Local Area Networking

@broboque (146)
Malaysia
May 6, 2010 12:02pm CST
I Have 1 Router connected to the Internet, A Wireless router, for WIFI access, A 100 Base T Switch, and other networking equipments for simple networking. Now the problem is, my connection to the Internet is fine, but when i try to connect my router(4 port, one to my PC, another to a Hard Disk TV player) to the 100 BASE T switch/WIFI router, the signal from the Internet router is intermittent. FYI, i am using my router as a DHCP server, and it still doesn't work with Fixed IP. I searched the internet to see the maximum connection for UTP cables, and the cable doesn't reach even half of the maximum. During acquiring IP Address from DHCP server, the IP address failed to be assigned, when using a fixed IP (for all equipment), it gives out, destination host unreachable. The Funny thing is, when i plug the cable directly to the 2nd cpu, the connection is alive, and i can surf the internet. But not with the Switch/WIFI Router. For the purpose of testing, i bought a new switch, and the result is the same( eliminating, hardware faulty possibility) Can someone help me?
3 responses
@hanuma34 (819)
• India
7 May 10
I am not a techie, but in the first instance I think you ought to go step by step. Eliminate the TV link on the router. There may be bandwidth problem arising out of this. The hardware system you are having may be adequate only for data tranfer. Reconfiguring the settings of LAN/WLAN in consultation with your ISP could also be helpful. My ISP provides in PPPoE. I do not know if this means DHCP or something else. You can check also Bridge connection. All in all your ISP can give you the best solution, as he does in my case.
@hanuma34 (819)
• India
12 May 10
Why is a switch needed? I understand the RJ45 cabling, i.e. termination differs for a switch from normal connections through hubs. I hope you checked on that too.
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
6 May 10
Even if the router has dhcp it can surely run with fixed ip computers. All you have to do is to set the static ip properly with particular attention to set the correct gateway and dns server. Anyway everything should work fine even using dhcp, i would suggest to test the cat5 cables to be sure that the problem is not there. It once happened to me that some unexplicable network problem was indeed caused by faulty cables..
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
7 May 10
The only other thing that i can think about is to check if your devices are autosensitive for the kind of cable useb (straight or crossed) but usually all modern devices are so, so it would be very strange. You can also check that the plug fits correctly into the switch socket since if rj45 connectors get damaged the connection is faulty. I am stressing the cable problem because i really can't explain the problem you are facing otherwise :D
@broboque (146)
• Malaysia
7 May 10
Thank you for your suggestion. But i am not sure how i can test the CAT5 cable? Apart from ping reply, is there any other way i can try to test my cable condition. Coz, i did mention that when i plug the other end of the cable to CPU no 2, my connection was fine, and i can surf the internet smoothly. And ping reply was
@gjabaigar (2200)
• Philippines
6 May 10
hi broboque. Well I'm not really a technical in profession but I'm just a home user and I'm the one who make our LAN here at home. I only got is just one wireless router (linksys brand) for less than 10 users. Is this for home or office use? What are the brands and models of your router, wifi router and switch? If your just using it for home and the users are about 5 to 10 or a max of 20 you can just use one router for gateways (or the internet) and as a DHCP server. Especially if you gonna use just the WIFI Router. Plus the switch for your other or extended workstations or network attache storages. At least you gonna minimize your power consumptions. If it is for office or work and you have two routers gonna use for gateways and for LAN or WLAN. The router that is attached to the internet or to your ISP is your gateway then you must know its IP address, and set this router or must be on "Gateway" operating mode (mostly on Linksys routers have this kind of setup). And with the other router or wireless router the operation mode is set to "Router", and on this router the Gateway must be the IP address of the router that is attached to the ISP.
@broboque (146)
• Malaysia
7 May 10
Thanks for the reply. FYI, the router is on my living room, and the switch is in my bedroom(1st floor). The idea was that i don't want the cable running through all over my living room, just to connect a few PC in the bedroom. So to save money and to make it simple, i bought the new switch, and connect 3 computers, from my bedroom. Then the problem comes, The switch, although blinking, sign of activity from the router, but unable to assign IP to any of the 3 computers connected to the switch. However, when i plug the cable to my PC in my bedroom, the connection was fine. I can surf the Net, I can transfer files from the computer in my living room. The problem is only i try to use the switch in my bedroom. FYI, both my router and switch is TP-Link brand.
@gjabaigar (2200)
• Philippines
7 May 10
I think is just a matter of configurations between the two wireless routers. Must determine or distinguish which one or what sets for the roles for each routers, Like which one is the gateway or just for routing only. Or which one sets as the DHCP servers. And causes the conflicts among the two wireless routers of yours. How about the firewalls, securities or restrictions configurations on each routers that cause some denials to get pass through.