Splitting Ethernet Cable

H

Hibes

Is it possible to split one ethernet cable to 2 connectors, so that 2 PC's
can be connected to one line. I'd only be using one computer at a time and
realize that using both at once wouldn't work. Is there any harm that could
come of this? Say if both computers accidentally went on at once?

Thanks.
Hibes
 
S

Sooner Al [MVP]

C

Chuck

Is it possible to split one ethernet cable to 2 connectors, so that 2 PC's
can be connected to one line. I'd only be using one computer at a time and
realize that using both at once wouldn't work. Is there any harm that could
come of this? Say if both computers accidentally went on at once?

Thanks.
Hibes

Hibes,

This is best done by using a NAT router. With a NAT router, you can split to as
many computers as necessary, and have any or all computers on and online at the
same time, at your convenience.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html
 
H

Hibes

Thanks guys. I'm familiar with hubs, I'm just more curious than anything to
know if splitting a line will cause problems/damage if both computers are
plugged into it but only one is on.

Hibes
 
C

Chuck

Thanks guys. I'm familiar with hubs, I'm just more curious than anything to
know if splitting a line will cause problems/damage if both computers are
plugged into it but only one is on.

Hibes

If you split a line using a router (not a hub please), no damage will be caused.
What damage would you expect? How are YOU talking about splitting the line?
How about some background about your network?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html
 
J

Jerry

If you had read his first posting you would have seen that he wants to
remove the single connector on one end of the cable and split the wiring so
he would have two connectors to run to two systems.

I would guess that doing this could possibly screw up the impedence match of
the cabling, especially if the two systems happened to be on at the same
time, and probably destroy his incoming wiring and/or signal.
 
C

Chuck

If you had read his first posting you would have seen that he wants to
remove the single connector on one end of the cable and split the wiring so
he would have two connectors to run to two systems.

I would guess that doing this could possibly screw up the impedence match of
the cabling, especially if the two systems happened to be on at the same
time, and probably destroy his incoming wiring and/or signal.

Actually he said "split one ethernet cable to 2 connectors", and I was trying to
convince him to use a router and do it the easy way. I don't know about the
impedance issue, but untwisting the paired wires in an Ethernet cable is not
something I'd recommend. And what would he have on the other end?

This idea of making one 4 pair cable serve as a pair of 2 pair cables, simply
because you have only 1 cable in place, and 2 computers, comes up periodically.
It's a lot easier to use a hub or router than to worry about it.

Terminating a 4 pair cable with an 8 pin plug is hard enough; splitting it into
a pair of 4 pin plugs (8 pin plugs with 4 used), and getting the sequencing and
placement right, without untwisting one pair too much, would be an exercise in
futility. Do it the easy way and buy a hub or router.
 
H

Hibes

Thanks very much for your time. You basically answered my question that
it's not worth the hassle of splitting a line. I was just curious is all.
I don't plan on doing this.

Much appreciated.
Hibes
 
C

Chuck

Thanks very much for your time. You basically answered my question that
it's not worth the hassle of splitting a line. I was just curious is all.
I don't plan on doing this.

Much appreciated.
Hibes

Thanks for your feedback, and clarification. Glad my advice was useful.
 
G

GTS

This idea of making one 4 pair cable serve as a pair of 2 pair cables,
simply
because you have only 1 cable in place, and 2 computers, comes up
periodically.
It's a lot easier to use a hub or router than to worry about it.

Terminating a 4 pair cable with an 8 pin plug is hard enough; splitting it
into
a pair of 4 pin plugs (8 pin plugs with 4 used), and getting the
sequencing and
placement right, without untwisting one pair too much, would be an
exercise in
futility. Do it the easy way and buy a hub or router.

There are commercially available splitters that can use both sets of 4 pairs
in an Ethernet cable for 2 connections. They're not intended for the OP's
purpose, but rather to allow using one Ethernet cable to feed 2 switch (or
router) ports to 2 computers (a splitter is required at both ends of the
cable). I wouldn't particularly recommend it and concur that using a switch
is preferable, but FWIW -
http://www.compunettech.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=CAT5E2PAIRSPLIT
 

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