Can someone advise if an Ethernet switch is what I need?

missimaxo

We currently have a bt hub with all 4 ethernet ports in use. 2 run to further wireless routers in black spots, 1 runs to the tv and another runs to a pc. I have just received our new sky hub and it has 2 ports. We also need a new one when we get hive fitted

I've looked online and seen people recommending an Ethernet switch... if I plug this behind the new sky hub will my network work the same as before? Can all the devices be used at the same time? I looked at a splitter but that said only one device at a time.

I'm grateful for any help or advice.

giraffe69

I've just had exactly this situation. My BY HUb has 4 sockets but now need 5 or 6. I bought a cheap 5 port switch. They come manged or unmanaged. Unmanaged is cheaper and quite adequate for simple needs. Cost under £20 and you might also need an Ethernet cable or two. Completely plug and play. Nothing to do except connect the hub and switch with an Ethernet cable and power up.

Heedtheadvice

I had exactly the same problem. New Sky router when switched ISP only to find that the sky router has a few shortcomings!! Some of them cr**!

At no extra cost......
Resolved by using the bt home hub as a 'slave'. Essentially sky router controls all allocations and bt router plugs into sky router using one ethernet port. That leaves one sky port free (use for most demanding device requiring fastest speed) and then allows four ports from bt home hub, therefore five in total.

Upside -
cheap no extra cost
up to five ports in use simultaneously
bt wireless (and other good points of that router) can still be used so, for example, no wireless password changes required
No changes required on sky router

Downside -
slightly more power used (probably insignificant)
a tad more latency in communications (also probably insignificant)
a bit of set up required on the bt hub.

How to do it? Clear and comprehensive details for all current hub versions are widely available. This one is aimed at setting up the hub as a wireless access point but if followed will enable the extra ethernet ports AND wireless to be used:

Follow the instructions at http://unixetc.co.uk/2014/03/04/reuse-a-spare-bt-home-hub-as-a-wireless-access-point/

missimaxo

Thank you... do you know what the difference is between managed and unmanaged? I'm trying to get my head around if everything will work together if necessary

missimaxo

Wow thank you... definitely a cheaper option to use the bt hub

warehouse

missimaxo wrote: »

Thank you... do you know what the difference is between managed and unmanaged? I'm trying to get my head around if everything will work together if necessary

In a normal home network unmanaged is fine.

stator

You want unmanaged. Just a simple plug and play job
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-SF1005D-5-Port-Unmanaged-Desktop/dp/B000FNFSPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1508844701&sr=8-2&keywords=network+switch

Heedtheadvice

Also, I initially complained to sky as to their router's unadvertised shortcoming. They offered to pay for a switch which I accepted (£20) credit to my account when I explained that I now had devices that had to use ethernet but having switched to them could not. I later found out how to use the spare bt router so switch no longer required.

This means I have not only some extra ports but also have wireless from two slightly different locations and on different channels. In practice I have found that the BT hub has a better wireless performance, as much as 10dB at times which is a lot!

two answers to a solution...just make your choice!

missimaxo

Thank you everyone

Neil_Jones

Managed switches you find them more in corporate environments as they allow you to prioritise network traffic and do a bunch of other stuff too.

Remember you can daisy-chain network switches -you're unlikely to need to do this thanks to wireless but its possible. Useful to know for future use

esuhl

If you have an old router laying around, you could use the built-in Ethernet switch on that, rather than buying one specially.