Run out of ethnet ports on my router

Sterlingtimes

My BT router has four ports. I have used one for the solar PV hub, one for the desktop computer and two for power-line adapters.


I can add more via power-line, but can new wired ports be added? Something like a port splitter?

firefox1956

Yes I have one.
I think I bought it of Amazon but can't really remember.

GRM

Yes, they're called switches. Pretty common, will find them on Amazon, eBay etc. Plug the switch into your router and then all the other sockets on the switch will be live.

Collabora

http://www.misco.co.uk/productinfo/productinfo?productCode=40297&affiliate=GOOGLEPLA&cm_mmc=google-_-Product_PlusBox-_-networking%20&%20Communications-_-40297&catargetid=530001250000382390&cadevice=c&gclid=CPLunPXdicMCFW3MtAodcW0A_w


http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-SF1005D-100Mbps-Unmanaged-Desktop/dp/B000FNFSPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420903524&sr=8-2&keywords=router+switches+hub

bsod

why so many powerlines - pair the slaves with one at the router end or use wireless

gjchester

You can get switches and hubs, they look the same and do the same thing overall, but there is a technical difference.


Without going too far in to the technical side buy a switch that allows all devices to run at full speed, whereas a hub will slow the connection for to the slowest connection is sees.


Something like this -
http://www.dabs.com/products/d-link-8-port-10-100-1000-green-ethernet-gigabit-switch-2VZW.html


You may also want to go via Quidco/TCB if you use them to get cashback.


Simply plug a network cable from the router into the switch and you get 7 extra ports.

cookie365

Yes, get an unmanaged switch.

E.g.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-SG1005D-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Desktop/dp/B000N99BBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420906893&sr=8-2&keywords=unmanaged+switch

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-SG1008D-Unmanaged-Gigabit-Desktop/dp/B000N9B688/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420906954&sr=8-2&keywords=unmanaged+switch+tp+link

I've used both.

There is no setup whatsoever. Plug the switch into one of your existing router ports. Plug your devices into the switch ports. Turn on. It just works.

Big_Graeme

gjchester wrote: »

You can get switches and hubs, they look the same and do the same thing overall, but there is a technical difference.


Without going too far in to the technical side buy a switch that allows all devices to run at full speed, whereas a hub will slow the connection for to the slowest connection is sees.


Something like this -
http://www.dabs.com/products/d-link-8-port-10-100-1000-green-ethernet-gigabit-switch-2VZW.html


You may also want to go via Quidco/TCB if you use them to get cashback.


Simply plug a network cable from the router into the switch and you get 7 extra ports.

Would that mean all connections on the router are slowed or just those connected to the hub?

I've a printer with a 10/100 Jet Direct card that I could do with moving to free up a port for my NAS, I don't mind that slowed but I don't want the rest of the network impacted. I have a small 10/100 hub I can use but £10 won't break the bank.

jbainbridge

Why 2 for powerline?? Surely you only need one powerline adapter at the router?

esuhl

If you have a spare router lying around, you can use the 4-port switch that is (usually) built in.

Sterlingtimes

jbainbridge wrote: »

Why 2 for powerline?? Surely you only need one powerline adapter at the router?

Thank you, jbainbridge. Perhaps I need to explore further. I bought five adapters some years and use these for non speed critical purposes. Then I bought more recently a couple of faster adapters of a different make and with a faster specification.


I presumed that each of the two adapter types would need to be connected to different ports (perhaps using different protocols).


The other complication is that the 14 Enphase solar inverters on my roof each uses power-line and the Enphase hub has to be connected to the router.