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Resolved Question

Not getting a signal from new network wall jack

Jun 13, 2018 10:11PM PDT

I installed a new network wall jack in my home office and ran an Ethernet cable from the modem in my basement to it. The cable is Cat6, and before I cut off one end of the connectors to wire it to the jack, I plugged it into my computer to test it and it ran fine. To my knowledge the jack is wired correctly (it's 568B) but when I plug a second network cable (also Cat6) into the female end of the jack and into my computer, I'm not receiving a signal.

The cable itself is flat, and when I stripped it I was surprised to find that the white striped wires were just plain white. Because it's flat, they are also not twisted with one of the colored wires for easy identification, although they do appear to be paired with one, so I used that to ID them.

I took my tower down to the basement and plugged the second cable (the one that will connect the computer to the jack) directly into the modem, and got a signal there, so I've ruled out that it's any wiring problems with either cable. It has to be the connection at the jack. I believe it's wired correctly, but just to be sure, I tried all 24 combinations of the white wire in case I IDed them incorrectly, and still no luck. My last guess is that the jack says it's Cat5e, and it's incompatible with Cat6 cable, but it sounds like that shouldn't matter. I don't know what else to try.

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Best Answer

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A wag
Jun 14, 2018 1:25PM PDT

From what I'm reading, you are doing "in-wall" wiring using Ethernet patch cables. If that's the case, I see two possible issues with your work. Firstly, patch cables use stranded wire while the bulk type rated for running through walls is solid. As well, the flat type patch cables tend to be a thinner gauge. When you punch down the wire in a wall connector, the solid wire is pinched between knife edged gold plated metal that strips the plastic wire to make the connection. The type of wire used for these connectors is generally 23/24 gauge. Those flat cables go 28/32 and, being stranded, might be getting cut into pieces and not making a solid connection. For use in the walls, don't use stranded patch cable but get the proper type with solid wire of 23/24 gauge. Avoid the type marked as CCA which is copper clad aluminum, however. as for cat5e and cat6, these can be mixed and problems should not occur within a simple home network by mixing them. Hope this helps.

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Correction
Jun 14, 2018 2:04PM PDT

If using the smaller gauge wire from flat cables, punching these into the wall outlet may not cut through the sheath of all 8 wires. A rough test is easily done by making a loop-back connector and using the ohmmeter function of a DVM to check continuity of each pair. This is something I do when I have such problems.

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Many of these flat Ethernet cables
Jun 14, 2018 2:20PM PDT

Used stranded wire so that is also unsuitable for punchdown connectors.

Besides the issue I noted above. There are reasons for cable standards.

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All of the patch cables I've cut to shorten
Jun 14, 2018 4:54PM PDT

have used stranded wiring. This and the type of jacket is, as you know, what makes these more flexible. I've not had a problem crimping new male connectors to these. I have also tried to use bulk CMR and CMP wire as patch cable and found it to be less than suitable due to stiffness. The flat cable seems to be getting popular and I've seen these a lot on Amazon including some rated as Cat7. I'm sure they're better for running through wall hugging raceways, etc., but the wire inside tends to quite thin so long cables or POE use is probably not recommended. I can't imagine trying to use this type in interior walls.

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Answer
Flat CAT6? Incredible.
Jun 14, 2018 11:32AM PDT

Not something I'd waste any time on. I see no need to repeat why there are twists in Ethernet cables. You can find that on the web.