Splitting an ethernet cord between two appliances.

[Coldkilla]

I wasn't sure what category to put this in, I decided here. Bare with me as I try and explain this.

Components: PC, Xbox360, Monitor, 1 Ethernet cord.

Goal:
-Take (only) 1 ethernet cord, connect it to something which allows for 2 ethernet cords to connect to it.
-Use the two new cords to connect both the Xbox360 and the PC together - allowing both to use the internet at the same time.
-Also allowing the Xbox360 to detect a PC and allow me to stream things like music through the Xbox console.

I probably wont use both components at the same time but its annoying to be manually unplugging the PC and Xbox every time I want to use it. Its also annoying having to burn a measly 18 songs at a time to the Xbox360 Hard Drive from a CD and would rather stream music from the PC to the Xbox through the "Connect Xbox to PC" option in the Xbox options.

Any idea on a component that would do this for me? Thanks.

Here is a picture to better illustrate my point:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7262/85994803jp3.png

 

[drebo]

What you need is a switch.

 

[JackMDS]

There are couplers that do it.

They are as expensive as an humble switch and they brake the standard wiring connection.


I.e., get a switch, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833166006

 

[Coldkilla]

Will it allow data to travel from the PC to the Xbox?

 

[alevasseur14]

Yes.

 

[Coldkilla]

Sweet thanks.

 

[sjwaste]

What do you have for the internet connection, are you plugging ethernet right into the cable modem/dsl modem, or do you have a router?

If you don't have a router at some point, two devices through a switch aren't going to work.

 

[Coldkilla]

Well the other guy said it would.. great...

My PC is 2 floors up and 40 feet from the router.. the holes drilled for the cord are insanely small, not to mention I don't own the place and cannot drill wider holes. There's got to a way to use both appliances.... not at the same time as in: Browsing the internet and playing Xbox at the same time... but ether A: Using the internet at one time. B. Using the xbox at another....

Meanwhile the Xbox detects the PC and can stream music from it into the xbox (its an option in the dashboard/menu to use the option).

 

[drebo]

As you do have a router and are currently using two of the devices simultaneously, yes, a switch will work.

 

[Coldkilla]

So like this it will work?
http://img231.imageshack.us/im...239/85994803jp3ze2.png

Exactly connected in this way?

 

[JackMDS]

Yes, and the splitter is called a Switch.

 

[Coldkilla]

Right right. I was just thinking that this 'switch' when 'switched' cuts the connection off between two appliances using an actual switch, thus disconnecting any chance of having the xbox360 actually detect the pc.

 

[jlazzaro]

don't take the word switch so literal...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

 

[Coldkilla]

Yea lol, well I have had no experience in 'switches' and thus only thought what the average noob' thought.