Will an Ethernet splitter reduce my internet speed?

This article provides a detailed summary of Ethernet splitters, their speeds, and various common issues to help you choose the most suitable hardware.

Switches, hubs, and Ethernet splitters are network devices that are used to help expand a network. The most basic of these devices is the small Ethernet splitter. They are a small device that can split an Ethernet signal into two. They are simple to use and inexpensive. This is probably one of the simplest network devices because they do not need to be powered and have no special buttons or LED lights to indicate the status. It is just three Ethernet ports on a small device, two on one side and one on the other. Some varieties have a short piece of Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector on one side and two Ethernet ports on the other side.

Even though splitters have been around for quite some time in the networking world, many people still don't know how to use them effectively. Contrary to popular belief, Ethernet splitters should always be purchased in pairs. Simply connecting one end of the splitter to your router and then connecting two devices to the two ports on the splitter won't work. There is a trick to setting up a splitter correctly in order to make it work properly in your network.

How to use an Ethernet splitter for a basic setup

Ethernet splitters are very convenient for connecting two devices in different rooms to the main source. In most cases, they save network cables, network wall sockets, and provide a reliable connection. As mentioned before, Ethernet splitters are sold in pairs. One splitter combines the signals from the device (usually the router), and the other splits the signal into two channels, allowing the two devices to communicate.

The router is in room A, and the two PCs are in room B, but there is only one Ethernet socket on the wall in each room. In this case, a splitter is needed, and the two Ethernet cables are connected to the router, and the other end of the Ethernet cable is connected to the splitter, and then the other end of the splitter is connected to the socket on the wall of room A. This way, the two signals from the router are combined. Next, another splitter with only one port is connected to the socket on the wall of room B. The combined signal from room A will now be divided into two, so that in room B, you can have two Ethernet ports.

The advantage of a splitter is that it will drastically reduce the number of ports on the wall, and thus the number of cables you need in this situation. It will help you avoid "cable hell" because it will reduce the number of ports/cables needed by a factor of two.

sample diagram using ethernet splitter

Will an Ethernet splitter reduce my internet speed?

Will the network connection slow down? This is probably one of the common questions that comes to your mind. Well, the answer depends on the type of network you have. Ideally, the splitter is of the BASE-T standard, which stands for Fast Ethernet. They can support speeds up to Mbps.

If the splitter is used in a 100Mbps network, the answer is no, it will not slow down the network speed. However, if your router can provide 1Gbps transmission rate, and you use a splitter in the middle, the bandwidth will be limited to 100Mbps. In this case, the splitter will indeed limit the speed and the connection will be slower.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethernet Splitters

Ethernet splitters are useful in some situations, but they also have some disadvantages. First, each Ethernet port can only provide a maximum speed of 100Mbps. Because of this limitation, resources in the network that can provide more than 100Mbps cannot be properly optimized. In addition, because the number of devices you can connect is limited to two, Ethernet splitters are not the best choice if you have more than two devices.

Furthermore, if the router only has one Ethernet port, using a splitter is not practical; at this point, some sacrifices will have to be made. However, although they can reduce the number of cables needed to combine two networks, this approach requires two splitters to work.

On the other hand, Ethernet splitters have some advantages. They are cheaper than traditional network devices and do not require complicated setup. Unlike other network devices, they also do not require software and other configuration. In a home network with a small number of devices, such as a maximum of two devices in a room, an Ethernet splitter is a good choice. If you only need a 100Mbps network and only have two devices to connect, an Ethernet splitter is the best option.

Ethernet splitters have been around for a long time, but since they are very simple, there is not much room for improvement. They are still based on the outdated Fast Ethernet standard, which may be a bit out of tune with the needs of today's high-speed networks. Despite their advantages, they are not really a practical solution in most cases. With the current advancement of technology, the future of Ethernet splitters is still bright. Maybe some genius can make it work with the Gigabit Ethernet standard.

Now that you know a little bit about Ethernet splitters, here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Frequently asked questions

Can I split an Ethernet cable between two devices?

If you want to split an Ethernet cable to two devices, it's a normal idea. However, this requires buying an Ethernet cable sharing splitter kit. The splitter kit allows multiple devices to use the same Ethernet cable at the same time. If you want to connect a PC and a laptop, or a PC and a game console, to the same Ethernet cable at the same time, this is a good choice.

When it comes to connection speeds, Ethernet cables outperform other connection methods. When something requires a fast connection, such as gaming, Ethernet cables are usually the best choice.

It is important to note that you cannot connect two devices with one Ethernet cable, as they are only designed for one device, which is why you need an Ethernet splitter. It connects to an existing Ethernet cable and provides a connection for two devices.

How do I connect two devices to one Ethernet port?

Two devices can be connected to one Ethernet port. However, as mentioned before, you will need to use a cable sharing kit. This is because each Ethernet connection is designed for a single device.

With an Ethernet cable sharing kit, you can connect multiple devices to a single Ethernet port, which is very convenient for home networks. This is definitely useful if you have a few Ethernet connections available and need a lot of LAN connections.

It should also be noted that if you have extra Ethernet ports available, the best option is to dedicate one port to each device if this is the case. When this is not possible, a cable sharing kit or splitter is a perfect alternative.

What is the difference between an Ethernet splitter and a switch?

An Ethernet splitter works similarly to a switch, but is fundamentally different. An Ethernet splitter can run two separate connections over the same Ethernet cable. However, that's a maximum of two connections. If you only want one other device connected to the Ethernet, this is a good option. However, if you have more than one device connected to the Ethernet, this is not an option.

If you want to connect many devices to a single Ethernet connection, you need to buy an Ethernet switch. A switch is similar to an Ethernet splitter, except it allows more than two devices to be connected. Switches are very convenient if you have a lot of devices to connect, but only a few Ethernet ports, such as if you are connecting many devices to a LAN.

Although they support stacking, it is important to remember that they also require power. Another difference between switches and splitters is that splitters do not require power and can be connected directly to Ethernet ports.

Do I need an Ethernet switch or a splitter?

The number of devices you want to connect will determine whether you need a switch or a splitter. If you only need to connect two devices, you can use an Ethernet splitter, which does not require power.

On the contrary, if you need to connect several devices, an Ethernet switch is an ideal solution. It can connect several devices to the same Ethernet port, but it needs power.

I hope this guide has helped you understand Ethernet splitters and how to use them. They can be purchased online for very low prices. However, if you need speeds above 100Mbps, you may need to configure the wiring for your network.