[SOLVED] Do I Have a Broken Ethernet Port?

[Keithngan162]

Could sticking in a USB A inside an ethernet port break the ethernet port?. On my laptop, the ethernet port is right beside the USB A port. So, sometimes, i accidentally ram the USB A plug inside the ethernet port, thinking it was the right port.

I was using wireless internet for everything before, so the ethernet port was always empty. But now, I want to use a wired connection, but the wired connection keeps dropping every 3 minutes or so and reconnects again, so its impossible to play online games with it.




My laptop: Lenovo Legion Y520

This is my LAN controller i think: realtek pcie gbe family controller

My ethernet cable: UGREEN 15meter Flat Cat7

 

[kanewolf]

You will have to look at the port. There are 8 tiny wire "fingers" that touch the gold contacts on the ethernet cable. If they are bent then your port may be broken.

But a more likely problem is the "flat" ethernet cord. The wires in those cords is too small in diameter. Before you think you have a port problem, go buy a new all-copper, round cat5e cable and try it.

 

[Keithngan162]

Are all flat ethernet cables bad? Because i have to route the ethernet cable through a door because the condominium i live in has concrete walls all around


Also my ethernet cable is farely newish. Bought it on December 11. I have been using the ethernet cable for another router I have in my room (Xiaomi router). The extra router is just for extending the wifi range. I noticed that when connected to the Xiaomi router, the speed is cut in half, and sometimes the speed is just 1 or 2 mbps, while my internet plan is 75mbps. I have the router to act as a repeater.





The condominium I live in is also pretty old, so I didnt even try to use powerline because I dont think the internal wiring in the condominium is very good.

 

[kanewolf]

Are all flat ethernet cables bad? Because i have to route the ethernet cable through a door because the condominium i live in has concrete walls all around


Also my ethernet cable is farely newish. Bought it on December 11. I have been using the ethernet cable for another router I have in my room (Xiaomi router). The extra router is just for extending the wifi range. I noticed that when connected to the Xiaomi router, the speed is cut in half, and sometimes the speed is just 1 or 2 mbps, while my internet plan is 75mbps. I have the router to act as a repeater.





The condominium I live in is also pretty old, so I didnt even try to use powerline because I dont think the internal wiring in the condominium is very good.

Yes, IMO, all flat cables are bad. They have too small wire. The spec for ethernet cable is 22 or 24 gauge wire. If you can find some that is that wire gauge, then it might be OK, but the features that make ethernet cable work and flat cables are generally opposites.

Did you try a "normal" cable? That is the best way to validate that the wire is the problem.

 

[Keithngan162]

Not yet because I couldn't route the cable underneath my door. But will try to test it with a regular ethernet cable

Also, my flat ethernet cable is 32AWG, so thats probably not good.

 

[kanewolf]

Not yet because I couldn't route the cable underneath my door. But will try to test it with a regular ethernet cable

Also, my flat ethernet cable is 32AWG, so thats probably not good.

Nope. 32 gauge is bad. Just lay a regular cable across the floor for a temporary test. Doesn't have to run under the door for a test.

 

[Keithngan162]

Ok will do the test soon. Busy right now


But after checking the ethernet port, i see that one of the gold lines(idk what theyre called) so 1 of them is like flat down.
Pictures:
https://imgur.com/xfhllrZ
https://imgur.com/Rvj6JKV

Its the 3rd one from the right

 

[kanewolf]

It definitely looks like those wires have been damaged some. It is hard to say if that is the problem or the cable is. Using a conventional cable temporarily will eliminate that as a possibility.

 

[jsmithepa]

Use a regular round CAT cable just for testing to prove yourself yes/no flat cable fault, not asking you to replace/permanent mount.

 

[Keithngan162]

After trying a 32AWG flat cable and a 24awg round cable, I still keep getting disconnected, but i noticed that it only happened when the ethernet cable gets moved just a little bit.
So, I guess its the port that is the problem?

 

[jsmithepa]

If u can reproduce the problem every single time u disturb the cable, is highly probable something wrong with the jack(s). Have you look at them closely with a flashlight? 8 parallel pins not touching each other, not bent, look for dust balls. When u plug the cable in, it should go in with a solid click, no mushyness.

 

[kanewolf]

If u can reproduce the problem every single time u disturb the cable, is highly probable something wrong with the jack(s). Have you look at them closely with a flashlight? 8 parallel pins not touching each other, not bent, look for dust balls. When u plug the cable in, it should go in with a solid click, no mushyness.

The pictures that were attached to this post -- http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3872226/broken-ethernet-port.html#21701858 clearly show some damage.

 

[Keithngan162]

I've bought a USB hub with gigabit ethernet, fixed all my problems.

This is the USB hub that I got.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LLUEJFU/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00LLUEJFU&pd_rd_w=88vxd&pf_rd_p=f0dedbe2-13c8-4136-a746-4398ed93cf0f&pd_rd_wg=qJoAg&pf_rd_r=RKSSV2ASSEK95FXBN5FW&pd_rd_r=7a7142b2-2538-11e9-af28-13b30478bfa1