Ethernet Port Stuck at 100Mbps

[Tony1044]

I once had this - the cable, it turned out, actually had (going back a long time from memory) too few cables in the connector...four, I think, instead of the six required for Gb.

 

[ubuysa]

It came from me, and there's no need to be condescending. If you actually read the entire post rather just skimming, scoffing and replying you would see that I suggested it as a means to test the ACTUAL PC with the ACTUAL router while bypassing the plugs without the hassle of moving the monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.

It's a common practice to use remote desktop facilities to find out mid-place errors, and IMO a very straight forward one rather than your plan above. Using remote desktop to test the PC directly plugged into the router will confirm exactly everything you have said to confirm ... only it won't be via speculation or purchasing anything unnecessary.

The only other PROPER way to test it is to move everything rather than just the tower and forego the Remote Desktop usage.

Calm down, I wasn't being condescending (or at least I wasn't intending to). It simply seems unwise to me when faced with a problem to try to solve it by starting something new that you've not worked with before (which is the case for the OP). As Abraham Lincoln once said "one war at a time".

I apologise if the way I expressed myself upset you.

I absolutely agree with your last sentence, and it's what I suggested. The OP has to move the PC (if only temporarily) so that the PC can be cable attached to the router because if they're only getting 100Mbps through the router it's a Virgin problem. The KISS principle is usually the best way....

 

[Scott]

Calm down, I wasn't being condescending (or at least I wasn't intending to). It simply seems unwise to me when faced with a problem to try to solve it by starting something new that you've not worked with before (which is the case for the OP). As Abraham Lincoln once said "one war at a time".

I apologise if the way I expressed myself upset you.

I absolutely agree with your last sentence, and it's what I suggested. The OP has to move the PC (if only temporarily) so that the PC can be cable attached to the router because if they're only getting 100Mbps through the router it's a Virgin problem. The KISS principle is usually the best way....

It was more the "I don't know where that came from" remark that got my back up to be honest, it's clear where it came from as I wrote it..... and my name is next to it

Remote desktop is a complete doddle though, it's one of the most useful tools I have ever had... especially for resolving networking issues. In this instance the only hurdle would be if the PC didn't have a password for access, in which case it would need one. Personally I would rather add a password and use 4 clicks to connect to a PC (or 1 if you have a shortcut on the taskbar) than to humph loads of kit around my house

 

[Scott]

I once had this - the cable, it turned out, actually had (going back a long time from memory) too few cables in the connector...four, I think, instead of the six required for Gb.

That's going back a bit. I think that's CAT3 lol.

 

[Tony1044]

By advertising 200Mbs they probably mean 100 up and 100 down, I've seen advertising like that before, effectively using the half/full duplex as a clause

It's also likely that your laptop only has a 100mb ethernet port, unless otherwise specified?

I would be very surprised if the cable was your issue, there is no cost difference involved so I doubt you would have cat5 over 5e, last thing you want to do is buy cables when it's the plugs that are the issue. It may be a pain, but to get over the hurdle could you directly connect your PC to the router? I understand that it would involve moving them next to each other but if you set up remote desktop via your laptop you won't need to move anything other than the tower and the power cable.

Why not just plug the cable into the laptop?

 

[Oussebon]

Why not just plug the cable into the laptop?

Several people (including me tbh) suspect the laptop only has a 100mbps Ethernet port and that this is why the OP only got 100Mbps listed on the Ethernet Status page in Windows when he plugged it directly into the router.

3. Your homeplugs are capable of 200Mbps as rakk has verified.

My suspicion is that that they're not capable of 200Mbps and that they just have 100Mbps Ethernet ports. Hopefully I'm wrong and the OP replacing that cat 5 cable will resolve the issue (and if so hopefully the cabling in their house will support a fairly high proportion of that 200Mbps). But given that my '500Mbps' TP-Link appear to only have 100Mbps ports I'm not optimistic.

 

[Tony1044]

Several people (including me tbh) suspect the laptop only has a 100mbps Ethernet port and that this is why the OP only got 100Mbps listed on the Ethernet Status page in Windows when he plugged it directly into the router.

My suspicion is that that they're not capable of 200Mbps and that they just have 100Mbps Ethernet ports. Hopefully I'm wrong and the OP replacing that cat 5 cable will resolve the issue (and if so hopefully the cabling in their house will support a fairly high proportion of that 200Mbps). But given that my '500Mbps' TP-Link appear to only have 100Mbps ports I'm not optimistic.

Been a long time since I've seen a laptop with a 100Mbit LAN port.

What laptop/network card is it?

 

[Rakk]

3. Your homeplugs are capable of 200Mbps as Rakk has verified.

Actually I take that comment back

In the user manual (http://www.tplink.com/Resources/document/TL-PA251_251KIT_User_Manual.pdf) for the TL-PA251 they state:
This Powerline Adapter supports up to 200Mbps data rate over the existing household electrical circuit.
With the data rate of 200Mbps, full multimedia application can easily be supported throughout the whole house in addition to Internet access.

However further down in the specs it states
Ethernet Port It is a 10/100Mbps Ethernet port on the AV adapter for connecting it to the PC or the broadband device with the network cable.

Well, I think the earlier false advertising claims of mine are justified since the 10/100Mbps ethernet port kinda limits it! (unless it can do 100 up and 100 down at the same time)

And yes it shows they do only include a Cat5 cable which is all you need it the ports only supports 10/100 anyway ...

So yes, the homeplugs will need to be returned and replaced with something that has better ethernet ports on it if you wish to get over 100Mbps,
and hopefully the new homeplugs will have a Cat5e cable in with them, noting that having extra Cat5e cables is never a bad thing if the new cable has already been ordered/purchased (sorry about the earlier comment that sorting the cable would fix it, I kinda assumed when they said 200 they meant you could actually use 200).

Also note, it may be wise to check what speed a direct link from the router gets as well as already suggested by others - it may not actually be around 200.

 

[ubuysa]

Lots to think about, which is why it's important to start at the router (as we're all saying) and work from there......

 

[Scott]

The plugs are 200mb/s as they will transmit 100mb up and 100mb down, as in full duplex. It's just clever advertising as the maximum transfer rate you will see will be 100mb/s.

 

[Oussebon]

So what about my 500Mbps ones that are only 100Mbps?

Edit: Nvm http://uk.tp-link.com/faq-461.html

[h=1]Why TL-PA411 (TL-PA4010) is homeplug 500Mbps with 100Mbps Ethernet port?[/h]Some customers are asking or having quite strong opinions on the homeplug manufactures idea of TL-PA411(TL-PA4010) is homeplug 500Mbps however only having 100Mbps Ethernet ports, the points below may help you to understand better.


First, the stated rate on the product is the actual physical layer bit rate speed for homeplugs, this is the raw data rate possible. During the data transmission, the top layer protocol will adds a lot of extra bits to the transmission reducing the actual throughput. So in real terms, the Maximum throughput of Homeplug AV500 circa 240Mbps. And the powerline might be affected by various electrical equipments. With comparatively serious interference, the speed can’t reach up to the max value, in other words, the actual speed might be lower than 240Mbps.


Also if there are multiple powerline adapters(three or more) working in one circuit, none of the adapters can get the total 240Mbps bandwidth since the total bandwidth is shared by all the networks. In that case, adapter with Gigabit Ethernet port might not be an economical choice as you can’t fully utilize it.


By all accounts, TL-PA411(TL-PA4010) has higher cost performance. In most cases, TL-PA411(TL-PA4010) with Fast Ethernet port can completely satisfy the requirement.


Of course, if you have higher demand for speed, we also provide TL-PA511, TL-PA6010 with Gigabit Ethernet Port to meet it.

 

[Woodlehh]

OK so I can confirm that the Cat5e cable didn't change anything, but I'm not kicking myself over it.

Next up I'll shift my tower downstairs and use remote desktop, as The_Scotster suggested, to try and work out what speed comes through straight from the router. I suspect that the homeplugs aren't up to scratch, and given the information Oussebon has provided, it sounds like I'll be slamming my head into a wall trying to work out what product best suit my needs.

As far as the house circuitry goes, I honestly don't know if that's something I can find out or not. I know the house was built in 1982 but I'm merely renting it and wouldn't know if my agent or landlord would have access, or be willing to give me access, to the circuitry of the house.

 

[Scott]

So what about my 500Mbps ones that are only 100Mbps?

Edit: Nvm http://uk.tp-link.com/faq-461.html

Yeah that's just plain lies

The throughput of 240 is interesting though, it's as if they are actually combining each plug as being able to transmit 240 thus quoting 480 for them both (with the reductions taken into account it would likely be 500).

I always found it interesting that the jump went from 10 to 100 to 1000 with no in-between. It would suggest that the price difference between 100 and 1000 is pretty negligible so I don't understand why manufacturers don't just go with the better option and pass the cost onto the customer. I would happily pay a quid or 2 extra for an item to give much higher throughput when available.

 

[Rakk]

OK so I can confirm that the Cat5e cable didn't change anything, but I'm not kicking myself over it.

As I said (post #28), your homeplugs only have 10/100 ports on them so are limited to 100Mbps no matter what you do

 

[Woodlehh]

OK so I made a right bugger's muddle with the remote desktop, so I'm now sat on the couch next to the router on my desktop PC. Good news is that my PC is now receiving 1.0 Gbps through the ethernet port and a quick speedtest.net gives me approximately 220 down and 12 up (should be 20 upload once virgin put me onto the new package tomorrow).

Now I'm going to verify that the problem is the homeplug by doing what ubuysa suggested and see how that works.

EDIT: Used the homeplugs next to each other and the ethernet port only picks up on 100Mbps. I did another quick speedtest.net and got 83 down 12 up. The maximum download speed I got upstairs in my study was around 60.

So now that I know the homeplugs are the issue (and potentially home circuitry leading me to lose 20Mbps download?), do any of you know what homeplug would be able to maximise my download and upload speed? As soon as my ISP change my package to allow 20Mbps upload I'll test again to see if my current homeplugs can manage it, but I would like to maximise my download as best as I can with new homeplugs (depending on price I suppose).

 

[SpyderTracks]

OK so I made a right bugger's muddle with the remote desktop, so I'm now sat on the couch next to the router on my desktop PC. Good news is that my PC is now receiving 1.0 Gbps through the ethernet port and a quick speedtest.net gives me approximately 220 down and 12 up (should be 20 upload once virgin put me onto the new package tomorrow).

Now I'm going to verify that the problem is the homeplug by doing what ubuysa suggested and see how that works.

EDIT: Used the homeplugs next to each other and the ethernet port only picks up on 100Mbps. I did another quick speedtest.net and got 83 down 12 up. The maximum download speed I got upstairs in my study was around 60.

So now that I know the homeplugs are the issue (and potentially home circuitry leading me to lose 20Mbps download?), do any of you know what homeplug would be able to maximise my download and upload speed? As soon as my ISP change my package to allow 20Mbps upload I'll test again to see if my current homeplugs can manage it, but I would like to maximise my download as best as I can with new homeplugs (depending on price I suppose).

There's a good article below on homeplugs which goes into the nitty gritty on actual transfer rates:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/best-powerline-adapters_round-up

Also

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/network-wifi/20-best-powerline-adapters-2016-2017-uk-3490638/

 

[Woodlehh]

Thank you thank you thank you! I'm absolutely thrilled and giddy to say that after spending £60 on TP-Link TL-PA9020P KIT AV2000 (recommended by the articles SpyderTracks linked), I now get 215Mbps download and 21Mbps upload, as opposed to the 60Mbps download I previously got. I'm elated!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thank you thank you thank you! I'm absolutely thrilled and giddy to say that after spending £60 on TP-Link TL-PA9020P KIT AV2000 (recommended by the articles SpyderTracks linked), I now get 215Mbps download and 21Mbps upload, as opposed to the 60Mbps download I previously got. I'm elated!

Thank you all for your help!

Awesome, glad it's sorted

 

[ubuysa]

Thank you thank you thank you! I'm absolutely thrilled and giddy to say that after spending £60 on TP-Link TL-PA9020P KIT AV2000 (recommended by the articles SpyderTracks linked), I now get 215Mbps download and 21Mbps upload, as opposed to the 60Mbps download I previously got. I'm elated!

Thank you all for your help!

So for my own interest, what was the problem with the original homeplugs? Was it in fact that they only have 100Mbps ports?

 

[SpyderTracks]

So for my own interest, what was the problem with the original homeplugs? Was it in fact that they only have 100Mbps ports?

Yes, the ones he had would only support a true max transfer rate of 80mbs anyway, but the ports were 10/100 also. You have to be very careful with homeplugs, more so the older models as they are very misleading with the figures. The only way to get a good pair is read the tech test reviews for true transfer rates.