Problem with Ethernet port or wall cable connection
Problem with Ethernet port or wall cable connection
Hey there, I've just moved into a new apartment and am facing some internet issues. I have 1000mbps internet, but my Ethernet ports only provide 100mbps. When I connect my router directly via cable, it works at full speed, yet using a 15-meter cable across the living room gives me just 100mbps. My desktop and router are on opposite sides of the apartment, so I can't use a long cable. I've tried five different cables, but they all deliver 1000mbps from the router directly, while the wall outlet only gives 100mbps. The building is new, about five years old—could it be the Ethernet port or the walls causing the problem? Or might there be a cable issue inside the house? I'll reach out to my provider soon but wanted to share this here. Maybe someone else has encountered the same thing. Thanks for your help!
If it's delivering 100mbps instead of 1gig, the Keystones might be misaligned. I'd remove the plate and confirm termination to the 568B standard on both sides.
It seems the internal connections are likely faulty. If it’s standard CAT5 instead of upgraded versions like CAT5e or CAT6, that could be the issue since typical CAT5 only supports up to 100 Mbps. It would be unusual for a new construction project to skip CAT5e unless they’re using very old wiring.
Cat5 supports Gigabit speeds, though it offers less tolerance compared to Cat5e. I've noticed homes where some pairs in a Cat5e setup weren't fully connected to the jack—often repurposed for phone lines. Gigabit Ethernet requires all four pairs to meet standards, while 100 Mb Fast Ethernet only needs two. When issues arise, consider using a longer cable and routing it along baseboards; you might even fit it under carpeting if available.
Except for people who used cheap CAT3 cables... I've seen this before, though it's not the newest construction.
I've observed some severely damaged keystones. Cables were driven in a haphazard pattern, showing the "cut" side was on the interior, wires were untwisted several inches from the stone, and then driven outward, keystones were struck with a screwdriver... Don't underestimate how much effort careless mistakes will take to finish a task incorrectly.
Earlier in my career, we faced significant challenges with the CAT5e cabling during a recent construction project. It wasn’t until I removed the wall panels that I discovered a substantial length of untwisted pairs beyond the support points. It was quite frustrating.