New router will not detect ethernet cable

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ADT

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Morning All,

I bought an TP-LINK AX5400 yesterday to replace my Virgin Media Hub 5 as I am constantly struggling with range and instability in my house.

I switched my Hub 5 into modem mode and connected the new router as per the instructions. Everything was set up and working well until I plugged in my ethernet cables. I have 2 ethernet cables plugged into the back of my Hub 5 usually. One of them is connected to my PC (~3 meters away) and another which is connected to my Reolink security camera NVR. This NVR is in another room to my router so I had to use a 25m ethernet cable to connect it previously.

It was working fine as it should on my Hub 5 so I know the ethernet cable is fine. Even within the AX5400 settings, it is not detecting this ethernet cable at all and it's behaving as if it's not even connected. So far I have tried the following to try and resolve this with no luck:

- Unplugged NVR and connected my laptop instead. Again, router behaves as if nothing is connected.

- moved NVR from the other room and plugged it into the AX5400 using another ethernet cable. NVR detected this and was working fine.

- Tried different ports on the AX5400, made no difference.

- Removed the new router and moved back to the Hub 5. Everything was working fine and back to normal.

I am assuming the new router is not liking the ethernet cable that connects to my NVR. I know the easiest thing to do is to replace this cable, but I would like to avoid this as routing a new ethernet cable to the other room will be a lot of work.

Any other advice on what I can do please? Otherwise I will have no other solution than to send the AX5400 back and try another brand.

Thank you!
 
alex24 said:
Could it be a crossover cable? I would think most hardware would detect that nowadays but maybe not
Click to expand...
The ethernet cable is connected at the back of the router and the other end is connected directly to the back of the NVR.

Caged said:
Is this a cable you have ever tested?
Click to expand...
Yes, prior to routing it through the house (in Jan 24) I used a cable tester to make sure that the cable is all good before I went through the hassle of routing it through my walls etc. I have just tested it now and it skips point number 6 on the tester

I am now back to using Virgin's hub 5 and the connection is all good between the router and NVR using the same cable.

lmfy2k said:
Have you tried a network switch in between router and NVR?
Click to expand...

As in a POE switch? I can give that a go if you think it may help. I don't have but happy to buy one to try!
 
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Yep, looks like bad cable. It shouldn't work at all without pin 6 is my understanding, unless the VM box is doing something like using other pins for a lower speed. I bet if you checked out what speed it's negotiated at, it won't be what you expect.

Check the terminations, possibly re-do them or run a new cable.
 
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alex24 said:
Yep, looks like bad cable. It shouldn't work at all without pin 6 is my understanding, unless the VM box is doing something like using other pins for a lower speed. I bet if you checked out what speed it's negotiated at, it won't be what you expect.

Check the terminations, possibly re-do them or run a new cable.
Click to expand...
So I tried to plug my Laptop to check the speed as you raised a good point, my laptop wouldn't even recognise the cable being plugged in! As you say, the NVR/Router must be doing something to keep things working.

I have ordered a new cable and a crimping kit, will change the connectors first and fingers crossed that solves the issue, otherwise I will just replace the cable (which will be a pain in the backside!)
 
ChrisD. said:
Run a pair this time if crimping doesn’t sort.
Click to expand...
That's a really good idea actually. Should have done that the first time.

My only problem is that I will have to get myself a large drill now so that I can make the holes in the walls bigger. When I last did this, I was having work done in the house so borrowed the large drill from one of the contractors. Crimp kit should turn up today, will see how it goes first!

I also bought an ethernet switch this time so that I can hardwire my PS5/TV while I'm at it.
 
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ADT said:
That's a really good idea actually. Should have done that the first time.

My only problem is that I will have to get myself a large drill now so that I can make the holes in the walls bigger. When I last did this, I was having work done in the house so borrowed the large drill from one of the contractors. Crimp kit should turn up today, will see how it goes first!

I also bought an ethernet switch this time so that I can hardwire my PS5/TV while I'm at it.
Click to expand...

Hope it works without having to change the cable!

Note that many smart TVs do not support gigabit speeds on LAN so sometimes wireless can actually be faster overall, depending on what you're doing. For general streaming though I've found 100mbit to be absolutely fine and latency/reliability much better than wireless anyway, so mine stay wired. Some TVs can utilise a USB gigabit network adapter too if it's an issue or you'd see a benefit (maybe high bandwidth local streams from a server etc.).
 
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alex24 said:
Hope it works without having to change the cable!

Note that many smart TVs do not support gigabit speeds on LAN so sometimes wireless can actually be faster overall, depending on what you're doing. For general streaming though I've found 100mbit to be absolutely fine and latency/reliability much better than wireless anyway, so mine stay wired. Some TVs can utilise a USB gigabit network adapter too if it's an issue or you'd see a benefit (maybe high bandwidth local streams from a server etc.).
Click to expand...

Crimping didn't solve it, going to route a new cable this weekend :(
 
Could the devices you are connecting to be on a different subnet because they were given static ip addresses?
 
ADT said:
Crimping didn't solve it, going to route a new cable this weekend :(
Click to expand...

I would try and terminate the cable into a faceplate and then use good/known tested patch cables. That'll at least confirm if there is a break in the middle of the cable rather than where it's crimped to the connectors.
 
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You could also re-crimp to swap the pairs around to make a 2-pair cable that will link at 100Mbps as a last-ditch option, an NVR won't need anything faster.
 
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All sorted now :)
Rerouted a new cable today as I didn't want to waste any more time on it! I did find an area of the cable that seems to have been cut/bitten so that may have been the issue.

Thank you all for the help!
 
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