Port Splitter

I have 4 ports on my router, and I need six. Rather than getting a switch/hub, I’d like to plug two non critical items into one port on the router.

I’ve seen many RJ45 splitters, but most use the redundant wires to send two connections over one cable.

What im looking for is single RJ45 out of router, to two RJ45 connections. Im not worried about bandwidth.

Any ideas?

Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way with an Ethernet port. It’s a one to one device connection. So to get more ports, you would need to cascade another switch or hub from one of the ports on your router.

Would this work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00DRG1SLO/ref=ya_a...

Unlikely ... it is either one or teh other.

You can get a very small 5 fport switch such as a UniFi FLex Mini for £20

I’m ideally looking for something unpowered, as I’m ditching an 8 port switch, and it’s just the last two devices I’m left with only one port on the router

Does your router have PoE?

The hub or switch is going need power - either from a wall socket or via Power over Ethernet as noted by @mhc

5-port and 8-port passive/unmanaged switches are very cheap these days. I’d recommend one over a scenario where you would need several of the devices you linked from Amazon.

That seems unlikely, the only ones I've come across that do are niche ones from Ubiquiti and Mikrotik.

There are a number of 5 port switches that are powered by 5V. If the router has a USB port, and a lot do there is a possibility that it will provide enough power to power a switch. You might however need to make/purchase a suitable lead.

The power requirements are *very* lower for Ethernet these days. For example if you would be happy with 100Mbps (and that's all a lot of routers have) then you are looking at under 2W max power consumption. Even a 1 Gbps you are under 1W a port. These are max power consumption figures in a domestic environment with a "Green Ethernet" you will see lower power consumption mostly because the switch will be detecting the cable length which will be considerably less than the 100m maximum and back the power off considerably.

Frankly consumer routers need more ethernet ports than the four they typically come with. I saw the results of a survey a few years back that suggested that more ports was one of the top features people would like. But hey ISP's penny pinch like there is no tomorrow.

I guess a USB powered small hub would do the trick.

Would this work?

https://www.cablematters.com/pc-1273-138-usb-31-to-4...

Looks to be perfect for what you want.

You'll need to make sure that the USB port that powers it is on all the time - if you power down that device the others will lose connectivity.

Sod’s law, out of stock everywhere.

So, bought a simple netgear 5 port switch.

I’d still like to power it by USB, so, wondering if this will work:

DC 5V to DC 12V USB Voltage Step Up Converter Cable YACSEJAO Power Supply USB Cable with DC Jack 5.5 x 2.1mm for Fan Led Light Router Speakers(1M/3.3FT) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09S8T6GRJ/ref=cm_sw_r_e...

This is a load of effort to avoid buying a power strip.

Also, I may be wrong but it may need to be connected to a PC and not just a power source.

With the USB adapter it says it needs 2 Amps, does the USB port you intend to use supply 2 Amps?

Thanks
Dan

I did suggest a Ubiquiti Flex Mini ... USB powered.

Nice looking kit. Unfortunately it’s USB C

Absolutely no idea. It’s an ASUS GT-AXE11000

But then you use a USB-A to USB-C lead ... from power source to switch.

Yeah that makes it way more complicated than I was suggesting. So I was thinking of something like one of these which are powered by 5V out the box

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/unman...

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/unman...

First is 100Mbps, second is 1Gbps but costs more. Then assuming it uses a standard 2.1mm DC jack plug one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SCBAE00

There are USB to just about any DC jack plug leads available quite cheap on eBay/Amazon if it uses something else.

Well the concept was just to buy the right switch and a suitable USB to DC barrel jack lead; so next to no effort. Unfortunately the OP has gone off track somewhat.

There is no detail on either ASUS's site or the user manual as to how much power the USB ports can supply. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find then only support 0.5 amp and would there probably never be able to power a switch.

I was thinking the same, I have seen USB3 ports that deliver up to 1 Amp but that's not always the case.

Thanks
Dan

In reply to a post by danielhyde:

I was thinking the same, I have seen USB3 ports that deliver up to 1 Amp but that's not always the case.

A USB3 port should be able to deliver 900mA when a USB3 device identifies itself, otherwise it should be a USB2 backwards compatible 500mA. I don't think I've seen a passive cable (e.g. USB to barrel) identify itself as a USB3 device. I've used a few to power fibre convertors in racks !

Yeah, in my personal experience I have a Roku powered from my TV and if I plug it in to the USB2 port it doesn't power up properly but in a USB3 port it works just fine and only has USB2 cable.

Thanks
Dan

In reply to a post by danielhyde:

Yeah, in my personal experience I have a Roku powered from my TV and if I plug it in to the USB2 port it doesn't power up properly but in a USB3 port it works just fine and only has USB2 cable

Without a USB current meter it is hard to tell, but it is possible the USB2 port is under spec and not giving the full 500 mA. Sadly lots are.

its possible to make an un-powered hub from diodes, but this will compromise distance and speed.
http://www.circuit-diagrams.net/page/a-passive-ether...

That’s kinda what I’ve done.

Cheapo netgear switch and a USB to jack (known to work with switch).

I also have a Synology NAS I can draw off

I got a netgear unmanaged switch (5v, .7ma), a USB to jack cable. Plugged into the router, worked straight away.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Unlikely ... it is either one or teh other.

You can get a very small 5 fport switch such as a UniFi FLex Mini for £20

Where'd you see that price?

Formerly known as EuroDK - these guys are very good, a large wholesaler based out of Latvia (like MikroTik). Worth it if you buy a job lot of gear to spread out the shipping charge.

https://www.getic.com/product/unifi-usw-flex-mini

Prior to the very recent price increases that is what I was paying for them from te distributer I use.