[oarsinsync]

Network cables (copper and fibre) have a limited bend radius. Most people don't think about this and will bend a cable beyond tolerance, which will eventually result in the cable not working correctly, and/or manifest as intermittent issues.

I suspect that's the most common cause of network cables 'going bad' in the home.

[magicalhippo]

I learned this back in school, when the previous years students had laid new Ethernet cables from the classroom to the server room, but the machines would only get 10M and not 100M link as they should.

Didn't take us long to notice they had laid the cable like electricians, neatly following the contours of a few door frames with tight 90 degree bends.

Glad I learned that lesson early.