I was asked by a client recently: “Can we use a splitter on one of our internet connections so we can have two computers plugged into one? We only have one internet port in that office, but I need to plug in two computers.”
With the old style analog telephone line we all have in our homes, it is easy to split a line multiple times. This is because only two wires are used for each line in a phone cable. Computer networking is far more complex. Eight wires are used within a single network cable. While it is sometimes possible to couple two networking cables together, it is not feasible to split the connection.
Linksys Wireless Router with Built-in Network Switch
There are a couple of possible solutions to this problem though, and they are both pretty simple.
Solution 1: Network Switches
Network switches are used to connect multiple computers on a single network. If your goal is only to use a single network wall jack for multiple computers or devices, then a network switch should do the job. Most consumer network switches will automatically uplink to a parent switch so there is usually no configuration needed.
Solution 2: Network Router with Built-in Network Switch
Network routers are used to route internal traffic to another network (such as an internet connection). Most home routers (including wireless routers) have network switches built-in. What this combination of a router with a built-in switch provides is the ability to network several computers and share a single internet connection with them all. If your network router also supports wireless connections, then you can have a combination of wired computers and wireless computers on your network.
Is this legal? If you remember the days of legal issues when splitting cable TV, then you may be concerned with sharing your internet connection with multiple PCs. Unless otherwise specified by your internet provider, it is perfectly acceptable to share your internet connection with all of the computers in your home or office. Of course this doesn’t mean you can share your wireless with the whole neighborhood.
6 comments
Skip to comment form
This is awesome!
Sir I have splitted wifi inernet with the help of switch but if i want to access internet on other computerit gives message that a computer already used this IP address plz contact your service provider.how can solve this problem plz help.
I really love your site.. Excellent colors & theme.
Did you make this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create
my own blog and would love to find out where you got this from
or what the theme is named. Appreciate it!
Really great sir!!!
Hello. I have a home security system that use my regular internet and I have my family that use the same regular internet. We have our roku, tablets and phone that is connect with that regular internet. So everything is connect it with the same internet by WiFi including my home security system. My question is How I can separate my internet in two so my home security system can have his own internet connection and at the same time we can use the wifi like normal with other?
Author
Jaasiel, thank you for your question. My apologies for my very late response. If you’re very familiar with networking and have the proper equipment, you could securely separate traffic onto separate VLANs.
If you’ve not done that before, a simpler solution is to create a separate wireless network. Most wireless routers now support the creation of multiple wireless networks (or SSIDs). Moving only your security system onto the new wireless would allow your phones, computers, and Roku to stay on the current wireless network.