Ethernet micro dropouts?

[Diggsy]

Wondering if anyone has any ideas? I seem to be getting what can only be described as micro dropouts on my Ethernet devices. Either that, or Sky Q is particularly sensitive.

What I’ve noticed is that when my Ethernet cable is direct from the Sky router to the Sky Q box then the ‘Network Connection’ in the settings always has a ‘tick’.

As soon as I plug the Ethernet through my unmanaged switch, this same ‘Network Connection’ briefly switches to an ‘X’ rather than a ‘tick’, before reverting back again. It repeats this every 30-60 seconds or so.

I didn’t think this was causing much of an issue, but the last day or so my lad has seen his PS5 kick him out of online games a few times, even though it appears to remain online. It’s connected via Ethernet, through an unmanaged switch too, so I can only assume it’s suffering the same micro dropouts, and every now and then it’s enough to dump him out of the game.

I’m stumped. Any ideas how I would troubleshoot this, or what the issue might be? I’m thinking maybe a cable is playing up, but I’ve no idea where to start!

Is there maybe software that I can run on my PC to check the connection and see if there are any dropouts?

My setup is as follows;

Sky Q Ultrafast router (WiFi off)
4x BT Whole Home discs managing the WiFi
3x Netgear GS08 switch (different rooms)
1x Netgear GS05 switch

Cat 6 feeding everything

Thanks

 

[Diggsy]

Thank you guys that’s awesome. Gives me plenty to think about and to work on.

Regarding the setup, the hard wired (in walls) Cat 6 was installed for me when the house was built 7yrs ago. It’s solid copper unshielded (I think, there is a blue coated foil inside) wire which I have personally terminated the ends, and tested them, albeit with a cheap tester, but they all (were) perfect when initially done.

I’ll test them all again just to be sure, but I don’t think (or hope anyway!) that it’s one of the hard wired cables in the walls.

As for the shorter cables to devices, they’re generally whatever cable came with the devices, so they’re pre made as such. Again though, I’ll test these to be sure. I did swap a few out last night and it made no difference.

I think to rule out the first switch, I’ll disconnect all bar the cable from the router, then connect the switch to the Sky Q and see what happens with no other devices connected. (That said, I swapped it for another switch last night and it didn’t help, so again, assume the switch is working)

If that works, then I can only assume either the issue is one of the devices plugged into the switch, or perhaps it’s the second / third / fourth switch in the network…

…I’ve a feeling this might take a while

 

[Diggsy]

I had something exactly like this on my PC, you could see it in eventvwr. It would just drop out and re-negotiate speed at random, but speed negotiation was taking way longer than it should, around 10 seconds or so.

The issue was my desk was pressed up against the ethernet faceplate on the wall and was forcing the cable to the side.

I just made sure the cable was going into the jack straight and it resolved the issue... a right angled cable would have likely been a better solution.

Edit: Also I tested that cable without unplugging it from the wall all the way back to the router with one of those cheap cable testers and it tested out fine. Unplugging it and re-plugging it straight definitely resolved the issue though... I figure there's a difference between the continuity those testers measure and a good connection that can support the signal.

Thanks, worth checking as I’ve a feeling a couple of mine may have bent over a little. I’ll have a look and see

 

[Diggsy]

You haven't created any loops by connecting a switch in with two cables etc have you?

Hmm, do you mean something like this…

Router - switch - switch - router?

If so, nope, definitely not.

My setup is this…

Modem goes to…
Router goes to…
BT Whole home and 8 port switch goes to…
2 devices and next 8 port switch goes to…
6 devices (inc BT Disc) and next 2 switches

The last 2 switches feed 3 or 4 devices each, including Ethernet backhaul for the other BT Discs

The devices that are fed by Ethernet are TVs, Sky Q boxes (inc minis), PS5, PC, Apple TVs, Hue hub…I think that’s all

None of the switches then go back to the router.

 

[Diggsy]

Thanks again. Yeah, I’m certain none are looped back to each other, but I will of course double check that.

Don’t think the BT Discs are anything other than a mesh WiFi network…in fact, Google confirms that, so they don’t have any sort of server built in.

Thank you again for your help!

 

[Diggsy]

What I would do is find a pc that has issues. (Best for this test if it's connected directly to router)

Open up two CMD windows

ping -t 1.1.1.1

ping -t (IP of your router, probably 192.168.1.1 or similar)


Confirm the issue exists by dropped pings, now go around disconnecting one device at a time until the issue goes away.

Thanks for that, I have a couple of laptops and a desktop, I could maybe plug a laptop in where I think the issue is and the other one at the other end so to speak.

Edit - looks like on reading that again, I only need one PC connected? Will give that a try. Thanks

 

[Diggsy]

Only make 1 change at a time. Turn on everything that has ethernet, then disconnect 1 thing, check ping, etc etc

Thank you, will do. Hopefully I’ll get time to do that tomorrow evening…haven’t got near it today!