Splitting Ethernet Cable

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

You need to purchase either a switch or a hub.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/diagram/ethernet-hub.asp

Additional information...

http://www.homenethelp.com/home-network.asp

http://www.homenethelp.com/connection-sharing.asp

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

"Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote in message
news:u2oxPCJ7FHA.2676@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> 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

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:36:51 -0600, "Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote:

>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/2005/0...computers.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

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

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:26:12 -0600, "Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote:

>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/2005/0...useful-in.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

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.

"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
news:76tsn1t355ghromfcvovg1g58vjo00q0vp@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:26:12 -0600, "Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote:
>
>>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/2005/0...useful-in.html
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My email is AT DOT
> actual address pchuck mvps org.

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 21:27:10 -0800, "Jerry" <NoSpamChiefZeke@MSN.com> wrote:

>"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
>news:76tsn1t355ghromfcvovg1g58vjo00q0vp@4ax.com.. .
>> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 18:26:12 -0600, "Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote:
>>
>>>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/2005/0...useful-in.html

>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.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

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



>>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.
>

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 01:10:50 -0600, "Hibes" <spamback@you.com> wrote:

>>>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.

>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.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

>
> 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.
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My email is AT DOT
> actual address pchuck mvps org.

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/ProductI...AT5E2PAIRSPLIT