How To Wire Many Ethernet Devices

[dhale]

I have one Netgear router with only 3 available ports . I also have 8 Ethernet devices in 2 different rooms - TV, Apple TV, Receiver, OPPO. How do I effectively wire them up to my one Netgear Router? I don't want to use wireless but want wired Ethernet only. Do I just get a powered or unpowered hub, switch, bridge or what? Unfamiliar with the proper terminology or device to hookup. I would need 2 because there are 4 Home Theater devices in each room. I assume that these 2 devices would send 1 wire each to the Router? Can you link me to the proper type of device for this?

 

[jkhoward]

I have one Netgear router with only 3 available ports . I also have 8 Ethernet devices in 2 different rooms - TV, Apple TV, Receiver, OPPO. How do I effectively wire them up to my one Netgear Router? I don't want to use wireless but want wired Ethernet only. Do I just get a powered or unpowered hub, switch, bridge or what? Unfamiliar with the proper terminology or device to hookup. I would need 2 because there are 4 Home Theater devices in each room. I assume that these 2 devices would send 1 wire each to the Router? Can you link me to the proper type of device for this?

The best way to accomplish this task would be to purchase a switch. I recommend the Netgear business switches even for home personal use.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AT0MW1847

You could make your own wires and split them but that would only give you six lines and then you would need a switch still. Save yourself the time and purchase the switches🙂

 

[Alabalcho]

- Get a couple of 10/100/1000 switches (one per room)
- run Cat5e/Cat6 cable from main router to each room
- connect the switches to the router. LEDs on both ends should lit up, indicating connection (and speed)
- connect your stuff to the switches
Why 1000? Even if your (current) router does not support 1GB ethernet, your next router surely will.

 

[USAFRet]

A switch is what you need.
I'm in the planning stages of wiring a smallish house, and looking at a 24 port switch, and probably 2 other 5 or 8 port switches.

2 drops to each bedroom, multiple drops elsewhere.

 

[dhale]

Thank you all for the quick responses. I will get 2 switches and wire them up. Hopefully they are fully pnp. While looking at the link provided at Newegg I noticed the 100 mb switch was higher rated than the 1000mb which had many issues. Although a lot of these were older reviews.

 

[jkhoward]

Thank you all for the quick responses. I will get 2 switches and wire them up. Hopefully they are fully pnp. While looking at the link provided at Newegg I noticed the 100 mb switch was higher rated than the 1000mb which had many issues. Although a lot of these were older reviews.

You will most likely be dead before you will be able to full utilize the 1000Mb routers. I will most likely be dead too! But for now and especially in a home.. you will be set with the 100Mb switch and save yourself some money. Your home isn't even cabled for 100Mb 99% of the time.

 

[allennnn]

You want 1000 for local file transfer and streaming bluerays dvds music, ect The same was probably said about 100 when most had 1mb internet.

You will need a third switch next to the modem to run 1000 if the modem is 100.

 

[dhale]

Thanks alennn.
I did wire up Cat 6 cable and Cat 6 wall plate connects. I did make a mistake though - I think. I got Cat 5 switches! I think I need cat 6 switches which may cause conflicts

 

[bill001g]

Thanks alennn.
I did wire up Cat 6 cable and Cat 6 wall plate connects. I did make a mistake though - I think. I got Cat 5 switches! I think I need cat 6 switches which may cause conflicts

There is no such thing as a cat5 or cat6 switch. This is a standard for cables only. Even if you were to mix cat5e and cat6 cables and wall plates randomly it will still work. Both cat5e and cat6 are rated to 1g.