ethernet plugs in 3 different rooms would all be able to talk to the router / between each other?

[snoozy]

In a word - yes. A pair of plugs will come ready paired, but you can add extra plugs by pressing a few buttons. Each plug gives full access to the LAN.

[silver]

In a word - yes. A pair of plugs will come ready paired, but you can add extra plugs by pressing a few buttons. Each plug gives full access to the LAN.

Originally Posted by snoozy

thanks :smile:

that is interesting,. I know the old coax ethernet is contention based and you can stick whatever you want (within certain limits) onto the coax and it'll all work,.

for some reason on CAT5 style I was thinking the contention processing went away because everything is connected one thing to another (e.g. PC to Router) but I guess with a network hub there must be / is an underlying contention based protocol

[Scoobs]

You can login to the plugs as well to change settings as they have a gui

[silver]

right but how do you address each specific plug individually

they are probably cheap enough now I should get some to have / play with but not quite made the leap yet

[Scoobs]

u just plug it in to pc

Comtrend ones BT use for Vision PDf Link

[silver]

ah cool, that makes sense