Ethernet switch or hub or ???

Question

Dumb question?This system forced me to enter a model so I did but I lied as I don't have a model.I have 2 ethernet devices and my router has one available ethernet port.&nbsp; I'm looking for a device (switch or hub or ??) which will allow me to be able to dictate which of the two devices has access to that one ethernet port on the router.&nbsp; Ideally the device would come with a remote control so I could sit on my fat rear and do the switching from the couch.&nbsp; But it's O.K. if I have to get up and push a switch in order to make the connection.Is what I'm looking to do even possible?Thanks&nbsp;

antinode · Answer

&gt; [...] and a Sagemcom Fast 5260 router.&gt; In addition to being wireless, the router has 4 ethernet ports.&nbsp;&nbsp; Ok.&nbsp; It's a router.&gt; [...] If your "my router" really is a router, then you should be able&gt; to use an Ethernet switch (or hub) to expand the number of available&gt; ports.&nbsp;&nbsp; Still true.&nbsp; Invest the $20 or so in a 5- or 8-port gigabit Ethernetswitch.&nbsp; Connect one of its ports to "the one remaining unused port" onthe router.&nbsp; Bask in the luxury of the remaining ports on your newgigabit Ethernet switch.&gt; I can't envision ever wanting the 2 devices to be operating at the&gt; same time.&nbsp;&nbsp; Doesn't matter.&nbsp; If you ever did find anything which would do whatyou had in mind (some kind of Ethernet A-B switch), then it'd probablycost more than the right thing, a (hub-like) gigabit Ethernet switch.The fact that there isn't even a good name for what you wanted should bea clue.&nbsp; "Ethernet switch" is already in use for what you should havewanted.&nbsp;&nbsp; A Web search for "difference between Ethernet hub and switch" shouldexplain that, if you're interested.&gt; The output of these devices goes to our TV via an HDML switch (Octava&gt; UHD41-ARC).&nbsp;&nbsp; "HDMI"?&nbsp; That's a different problem.

antinode · Answer

&gt; Dumb question?&nbsp;&nbsp; No, but describing your equipment as "my router" is less thanhelpful.&gt; I have 2 ethernet devices and my router has one available ethernet&gt; port.&nbsp;&nbsp; What, exactly, is your "my router"?&nbsp; Define "available".&nbsp; How manyEthernet ports does it have, in total?&gt; [...] Is what I'm looking to do even possible?&nbsp;&nbsp; That may depend on exactly what your "my router" is.&nbsp; If your "myrouter" really is a router, then you should be able to use an Ethernetswitch (or hub) to expand the number of available ports.&nbsp;&nbsp; If your "my router" really is a modem (only, not a router), then youshould probably add a router rather than a switch.&nbsp;&nbsp; Nowadays, an Ethernet hub is gettng hard to find.&nbsp; An Ethernet switchcosts about the same, and performs better in most cases.&gt; [...] Ideally the device would come with a remote control so I could&gt; sit on my fat rear and do the switching from the couch.&nbsp; But it's O.K.&gt; if I have to get up and push a switch in order to make the connection.&nbsp;&nbsp; No, _ideally_, the device would let you connect mutiple devices atthe same time, and not make you worry about which one is connected.&nbsp; Arouter, perhaps with a switch, should do that.&nbsp; The only mystery is whatyou already have, which would affect what you should get.

LowGeared1 · Answer

Thanks for the info.&nbsp; Obviously I know so little about this that I don't know what information I should be providing.The system in question is from Charter Spectrum and consists of a Cisco DPC3216 modem and a Sagemcom Fast 5260 router.&nbsp;In addition to being wireless, the router has 4 ethernet ports.&nbsp;&nbsp;The uses I have for the one remaining unused port are 1) for a computer that's used for doing things like watching YouTube or other videos that are available on the internet.&nbsp; 2) a Sony blue-ray device.&nbsp; Every now and then we want to use the Sony to connect to Amazon prime videos.&nbsp;I can't envision ever wanting the 2 devices to be operating at the same time.&nbsp;The output of these devices goes to our TV via an HDML switch (Octava UHD41-ARC).&nbsp;Thanks again.&nbsp;&nbsp;

LowGeared1 · Answer

Thanks.&nbsp; HDMI was what I should have typed.&nbsp; Three more, and hopefully last, questions if I may.......&nbsp;Am I correct in assuming that if I had the computer and the blue-ray on at the same time and they were both linked to active video sources (two separate video sources) that the eithernet switch would be flipping back and forth trying to provide both devices with the data that's being down loaded?&nbsp;&nbsp;Are there any features/capabilities I should be looking for when it comes to shopping for a gigabit Ethernet switch?&nbsp;&nbsp;Lastly probably an unfair question: If my above assumption is correct would my doing that cause Charter Spectrum to have heart burn?&nbsp;Thanks again&nbsp;LG1&nbsp;

antinode · Answer

&gt; Am I correct in assuming [...]&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; Just as with the similar Ethernet switch that's built into yourrouter, and its four accessible ports.&gt; Are there any features/capabilities I should be looking for when it&gt; comes to shopping for a gigabit Ethernet switch?&nbsp;&nbsp; Low cost?&nbsp; Attractive design/color?&nbsp; (Do you prefer LED indicators onthe same side as the cables, or opposite?)&nbsp; Sturdy construction (metalv. plastic case)?&nbsp; Inside, I suspect that every cheap, unmanaged switchout there is about the same as every other one.&nbsp; I'll let you decide on5- v. 8-port.&nbsp; (The cost difference should be small.)&gt; [...] If my above assumption is correct would my doing that cause&gt; Charter Spectrum to have heart burn?&nbsp;&nbsp; I doubt that they'll notice.&nbsp; In any case, you can't suck bits out ofthe cable any faster than your ISP is willing to push them in.&nbsp; I'dexpect streaming video to need a lower data rate than a simple filedownload (which simply runs as fast as the bottleneck will allow,wherever that bottleneck might be).&nbsp; A "video source" is simply anotherdata source, with the difference that, for video, faster is not alwaysbetter.&nbsp; (Why fetch data faster than they're displayed?&nbsp; It's moreefficient to stop asking for more than it is to get all you can as fastas possible, and then store the excess somewhere until it's needed.)I'd expect that sucking down your latest OS update would put a greaterdemand on your network capacity than a couple of video streams, whichself-throttle as convenient.

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Ethernet switch or hub or ???

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