Ethernet splitter

Question

I have two computers side by side (one work and the other personal). Due to the location of the wireless connection, sometimes the signal is weak, so I normally access one of the computer via the ethernet, but my modem has only a single jack. Is there a splitter or something that will allow me to access both computers at same time without having to swap the ethernet from computer to computer

Answer 1

There's two options here - get a router or switch and connect it to the modem - if your modem is also a router, you'd have to switch off DHCP on the router. You might also be able to use a hub, but those are nearly extinct these days.

You might also be able to use a windows PC as a router by setting up Internet connection sharing if your modem is a 'simple' modem with no routing capabilities. I am unsure if you can turn off DHCP on ICS tho.

Splitters are passive devices, and ethernet as we know it uses a star configuration, so such a device is impossible.

Answer 2

Yes there is such a device, we call them RJ-45 splitters but they are also called RJ45 CAT 5 6 LAN Ethernet Splitter Connector Adapter. All three ends need to be female, the end with 1 female end will go to the cable that is connected to your modem/router, the end with 2 female ends go to each computers. Your done run one cable with splitter for 2 computers. They have this at Dollar Stores, eBay for $1.00, Radio Shack $10 I think you get the picture. Good luck

Answer 3

I think the thing you're looking for is called a network switch. This is a data-link (second) or higher layer device for combining Ethernet connections. Actually a lot more functionality than you need, but some layer 2 switches are so cheap (NewEgg has them for $10) it doesn't matter.

There used to be simpler devices called network hubs that worked on the physical (first) layer. Switches got so cheap, they drove hubs off the market. Some people call switches hubs, but I'm a technical writer, and thus a semantic nitpicker.

There are ways to split Ethernet cables so that you don't need a hub or switch, but unless there's some big reason you can't install that extra box, splitting cables is an unnecessary hassle.

Here's why I'm not 100% sure I understand your question. It's not clear to me exactly what kind of device you're talking about when you refer to a "modem". Is the WAN interface configuration built into your "modem"? Or do both computers contain the configuration? If you're not sure, posting the make and model of this device would be helpful. If the "modem" does handle the WAN connection itself, than it's providing a network endpoint, and a switch or hub will work. Otherwise, you need to move a level up from switches and get a router. Since you're using physical Ethernet, the router doesn't have to be wireless, though you probably won't save any by buying a wired-only router for a two-computer network.

Answer 4

Assuming your Ethernet is connected via a RJ45 plug:
No. A simple splitter will not work. You can use a switch or a hub though.

(RJ45 mentioned because you can do what you want if you used old coax to connect. Feel free to google for 10base2_t, but this is very unlikely)

Answer 5

The typical ethernet cable has 8 wires. Most ethernet schemes only use 4. Thus you can use a "splitter" at each end to effectively squeeze 2 cables into 1. There are several varieties available.

(But note that some "enterprise" wiring used 4 or 6-wire cables, so this scheme won't work with those. Also, the scheme won't work with certain high-speed ethernet protocols that use more than 4 wires.)

The other option is a small hub, but this will not work with some routers that assume one computer per port.

Added: And people in the past have actually gotten away with "OR-tying" two Ethernet cables together, relying on Ethernet collision detection to handle conflicts. But this is not a very reliable approach, if it even works at all anymore.