Question on network drops, attempted all solutions including EMI issues.
Question on network drops, attempted all solutions including EMI issues.
Let's begin by examining the situation.
From April this year, I've experienced frequent Ethernet drops. My main activity is gaming on PC, but these issues also affected websites.
The frequency was high—almost every few seconds it became unusable.
Next, I took certain actions: replaced the Ethernet cable, updated all components of the PC, including parts unrelated to the connection. I also installed a UPS unit, though it didn't resolve the problem since it worked on two units.
Among all the changes I made, I suspect electromagnetic interference might be the cause.
I have a chimney in my room's wall, and reading suggests it could be contributing. However, the worst part is that my roommate in another room doesn’t face these problems. The pattern of drops matches what I observed.
I’ll keep this brief now, as the current issue is the most pressing.
I replaced the cable, UPS, and updated Windows from 10 to 11. Everything worked fine for a while.
Then the drops started happening daily—usually once per evening. About two days later, two drops occurred, then three, and the cycle repeated.
After that, I bought a new cable, waited a couple of days without issues, then one drop followed by another, and the pattern resumed.
The cables I purchased were Monoprice Cat 6a, then Cat 8 from CableMatters and Ugreen, and finally Cat 8 from CSL, which had a sturdy build. These cables seemed to help for at least a few days.
I’m really struggling and need expert assistance here.
I don’t want to replace cables every four days due to these problems. I already own over ten of them. CSL cables are also quite expensive because of their construction and materials. All of them had STP, which should protect against EMI.
Some people on Reddit claimed it solved the problem, but it seems the cables degrade after a few days. I’m unsure what to do—I’ve spent thousands on these PC parts and accessories.
Also, I changed the network switch and NIC in my PC, turned off all power-saving Ethernet features even on USB and BIOS.
Please don’t just give me basic instructions like resetting the router. I really need specialist help. This is extremely frustrating. I’ve been trying to fix it for a long time and have already spent thousands.
The disconnections last only a few seconds, but they’re enough to drop out of games, especially during FPS sessions.
I also listed my specifications:
- Ryzen 7 9700
- RX 5070
- Samsung SATA 870 Evo SSD
- 6000MHz Lexus RAM
- Corsair RM750X
If you have any questions—like whether the cable passes through devices that emit EMI, or if there are other factors—I’d appreciate your input.
I changed the second short Ethernet cable from the UPS to my PC for extra protection.
It’s really confusing and I can’t afford to keep spending money on these parts for just a few days. The issue isn’t isolated to my setup; it also happens in another room, with a different PC.
Please help me—I’m at my limit.
There is no need for Cat 8 cables. Or STP shielded cables.
STP must be properly installed and grounded to be effective.
Use Cat 5e or Cat 6a cables. Pure copper UTP, round, 22-24 AWG. No flat or aluminum/aluminum clad cables.
Also more information and testing is needed to determine if the problem is indeed interference....
Make and model: modem, router, or modem/router if combined?
You mentioned roomate: how many other devices are connected to your network? List as necessary.
On your computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt. Post the full results. You should be able to copy and paste the full results without needing to retype everything.
Look in Reliability History/Monitor for any error codes, warnings, or even informational events being captured and logged just before or at the time of the cited disconnects. There are other available tools that can be used.
However, Reliability History/Monitor is much more end user friendly and the time line format may reveal a pattern to the disconnects.
Note: if you see related errors/patterns etc. in Reliabililty History/Monitor then expand the window so all can be seen and read.
Take a screenshot(s) of any such windows and post the screenshots here via Imgur (
www.imugr
. com > green "New post" icon).
If you purchased the Cat6A from Monoprice, it’s likely a suitable cable.
If I interpret it correctly, you’re connecting the PC to the UPS, and then the UPS to the router.
There really isn’t a surge protector designed for Ethernet.
Depending on what the UPS is doing, it might actually be contributing to the issue.
Original Ethernet cables operate at very low voltage and current.
Due to how Ethernet is built, the cable and port are magnetically separated from the equipment, and many ports also use optical isolation to minimize noise.
It’s highly improbable for an electrical surge to enter the cable—unless it’s a strong enough surge that can damage the optical and magnetic components.
Most likely, a lighting strike is the cause, which nothing should prevent.
There’s also no significant risk of EMI interference with Ethernet.
The twisted pairs and specific patterns in the cable are intended to block external and internal interference between wire pairs.
If the cable passes by something like a welder or an AC compressor, interference could occur, but this is extremely rare.
.......a new inquiry. Is the port experiencing a disconnected state, or are you simply losing access to the internet? Such a disconnected condition usually indicates a physical issue, whereas other problems often stem from software-related causes.
it frequently loses connection, always. The router is downstairs, Orange Funbox 2.0, while the network switch upstairs is a Cisco unmanaged switch. The monoprice cable still causes disconnections, which is why I switched it. On the network switch there are five ports: one for the router downstairs, another for my roommate's PC, and one leading to an Ethernet socket in my room (possibly named differently) that connects to the wall, from the wall to my PC. What causes this issue? And how can I resolve it? I changed the cable initially, but not immediately. Then there was a disconnection for a couple of days, followed by another after about two to three days, and then it started cycling again. The cable remains the same, and the setup is working. Windows shows no network errors, and on IPconfig I’ll see the details when I’m on the PC. The monoprice I purchased matched the specifications—AWG, pure copper—and still disconnects occur. DCS are short, but they’re long enough to trigger the disconnection warning.
You have added a new bit of information.
Seems there is another cable involved that goes from the switch to the wall jack. I would take the jack apart and see if you see a loose wire. It could also be that the jack has become damaged and if the cable moves a bit it loses contact.
Most wall jacks use keystones. It tends to not be real hard to remove the wires cut off about 1/4 inch and repunch down the wires. Some keystones are called tool less and the cover will press the wires in place. Others you need a punch down tool which is not real expensive and if you are very careful to not press in the very center of the wire connectors you can use a small screw driver to work wires into the cutters on the keystone. You could also just buy a new toolless keystone.
It could also be on the far end that plugs into the switch.
If you happen to have a very long ethernet cable you could run over the floor to the switch just to test it would confirm if there was a issue with the in wall wiring.
Well, I can't run without a wall jack if that's the case. The Ethernet cable runs from my roommate's switch to the wall jack in my room, then through the wall and out near the PC and UPS. I agree it might be the wall jack problem, but why does everything work fine for a short time after installation, only to start having disconnection cycles later? I could also try connecting directly to the router, but that won't solve the issue because in the long run I won't be able to stay in the room downstairs—it's just not practical. Regarding the cable, we checked with my roommate and his cable is similar to mine in these aspects; it isn’t loose enough to cause a disconnection unless you pull it hard. It probably won’t affect DC because it’s the same cable in another PC room where it doesn’t disconnect. It's really tough to explain, especially since I don’t speak English fluently, but I hope you understand what I meant. The wall jack might be the problem because it seems looser than the cable when plugged into the computer and UPS, yet it worked initially. So, what should I do with the wall jack and any other options? Thanks.
Have you tested it without connecting the Ethernet cables to the UPS? Keep it simple.
When the port stops working, it’s likely a physical problem—either a cable or a faulty port. If your PC has a bad port, fixing it usually requires a replacement card, not a simple fix. Such issues are rare in devices.
This appears to be a desktop, but double-check if your system has any low-power settings active on the Ethernet port. It could be related to BIOS and usually only causes problems with very long cables, near 100 meters.
Actually yes, I attempted without using UPS. My cable has 5-10 feet to the wall jack. As I mentioned, something is degrading these cables, so I'm seeking assistance here. After purchasing new ones with better EMI protection from CSL on Amazon, I noticed that after a few days, the cables started to fall out of normal stability. Without UPS, I initially thought it might be related to the UPS, so I unplugged it and ran it directly from the wall to the PC. Even then, things got worse quite some time ago. I also observed that when I adjusted my setup closer to the wall jack, the performance deteriorated significantly, with frequent disconnections. After changing positions, the disconnections increased even more. Now I’m unsure what to do next; I can’t change the wall jack. The situation is so bad that I was considering moving to a new apartment because of this problem.
The cable you bought, which claims to reduce EMI in many situations, may actually worsen the problem if it isn’t installed properly. Shielded cables are extremely difficult to install accurately in a home setting. Both ends of the cable need the shield connected to a ground, and this connection should be separate from the ground used for electrical purposes. It’s unlikely you have a dedicated grounding wire running between both rooms. If the cable isn’t grounded, it behaves like an antenna and can increase interference.
However, EMI signals are usually not present in the first place, so a poorly grounded cable won’t contribute to increased interference. Purchasing shielded cable often comes at a higher cost than necessary, mainly because it’s more about maintaining Ethernet signal integrity rather than preventing external interference. Shielded cables are typically used to contain Ethernet signals within the cable rather than block incoming interference. They’re common in medical facilities and aircraft.
The issue here isn’t interference itself. Interference leads to data errors during transmission, which may result in packet loss while the Ethernet connection remains active. This could cause data loss even if there’s significant EMI in your home. Disconnection happens when voltage or resistance drops below a critical level—possibly due to internal components detecting low values. These drops can stem from temperature fluctuations causing metal parts to expand or contract, affecting contact quality. This might be due to cable positioning, jack pins, or internal device behavior.
In short, the problem isn’t usually about interference but about improper installation and grounding. If wall cabling is impractical, consider moving your PC closer to the router or switch temporarily.