Ethernet Splitter – Everything You Need to Know

Ethernet Splitter

An ethernet splitter is an essential device in the world of networking, it’s vital for expanding network connectivity without additional wiring or significant hardware upgrades. This post will introduce you to what is an Ethernet splitter, how it works, and the types of it.

What is an Ethernet Splitter?

An Ethernet splitter is a device used to connect multiple Ethernet-enabled devices, such as computers, routers, or switches, to a single Ethernet port.

It works by splitting the incoming Ethernet signal into multiple output ports, allowing multiple devices to access the same network connection simultaneously.

The splitter typically has one input port and two or more output ports. It sends identical data to all of the output ports by duplicating a single Ethernet signal from the input port. This enables multiple devices to be connected and share the same network link, rather than requiring a separate Ethernet port for each device.

Ethernet splitters are usually used in small residential or office networks because of the limited Ethernet ports on a router. However, it’s a quick and affordable solution to increase the number of devices that may be linked to the network without requiring extra networking hardware.

However, the Ethernet splitter is better used for high-bandwidth applications or large file transfers. The performance of the network may be affected when using an Ethernet splitter, as the available bandwidth is shared among the connected devices.

How Does an Ethernet Splitter Work?

When we talked about how an Ethernet splitter works, here are some details to show you.

Ethernet Cables and Wires:

A standard Ethernet cable has eight wires, but older Ethernet standards like 100 Mbps only use four of them: two wires for sending data and two for receiving. The rest of the wires will be used to run a second Ethernet connection.

Splitting at the Source:

The second step is plugging the Ethernet splitter into the Ethernet port of your router, switch, or wall outlet. Then plug two Ethernet cables into the splitter. The two could carry data from two separate devices.

Moreover, the Ethernet splitter can combine the two Ethernet signals into one cable by using eight wires.

Transmission to the Destination:

After that, the combined Ethernet cable carries the two connections together to the destination.

Splitting at the Destination:


At the destination, you need to prepare another Ethernet splitter. This splitter separates the combined signals back into two separate connections. Each device gets its own Ethernet connection again.

The Ethernet Splitter Working Process

Work With VPN:

LightningX VPN is a great tool for working with Ethernet splitters. It offers 2000+ servers in 50+ countries, and it can work for diverse devices including phones, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

LightningX VPN can encrypt all your access data, making your data secure under any network. Used in conjunction with an Ethernet splitter, it can be combined with the inherent security of Ethernet to enhance the security of your data protection.

At the same time Ethernet, as a wired connection, offers faster speeds and a more reliable connection than wireless connections. Used in conjunction with a VPN, it reduces latency and interference.

LightningX VPN

Types of the Ethernet Splitter

We can divide the Ethernet splitter into different criteria for classification.

Requirements For Network Setup and Functionality

According to your network setup and functionality requirements, the Ethernet splitter can be divided into unpowered Ethernet splitter and powered Ethernet splitter.

Unpowered Ethernet Splitters:

The unpowered Ethernet splitter is cheap and doesn’t need any electric power. If you want to use one it’s easy to set up too, it doesn’t have any intelligence at all and does not direct packets between ports automatically. You get to do that part manually.

However, the unpowered Ethernet splitter only uses 4 of the 8 conductors to connect, and the network performance is down to 100Mbps. If you need to do some advanced operations, an unpowered Ethernet splitter is not a nice selection.

What’s more, it only uses one connection to the splitter may be used at a time.

Powered Ethernet Splitters:

The powered Ethernet splitter is like an Ethernet switch. A powered Ethernet splitter costs a lot more than an unpowered Ethernet splitter, and it needs power to run.

You can use the powered Ethernet splitter to deal with complicated operations, it is intelligent, and it can switch data packets between ports. And your Internet speed will not be reduced. While it allows simultaneous use of all connections.

Requirements Of Specifications, Functionality, and Applications

Due to the specifications, functionality, and applications of Ethernet splitters, there are three types of Ethernet splitters:

Passive Ethernet Splitters:

Passive ethernet splitters are the most basic type. They work by simply dividing the incoming Ethernet signal into multiple outgoing signals. Power is not a requirement for them, which is super handy.

They allow two Ethernet connections to be transmitted over a single Ethernet cable by using the extra wires inside the cable. These splitters are commonly used in situations where running multiple cables is impractical but don’t require high bandwidth or speed.

However, they only work for 100 Mbps Internet speeds. Both devices connected through a passive splitter cannot communicate with the network at the same time. You need a splitter at both ends of the connection.

Active Ethernet Splitters:

Active ethernet splitters are a more advanced type. They work by amplifying the incoming Ethernet signal. This allows for a stronger and more stable connection to be distributed to multiple devices.

Their work principle is similar to a passive splitter but they require external electric power. Not usually needed for standard home networking. However, they are ideal for long-distance transmissions despite being expensive.

They may also have capabilities to separate Power over Ethernet from the data line to provide power to devices like IP cameras.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Splitters:

Power over Ethernet splitters are a specialized type of ethernet splitter that also provide power to connected devices. It can combine both data and power into a single cable.

These splitters are useful in coat-efficient network expansions, outdoor installations, and smart home or Internet of Things devices. They simplify installations in environments where running additional power lines is impractical or expensive, making them a versatile tool for various networking scenarios.

But they only deliver limited power, restricting their use with high-power devices. They also require PoE-enabled infrastructure, such as PoE switches or injectors, and the power efficiency can decrease over long cable runs.

How to Select the Right Ethernet Splitter? 

Number of Connections Needed:

Before selecting an Ethernet splitter, you should know the number of ports for the devices you need to connect.

Type of Devices to be Connected:

The type of devices is considered too. Some Ethernet splitters can afford high-bandwidth devices. If you have specific network requirements. You’d better select a suitable Ethernet splitter.

Speed and Bandwidth:

Make sure to choose a splitter that is compatible with the network speeds and bandwidths you need.

Distance Between Devices:

If you’re connecting devices that are located far apart, you’ll need an ethernet splitter with a higher transmission distance.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, this article introduces you to what an Ethernet splitter is, how an Ethernet splitter works, and how to categorize them. Through this post, you will have a better understanding of Ethernet separators.

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