Adding a switch...

Matd80

Matd80

Matd80

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Joined
19 Nov 2010
Posts
142
Never used a switch before.
Just want to check with the experts before I buy.
Currently, have a VM (not so)super-hub downstairs and am running out of Ethernet ports.

Each port goes to 1)sky box, 2)ps3, 3)upstairs for wired Internet to desktop(for all my downloading) and 4)MacBook for transferring files from pc.

However, I want to add some more ports for: another sky box upstairs, ps3 will be moved upstairs when ps4 comes out and would like to plug macbook in and have it in the same room as pc when I'm transferring files.

Can I add a gigabit 5 port switch and plug the Ethernet cable that runs to the pc upstairs into the switch then run cables from sky box, pc and MacBook all into the switch and have all access the Internet/LAN as if they were all connected to the router?

Cheers
 
Yup, I have 2 like that myself. A 10/100/1000 under the TV, since I only ran one cable under the carpet (SKY, PS3 and TV) and my main one is in the cabinet in the spare room (16 port 10/100/1000) which goes all over (including to the one under the TV).

No special cables required anymore either!
 
Yup, you can mix cables, (cat5e will work for pretty much everything you do anyway) and any basic unmanaged switch is plug and play. Any managed switch is not, but they cost quite a bt more money, so don't worry about it.

Just get a gigabit switch, saves having to upgrade and means you can transfer faster.
 
Perfect then. Fortunately, I have all the cables already in place.

I have a cat 5 cable running outside the house, up the wall (newly pebble-dashed house oops- mrs loves me) from living room to computer room upstairs and I already have 2 cat6 cables running from that room via under the floorboards to our bedroom to the sky box.

I used to split the hdmi output from the sky box and send it via 2 cat6 cables to the pc monitor when i wanted to watch sports in there. Worked very well but didn't end up using it that much. The picture was awesome tho on a 24" samsung led monitor on sports hd.

So everything in place already just need to hook up the switch.
 
The answers to the OP answered almost exactly the same question I had. Cheers.

Gonna go for a couple of the TP-Link 5 port gigabit switches from OCUK.
 
Remember, there's cat5, cat5e and cat6

cat5e is perfect for gigabit. I use it throughout the house and each machine has gigabit.

I have a router and a switch. The switch I use, shamefully is a Belkin switch, but it's never skipped a beat!


-This may sound silly, but remember if you buy a 5 port switch, only 4 will be usable, because the 5th one (doesn't matter which one you plug it into) must go to the router. Something to consider, it may be worth getting an 8 instead if you need a lot of ports.

I screwed mine into the back of the TV cabinet, so it's hidden from view.
 
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