Got a really wierd problem here.

Recently upgraded our network - got a 100Mbps switch. Really cool. All NICs support this higher speed, so we thought it wuld be excellent.

But here's the catch. None of our rooms can run at 100 - we can only run at 10. Seems simple enough (maybe) but read on....

There is a port in the lounge that can run successfully at 100. We made sure patch cables are configured same way - no joy. So we disconnected network ports and plugged it straight into PC. (In effect, this makes a really long patch from PC to switch which is configured same as one that works). No joy.

Tried different port on the switch. No joy.

Tried a laptop (that works in lounge) and brought it in here. Now it can't run at 100Mbps connection. Did the thing with the cable - effectively the same (but longer) patch cable directly from known working laptop direct to switch. Only 10.

It's wierd but we seem to have narrowed it down to fact that something related to either lengh of network cables, or maybe they are too close to power cables...?

Using Cat5 (blue) cable, and a NetGear switch. All laptops/PCs are using Intel NICs. But like i said, seems to be a problem with the wires themselves?!

So then - cables are not *that* long. Maybe 10 metres at most. (er... 35 ish feet?) Only thing we can think of is closeness to power cables or something.

Any way to shield these cables? Any way to test whether or not it is something to do with proximity to power cables?

Got all this lovely kit and it is prety much useless unless we all set up our PCs in the lounge!!!