Baffled - Cat 6 Connection.

heffneil

Active Member
Hey guys I am baffled.  I had a camera out of my farthest point from my home drop dead.  I have two cat 6 running there.
 
I tested the port and camera on the switch with a patch cable and the camera works, so the switch works. Check
 
I tested the cable straight through with my Ideal cable tester that shows 54v POE and that I have 1000 on the network.  Check
 
I've tested with two other testers as well.  All tests through. 
 
Anyway plug the camera in and I see that it does have power and the IR lights come on at boot.  I even tried a different camera.  No dice.
 
I am stumped.  I spent two days, countless hours of testing and its HOT and im bothered and tired.  I do see flapping on the switch.
 
I tried the other cable and its the exact same situation.Im pretty frustrated but looking for suggestions.  Replacing the cable is NOT an option.  I have replaced ends on both sides - countless times.
 
Thanks!
 

Neil
 
 
Assume that the distance is less than 100 meters? And that the total load on the switch doesn't exceed its rating?
 
What model of cable tester are you using? Does it do a true full data rate test on the data pairs, or just a continuity test?  It could be that your cable is bad in terms of being able to transmit data, but still passes a continuity test.
 
I would roll out a temporary test cable across the ground and see if that works.  If it does, that would be a good confirmation that the buried cable is bad.
 
Personally I would : (assuming your cable is less than 100 meters / 300 feet).
 
1 - unplug the cable(s) in question
2 - remove camera and test its functionality with a short POE cable  (it could be also that it got hit with lightning - which would damage the camera and switch).
3 - purchase a reasonably priced cable tester.  I had similiar issues here many years ago moving from analogue (using baluns) to ethernet then to POE ethernet many many years ago for some 5 exterior camera that I installed at the edges of the property facing the house using buried cat5e cable.  Initially had used a generic network tester with LEDs which came from the late 1990's.  I purchased a better tester which allowed me to test correctly wired pairs.  At the time it was some $30 on Ebay.  It was not a high end device and it is still being utilized today.  Looking on Amazon still see these el cheapos which would work for you.
 
Something like this on Amazon which sells for $64.99
 
KOLSOL AT112 Network Ethernet LAN Phone Wire Tester Line Finder Remote Cable Tracker USB Coaxial Cable with 8 Far-end Jacks Support Multiple Tester Ports BNC RJ45 RJ11

4 - test the cable in question with the above tester.  More than likely it is more of a termination issue than a cable issue.
5 - If the camera tests OK using a short POE cable to the switch then it was / is an issue with the terminations.
Personally here when first installing my outdoor POE cameras and using old ethernet cable did find that all my terminations were incorrectly done and didn't see this until I tested the cables with a good cable tester.  I also miswired my first Ubiquiti POE WAP (with propietary POE) and it would bounce and reset itself.  This cable ran from the basement up 3 floors and over to the on side of the house via the attic. 
 
Let me add some more details:  The tester I am using is a 

Ideal Industries R158003 VDV II Pro Network Tester
 
I bought this years ago because after I discovered the crimping die in in my crimper was bad and NO MATTER WHAT I could not get a cable to work.  I've made thousands of cables.  Changing the die fixed all my problems.  I tried that this time.
 
This cable was working fine without incident.  The table according to the above tester is 437 feet.
 
The camera was working before "this" and the camera does work on two different switches with a short patch cable.  I think it is obvious the cable is bad in some way I just don't know how or why when it tests fine.  Im running out of wire to re-end.  I replaced my die thinking it was dead again.  Not sure what I am missing...
 
Thanks!
 
Neil
 
Is the cable in conduit or directly buried?   Is the cable rated for outdoor, weatherproof, and/or direct burial, or just plain old Cat6?
 
At 437 feet, you're about 100 feet over the maximum spec for cable length (100m).  That doesn't mean the cable won't work when new, but any degradation of the cable over time will make it even more likely to cause problems.
 
Here for the outside POE runs for Cameras terminated one side to patch panel and the other side to a RJ punch down jack in an outdoor small IP 67 sealed flat box mounted on a 6X6 post in corner edge of property berms.  That and I used a very long 1" drill bit and drilled down the center of the 6X6 post for the cables.
 
So when checking the cable patch panel to punch down jack.  Not sure how accurate the 437 read is.  I do not use the numbers on my meter cuz they were never really that accurate for me.  Over time did see some deterioration on the outdoor RJ45 end of the cables plugging in to the cameras any how after about 5 years and did replace them with new short cables.
 
BTW everything wired outside in FL on the water personally started to deteriorate after 2 years of being new.  I had to replace all of the outdoor coach lighting 3rd year after new construction.  
 
Nothing lasts here outdoor.  I really don't want to replace this wiring - for both cables.  Especially socially distancing I don't have any help....
 
Do you have the cable going to a patch panel in the house?  I would just cut the end by the camera off and put in an outdoor RJ-45 jack, then test the cable again.  My guess is that the RJ end outside has deteriorated a bit.    Or disconnect both ends from the network.  Then on the outside end soak it in vinegar for a few minutes then sodium bicarbonate to clean it a bit.  I have done that for my outdoor wires over the years and it works great.  Put the vinegar / sodium bicarb in a little baggies bag and rubber band the bag to the wire.
 
In FL all of the outdoor coach lamps deteriorated after a 2 years.  The pool cage did not every deteriorate.  The neighbor decided not to build a pool cage and ending up fighting wild life that decided to live by his pool. (4M house banker would sit by the pool with a shot gun in the afternoons).
 
Rented this home for a couple of weeks a few years back in St. Croix. 
 
hxxp://www.seasprayshores.com/
 
Everything outside was deteriorating (plastic or metal) .  I did have to clean my glasses of sea spray every time we sat outside by the pool.  It was only my wife and I and the house was more of a family or multiple couples party home.
 
Rented an automobile for those two weeks and did have an issue driving on the left side of the road.
 
We were very close to the most North Eastern part of the island where we would drive to to see the sun rise.  There is a little park there and close to the old SETI observatory.  I saw the dish move once while sitting there.  Amazing stuff.
 
I've replaced the outside ends multiple times in the past two days to no avail.  Brand new crimper die so I don't know would could be wrong.  What I haven't done it take my laptop out there with a network port and tested - that is next I guess.
 
The one cable's end was badly corroded and the boards in that camera are dead.  I ordered replacement boards so I will replace the innards but I still don't have a network cable working :(
 
These are straight through - no breaks (yes no surge either which is very very bad so I know).  I have through of moving an IP switch closer to the end in the garage where they enter the house.  I could actually do that if I needed to.
 
I've replaced the outside ends multiple times in the past two days to no avail.
 
Put an outdoor RJ-45 keystone jack out (in a tiny waterproof box) there instead and use a short catXX cable.  That is much easier to install new than crimping down a new RJ-45 end.
 
Then when you test it you can just connect a longer catXX cable to the jack down to your laptop.
 
These are straight through - no breaks (yes no surge either which is very very bad so I know).  
 
Use an inline surge protector.  Thinking they make these now for catXX cables.
 
The one cable's end was badly corroded and the boards in that camera are dead. 
 
  Did the camera get a surge or wet inside or short between the POE power leads?  
 
There are two cameras on this pole.  One is dead (had been for a while) and new parts are now on the way.
 
I have these cables coming in to the side of my garage.  I just ordered a small POE switch.  I will have to get a UPS for it if this works but I can let that run for a while and see how it goes if this works.  Shorter run. Perhaps that will fix it.
 
You can use Google maps to estimate some distances.  Here is an example.  New home on a farm connected with around 320 feet of ethernet cable. You can see a bit where the trench was.
 
The ethernet connection has been fine now for a few years.  On the new and old house side the cable is going to the patch panels. 
 
Give a try maybe with your home to garage using Google maps.  I am curious how much greater than 300 feet your run is.
 
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