crossover cable with router causes problems?

[nurdonsite2]

ok i got a router and it came with one straight network cable which i useed to connet the router to computer A and then i used a cross over cable to connect the router to computer B. do crossover cables work well with routers? the reason im asking is that im getting half the speed im suppose to when i do speed tests on both computers at the same time. could the cross over cable be somhow causing the low speeds? if no, then what could it be? btw the router im using is a d-link DI-604.

thanx for helping out a n00b to netwroking.

[c44151]

I just use a straight through cable I think all you need the cross over cable is to connect 2 pieces of eqipment together like a switch to a switch with no uplink port.

[cowboybooter]

Theroretically, you can use both sorts, I've never tried crossover from my D-Link DI-714P+, only straight!

It's worth trying a straight, as it's the easiest / cheapest link to change!

After you have checked that the NIC in Computer B is set up properly, of course!



CBB

[nurdonsite2]

yes the NIC is set up properly. so if both types of cables can be used, why am i getting low speeds? a router is suppose to deliver equal speeds to both computers right?

[butch81385]

theoretically, yes... may be because of a bad NIC, bad cable, or just overall "i dont feel like working with this computer" type thing (seems to happen with me all the time)

out of curiousity try switching the cables so that the crossover is on comp a and the straight is on B (if possible) then let us know if comp A goes at half speed.

if you need to buy a new straight cable, check www.nwca.com
i have never seen prices lower (got 7 ft cables for $0.25 a piece...)

[nurdonsite2]

i think u understood me a little bit wrong. what im saying is that the speed goes to half on both computers when i test the internet connectuion at the same time on both. kinda like the speed is being "split" between the 2.

[bailey]

I belive you do not want to use a cross over cable from computer nic to a router with a built in swith eathernet port
it must be a stright cable.

[butch81385]

ahhh.... sorry, misunderstood.

well my house is networked with 3 comps using a router to my cable internet. the router does seem to slow them down, but not to half (of course my computer is on about 100ft of cat 5 cable...).

the speed coming into your house has a set limit. if each computer can use all of it, when you hook both up to the same connection, it will slow it down. if your computers cant use all of it, they will stay the same speed.

imagine having one computer on a superfast Tsomething connection. then add one more computer. you wouldnt notice any difference. now imagine 1 computer on a slow dialup. now imagine having two computers fight for that same connection. get the picture? so what i think it comes down to is how much connection your computers are fighting for vs how much is available.

ps, if i am downloading something, my sister is downloading something, and my xbox live is running, my download is usually at 3-5 kbps

[bailey]

100 ft of cat-5 is nothing
eathernet with cat-5 cable is good for 100meters without any degradeing.

a router with a switching hub will let system use the same speed.
its just the bandwith that is shared when several computers are downloading at the same time. normally you can't see any differance.

the router is only running at 10mbps
the network is running at 100 mbps
so with switching it will not slow anything down

[butch81385]

then i have absolutely no clue.... sorry