Cable Static Electricity

[philh]

Years ago, I had a CAT 5 networking cable that ran really slow. Called up the networking hub mfg, and asked for their help. First question are you using the cable we provided? No, why would that make a difference? So he had me hook the cable to my laptop, and with a volt meter test each wire to ground. It made a huge difference in speed, 10x! Explained it as static charge buildup during wire mfg, and their specs included ground the wires during testing phase.

Now for the question(s). Was I being fed a load of crap? Why did the VM testing to ground make the wire transmit data faster (the supplied cable did run faster). If it's not a pile of dunk, could this explain alleged "break-in"?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Years ago, I had a CAT 5 networking cable that ran really slow. Called up the networking hub mfg, and asked for their help. First question are you using the cable we provided? No, why would that make a difference? So he had me hook the cable to my laptop, and with a volt meter test each wire to ground. It made a huge difference in speed, 10x! Explained it as static charge buildup during wire mfg, and their specs included ground the wires during testing phase.

Now for the question(s). Was I being fed a load of crap? Why did the VM testing to ground make the wire transmit data faster (the supplied cable did run faster). If it's not a pile of dunk, could this explain alleged "break-in"?

No, it would not explain 'break-in' No such thing for wires.
I don't know what happened when you applied your leads and meter between the ground and wire for testing. As to statig buildup at manufacturing, if it did, it aint permanent and would dissipate and discharge.

 

[philh]

No, it would not explain 'break-in' No such thing for wires.
I don't know what happened when you applied your leads and meter between the ground and wire for testing. As to statig buildup at manufacturing, if it did, it aint permanent and would dissipate and discharge.

They did tell me it would dissipate and discharge, but would take time. There clearly was a huge difference in speed before and after discharging.

 

[mtrycrafts]

They did tell me it would dissipate and discharge, but would take time. There clearly was a huge difference in speed before and after discharging.

Don't know what to tell you
Are you indicating that measuring discharged it? Or, over time it did by itself?
Maybe Wmax can shed some thoughts on this

 

[philh]

Don't know what to tell you
Are you indicating that measuring discharged it? Or, over time it did by itself?
Maybe Wmax can shed some thoughts on this

Yes, measuring it to ground instantly improved throughput. They did say if I didn't do a thing, it would gradually speed up by itself.

 

[jneutron]

Yes, measuring it to ground instantly improved throughput. They did say if I didn't do a thing, it would gradually speed up by itself.

Phil

The explanation given you is entirely without merit. Something else was the issue..

John

 

[philh]

Phil

The explanation given you is entirely without merit. Something else was the issue..

John

That's why I asked here. My mechanical engineering brain has trouble with imaginary things

 

[jneutron]

That's why I asked here. My mechanical engineering brain has trouble with imaginary things

Choices, choices...hmmmm

Do I slap ya upside the head with a stock mech eng joke, do I create a new one, or, do I just let this fine opportunity pass me by.??

Arggghhh, it's killin me...but, I'll be nice..

It is amazing some of the things that come out of either tech service or marketing..

If I had ta guess, I'd say the xcvr circuitry in the hub is smart and detects the cable and adjusts it's speed accordingly. Or, maybe it's circuitry latched and unplugging the cable allowed it to unstick..so many possibilities that don't require abolishing the laws of physics..

Ya shoulda asked him, if there is a charge on the wires of the cable from manufacturing, how did they cut it to the length they needed? Or, how did they verify all the connections at the ends were good? What, no continuity or isolation tests?

Sometimes, ya just gotta shake your head and thank the lord the person who came up with that explanation isn't a brain surgeon or airline pilot..

Cheers, John

 

[MacManNM]

It's not static, thats hoopla. It is probably a bad connector. I build those cat5's all the time, and the quality of the connectors are crap, they will work, just not well. I've had the same thing happen. The meter has G-ohm z so it didn't do anything as far as discharge.

 

[philh]

Choices, choices...hmmmm

Do I slap ya upside the head with a stock mech eng joke, do I create a new one, or, do I just let this fine opportunity pass me by.??

Arggghhh, it's killin me...but, I'll be nice..

It is amazing some of the things that come out of either tech service or marketing..

If I had ta guess, I'd say the xcvr circuitry in the hub is smart and detects the cable and adjusts it's speed accordingly. Or, maybe it's circuitry latched and unplugging the cable allowed it to unstick..so many possibilities that don't require abolishing the laws of physics..

Ya shoulda asked him, if there is a charge on the wires of the cable from manufacturing, how did they cut it to the length they needed? Or, how did they verify all the connections at the ends were good? What, no continuity or isolation tests?

Sometimes, ya just gotta shake your head and thank the lord the person who came up with that explanation isn't a brain surgeon or airline pilot..

Cheers, John

I wouldn't worry about a little bit of electricity stopping a cutting operation. I've seen a couple of wires shortened very nicely with the side of a screwdriver Of course it doesn't beat my friend throwing a screwdriver at me, LOL. I saw it devolping and before I could say anything, he's holding onto the screw driver blade and the side of the panel.

Don't know, this happened years ago, and I do know there was a 10x increase in speed after the "destaticing" operation. So, what ever it fixed, it worked, even if the explanation was suspect.

Could be worse, tech support now starts the script with reboot, reload, hour wait for someone who really knows what they are doing.