Member Avatar for Member #23858

I have an ethernet cable coming into a room and need to split it into two devices. What type of splitter do you recommend as being the best?

  • 3 Contributors
  • 4 Replies
  • 81 Views
  • 14 Hours Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by cohen

Dani AI

Generated

Quick practical follow-up to @ingeborgdot@yah's setup and the suggestions from and . For a single Ethernet drop that must serve two devices, the least-fuss, most reliable option is a small unmanaged multiport Ethernet switch (modern, gigabit-capable). It simply adds LAN ports, negotiates speed/duplex per device, and needs no configuration. Most current switches implement auto-MDI-X, so a standard patch cable works — you do not need special crossover cables.

If a spare home router is what is on hand, it can be repurposed instead of buying a switch. To avoid creating a separate routed network (double NAT) follow these steps:

  • Give the spare router a fixed LAN IP inside the main router's subnet but outside its DHCP range.
  • Disable the spare router's DHCP server.
  • Connect the incoming wall cable to one of the spare router's LAN ports (not the WAN port).
  • Optionally enable its Wi-Fi if you want an access point.

Avoid passive "splitter" dongles that put two signals on one cable run unless you understand their limits: they require a matching unit at the other end and commonly restrict you to 100 Mbps. Hubs are obsolete and will reduce performance. Quick troubleshooting: check link/activity LEDs, swap with a known-good patch cable, and confirm device IPs (an address starting 169.254 means no DHCP lease). For most home needs, a 5-port unmanaged gigabit switch is the lowest-cost, lowest-maintenance solution.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for jbennet

You need what is called a Router, you cant just physically split the cable.

Member Avatar for Member #23858

I have a router and it is splitting it into all my rooms. I only had one cable left from it and need to split it between two devices. I am finding out a switch or a hub will work for this after talking to others.

Member Avatar for jbennet

use another router. look for one that supports uplink and run a crossover cable from the free cable to the WAN port on the new router

Member Avatar for cohen

Instead of using a router, you can get a switch or a hub.

i recommend a switch, that is what i do in my room. I use a switch and then i have a wireless link as well for my laptop :)

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.