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Question

networking issues with internet

Aug 31, 2016 10:21PM PDT

i have an observatory that i run about 40 mtrs from my house, i have laid an underground CAT6 cable that links my router to a switch and then from the switch into my computer within the observatory. everything was working fine for 6 months but recently i have not been able to access the internet. when i took the switch out of the path it worked but it did take a while to connect to the internet. I replaced the switch but that didnt fix it. any thoughts as to why the connection would degrade? any thoughts on what to troubleshoot?

thanks

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Something in between
Sep 1, 2016 2:30AM PDT

Is there a medium between the router and the switch? Maybe a PC?
If not, have you checked the cable connecting the two? Assuming you weren't using the said cable to connect directly to the router before.

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further detail
Sep 1, 2016 3:53AM PDT

i have a plate on the wall in the house which the router connects to and then a plate on the wall in the observatory which then connects to the switch. i have tried using different cables from switch to the computer but that doesn't help. the way it connects when i go directly to the plate is extremely slow, it can take a few minutes before it establishes a connection. once it is connected then the download speed is fine but it is almost like it is a really weak signal. the two plates are connected by a really long cable so i can understand if this is causing an issue, i just don't know why it is only really coming up now, there has been no change in the system configuration.

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Answer
To me this reads like a failed connection.
Sep 1, 2016 8:43AM PDT

Since it worked for a time the connections or cable appear to have degraded. You'll either be a technician or just run the line again to fix it. The failure can be at the ends or inbetween. There are folk that think the symptoms tell us it's the blue wire but it could be another.

Underground can be a harsh place. For commercial use the company runs it in the usual plastic pipe with an extra set of cables just in case.

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potential root cause
Sep 1, 2016 7:30PM PDT

so i took off the plates on both ends and stripped back some of the cable sleeve only to find that water was dripping out of the cable itself ... i have no idea how it got in there, it is not coming from the outside. i left it over night facing towards the ground and there was a nice little puddle of water. i am assuming that is what is causing the issues but i have no way of fixing it or finding out the source of the problem ...

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You found a good root cause problem.
Sep 1, 2016 9:00PM PDT

Sorry for the wording but by jove I think you found a real issue. Cables don't like water.

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water in cable
Sep 1, 2016 9:22PM PDT

haha yeah i know, i just have no idea how the water got into the actual cable ...

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Most CAT5
Sep 1, 2016 9:39PM PDT

Well, cats don't like water here, and same for most CAT5 or other numbered Ethernet cables.

The good news is that I've yet to find Ethernet ports to fry from shorts or cable issues.

I'm not there to give advice about how to deal with underground runs but will try anyway. Basically you need to give the water an exit. So the pipe goes from point a to b as you suspect but at the ends and low points you need to let the water exit.

Also did you use "drip loops?" Click here.

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Answer
interim solution found
Sep 2, 2016 1:05AM PDT

so i put in some powerline ethernet ports and ran the internet through them and it works well, the cable was clearly the only issue. i will have to dig it up and fix it but that will be a big job