@eddy
I appreciate you trying to help, but I've been doing IT for 17+ years, so I don't need a lecture on the pros of using a Firewall :-)
Regardless of how common crossover cables are, it's what the manufacturer says we need, so I am using it.
The type of cable I am using is irrelevant; because as I previously stated, as soon as I turn off the Avast Web Shield, the problems all go away.