2 ethernet cables running from 1 powerline adaptor?
CherylFan
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Hello
Is it possible to use a socket doubler, so that I can have 2 ethernet cables running from one powerline adaptor?
I`m trying to use two computers (one a desktop, one a Sunray device) and want to connect both via powerline to my router. The router is in a different part of the house and I can`t run long ethernet cables from there. The wifi signal where the computer is is very poor. I`m intending to use the same keyboard monitor and mouse connected to both the computer and the Sunray via a KVM switch. I can use two separate powerlines adaptors (at the receiving end) one for the computer and one for the Sunray, but I was wondering whether I could instead just connect both computer and Sunray to the one powerline via a socket doubler. Are there such things, and will it work?
Would be grateful for any advice.
Is it possible to use a socket doubler, so that I can have 2 ethernet cables running from one powerline adaptor?
I`m trying to use two computers (one a desktop, one a Sunray device) and want to connect both via powerline to my router. The router is in a different part of the house and I can`t run long ethernet cables from there. The wifi signal where the computer is is very poor. I`m intending to use the same keyboard monitor and mouse connected to both the computer and the Sunray via a KVM switch. I can use two separate powerlines adaptors (at the receiving end) one for the computer and one for the Sunray, but I was wondering whether I could instead just connect both computer and Sunray to the one powerline via a socket doubler. Are there such things, and will it work?
Would be grateful for any advice.
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http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/networking/network-ethernet-switches-home-smalloffice-1-to-5-port-switch
to plug into youre powerline adaptor.
sure somebody else on DS will be alomg to confirm , or not if that would work
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Desktop/dp/B000N99BBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424602754&sr=8-2&keywords=tp+link+network+switch
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/275-7230572-7908413?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=5%20port%20gigabit%20ethernet%20switch&sprefix=5+port+gigabit+ethernet+switch%2Caps
Simple vid here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yJFLElDPCA
Not all the wires (also known as 'pairs' inside an ethernet cable are used), so these devices use them. Effectively creating two cables in one.
BUT, I can't find any reports they work with powerline adapters because the 'unused' wire pairs may be used for another purpose.
So buy a Switch Box as above posters say, in this case.
Most adapters I've seen encode a single ethernet connection onto the mains wiring. With a port doubler it would have to encode two and I haven't seen any claiming to do that. So at best you'd get the one signal on the normal pairs and the signal on the unused pairs goes nowhere.
And if you did have an adapter that encodes two discrete ethernet connections I suspect it would have two RJ45 ports on it anyway.
And also you have to differentiate between Port Doublers that are specifically wired to combine two separate ethernet connections into one cable and split them out at the other end and simple RJ45 splitters. A RJ45 splitter wires both sockets in parallel, all four pairs, so cannot be used to combine/split two ethernet connections.
Yes PLA's and switches work together OK. I have 2 pc's in another room connected to my home network using a switch + PLA.
I have seen an "RJ45 doubler 8 wires" which I`m inclined to try (well, it`s cheap)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0018M9B6I/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1FWNCMMRYS90J12TQBMJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455333147&pf_rd_i=468294
Or the switch mentioned by JulesandSand.
Thanks to all. Most grateful.
The unused 4 wires (2pairs) quite often are used to provide power over ethernet for things like voip phones etc.
just get a cheap 8 port switch for a few quid and connect it to the homeplug
(The very first versions of Ethernet worked in this way with all computers connected via a common cable.)
Link speeds will be very slow if both devices are in use at the same time though.
I really wouldn't recommend this as a long term solution though. Modern Ethernet networks are not intended to function in this way and results will be unpredictable at best.
My advice is in line with the other posters - to either get a small switch or add an extra powerline adapter / upgrade to a model with more than one socket.
All 8 wires in the plugs are wired in parallel which means that if you connect two PCs to such a plug you would connect both their TX pairs and both their RX pairs together all the time. This will end in tears, though perhaps not damaging the network adapters they certainly will not function correctly. You might get away with it if you completely shut down the PC you are not using (may even have to switch it off at the mains as well to completely kill the network adapter) but even that cannot be guaranteed to work.
The only way to do it is to use either a powerline adapter with built in network switch or a separate network switch. That way it makes no difference how many devices are on or off, the switch takes care of sorting out how the data gets transferred to and from the router properly
Very grateful to all.
I have never known a RJ45 doubler work unless only one device was powered on at a time. Every time both have been powered up things have fallen apart very quickly.
I've used coax cable many years ago to wire up multiple computers on a network daisy chaining from one to the other. Never done it with Cat5 or similar cabling though.
Also it might be worth looking at getting a better router if it struggles. At my last place I could get a decent signal at the top of a large 2 storey house and at the bottom of the 30ft garden from a router at a central ground floor point. It might be worth experimenting with different channels.
This is a simple problem with a simple solution. You need a switch at the end with more than one device.
Or, if the OP hasn't bought the homeplug devices yet, just buy the WD Livewire ones, they have 4 ethernet ports on every device.
http://support.wdc.com/product/install.asp?groupid=1707&lang=en
That's what I have transmitting ethernet from my internet connection upstairs to my location downstairs behind the TV where I have multiple devices that need to get online.
Yeah, I've only ever had such a setup working once, and it certainly wasn't what I'd call reliable.
I`ve been using Powerline for some time (TPLink) to link two separate PCs upstairs to the router downstairs - BT Home Hub 4, only a few weeks old. It`s the need to have this second computer gadget for my wife`s work in the same upstairs room as her own pc, and link both via powerline to the router, which is causing the issue. I could just use a separate powerline for the Sunray device but the plug socket into which I`d have to plug isn`t well placed. I`ll have a look at the WD Livewire you helpfully mentioned -thanks. Really appreciate the help.
I have a TP-Link 200Mbps homeplug plugged into the mains. Connected to it I have an ethernet cable which is connected to one of these. I then have my PC, YouView box and PS3 all connnected to the switch.
It really just works just like that, no other setting up required. I've been using this set up for over 2 years and I'm yet to find a problem with it. If only one of the devices is powered on, it uses the full connection speed.
Thanks very much indeed
Something like this Solwise kit has 2 x ethernet, wifi, 500mb (real speed will be much less but faster then your internet) and pass through socket so you can still use the socket.
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/products/16568-solwise-plv-500av-piggy-kit-v/