Keep that wire intact for now.
Keep that wire intact for now.
I’d like to discuss a challenge I faced and how I resolved it. My goal was to tackle a tricky issue because simply swapping parts could hide the real cause, leading others to assume faulty gear when it might actually be fine—though misdiagnosis could cause recurring problems later.
Background (optional) – Feel free to skip this section.
I owned a slow 10/100 network at home. After watching Linus tutorials on upgrading to 10Gb speeds, I set out to plan a gradual upgrade of my network, backup systems, and security setup. My first step was swapping Cat5 and telephone cables for shielded Cat6a cables inside walls and replacing the switches with 1Gb models (though 10Gb was still costly). I upgraded my NAS for better performance and enhanced my security system with a more integrated setup, similar to what Level1tech demonstrated.
I reorganized components, swapping long Cat5 cables for custom Cat6a ones. This process revealed unexpected issues: devices worked fine with industrial cables but faltered with homemade ones. Speed tests became frustrating—links would jump between 100Mbit and 10Mbit, sometimes dropping entirely. Some computers would briefly switch to 1Gb before reverting, or the connection would become unstable after prolonged use.
Symptoms showed inconsistency: cables performed well until they hit a bookshelf, then suddenly dropped speed or failed altogether. I realized interference from AC lines, cable construction errors, and improper handling were likely culprits. After eliminating these factors, I noticed a small detail—a shield piece on the plug was misaligned with the DIY plug’s end. This suggested a possible short circuit.
I fixed it by wrapping exposed wires with insulating tape. The adjustment resolved the issue completely.
I hope this story helps others avoid similar pitfalls. If you encounter similar problems, check for hidden interference, ensure proper cable installation, and verify connections. Good luck, and have a great day!
I wasn’t aware of that approach before. It wasn’t available at my local shop until recently, and I only picked up a few for my project. Even though they passed testing with a multimeter, I still had issues with multiple cables. Maybe that’s why. I’m not sure I’d want to try it again.
It seems most "well shielded" sockets contain metal directly ahead of the cable. What bothers me is that I avoided buying ready-made cables, otherwise I wouldn’t have realized this was an option. For future purchases, I’ll likely opt for industrial cables when space allows and they’re not too long or short, but they remain essential for tight installations or through holes.
It seems your connections are arranged incorrectly... There’s additional wire inside the connector (you noticed a curbed one in the first photo). The proper setup uses one of the two shown below—identical wiring on both ends is standard. Remember, twist only as much as necessary, then align and push through the connector until the sleeve slides under the plastic tab that secures it. Your connector appears to start with brown... it should begin with green-white or green, and the orange wire on the right is likely a ground or shield wire.
Thanks for the details, I followed the T-568B setup except for the confusion about pin 1. I copied from an industrial cable that worked perfectly. That cable matched the T-568B layout but had the connector facing me. Since my cables are very short, you can easily place them anywhere without issues as long as both ends match. I’ll remember pin 1 for future projects, but in this situation it was just a simple short circuit.