Superhub Ethernet ports don't auto negotiate to 1Gbit correctly - Page 4

**Kymmy** · 12-01-2012, 12:41

Always had an RJ11/12 and RJ45 crimp and yes you have to be careful when crimping.. When I worked in one of the repair centres I made up a little tester with many input and output sockets, a row of LEDs and a 8 pole rotary switch for dealing with cross-over/specialist cables, it would save time and confirm it all working. Though these days a simple multimeter does as a test or even dedicated testers are cheap enough.

dbateman2k5 · 26-01-2012, 20:37

Got a engineer booked for Monday 30th January as Tech Support did a Line Check on my SuperHub and noticed that the power levels are high. They said that this may of caused the ports to fail to negotiate correctly.

They said that the engineer will have a replacement SuperHub with them if I wish to replace it to see if issue persists. May ask engineer if they have a modem instead (no harm in asking), as I'm starting to dislike the SuperHub.

General Maximus · 27-01-2012, 06:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbateman2k5

2nd time was due to the onboard NIC not going to 1Gbit correctly (recovery done on advise from Comet).

You need to bear in mind that Comet/Currys/PC World know nothing and you need to takle everything they say with a pin of salt. More often than not, their solution to fix every problem is to bang the recovery discs in and reimage the hdd.

---------- Post added at 07:03 ---------- Previous post was at 06:54 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbateman2k5

They said that this may of caused the ports to fail to negotiate correctly

That is rubbish. They'll replace the shub without you even having to ask because that is the easiest way for them to fix things. I am sure they'll give you 10 if you ask.

sniper007 · 27-01-2012, 06:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbateman2k5

Tried several 1m-2m Cat 5 cables I have (have a collection of them lol), tried 1 5m Cat 5e cable. Yet to buy and try a Cat 6 cable.

Perhaps you have just been unlucky with a bad cat5e cable. Above you state you have tried several cat5 cables. I would not test with cat5 at all. Forget cat5. It won't do gigabit reliably. Gigabit = cat5e or cat6. Anyone telling you that a short cat5 cable should do it is adding confusion.

So basically you've tried ONE cat5e cable. It's probably a bad cable. I think you are over complicating it. It's unlikely to be the NIC yet you bought a replacment one before buying a new cable?

Test with a new cat5e or cat6 cable then come back and say it doesn't work. Also, to prove a cable can run at gigabit speeds link your laptop and PC up directly via it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbateman2k5

Got a engineer booked for Monday 30th January as Tech Support did a Line Check on my SuperHub and noticed that the power levels are high. They said that this may of caused the ports to fail to negotiate correctly.

They said that the engineer will have a replacement SuperHub with them if I wish to replace it to see if issue persists. May ask engineer if they have a modem instead (no harm in asking), as I'm starting to dislike the SuperHub.

There's nothing wrong with the superhubs you are getting sent imo. You are VERY unlikely to get 3 bad ones that all exhibit this fault. Also the above is unlikely. Too high a power level will be very unlikely to affect the realiability of gigabit ports.

kwikbreaks · 27-01-2012, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper007

Too high a power level will be very unlikely to affect the realiability of gigabit ports.

I'd put it as more than unlikely - it's pure "say anything to get rid of this call" call centre BS.

qasdfdsaq · 27-01-2012, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper007

Perhaps you have just been unlucky with a bad cat5e cable. Above you state you have tried several cat5 cables. I would not test with cat5 at all. Forget cat5. It won't do gigabit reliably. Gigabit = cat5e or cat6. Anyone telling you that a short cat5 cable should do it is adding confusion.

Completely wrong.

Cat5 cable is certified to carry gigabit reliably up to the maximum allowed length of an ethernet segment - 100 metres.

dbateman2k5 · 30-01-2012, 13:27

Engineer has been.

Power levels are fine.

He didn't swap out SuperHub, saying that it's likely that doing so, I would still have the auto negotiating to 1Gbit issue.

He said he'll report the issue to get it looked at and said there is a firmware upgrade coming for the SuperHubs soon.

I've been unable to test with a Cat6 cable, as I haven't got one, and unable to get one till next week.

sniper007 · 30-01-2012, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Completely wrong.

Cat5 cable is certified to carry gigabit reliably up to the maximum allowed length of an ethernet segment - 100 metres.

My experience of using cat5 cables is they often do not work at gigabit speeds. Yes they are certified I know. But it was borderline running 1000-baseT on cat5 hence the cat5e standard was introduced. I'm simply saying rather than getting into the technicalities and stubborness of "it should work on cat5 fine" wouldn't it be easier to recommend to the OP to simply buy a cat5e / cat6 cable to maximize the chance of it working for him, given the cost between them is nothing.

qasdfdsaq · 30-01-2012, 15:06

That's because your cat5 cables aren't cat5 cables. They're crappy imitations that barely meet cat4 spec.

Perpetuating myths and encouraging people to hand over more money to deceptive companies peddling faulty products and buying into the whole "bigger is better" shenanigans isn't going to do anyone any favours.

In the meantime perhaps I should start up a company that buys up bog standard cat5 cables and reselling them with a cat7 sticker on. And when 10gig doesn't work on them I'll just have to start peddling rebadged cat6A cables as Cat8.

Once again, crap cable is crap cable. All you're advocating is buying crap cable with a bigger number scribbled on it.

sniper007 · 30-01-2012, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

That's because your cat5 cables aren't cat5 cables. They're crappy imitations that barely meet cat4 spec.

Perpetuating myths and encouraging people to hand over more money to deceptive companies peddling faulty products and buying into the whole "bigger is better" shenanigans isn't going to do anyone any favours.

In the meantime perhaps I should start up a company that buys up bog standard cat5 cables and reselling them with a cat7 sticker on. And when 10gig doesn't work on them I'll just have to start peddling rebadged cat6A cables as Cat8.

Once again, crap cable is crap cable. All you're advocating is buying crap cable with a bigger number scribbled on it.

Oh I'm totally game for making do with just what will work. I hate/won't pay a premium for cables as much as the next guy. Â£30 HDMI Cable anyone?

A lot of people think cat6 is required for gigabit speeds. I generally just stick to cat5e and tell most people to buy that since it's cheap/easily obtainable and always works. I have never, ever had a cat5e cable that did not do gigabit speeds including "crappy" cheap ones. Just saying.

Anyway OP hope you sort it out but I would agree it's unlikely to be your superhub at fault. Did you try wiring laptop to PC to test the speed you get direct?

dbateman2k5 · 30-01-2012, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper007

Did you try wiring laptop to PC to test the speed you get direct?

Yep, and got 1Gbit connection between both (using the Cat5e cable I had). So that rules out a faulty NIC.

I will re-use this test when I get the Cat6 cable next week, then providing that works I will re-test using SuperHub-Cat6-PC.

ferretuk · 30-01-2012, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbateman2k5

Yep, and got 1Gbit connection between both (using the Cat5e cable I had). So that rules out a faulty NIC.

I will re-use this test when I get the Cat6 cable next week, then providing that works I will re-test using SuperHub-Cat6-PC.

If you used a cable directly between your PC and your laptop it's a crossover cable... You need a straight through cable.

If you used a 1Gig switch between them then you've ruled out the cables as well...

**Kymmy** · 30-01-2012, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferretuk

If you used a cable directly between your PC and your laptop it's a crossover cable... You need a straight through cable

With most modern day hubs/routers they do auto mdix so no need for specific crossover or straight..

dbateman2k5 · 30-01-2012, 20:23

It was a standard Cat5e straight cable I used.

Didn't use a switch either (don't have one).

Setup for testing was: Desktop PC - Cat5e Cable - Laptop PC

qasdfdsaq · 30-01-2012, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymmy

With most modern day hubs/routers they do auto mdix so no need for specific crossover or straight..

Isn't auto-crossover compulsory for all gigabit cards? Or was that auto-negotiation...