Just what is an ethernet splitter? Do not make the collective misconception some do after looking around on the internet and think you can use it to split an internet connection. It is easy to see why they could come to this belief, as the name implies that you can split something ethernet based, so why couldn’t someone split your internet amongst two computer devices? These splitters are not intended for sharing the internet connection. Read further to discover what an ethernet cable splitter is best used for and how they should be used and setup.

Ethernet splitters, as mentioned above, are not for sharing an internet connection. Many people do not seem to realize this until they buy one and realize their computer doesn’t work at all. So one may ask, what IS it for? It will reduce the amount of ethernet cable you need when connecting two different computer networks. What we are speaking about here is not an ‘internet’ network, but rather two LANs (local area networks) or 2 or more computers. Splitters must be used in pairs. The way they work is because a LAN only uses four of the eight wires in a cat 5 ethernet cable, when there eight wires total in these cables.

So by allowing two routes of traffic in one cable, you cut down on wiring. Now you should be able to see how these ethernet splitters can save on the cost of cable. So for example if you needed to put together a pair of computer devices in one room to a pair in another room, you wouldn’t need to use two cat 5 cables, only a pair of ethernet cable splitters. This is a common example of how you would only need a single cable with an ethernet cable splitter at both ends.

Splitters have to be used in pairs, this is the other thing some people don’t realize at first. Many people simply buy one ethernet splitter and get frustrated because nothing works. Pairs are required because the traffic going in and out of the cable needs to be merged on one end before it goes in and then separated on the other end when the traffic comes out. Using just one splitter means that traffic can travel into the cable, but when it reaches the other end nothing happens.

Because the network traffic is merged, upon reaching the other end and the receiving computer there is massive confusion. The receiving computer detects one cable with two lanes of network traffic, this is not how network traffic should travel. Using the ethernet splitters on both ends solves this issue because it correctly splits the signal before the receiving computer receives it. This is why using only one ethernet splitter will not work.

Hopefully you can see now why an ethernet splitter won’t work for sharing an internet connection and the correct way they should be used. Ethernet splitters are a great way for connecting just a few computers in a home network and cutting down on the amount of ethernet cable that is required. Just remember they aren’t used for sharing internet connections.

To get additional information or to get the ethernet splitter go now to Ethernetsplitter.ws