NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Cat5e speed drop
Hi, Im using a CM1000 modem. it is located at my desktop. It is the only device in my house connected to RG6 provided by RCN. I have an Asus AC1900 router connected to it via CAT5 patch cord. Connec...
Jcomeau0 wrote:Hi,
Im using a CM1000 modem. it is located at my desktop. It is the only device in my house connected to RG6 provided by RCN. I have an Asus AC1900 router connected to it via CAT5 patch cord. Connected to my router via other patch cords are my desktop, printer, and internet based phone. I pay RCN for a 500Mbs service. When I ran speedtest.net on my desktop, I get 250-400Mbs. I also get over 200Mbs on my wifi devices. I can live with that since RCN sells it as "up to". I wanted to clear up my desktop so I moved the modem to the basement and ran a Cat5E cable from the modem to my desktop. When I have just my desktop computer linked to the modem via that Cat5E cable and run speedtest, I'm lucky to get 90Mbs. WHY? I thought RCN may have done something, but when I moved the modem back to my desktop, speed is back up over 250Mbs. Shouldnt the CAT5E be faster than the RG6?
Cat5E and RG6 are different cable types. RG6 should only run to the modem. Then CAT5e (minimum recommended) should be between modem/router/other devices.
You should be running a cable from your modem-------router-----desktop.
You put that you ran a cable from your modem------desktop. You need a router in there.
did you move both the modem AND the router and then ran a cable to the desktop?
More than likely you're cable isn't working properly or connected right and its dropping you down from 10/100/1000mbps connection to 10/100mbps. try replacing the ends on the cable or trying a different cable.
Techinically cat5 cable isn't gigabit rated but cat5e is. make sure you're using cat5e or know how to wire a cat5 to run in gigabit.
another thing to check is your modem connection back to the isp. you can log into the modem at 192.168.100.1 and take a screen snip of your modem's connections page in both locations. You can post them here and we can give you a rough idea of how the connection back to the isp is. Maybe you're line isn't that great.
Plemans thanks for the reply. I know RG6 and Cat5e are completely different. I didn’t wire the router in for sake of the speed test to be sure the router wasn’t slowing me down. It appears that the run of Cat5e is the issue. I’m wondering what type of issue with the cable other than the ends can affect the speed of the internet connection. Would 120v wires near the Cat5e interfere, appliances, washer/dryer etc, would anything affect the performance of the Cat5e?
Jcomeau0 wrote:
Plemans thanks for the reply. I know RG6 and Cat5e are completely different. I didn’t wire the router in for sake of the speed test to be sure the router wasn’t slowing me down. It appears that the run of Cat5e is the issue. I’m wondering what type of issue with the cable other than the ends can affect the speed of the internet connection. Would 120v wires near the Cat5e interfere, appliances, washer/dryer etc, would anything affect the performance of the Cat5e?Potentially yes. Unshielded wire can be influenced by electrical lines in parallel, fluorescent lighting, motors, or anything not properly shielded.
Disance can as well but cat5e should be rated to 300ft.
In my experience, its usually a nick in the cable during install, a nick while installing ends, or just bad end/connectors. Thats why I'd start with replacing the ends. If it doesn't fix it, then you need to investigate if its the run itself.
> [...] When I have just my desktop computer linked to the modem via
> that Cat5E cable and run speedtest, I'm lucky to get 90Mbs. WHY? [...]All eight wires are needed for a gigabit connection. Only (the
right) four are needed for lower speeds.