Where can I find a ethernet multiplexer?

[weilin]

So the FIOS drop comes into my house via the upstairs closet. It's also where the patch panel for the house is. However, my router is also my Access Point (wireless router) so I would like to locate it in the center of the house.

There exists an Ethernet drop from the patch panel to downstairs where I want the wireless router to be located. What I want to do is use that drop to bring the FIOS connection downstairs where I want my wireless router. Afterwards, I want to use that same link to go back upstairs there I can stick a switch next to the patch panel to connect all the other rooms of the house.

I essentially want a Ethernet Mux. I know I can just get another router and make the second one an Access Point (why can't I find good access points anymore...) but I don't want to get another expensive router just to get all this to work. I just want a simple cheap 2 port device to share 1 Ethernet cable. Do these things even exist?

 

[USAFRet]

What you're looking for is a 'switch'.

$15-$20 for a 1GB 5 port switch at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-1000Mbps-Gigabit-Capacity/dp/B000N99BBC

 

[weilin]

What you're looking for is a 'switch'.

$15-$20 for a 1GB 5 port switch at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-1000Mbps-Gigabit-Capacity/dp/B000N99BBC

I know what a switch is, and I don't think that would work... I want to mux a line between WAN and LAN and the only way I know to do that is a router... Unless I can find something cheap Ethernet Mux of some sort...

 

[USAFRet]

I also have FiOS.

From the drop, to teh ONT, and after that....it wants to see one and only one router. Generally the supplied ActionTec.
After that, switches, access points.
The main router serves up all the internal IP addresses.

Not sure what you're looking for with a 'multiplexer'.

 

[bill001g]

You could split the pairs and limit your speed to 100m. The only other way is to put a managed switch on both ends and use vlan tags to in effect make your cable into 2 or more cables.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

I don't believe there are multiplexers available for what you're describing, but a pair of these adapters will allow you to make 2 connections with a single cat5 at 100Mb/s.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-RJ45-Splitter-Cable-Adapter/dp/B00009XSZE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

A 100Mb connection uses 2 of the 4 available pairs to establish a link, leaving the other 2 pairs unused. This adapter allows the unused pairs to be used for a second link.

Again, you would need 2 adapters to make this work. The only downside is that your links will be restricted to 100Mb/s, since a 1Gb/s link requires the use of all 4 pairs.

 

[USAFRet]

I don't believe there are multiplexers available for what you're describing, but a pair of these adapters will allow you to make 2 connections with a single cat5 at 100Mb/s.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-RJ45-Splitter-Cable-Adapter/dp/B00009XSZE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

A 100Mb connection uses 2 of the 4 available pairs to establish a link, leaving the other 2 pairs unused. This adapter allows the unused pairs to be used for a second link.

Again, you would need 2 adapters to make this work. The only downside is that your links will be restricted to 100Mb/s, since a 1Gb/s link requires the use of all 4 pairs.

From that linked device, only one PC can be used at a time. It will not drive content to 2 devices at the same time.

 

[BuddhaSkoota]

From that linked device, only one PC can be used at a time. It will not drive content to 2 devices at the same time.

It is not to meant to drive two devices from a single port. It combines two links on to a single cable.

The male end plugs in to the wall outlet, and a corresponding adapter plugs in at the other end. The FIOS ONT can connect to the router on 2 pairs of the same cable, while the LAN port of the router will link on the other 2 pairs back to the switch, which is what the OP is attempting to accomplish. This adapter will do exactly that.

 

[weilin]

thanks! that's more or less exactly what I was looking for, I was hoping it would be gigabit compatible... but beggars can't be choosers...