Are there such things as ethernet splitters? Or do I need a router?

[KeithTalent]

Hello all!

So I have slingbox which I am trying to get up and running. I created a thread here: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2056895&enterthread=y asking my general questions abou it.

Now, though, I have come up with a couple of questions about getting this 'network' going, so thought I would post here.

The way my fibre optic internet service works, is there is a hub in my storage area with one main internet port, then four other sub ports. So what you do is connect a cable from the main hub to whatever port you want to activate in another area of the house.

So my questions are as follows:

1. Is there a realtively inexpensive type of cord or something I can buy (not a router) that will allow me to activate more than one port at once?

2. If I do split the connections as mentioned above, does it hurt my speeds at all?

3. Does it make sense to go wireless at all? Will it hurt my Slingbox or gaming experience by doing so?

4. If I absolutely must get a router, can you all recommend one (less than $150 would be nice)? I see a lot of recommendations for Buffalo products, but I do not see them offered anywahere in Canada.

Thanks in advance to everyone for their help! Also, my apologies for the very rookie questions.

Cheers,
KT

 

[tomt4535]

The "hub" that is in your storage area is actually a router(from what I hear about FiOS installations). Im assuming you have one of the 4 ports on the router used up for your main pc already? If so, you can plug in 3 more devices in the 3 free ports on that router there and it will work just fine. If you need more than 3 devices, you can buy a switch. Usually, a switch has an uplink port that you plug a cable into, then into one of those 3 ports, and you have more ports to use however you want.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: tomt4535
The "hub" that is in your storage area is actually a router(from what I hear about FiOS installations). Im assuming you have one of the 4 ports on the router used up for your main pc already? If so, you can plug in 3 more devices in the 3 free ports on that router there and it will work just fine. If you need more than 3 devices, you can buy a switch. Usually, a switch has an uplink port that you plug a cable into, then into one of those 3 ports, and you have more ports to use however you want.

Well the thing about that is, there is a main port (red one) that brings in the juice. I then have to plug one end of the ethernet cable into the red plug and the other end into one of the other 3 blue plugs, in order to make that particular connection live in the other room it is in. See this diagram for example: Internet

So I have to connect a cable from the red one to one of the blue ones, which makes that particular room's connection become live. So I can really only have one connection live at a time.

Hopefully that clarifies what I am talking about?

Thanks!

KT

 

[Googer]

If you have Verizon FIOS, they should provide you with a router. If not, then I highly recommend the D-Link DGL-4300 and at last check Frys had it for around $83.

 

[maddawg]

Here is a splitter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RJ45-Split...ameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: maddawg
Here is a splitter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RJ45-Split...ameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Hey, Awesome! I am going to get one or two of of those for sure!

Thanks so much for finding that!

Cheers,
KT

 

[alaricljs]

FYI - That splitter will NOT do what you want. It's purely an electrical signal splitter, it does nothing in regard to ethernet. Ethernet is a star topology. That means that every junction requires an active device. So at the center of the star is a switch and at the end points is an ethernet card. That splitter counts as a junction, but it is NOT an active device, therefor it won't work.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: alaricljs
FYI - That splitter will NOT do what you want. It's purely an electrical signal splitter, it does nothing in regard to ethernet. Ethernet is a star topology. That means that every junction requires an active device. So at the center of the star is a switch and at the end points is an ethernet card. That splitter counts as a junction, but it is NOT an active device, therefor it won't work.

Oh, damn, I thought this was it.

So does that mean this type of thing does not exist (am I reading your post correctly?)? Is a router the only way to go?

KT

 

[kevnich2]

Just get a buffalo HP router from newegg for like $60, hook the red port into the WAN port of the router and all of the blue ports into the LAN ports of the router with ethernet cables, voila, your whole house is online at once and you'll even have wireless if your done (just make sure to secure it with WPA)

 

[BZeto]

I dont see whats wrong with getting a router. It will do what you need to do and add security to your home network.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Just get a buffalo HP router from newegg for like $60, hook the red port into the WAN port of the router and all of the blue ports into the LAN ports of the router with ethernet cables, voila, your whole house is online at once and you'll even have wireless if your done (just make sure to secure it with WPA)

I can;t find Buffalo products anywhere here in Canada. All I can find is Linksys and D-Link.

Originally posted by: BZeto
I dont see whats wrong with getting a router. It will do what you need to do and add security to your home network.

Nothing wrong with it per se, but the last router I had kept crashing my internet after a while playing certain games (mainly CS:S). It was just a very frustrating experience and expensive for all of the annoyances it caused.

KT

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Just get a buffalo HP router from newegg for like $60, hook the red port into the WAN port of the router and all of the blue ports into the LAN ports of the router with ethernet cables, voila, your whole house is online at once and you'll even have wireless if your done (just make sure to secure it with WPA)

Do a little work and type in www.newegg.com and then do a search for buffalo router. Have it shipped to you.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: kevnich2

Originally posted by: kevnich2
Just get a buffalo HP router from newegg for like $60, hook the red port into the WAN port of the router and all of the blue ports into the LAN ports of the router with ethernet cables, voila, your whole house is online at once and you'll even have wireless if your done (just make sure to secure it with WPA)

Do a little work and type in www.newegg.com and then do a search for buffalo router. Have it shipped to you.

Erm, yeah, they don't ship to Canada. I have been waiting for them to do so for a couple of years now. But thanks anyway.

KT

 

[neocor]

There is nothing like a splitter for Ethernet.
There is either a router a switch or a hub

Get one of these

Netgear Switch

Netgear 4-port switch

neo

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: neocor
There is nothing like a splitter for Ethernet.
There is either a router a switch or a hub

Get one of these

Netgear Switch

Netgear 4-port switch

neo

Thanks, I did not know that. I like the look of the first one you linked.

Cheers,
KT

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Nothing wrong with it per se, but the last router I had kept crashing my internet after a while playing certain games (mainly CS:S). It was just a very frustrating experience and expensive for all of the annoyances it caused.

There are many quality/stable routers out there that you will probably have no issues with. The avg price for a decent SOHO router these days is about $50-60 USD. Buffalo was mentioned but if you cant get those in Canada try Linksys or Netgear imo.

Btw getting just a switch like linked above will not allow all areas of the house to be online at once, you will need a router or something to provide NAT

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: BZeto

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Nothing wrong with it per se, but the last router I had kept crashing my internet after a while playing certain games (mainly CS:S). It was just a very frustrating experience and expensive for all of the annoyances it caused.

There are many quality/stable routers out there that you will probably have no issues with. The avg price for a decent SOHO router these days is about $50-60 USD. Buffalo was mentioned but if you cant get those in Canada try Linksys or Netgear imo.

Btw getting just a switch like linked above will not allow all areas of the house to be online at once, you will need a router or something to provide NAT

Wow, am I ever a noob when it comes to this stuff. Thanks!

I think I will just use this one: http://www.ncix.com/products/i...41&manufacture=Linksys and be done with it.

Thanks again,
KT