Two devices on one router port

I have my PC connected to the router via an Ethernet cable and my old printer connected using USB. I am thinking about getting a printer that can connect also via Ethernet. Obviously I can connect the printer to the PC with a USB cable like now and I could connect wirelessly as long as that is reliable enough. But my question is if I use a switch or some sort of doubler (if such a device exist) will this cause a conflict. I'm not sure if each device wants or needs its own IP or if it is the port that gets the new IP.
Thanks.

A small 4 port switch is all you need. Each device gets it's own IP and traffic to that is directed through the switch to the correct port.

Which router do you have? I would be surprised if it is a modern one with just a single port?

you can use a switch http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/277-79625... from about £6 from amazon.

It is standard piece of networking kit and your new printer will receive its own IP address.

Ian

Router is the Plusnet supplied Thomson TG582n so 4 ports. I'm using two presently, one to the PC and another to a Humax PVR. Phone also connects wirelessly.

Thank you both MHC and ian007jen.

Don't forget that all you are doing is chaining switches, which is no big deal. The Ethernet ports of routers are on the inbuilt switch .

A switch is good. Just plug an ethernet cable in to the switch from the router, then all the other ethernet ports on the switch are available to use.

You'll need a place to plug in the switch though for power. But apart from that they are a great device. I use netgears switches.

In reply to a post by bowdon:

A switch is good. Just plug an ethernet cable in to the switch from the router, then all the other ethernet ports on the switch are available to use.

You'll need a place to plug in the switch though for power. But apart from that they are a great device. I use netgears switches.

Ah was wondering if they need power or not. I only have a single socket for the PC with everything plugging into a Belkin 6 way Surge adaptor. So presumably neither the PC or printer will be available to other devices such as a phone if the PC is off therefore mains to PC, screen, printer, sound and ethernet switch (if I get one). But then I could just turn on the mains switch. Unless I can use the printer wireless for that purpose (in which case maybe I don't need an ethernet switch). Hmm

Yea, its a dilemma.. hmm I guess you could buy a bigger surge protector plug. I have a 10 plug one here.

I did a quick look around for self powered switches but couldnt find any.

In reply to a post by bowdon:

Yea, its a dilemma.. hmm I guess you could buy a bigger surge protector plug. I have a 10 plug one here.

I did a quick look around for self powered switches but couldnt find any.

Might this do it? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ethernet-Network-Splitter-Ec...

EDIT: No, needs to be this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Splitter-Y-distributor-Ether... so a plug can enter it and there be two sockets - I think!

Edited by rob54 (Mon 02-Feb-15 01:33:09)

I'm not sure if it would work. Experience says no. Reading some of the reviews on those 2 products it seems that only one device can be active on the ethernet line at once. Both devices can't be On together. I'm thinking its something to do with ip allocation, as the router would probably only see 1 device.. even though there is 2.

Something like that would be ok if you had a games console and a dvd player that you wanted both to be connected to the router. Though in that case you'd have to always turn one of the devices off in order for the other to work.

I think the solution is to buy a bigger belkin surge protector plug... or I'm not sure if this would still work, but maybe a dual plug adaptar. One that can plug 2 plugs in to one socket. They are probably cheaper than buying a big belkin protector.

Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/EAGLE-Block-Socket-Splitter-... (btw, I'm not endorsing that particular plug. Just using it as an example so you know what I'm talking about).

In reply to a post by rob54:

Router is the Plusnet supplied Thomson TG582n so 4 ports. I'm using two presently, one to the PC and another to a Humax PVR. Phone also connects wirelessly.

I don't understand why you would want, or need to install a 4-port switch and power supply - or any additional hardware. You are using two of the wired ports on the Thomson router, so you still have two spare ports. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the new printer to one of the spare ports. Depending upon the hardware, you might also need to install printer drivers on each computer connected to your LAN. However, everything should work well. Incidentally, there is nothing to prevent data from passing simultaneously through multiple ports on your router.

You might be overcomplicating this. If the switch and printer are both plugged into the distribution block then the block will need to be powered on in order to use the printer anyway.

If you've got one of those blocks with a "master" socket that makes all the other sockets turn on and off automatically then you might need an alternative arrangement.

As to chaining switches together I have four switches and a hub interconnected here, as far as I know the only way to mess it up is to make a loop.

Oh and those "passive" splitters work in pairs because 100M Ethernet only uses 4 of the 8 wires in a standard cable so if you have one cable between rooms and you want two ports you use one splitter at the router end to merge two router ports into one cable, and another one at the other end to split it in two again.

Edited by obroad (Mon 02-Feb-15 09:33:26)

Wireless printers are very reliable. This would be your most convenient way forward and lets you use it from any number of PCs on your network. You still have the option of connecting it to a PC via the USB cable.
This saves you further expense and gives you the option of relocating the printer anywhere convenient.

In reply to a post by bob_lucas:

In reply to a post by rob54:

Router is the Plusnet supplied Thomson TG582n so 4 ports. I'm using two presently, one to the PC and another to a Humax PVR. Phone also connects wirelessly.

I don't understand why you would want, or need to install a 4-port switch and power supply - or any additional hardware.

My router is in one room the PC etc in another. The ethernet cable goes through a wood partition, under a carpet then through another partition wall to the PC presently. I don't want to have to put in another cable. The only other device I have on the network is a phone, so actually I'm not even sure (and it doesn't much matter) if I would be able to print from the phone with a new printer.

In reply to a post by BXW:

Wireless printers are very reliable. This would be your most convenient way forward and lets you use it from any number of PCs on your network. You still have the option of connecting it to a PC via the USB cable.
This saves you further expense and gives you the option of relocating the printer anywhere convenient.

Think you might be right there as ling as wireless is reliable. Phone certainly works OK where PC is. Thanks.

In reply to a post by rob54:

In reply to a post by bob_lucas:

In reply to a post by rob54:

Router is the Plusnet supplied Thomson TG582n so 4 ports. I'm using two presently, one to the PC and another to a Humax PVR. Phone also connects wirelessly.

I don't understand why you would want, or need to install a 4-port switch and power supply - or any additional hardware.

My router is in one room the PC etc in another. The ethernet cable goes through a wood partition, under a carpet then through another partition wall to the PC presently. I don't want to have to put in another cable. The only other device I have on the network is a phone, so actually I'm not even sure (and it doesn't much matter) if I would be able to print from the phone with a new printer.

In that case, it would probably be better to purchase a printer with Wi-Fi capability. That works very well on my LAN, where the printer is connected directly to a USB port on the PC in my office (upstairs). I can also print wirelessly, using my laptop computer, from anywhere in the house. Many wireless printers are also compatible with Android phones - and may also be compatible with iPhones (although I have no experience of iPhones).

In reply to a post by bob_lucas:

In that case, it would probably be better to purchase a printer with Wi-Fi capability. That works very well on my LAN, where the printer is connected directly to a USB port on the PC in my office (upstairs). I can also print wirelessly, using my laptop computer, from anywhere in the house. Many wireless printers are also compatible with Android phones - and may also be compatible with iPhones (although I have no experience of iPhones).

In that case I think I'll make sure my choice is wireless. Thank you.