Small switch behind tv? Any issues

Mark M

Mark M

Mark M

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It would appear I’ve fallen into the trap of not putting in enough network cables at the tv, I assumed 4 would be enough but alas no! Is it ok to use a small switch on one of the cables? I’m going to need 6 connections in total but can keep the 3 most resource hungry devices on their own connections.

Thanks.
 
Ok thanks, just didn’t want to cause a bottleneck or anything. It’s doubtful that any of the devices would be used at the same time to be fair if I connected them a certain way.
 
Another way of doing it is to split 2 of the cables but you would only get 100Mb from these.

It's a much better way of doing it, especially if the devices are things only accept 100Mb or don't need anything faster.

So for one you'd use the green and orange pairs, the other the blue and brown pairs. I think from memory you need 1 pair on pins 1&2, the other pair on 3&6.
 
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the-evaluator said:
It's not a better way, it's a nasty bodge which is best avoided. Using a switch is a much more reliable way of doing it.
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No its not a bodge at all. And a switch most certainly isnt always the best way.

In this situation if a 100Mb switch was used it would be slower than running two devices of 1 cable, because the switch would divide the 100Mb per device attatched to the switch, whereas using 2x pairs would give you a full 100Mb per device.
And the switch would be less reliable its something that can fail, using 2x pairs there is nothing to go wrong.

If the OP is wanting to run gigabit devices then yes a gigabit switch is the way to go.

You can even buy splitters, does seem i was right 1&2, 3&6. If you have a patch panel id save the money and just re-punch that cable. But it would be a tidy way of doing the faceplate end.
https://uk.farnell.com/tuk/adf/cabl...PING-Cable-Wire-Assemblies-NEWSTRUCTURE-20APR
 
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We've obviously got different opinions but to me it's definitely a bodge.

You say there's nothing to go wrong, but how are you 'splitting' the cable? Actually butting into it and whacking 2 new plugs on each end or using thise splitter things? Those splitters can definitely fail and whacking 2 plugs on end of a single cable will lead to both ends of that cable being fragile.

Yes, a switch can fail but I still maintain that using a switch will be more reliable than a bodge job.

Each to their own though.
 
the-evaluator said:
We've obviously got different opinions but to me it's definitely a bodge.

You say there's nothing to go wrong, but how are you 'splitting' the cable? Actually butting into it and whacking 2 new plugs on each end or using thise splitter things? Those splitters can definitely fail and whacking 2 plugs on end of a single cable will lead to both ends of that cable being fragile.

Yes, a switch can fail but I still maintain that using a switch will be more reliable than a bodge job.

Each to their own though.
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Who puts plugs onto cables any more, you just punch 2 pairs into a module rather than all 4. How is it less fragile, its absolutely no different.
Just replace your 4 module faceplate with a 6 module one, they are harder to get but you can even get 6 module single faceplates.
 
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robj20 said:
No its not a bodge at all. And a switch most certainly isnt always the best way.

In this situation if a 100Mb switch was used it would be slower than running two devices of 1 cable, because the switch would divide the 100Mb per device attatched to the switch, whereas using 2x pairs would give you a full 100Mb per device.
And the switch would be less reliable its something that can fail, using 2x pairs there is nothing to go wrong.

If the OP is wanting to run gigabit devices then yes a gigabit switch is the way to go.

You can even buy splitters, does seem i was right 1&2, 3&6. If you have a patch panel id save the money and just re-punch that cable. But it would be a tidy way of doing the faceplate end.
https://uk.farnell.com/tuk/adf/cabl...PING-Cable-Wire-Assemblies-NEWSTRUCTURE-20APR
Click to expand...

Im sorry, but I have to agree that this is a horrible solution. And a gigabit switch fed with 100 or 1000Mbps will always be faster than multiple 100Mpbs lines. It just will.
 
WJA96 said:
Im sorry, but I have to agree that this is a horrible solution. And a gigabit switch fed with 100 or 1000Mbps will always be faster than multiple 100Mpbs lines. It just will.
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Your just agreeing with me there, i said a gigabit switch would be faster, so why are you arguing with me?

Or are you trying to say a 100Mb switch serving 2 devices is faster than 2 x 100Mb connections? Which it isn't.

I don't know why your all trying to decide for the OP, only he knows what will work best.
If he has 6 x Gigabit devices a switch is definitely the way to go, if 4 of those devices are only able to do 100Mb then there are other ways of doing it.
Obviously if your infrastructure is Gb but the devices are 100base then you can still use a Gb switch for full speed as well.
 
Even if the devices are all 100Mbps today, they probably won’t be at some point in the future. And an 8-port Gigabit switch is about £25 these days, so I’m going to disagree with you on this. In my opinion, splitting the pairs on the cables is not a good solution in this instance.
 
WJA96 said:
Even if the devices are all 100Mbps today, they probably won’t be at some point in the future. And an 8-port Gigabit switch is about £25 these days, so I’m going to disagree with you on this. In my opinion, splitting the pairs on the cables is not a good solution in this instance.
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Okay sorry my mistake, your absolutely correct.
 
robj20 said:
Who puts plugs onto cables any more, you just punch 2 pairs into a module rather than all 4. How is it less fragile, its absolutely no different.
Just replace your 4 module faceplate with a 6 module one, they are harder to get but you can even get 6 module single faceplates.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I'd assumed the OP had 4 terminated cables poking out of the wall rather than a face plate.
 
robj20 said:
Okay sorry my mistake, your absolutely correct.
Click to expand...

On one hand, this is great use of knowledge, and in the right circumstances it could be a life-saver. And in this case I think a switch is easier and will be better. Your idea of splitting the cables would work too.
 
The cable splitting idea isn't terrible, if a proper adopter is used. I've had to do similar where a switch is overkill, and additional power is needed. Hacking two RJ45 male connectors onto a single cable I completely agree is a hack, that should be completely avoided. Making better use of a cable run, with the correct tooling is not a hack.
 
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