You are missing an Ethernet port and want to convert one Ethernet cable to two. The first thing that comes to mind may be Ethernet splitting. You have several options: hub, splitter, or switch. Each solution offers different things, so before buying any equipment, it is important to determine which one will provide you the best. Here, we show you the difference between an Ethernet switch and an Ethernet switch. Hubs and dividers, so you can make the right choice.
Ethernet Switch vs. Hub vs. Splitter Overview
All of these devices require an Ethernet cable and allow you to connect multiple Ethernet devices to it. How smart they do is different. It is important to understand the capabilities of the technology you are purchasing.
Ethernet Splitter
Let’s start with the product that you might most want to buy when converting one Ethernet connection to multiple Ethernet connections. (Hint: don’t do this!)
The Ethernet splitter looks very ordinary. This is a small device with three Ethernet ports, two on one side and one on the other. If you have extra short Ethernet cables, but only one or two long cables, then this is where the splitter comes in handy.
Note: The Ethernet splitter does not actually increase the number of devices you can connect over Ethernet, you must use a splitter at the other end to “split” the connection into two cables, so two splitters will be needed Ethernet every time.
Let’s look at an example:
You have a typical home router in one room and your desktop computer and game console in another room. You want to connect both to Ethernet, but there is only one Ethernet port in each room. You can run two cables from the router, plug them both into the splitter, plug the splitter into the wall, and then reverse it on the other side with another splitter plugged into the two devices you want to connect. This is all the divider can handle.
One of the main disadvantages of the Ethernet splitter is that it reduces the number of cables used in Cat 5e Ethernet cables and reduces data throughput from 1000 Mbps to 100 Mbps, which is almost on par with most connections. home Internet services. This allows you to use one cable for two Ethernet connections.
Although Ethernet splitters are inexpensive and seem to provide a good solution, they slow down the speed of network traffic. This may affect the performance of Ethernet connected devices. Ethernet splitters are also limited to a maximum of two devices per cable.
For some limited situations, an Ethernet splitter is a good choice. However, it is almost always better to choose an Ethernet switch or hub.
Ethernet Hub
Next is the Ethernet hub, which has been eliminated by the switch (described below). You connect the cable to the router, and the remaining devices can be connected to other ports without “split”. This sounds good, but hubs are just as unsmart as splitters.
Think of the hub as a huge echo chamber full of network traffic. Data packets come in and scream for the device they are trying to connect to. Data enters a port, and the hub just amplifies it to all other devices connected to it. In more technical terms, the hub cannot allow the device to send and receive data at the same time, which is called half-duplex communication.
This can cause data conflicts and retention, take up valuable bandwidth and slow down the network speed, especially when using multiple devices at the same time.
Please note that an Ethernet hub looks a lot like a switch, so when you really want a switch, please don’t buy a hub by mistake.
Ethernet Switch
Going back to our original theme of turning one Ethernet cable into two, the Ethernet switch is the real star of this guide. The way it works is very simple. You can use one port to connect the switch to the router via Ethernet, and then connect the Ethernet device to the remaining ports, such as a hub.
However, the switch has real thinking, which means that data enters one port, the switch knows where it must go, and then sends it out on another port. This means that once the switch parses its switch table, there is no transmission like a hub, it only knows where to send the data according to the internal table it tracks. Basically one Ethernet port will become multiple ports.
The switch enables full-duplex communication between devices, which means that data can be sent and received at the same time, thus speeding up the network.
The best part is that Ethernet switches are inexpensive. You should be able to buy an Ethernet switch for around $ 15.
Why not try an alternative?
If you want to connect multiple devices, then a network cable is only one option. There are multiple methods to share the same signal between multiple devices, including some Wi-Fi options.
Here are three alternatives to the traditional network splitter.
1. Mesh Wi-Fi
Mesh WiFi routers do not transmit WiFi signals from a single point, but have multiple access points, sometimes called satellites. These satellites capture the signal from the router and retransmit it.
Since all access points transmit the same signal, there is no need to change the WiFi connection when moving from one access point to another. If you often encounter WiFi dead zones in your home or office, you may be an ideal candidate for mesh WiFi. Popular mesh router solutions include solutions from Google Nest Wi-fi, Netgear Orbi, and eero.
2. Ethernet Over Power Line (EOP)
EOP is where you use the existing cables in the building to transmit data for the internal network (LAN).
EOP consists of transmitter and receiver. Plug the transmitter into a power outlet, and then use an Ethernet cable to connect the transmitter to the router. Plug the receiver into a power outlet and use an Ethernet cable to connect the receiver to your device.
The EOP transmitter converts the signal in the high frequency range of the wire, and the receiver demodulates the signal. This will establish a physical connection between your Ethernet device and the router without the need for additional cables. Assuming you have purchased a compatible EOP adapter, you can configure multiple receivers in your home or office.
3. MoCA
If you have installed a coaxial cable, you can use a MoCA adapter to send an Ethernet signal over the existing cable. If your home is hooked up to cable TV, you usually already have a coaxial cable. This means that you can connect a MoCA adapter to your router and another coaxial port near each room where you want to access the Internet.
If you need to connect other devices using coaxial cables, you may also need to use a coaxial splitter.
Wrapping Up
Now that you understand the difference between Ethernet switches, hubs, and splitters, you know which one is right for you. In most cases, we recommend an Ethernet switch because it is in fact the most versatile solution.
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