I'm no computer whizz, so keep it simple.


Bought a TP-link switch a while back for my new house since it's prewired (CAT-5, but terminated in RJ11 (WTF?!)) Had my LV guy change some up so I can use for network instead. Now I got coax main into house to combo modem/router, to the network box where I have this switch. Currently, only 2 rooms are connected to the switch, with 1 device/room. One of those devices is my desktop which constantly loses internet connection when wired. If I ping the router from the computer it times out. If I unplug / plug the switch, the issue goes away for a week. I don't think I've noticed the same issue on the other device (fire tv cube), but it has lagged / lost connection at some point, but I think the wifi is also connected to it, so there's a backup. Don't have this issue on wifi.

I got this link because it was supposed to be PnP.

Halp. What it do? Is this just junk? Perhaps a bad switch? Do I need to do some h4Xng? I'm about to get some couplers to extend the CAT-5 and just connect the 2 rooms directly to the router.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K4DS5KU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

8/17/2021 12:46:55 PM

i think someone told me to format C: one time and that helped a lot.

8/17/2021 3:40:30 PM

I've had a few of those TP-link switches and they're usually fine. However, a bad one wouldn't surprise me and I know first had how crappy TP-link's warranty practices are. Replacing the switch is a relatively inexpensive experiment.

The wiring could be suspect. It might be low grade cable, poor connections, crappy patch cables. Troubleshooting those sorts of issues without really expensive testing gear is in exercise in frustration however.

You can try to use a laptop or something directly connecting to the switch to bypass the house wiring and see if that devices stays happy. You can do similar direct connecting to the router and bypassing the switch too.

Low quality CAT-5 is often the same price or even cheaper than CAT3 used for phones. That's why it was probably RJ11 terminated. However, crappy CAT5 cable can be really crappy. I've seen cable marked CAT5e without twisted pairs.

8/17/2021 3:59:32 PM

thanks! I should have mentioned, I have wired my laptop directly to the switch and router; same issue occurred then when connected to the switch.

[Edited on August 17, 2021 at 5:35 PM. Reason : so if this is pnp, seems I should try another one? any input there?]

^^herpe derp

[Edited on August 17, 2021 at 5:36 PM. Reason : .]

8/17/2021 5:34:57 PM

I'd just swap it out with whatever business grade desktop switch is on sale. They're all about the same.

https://smile.amazon.com/NETGEAR-8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged/dp/B07PFYM5MZ/

or
https://smile.amazon.com/TRENDnet-GREENnet-Switching-Protection-TEG-S82G/dp/B00C2H0YFU/

or another
https://smile.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6/

8/18/2021 11:25:37 AM

WTF, I wish my house came with the need for a switch.

8/19/2021 1:59:39 PM

The LAN ports on the back of your router are a switch.

Even with just a flat network, replacing a wireless router with individual components is an easy (and not terribly expensive) way to noticeably improve your home network.

8/20/2021 1:51:17 PM

^right, thought about doing that as well. Was trying to have it set up with the switch in the cabinet so it was clean / easily expandable.

8/25/2021 9:44:18 AM

lol, I was responding to the idea that you need fancy full house networking to need/benefit from a dedicated switch and wasn't really thinking about your issue.

But, yeah, if you're only using two drops might as well bypass the switch and go straight from the patch panel to the router. Replace the switch when you need the extra drops.

8/25/2021 6:42:22 PM

ha, ok. yeh patch cables would be easier. just need to get a fish tape. last time I tried to force one through the wall didn't work out so well

8/26/2021 11:17:17 AM

Now I'm confused about what your setup is. Why do you need to pull cable? I was thinking your house was already wired with everything pulled back to the network box where your switch is.

8/26/2021 1:38:33 PM

that's right. but if I wanted to jsut wire directly to the router I'd have to pull cable

8/26/2021 3:48:20 PM

Ah, I missed the modem/router combo. I was thinking the router was with the switch.

Well, scratch my suggestion. I'd buy a new switch before I pulled more cable.

8/26/2021 4:58:07 PM