So what exactly is an ethernet cable splitter? If you spend any time browsing on the internet you will see that people get the misleading idea that a splitter is something they could use to divide an internet connection with. It is easy to see why they make this mistake, as the name implies that you can split anything that is ethernet based, so why couldn't you split your internet between 2 computer devices? These ethernet splitters are not intended for sharing the internet connection. Read further to discover what a splitter is best suited and how they should be setup and used.
As stated before, an ethernet splitter isn't used to share an internet connection. Don't be like some individuals who only discover this after they purchase it. So one might ask, what IS it for? An ethernet cable splitter is intended to reduce how much ethernet cable you need when combining two networks. What we are talking about here is not an 'internet' network, but rather two LANs (local area networks) or two or more computers. Ethernet splitters have to be used in pairs. They work because basic LAN traffic only uses 4 wires of the cable, but these cables actually have eight wires internally.
So by allowing 2 routes of traffic in one cable, you cut down on wiring. Hopefully you can see now how they allow you to save on cable. If you had 2 computers in one room and needed to connect them with cable to two other computers in a different room, you could either run two sets of cables or you can use a pair of splitters. If using the splitters then you only need a single cable and a splitter at either end. This is a common scenario of how ethernet splitters can be used.
Another problem people do not realize is that ethernet cable splitters have to be used in pairs. Many people simply buy one splitter and get frustrated because nothing works. Pairs are required because the traffic going in and out of the cable needs to be merged on one end before it goes in and then split on the other end when the traffic comes out. Pairs are required because the network traffic going in and out of the ethernet cable needs to be merged on one end before it goes in and then separated on the other end when the network traffic comes out.
If only one splitter were used, then there would be confusion at the receiving end. The computer or device on the receiving end would be bombarded with two lanes of information traffic, and this is not how network traffic travels. Using the ethernet cable splitters on both ends solves this issue because it correctly splits the signal before the receiving computer gets it. This is why using only one ethernet cable splitter won't work.
Now you can probably see how and why ethernet splitters are used. To cut down on the amount of computer cabling needed in a network, splitters can be used. Just remember they are not used for sharing an internet connection.
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