What's the easiest way to add another ethernet port?

StevieP · 10 Dec 2011 at 00:07

I have my Sky router near the TV and am currently using the 4 ports for my PS3, WDTV Live, NAS and homeplug to pipe the internet connection to my PC upstairs.

The trouble is I could do with a couple of extra ports to feed a new TV and my Sky box but I could do without having to power another hub behind the TV!

Is it possible to add a couple of extra ports without a powered hub??

bremen1874 · 10 Dec 2011 at 00:39

TNGL · 10 Dec 2011 at 00:41

An ethernet splitter? Although, I don't think they're recommended.

Something like this,

Phemo · 10 Dec 2011 at 00:52

Ethernet splitters are designed to be used with one at each end of a single piece of cable. They can work because for a 100mbit Ethernet connection only 4 of the 8 wires in an Ethernet cable are used. Using the splitter at each end assigns the second port to the unused 4 wires. However gigabit transfer rates will not be possible with these.

In short this will not do what the OP wants as it's a solution to effectively running two cables in one, not adding more ports.

Gammawolf · 10 Dec 2011 at 01:05

Small switch, hubs are old school.

PistolPete · 10 Dec 2011 at 09:21

Cheap 10/100 switch:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-040-TP&groupid=46&catid=1626&subcat=

Cheap Gigabit switch:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-011-TP&groupid=46&catid=1626&subcat=

StevieP · 10 Dec 2011 at 09:43

Thanks for the replies guys!

I was afraid I'd end up having to plug in a switch/hub (whats the difference??) but it looks like thats the only way I can do it I guess!

So in respect of the gigabit one above, I assume I just pipe one of the existing ports into the switch and then I can use the rest of the 4 as I wish??

Thanks again....

3dcandy · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:10

yeah exactly that...can't be helped I'm afraid!
:-)

Gammawolf · 10 Dec 2011 at 13:36

StevieP said:
Thanks for the replies guys!

I was afraid I'd end up having to plug in a switch/hub (whats the difference??) but it looks like thats the only way I can do it I guess!

In short, switches are intelligent and route traffic to the devices that need the information, hubs just transmit whatever they get to every port and the host on the end decides to ignore or accept the frames. Tbh i don't even know if you can get hubs anymore. Essentially it's less collisions and more bandwidth per device with a switch.

StevieP · 12 Dec 2011 at 14:27

Whats the difference between a "managed" and "unmanaged" switch?

GhostlyPea · 12 Dec 2011 at 14:42

If you don't know the difference you probably don't need it - just get an unmanaged

Have a read of this although it's pretty cheesy

- GP

StevieP · 12 Dec 2011 at 16:11

Cheers! Unmanaged it is then! :cool: