CAT5 Splitter?

[blizeH]

Hi guys, just curious as to whether these are any good? Basically, one CAT5 cable in from my router, and then two out - one to my PC, one to my Xbox 360.

Should that work okay, or should I buy a switch or similar?

[Kaidiir]

I've never seen such a device...I always thought that in order to split a CAT5 line, you needed a router...? Maybe this is possible? It's not much money, so maybe order it and see if it works.

[samg]

I suppose this will work like a very basic hub? in the sense it just transmits the data (to what it thinks) is 1 cable, which is then split into 2.

It will proberly only share the speed of the host device, but that shouldnt be a problem on ADSL.

It's ?4, personnally i'd fire up a hub or similar. like this

[blizeH]

Many thanks, I'm tempted go with something like a hub, but I'm worried that it's a bit unsightly and requires being plugged into the mains which isn't ideal.

[Brian M. Veteran]

You can get USB powered hubs if you prefer - they simply plug into a USB port and draw their power from there. I think ebuyer (UK) stock them.

[Colin-uk Veteran]

They work fine, I have one myself for splitting between 2 pc's. I assume they work like a minihub, never really looked into it.

[+BudMan MVC]

Those are normally needed in pairs.. 100Mbit only needs 2 pairs, cat5 is really 4 pairs (8 wires).. Here is how they are normally used.

http://www.lanshack.com/acblanasp/stores/1...Pair-P47C0.aspx

If your spitting the different pairs to 2 machines an plugging the 1 end into your modem or router -- its not going to work. See the wiring diagram

Do yourself a favor an get a switch (btw the item linked by ilmonkey is a switch not a hub). Hubs are pretty much out dated, an really no longer used -- sure they are still available, bit in almost all setups you would really want a switch. Only if you were wanting to monitor traffic with a sniffer or IDS would you be looking for a hub vs a switch, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_hub

A hubbed Ethernet network behaves like a shared-medium, that is, only one device can successfully transmit at a time and each host remains responsible for collision detection and retransmission. With 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T links (which generally account for most or all of the ports on a hub) there are separate pairs for transmit and receive but they are used in half duplex mode in which they still effectively behave like shared medium links (See 10BASE-T for the pins specifications.)

An Ethernet hub, or repeater, is a fairly unsophisticated broadcast device. Hubs do not manage any of the traffic that comes through them, and any packet entering any port is broadcast out on every other port (other than the port of entry). Since every packet is being sent out through every other port, packet collisions result--which greatly impedes the smooth flow of traffic.

The availability of low-priced Ethernet switches has largely rendered hubs obsolete but they are still seen in older installations and more specialized applications.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

Network switches are capable of inspecting data packets as they are received, determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding it appropriately. By delivering each message only to the connected device it was intended for, a network switch conserves network bandwidth and offers generally better performance than a hub.

Layer-1 hubs versus higher-layer switches

An Ethernet hub, or repeater, is a fairly unsophisticated broadcast device, and rapidly becoming obsolete. Hubs do not manage any of the traffic that comes through them. Any packet entering a port is broadcast out or "repeated" on every other port, save the port of entry. Since every packet is repeated on every other port, packet collisions result, which slows down the network.

Hubs have actually become hard to find, due to the widespread use of switches. There are specialized applications where a hub can be useful, such as copying traffic to multiple network sensors. There is no longer any significant price difference between a hub and a low-end switch.

[fingers.t.beaver]

As has been said before go with a hub that way you can have a different network segment for each device

Therefore you can have full duplex, one set of cables for to and one for from infomation to the devices = faster

AND you get segmentation therefore less collisions = more reliable and faster

I know belkin aren't the best but for 8 pounds more than you were going to pay http://www.ebuyer.com/product/54026

[+BudMan MVC]

^ Again the term your wanting is "SWITCH" not hub, hubs do not do full duplex nor do they prevent collisions.

Right in the name to the product you linked to "Belkin 10/100 5-Port Network Switch" ;)

[blizeH]

Many thanks, I actually ordered the splitter based on Colin's recommendation, I won't be getting a 360 just yet but I think instead of buying a switch, I'll just spend ?60 or so (!) on the 360 Wireless adapter and buy a wireless router. I've got a homeplug kit here somewhere, but as with the switch, I don't really have any spare plug points here so it's kinda awkward.