I'm having some serious trouble with my Ethernet cables! My home network is set up like this: the ISP connection goes to a downstairs router, then I have a 100ft Cat 6 cable running to a 5-port switch, which connects to another router upstairs for my Xbox and PC. The weird part is that I've had two Ethernet cables completely fail between my router and switch. The first one lasted from May 2021 until just last week, but the new one I installed didn't even last eight hours! I'm at a loss here. I plan to test the cables tomorrow with a friend's cable tester, and so far my attempts to check them using the switch haven't shown any signal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I've also ordered a new cable and switch, but I just don't understand what's going wrong.
4 Answers
How are the cables physically routed? Are they in a spot where they could be pinched or snagged? Sometimes even a small amount of pressure can damage the cords. If your old cable lasted four years but the new one isn't holding up, it might be a quality issue or an installation problem. Inspecting the cable run closely could reveal something you missed.
It might be worth considering if there’s something in your walls that could be chewing on the cables, like rats. If the cables appear undamaged when you pull them out, that could point to some other kind of environmental problem affecting them.
That sounds frustrating! Have you double-checked the ports on your router and switch? It's strange since they’re not POE, so they shouldn't be able to damage the cables. Keep us posted if you figure it out! Good luck!
Could it be that the weight of the cables is pulling on the connectors? Did you make the cables yourself, or buy them? It might be worth checking for continuity if you have a multimeter. Be sure to inspect the cable for any physical damage too, like cuts or crushing. Also, avoid coiling the cables in tight loops, as that can cause issues. 100ft isn't too long, so it shouldn't be a problem on that front.
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