I've made a Cat6 Ethernet cable using parts from some broken cables and initially, it worked great—got 900 Mbps when I tested it directly with my router and laptop. However, tonight I plugged it into a switch rated for 1 Gbps that I had never used before. After connecting my laptop to the switch with a second cable, I only got 90 Mbps. I tried reconnecting the homemade cable to the switch, and it still only showed 90 Mbps instead of the expected speed.
I first thought about switching the cables around to see if that helped, but nothing changed. I also considered that the cable might be slightly damaged since it goes through a doorway, but it had only been there for two days before I replaced it with a longer cable for the switch.
Interestingly, another computer downstairs is getting 600 Mbps over Ethernet. What confuses me is the math behind it; adding a few meters should be negligible when it comes to signal speed, and everything else seems fine. Could it be an issue with the materials in the cables or just a faulty wire? I really need some help because I'm at a loss here!
3 Answers
Honestly, it seems like you might have inadvertently made a subpar cable. If you’d used a proper pre-made cable, you likely would have avoided these issues. That said, going with what you can find is great until you notice the speed drop. Consider getting a new cable and avoid the hassle!
Make sure you're following the correct wiring standards for RJ45 connectors. The typical order is Orange-White, Orange, Green-White, Blue, Blue-White, Green, Brown-White, and Brown. If you mixed them up, that could explain the drop in speed. Just putting them in any order, although they matched at both ends, isn't always reliable.
I thought I had it all right, but who knows? It worked fine at first, so maybe something fell apart. I’ll double-check the connections!
It sounds like your homemade cable might have issues, especially if you wired it by soldering. A common problem is that if the conductors aren’t crimped or connected correctly, it can lead to slow speeds. Sometimes, a faulty connection or a damaged wire can hide in plain sight. Also, if you mismatched the wiring standards even slightly, that could be causing your problem.
I thought I matched the colors right, but yeah, now I’m concerned that one lane might be faulty. I guess my soldering skills aren’t top-notch!
I’ve definitely learned that lesson the hard way! I'll look into grabbing a decent cable because I need something reliable.