Two-port Ethernet switch
Two-port Ethernet switch
Seeking a way to divide one Ethernet connection into two for your PC and PS4. Your friend’s router has a cable that could work, but a simple 5-port switch might be enough. Look for a more straightforward setup instead.
To merge two Ethernet connections into one, you require either a hub or a switch. This is due to the necessity of assigning a unique IP address to each device. I’ve never encountered a dual-port device; most systems have at least four ports for cost reasons.
Never thought such devices would function properly. An active hub or switch is necessary to split the signal. That’s why ‘ethernet splitters’ aren’t widely used.
1Gbit ethernet needs all four connections in a CAT5 cable. You can use two of them so they split into two pairs, allowing the router’s second port to connect via two cables. Using only two pairs restricts performance to 100Mbit per device.
Ethernet splitters function best when installed at both ends of the cable. This happens because they divide the 8 wires into two groups of 4, with only 4 wires per connector. For 100 Mbps you need just 4 wires, but 1 Gbps requires 8, so you can combine two 100 Mbps cables using one Ethernet cable. Avoid purchasing these devices; opt for a 5-8 port switch instead—they’re under $15 and available used on eBay for less than $10. Here are some sellers:
- Netgear gaming Network Switch GS605AV-100NAS – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Netgear-gaming-...2651253826
- Allied Telesis AT-FS708LE 8 ports – https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allied-Telesis-...2768651423
- D-Link DSS 5 Plus - switch - 5 ports – https://www.ebay.com/itm/D-Link-DSS-5-Pl...2859557421
Consider a five-port gigabit switch for just $20. It’s a quick win, no need to dig deeper.
They might not have a Micro Center in Los Angeles, but Micro Center offers five gigabit switch ports for under $15. It’s likely Fry’s Electronic in LA carries comparable options.