| ajority of homes and households around the world | | | | computers will all usually have the same IP. This is |
| today use either a cable modem or some similar | | | | a small price to pay for the convenience such a |
| kind of broadband internet connection. Most | | | | device offers. |
| houses usually have multiple computers but only | | | | So what's the different between a cable splitter |
| one internet connection. Using the right hardware | | | | to share an internet connection and other devices |
| it is very easy to share or split an internet | | | | like hubs and switches? Hubs and switches are |
| connection and share it amongst a number of | | | | not capable of sharing an internet connection; |
| computers. One such device that makes this | | | | instead they are used for connecting networks or |
| possible is an ethernet cable splitter. This is a | | | | LANs together and making communication |
| generic term that is applied to a variety of | | | | between the two possible. LANs commonly exist |
| hardware that makes internet connection sharing | | | | in offices and homes and allow multiple computers |
| possible. Read on to discover a common | | | | to share files and even printers. However, they |
| computer setup that could benefit from an | | | | can't share a single web connection with |
| ethernet splitter and the difference between this | | | | computers on the LAN. What they can do is |
| and other hardware such as hubs and switches. | | | | connect computers together and then allow them |
| Homes, offices and universities all usually have one | | | | to connect to a cable splitter which then passes |
| or just a few internet connections. The truth is | | | | the internet connection back through the hub or |
| that if every computer on the planet had its own | | | | switch to all the computers on the LAN. |
| internet connection, the internet wouldn't work. | | | | If you still aren't sure about what the difference |
| The internet uses IPs to locate and identify | | | | between an ethernet cable splitter and hubs or |
| computers and there currently are not enough IPs | | | | switches is then just remember if you want to |
| to go around if every computer connected at | | | | share the internet you need a cable splitter. |
| once. This is where ethernet splitters come in. | | | | Another common name for these splitters is a |
| Using a splitter you are able to connect multiple | | | | router, and using a router is the only way you |
| computers to just one internet connection. This is | | | | can share an internet connection. The next time |
| possible because the cable splitter actually | | | | you visit your computer store, just tell the sales |
| connects to the internet itself and then it simply | | | | person you are looking for a router to share an |
| shares or grants access to any computer that | | | | internet connection with and they'll be able to |
| connects to it. This means that the computers | | | | point you in the right direction. Hubs and switches |
| aren't directly connected to the internet, instead | | | | are for internal networks and not internet sharing. |
| they go through and use the connection the | | | | These devices are more suitable to sharing files, |
| ethernet splitter has created. This means an | | | | printers and other things in a local network and |
| almost unlimited number of computers can use a | | | | you commonly find them in offices, schools and |
| single connection, but one down side is that the | | | | some homes. |