The Ethernet splitter which costs around 10 dollars, is used to connect two computers or any 2 network devices to the router using only one cable. One has to note that the name ” lan splitter” is quite misleading. They do not directly divide the ethernet connection in the end terminal unless the same is done in the router end as well. In other words they should always be used in pairs to be of any use. I know it sounds a bit confusing so read further and see the picture below and to get a full understanding of the same.
How does an ethernet cable splitter work :
The reason why ethernet splitters can be used to connect 2 network devices from one ethernet cable comes from the fact that the ethernet port is a 8 pin cable (It has 8 parallel wires running through it). Where as a network device and a router port is a 4 pin port. Hence an ethernet cable has the capacity to hold the signals of two of these ethernet ports. What it does is, it feeds the signals from the two router ports to the ethernet port( which cannot be done other wise) and then receive it and divide it back as signals to two network ports in the user end. A picture can speak a thousand words . See the picture and get the proper understanding of the same.
Connecting the ethernet splitters
Important points to note while buying lan splitters:
- They should always be bought in pairs in case they have to be of any use.
- Even though they are very cheap while bought in bulk, the cost of a pair of ethernet splitters would be costlier than an ethernet cable (Unless it is very very long). However using an additional ethernet cable would be more messy and may require additional wall work( This is in fact a strong reason why people prefer these, rather than a new ethernet cable).
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