Troubleshooting {Router > Wall > Switch} versus {Router > Switch > Wall}

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mkerolous

Commendable
Jul 30, 2016
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0
1,510
Hi,

I'm simply trying to increase the number of LAN ports in my ActionTec T1200H router by adding a ZyXel GS-105i switch (5 port).

Original setting: only 4 wall ethernet ports connected directly to the router which means I only have 4 ports online for my entire house. However, I bought the ZyXel switch and connected it to the wall to be able to wire connect my desktop and printer.

I thought of rearranging things a bit and move the switch downstairs in the furnace room and connect the switch directly to the router and in this way I get 3 extra ports.

I wired the wall port in the guest room and connected it directly to the router and it worked (Router > Wall > Laptop). I also tried Router > Wall > Switch > Laptop and it clearly worked as in the office room. However, I tried Router > Switch > Wall > Laptop but it did NOT work. I seems like my laptop is trying to detect the signal and local network would flash quickly then disappears from the network settings.

Would anyone know what did I do wrong here? or what I should do to solve this mystery?

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Marco
 
Solution
B
You have a poor quality cable connection someplace. It can be a actual cable or it can be one of the wall jacks. Unfortunately since it works with some equipment and not all it means the connections are there just not good enough for some equipment. This means inexpensive cable tester will likely not find the problem and the cable tester that can are way too expensive for almost anyone other than a business to afford.

You can do the simple make sure there are no obvious loose wires in the jacks and all the wires are in the correct locations. After that you blindly have to disconnect and reterminate the wires. You should also have a couple different ethernet cable to try since they too can have poor connections.

Also make...
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bill001g

Titan
Aug 9, 2012
28,363
2,766
125,640
You have a poor quality cable connection someplace. It can be a actual cable or it can be one of the wall jacks. Unfortunately since it works with some equipment and not all it means the connections are there just not good enough for some equipment. This means inexpensive cable tester will likely not find the problem and the cable tester that can are way too expensive for almost anyone other than a business to afford.

You can do the simple make sure there are no obvious loose wires in the jacks and all the wires are in the correct locations. After that you blindly have to disconnect and reterminate the wires. You should also have a couple different ethernet cable to try since they too can have poor connections.

Also make sure the wire used in the wall is pure copper and not CCA. Not that you can do much if someone installed CCA it just has many more issues which is why it is not certified wire.
 
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