Can\'t get cat5 to work

[jpearman]

*modem and router are in the basement
*modem and router are connected and I have wireless internet throughout the house
*there is a data/communications panel next to the modem and router in the basement
*in my office on the main floor there is a wall jack for a cat5 plug
*what I want to do is have a wired internet connection on my desk in my office on the main floor --- ethernet from computer to wall jack, cat5 behind wall jack runs to panel, modem and router are connected to the panel
*the wiring in in place
*the wiring does not work
*I took a laptop into the basement and connected with ethernet cable directly to router --- it works
*I have wired the male and female ends of the cat5 run as "A" and as "B" --- tried all possible combinations
*thought cat5 run was defective so I bought a new 100 foot cat5 cable, put male and female ends on it, plugged into router, dragged other end up to main floor, and plugged ethernet into the cat5 run (basically simulating the run that is behind the wall) --- it does not work
*tried all combinations with the plugs on the 100 foot cat5 run and no luck
*finally put male ends on both ends of the 100 foot cat5 run and used as an ethernet directly to the laptop --- does not work
*I have no idea what to try next
*please help

 

[tigsounds]

Are you absolutely certain the wires are in the connectors properly?

There is an exchange in colors at one place..

 

[stevwolf]

First things first.

You have verified that the router works. Thats the right thing to do.

However it sounds like you are making your own cables. Initially don't do that. Buy store bought cables. Once things are working then make your own. But work only with known working cables to patch the line from the router to the panel.

The best thing is to use the cable that you originally used from the router to the computer. If that works then great that is a good tested wire. once you have tested the cable from router to laptop and gotten it to work, unplug from laptop and plug into the house patch panel. I have never used these patch panels in houses but see if there are any labels on the rj45 sockets if not plug it into each one at a time, and then plug your laptop in upstairs (since you know it works) into the socket up stairs. Open a comand prompt on XP and type ipconfig /renew once this is done type ipconfig and see if you have an ip. or ping www.yahoo.com and see if you get a response.

If nothing works then buy at the store (20$) a network tester. you plug one in in basement the other in your office and see if it lights up. great tool to have.