Connecting two network switches in series to extend my ethernet network

[Daplatt]

Now, I've already done it and it works, after a fashion,  however, after the second switch the speed is much slower. For info the switches are standard bt ones.  Is this to be expected or am I connecting things up incorrectly?

[TimmyBGood]

@Daplatt 

There should be no discernable speed reduction through an ethernet switch unless there's a disparity in technology (1000Mbs, 100Mbs or even 10Mbs)

Ethernet patch leads should be at least Cat5e to maintain speed: avoid non-Cat rated Copper Clad Aluminium cable though.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'the switches are standard bt ones': I'm not aware BT manufactures any such hardware.

Edit: ah, I see they once sold some BT-badged switches, which must now be rather old.

[Daplatt]

Thanks, that's what I suspected. Interestingly,  bt use a different type now so they might be dated. However, each one, in it's own achieves the max speed. It's just when I put the second one in series that the speed is more than halved. Actually, I find the whole business rather fascinating because there's a distinct lack of info about the issue, yet I would have thought that many others would have tried some thing similar since ethernet is so more reliable. 

[TimmyBGood]

@Daplatt 

Check each cable is eight core.  Ethernet can work over only four, but at 100Mbs rather than gigabit.

[Daplatt · Accepted solution]

Well, I've discovered that the problem is caused by a clash with my Sky q mini box which is connected to the same ethernet switch. Apparently, it is a recognised issue which, I don't think, has been sorted. 

[StuXxxxx]

Are you sure you need two switches?  Two switches in series gives you 300m reach, as a cat 5e/6 cable is capable of 100m.  Most people don't have houses that big.

[Daplatt]

Good point, but I have other things running off the first switch as well. But, I do understand, that, in an ideal world, one would have a single switch in each room which runs back separately to the base router. There is also the practicalities of running multiple ethernet cables around the house. Of course, some people would argue that wifi solves that problem, however, ethernet is much more stable and less prone to interference etc. 

[Chrisee]

@Daplatt i have used two ethernet switches connected in series for several years one located near the Sky hub the second remotely in my study without issue. 

However the issue you mention with Sky Q minis appears to be a real one and is unlikely to be solved. Sky Q is now an old design which uses a networking system developed by Airties over 10 years ago. At that time limitations on speeds over 100Mb/s in domestic networks was not an issue. Given Sky are moving away from satellite broadcasting there is no realistic possibility that they will make any significant changes to the Q system. The issue does not affect the Sky Stream equipment which operate as simple network clients which greatly simplfies network design.