CAt5e splitter disadvantges/ how it's possible

Are there any potential problems with using a CAt5e splitter? So I have an Ethernet socket connected to the adsl router downstairs. By using this splitter I can connect two pc's to the socket without any additional hardware? How is this possible? I was told one pc to one socket.

Twisted pair is point-to-point only. You will need to use a router.

No, you cannot connect two PCs to a single socket through a splitter.

You can get small 4 port switches for around £10

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/factfinder/searc...

It looks like it is possible providing your hardware can handle 4-wire connections. In this case, the 8-wire cable provides two 4-wire circuits. I've no idea how reliable this is or what hardware supports it.

Edited by micksharpe (Wed 16-Jun-10 11:55:03)

Would you rely on those?

Almost as cheap to put a 4 or 5 port switch at the end.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Would you rely on those?

No.


TBH, I'd go for a wireless network every time. Apart from one cable run to the garage, it's what I have now.

Edited by micksharpe (Wed 16-Jun-10 12:03:40)

I don't wish to be needlessly critical but you seem to be trying to spend money where it isn't necessary and avoid spending money where it is necessary.

Essentially the splitters reduce it down to a CAT 3 (I think) connection. Therefore max of 10Mbps but they should work. We have used them on a corporate LAN where it was too costly to run additional cables and we didn't want hundreds of hubs around the place.

However, I would generally put a 10/100 hub on a home network rather than using splitters.

perhaps someone can advise here, because my way ofthinking is that a splitter is going to be somewhat similar to using a hub, ie. 1 broadcast domain.

if so, i would suggest you find yourself a switch instead. you can pick them up for a good price nowadays and the advantages will outweigh any splitter or hub a hundredfold

Puzzled! This seems to be more a software problem than a hardware wiring one.

How will the router know to give them diff. IPs and distinguish between PCs?

There are indeed splitters that make a single CAT5e outlet in to a double socket. This works by utilising the 2 pairs that aren�t usually used when a single device is connected via Cat5e connection.

(http://www.cablenet.co.uk/catalogue/adaptors.htm) last 2 items

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Puzzled! This seems to be more a software problem than a hardware wiring one.

How will the router know to give them diff. IPs and distinguish between PCs?

The splitter makes it 2 separate wiring connections - so as far as the router is concerned it is no different to having 2 PCs connected. You have a splitter at both ends so you actually use two ports on the router which then combines to a single cable and then splits at the other end back to 2 connections for 2 different devices.

Edited by ian72 (Wed 16-Jun-10 13:22:02)

Either buy a simple 4 port switch, stick an unused router in there or buy a double socket and use one of the other pairs. A switch is the simplest and best solution.

For most home uses Cat5e Networking cable only uses pairs 1,2 and 3,6. This leaves pairs 4,5 and 7,8 redundant. A cat5e splitter takes pairs 4,5 and 7,8 and wires them to pairs 1,2 and 3,6 on a second plug. For this to be of any use you must use a splitter at either end of the cable being split, so you would still need two ports on your router for two devices, but would only need one cable.

Unfortunately doing this increases noise on the cable, reducing signal quality, and so reducing the distance you can get a reliable signal along the cable. Also specialist connections need the extra pairs, like PoE for example. Also Gigabit connections unlike 100Mb and 10Mb connections use all four pairs, and so will fall back to the slower 100Mb speed on a split cable.

As has been suggested already in this thread a more reliable solution would be to use a network switch at the other end of the single cable to your router. This will avoid the problems associated with using a cable splitter.

I saw you post perhaps I'm a little late

Ethernet running up to speeds of 100mbps uses 2 pairs of a 4 pair cable assuming cat 5 or above (pairs 2,3 Orange & green, the splitter takes advantage of this by then using pairs 1 & 4 for a 2nd circuit.

its only when you are using gigabit ethernet where all 4 pairs come into play and gigabit ethernet will run on cat 5e and above.

hope that helps
simon@mrcable