Link speed

.Griff. · 26 Mar 2011 at 12:40

Am I misunderstanding something here?

I've got a Linksys WRT320N Gigabit router connected via CAT6 to my PC. The Realtek network adapter is reporting it's speed set a 1Gbps full duplex yet in the networking section of WTM it shows the "link speed" as 100Mbps.

Is that correct? I assumed (maybe wrongly) that the link speed should show 1Gbps?!?

.Griff. · 26 Mar 2011 at 13:36

Problem solved. Sort of.

I swapped the Cat 6 cable for an old Cat5e cable I've had for years and sure enough the link speed now shows as 1Gbps. If swap back the "new" Cat 6 cable it goes back down to 100Mbps.

I guess this Cat6 cable I recently purchased isn't working as it should.

pespro · 26 Mar 2011 at 13:42

Try rebooting the router when the cat6 is plugged into it.
Do the LAN lights go solid orange on the Realtek or router when the CAT 6 is plugged in, but go green when the 5e is plugged in?

.Griff. · 26 Mar 2011 at 13:51

I've already tried rebooting the router with the Cat6 cable in but it makes no difference.

As for lights -

Cat6 cable = Blue light on router, solid green light on Realtek (Reports 100Mbps link speed in Windows)

Cat5e cable = Green light on router, solid dark orange light on Realtek (Reports 1Gbps link speed in Windows)

pespro · 26 Mar 2011 at 14:13

First id try changing the duplex/speed settings on the Realtek while the Cat6 is in.

Tried different port on router?

How about the same Cat6 wire into a differnt laptop or computer.

Blue means 100Mbps, green means 1Gbps on thr router.
Just that solid orange is worrying me on the Realtek is worrying me.

The drivers updated on the Realtek?

.Griff. · 26 Mar 2011 at 14:16

I updated the Realtek drivers from the MSI site this morning.

The solid light on the Realtek may actually be red (it's certainly darker than the orange flashing light) which I thought indicated a problem but here I am typing to you and watching BBC1 online (F1 qualifying) so maybe not?!?

pespro · 26 Mar 2011 at 23:24

the orange light indicated a speed/duplex issue.

When i had this before i just rebooted the router and then it worked.
Did you try messing with the speed and duplex settings?

Some network cards have a test function, does yours?

23JMZ07 · 27 Mar 2011 at 15:37

It sounds like you have a broken conductor on one of the other pairs (faulty cable)

1Gb on Realtek NIC's is usually solid orange/yellow with flashing green on activity
100Mb on Realtek NIC's is solid green with flashing green for activity