xboxscene.org forums

Author Topic: Network Problem  (Read 264 times)

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« on: January 01, 2009, 05:34:00 PM »
I've got a crystal xbox (so v1.6?) running XBMC and most of the times it fails to even get an IP from my router. (my other xbox gets an IP every time using the exact same cable)
On the occasions it does get an IP I start to stream a video over the network and it either fails right there or it will stream a few seconds before quitting and saying the location doesn't exist.

I was kind of hoping the current XBMC installation was broken so I put in a evo-x cd to FTP the latest XBMC and it does the same kind of thing - I can FTP in but it fails to display directory contents and just won't let me copy anything.

This sounds a lot like a hardware error with the NIC.
Is there anything I can try to try and fix this or is it now beyond repair?

Thanks
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2009, 06:15:00 PM »
Anyone?
Logged

mhillaby

  • Archived User
  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 43
Network Problem
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2009, 09:46:00 PM »
You could try the ICS chip replacement. Though if it works then dies it doesn't sound like the problem.

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=349816

Try using a static ip see if that helps.

Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2009, 06:20:00 PM »
Cheers, when I get the time I'll take it apart and have a look and see if theres any signs of damage.

I did notice the green light on the port only occasionally flicks on for a short while whereas on my working XBOX it's solid green from the moment its switched on.
Logged

mhillaby

  • Archived User
  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 43
Network Problem
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2009, 07:44:00 PM »
Could also be the port has crapped out. try holding the connector in and pressing down gently. If the link light comes on then the port sucks. Just wedge a piece of paper or tape to hold it down. I have a cable that does that in my laptop.

The only place you'll see damage is possibly the ethernet jack. The ics chip would be killed by static and not visible.

This post has been edited by mhillaby: Jan 8 2009, 03:53 AM
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2009, 06:01:00 PM »
Cheers guys, I got it working.

The contacts in the ethernet port were covered in dust so I cleaned them and it works now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Obviously the guy who gave me it never used the ethernet port, lol.
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2009, 09:26:00 AM »
Well obviously the cleaning did something because it worked for a while but its broken again.  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

The green light occasionally comes on when you boot, but then as soon as any activity starts (like transferring a file) it craps out after 2-3secs. I'm wondering if there's some kind of short which only comes into play when there is network activity.

Kinda sucks as this one has a working DVD but broken network, while my other has a broken DVD and working network.
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2009, 11:55:00 AM »
Think I may have worked it out.
The xbox seems fine when plugged straight into the router so it seems it doesn't like the switch which it usually connects through.
Weird thing is my black xbox has no issues with the switch or any bit of hardware along the line to the router, but the crystal one does.
I shall continue the investigation...  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Logged

Heimdall

  • Archived User
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3862
Network Problem
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2009, 12:34:00 PM »
Autonegotiate sometimes does that - and with most consumer kit (like Xboxes) and most domestic network switches you can't turn it off. Essentially the 802.3u protocol isn't very robust, and can fail in strange ways. The most common is duplex mismatch, but it's not the only one. There's very little you can do about it - a better quality cable sometimes helps, as does plugging into another port on the same device (yes, it can be that fragile!), or cleaning the connection - as you discovered. The most common cause is electrical noise or other signal degradation, or a component that is at one end of its allowed tolerance band.

Bottom line is that sometimes plug and play networking just doesn't work!

Now, having said that, you might still have a dodgy network interface in the Xbox....

You could try having a look at the network status in UnleashX or XBMC, see if it changes when you are having problems.
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2009, 05:10:00 PM »
Cheers for the advice
It's certainly a strange problem.
I'll try it on another switch, but it's the same model as the one its currently on, but who knows.

BTW, I used to live in Reading, well I was born there actually.
Logged

nadnerb

  • Archived User
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
Network Problem
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2009, 08:53:00 AM »
well this problem just seems bizarre!

Since it worked downstairs but not upstairs I decided to try and work out what part was causing it.
I basically re-routed all my upstairs cabling downstairs and suddenly it's working downstairs with upstairs cabling.
Therefore, cables + switch = working.

This then narrows down the cause of the problem to either my TV upstairs (a Samsung 20" LCD), the video cable, or the power cable.

I've tried different video cables (scart and composite) and different power cables but the problem remains.

Do you think some kind of interference either from the TV or the power socket on the wall could be the cause?
Logged