I'm trying to get ethernet from a hub to some studio spaces. It sucks to run multiple ethernet cables in parallel. It would be nice to have an ethernet 'line splitter' which is a 3-pot hub, in either T or Y configurations, so I can have a small run going off the main line.

What would be extra nice is to have the switch using Power over Ethernet, so it's just a single line with network connectivity, instead of a power adapter in each room for the little switch.
-- lawpoop, Oct 25 2005

Thinnet etc. http://www.tecdatawire.com/tec6100.html
Images of connectors at the bottom. [Adze, Oct 25 2005]

3Com Intellijack http://www.3com.com...urchase&sku=3CNJ100
If link breaks then go to 3com.com and select on e of the intellijack switches from the product menu. [st3f, Oct 25 2005]

3Com Intellijack 3CNJ225 http://www.3com.com...urchase&sku=3CNJ225
Similar to the above, but in a form factor that might not have to be mounted in-the-wall, and with PoE power-forwarding. [land, Oct 26 2005]

Ethernet Switch powered by PoE http://biocio.blogs...-by-poe-or-how.html
Much like the intellijack but better form factor, you need a switch powered by PoE. Just get a PoE injector/splitter and match it up with a switch that's voltage compatible and draws no more than 12 watts of power. I've used a Linksys WAPPOE12 splitter paired with an SD208 8-port switch @ $80 with 1/2 Amp to spare. [Rhett, Apr 05 2006]

Thinnet (50 ohm coaxial) will do this for you; a single run with inline T connectors. Though there are good reasons why people use UTP/STP these days.

Have you considered Wireless LAN? I use that at home with my broadband connection (there are 3 laptop users in my flat), and it's great.
-- Adze, Oct 25 2005


[Adze] We considered it, but no one wants to buy wireless cards, and I don't want to support wireless technology on various non-XP machines.

Can you give me a link or so on thinnet? This sounds promising.
-- lawpoop, Oct 25 2005


Am I missing something here? Can you use a hub at the target end.
-- bristolz, Oct 25 2005


Sure (link). Also known as 10Base2. Though as I say, it is kinda a "late 80s to early 90s" thing and doesn't have as much support nowadays due to to the benefits of twisted pair technology.

EDIT: Actually, [bris] has the right idea. Just run a crossover cable from one hub to another (hubs these days can usually recognise another hub, so you may not even need the crossover cable).
-- Adze, Oct 25 2005


Well, I was trying to avoid installing 5 different hubs in the different studios. It's just easier to run cables; that way one moron doesn't get to disconnect the others when they unplug thier hub.

This idea really shines with PoE.
-- lawpoop, Oct 25 2005


I think lawpoop is trying to say that he wants something compact with no extra adapters and crap. Why have an ugly 4 port hub which needs a clunky AC adapter? If you could have this ethernet line splitter do the job with less cost (if mass produced) no AC adapter (PoE) and much tinier package?

I definitely agree with lawpoop ... I think you guys interpret his idea as "I don't know how to do it so help me" ... but I understand it as ... ya there are ways to do it using hubs and crap but those are just useless for some cases. I would also love to get my hands on one of these splitters for the times when there is only 1 jack in the office and I just need a second one quickly and neatly with no clunky switch laying around and taking up power outlet (or 3 because those AC adapters are so frigging huge) ... I really like this idea [+] ... and more if I could
-- ixnaum, Oct 25 2005


Have you seen the 3Com Intelljack switches (link). They're PoE Switches that look like wall-sockets. If I understand you correctly, that might be just what you're looking for.

Re-reads idea... maybe not the right form- factor after all.
-- st3f, Oct 25 2005


yes st3f .. kind of like that but not in the wall .. but just a simple Y ... tiny little thing really.
-- ixnaum, Oct 25 2005


What bris said. Done it many times.
-- DrCurry, Oct 25 2005


Don't overlook the 3Com Intellijack products just because you don't want an in-the-wall solution: the 3CNJ225, for example (see link) is *intended* to be mounted in a wall, but may not /have/ to be...

It looks like it can be powered via PoE and forwards power to the next box down the line. Not sure how far you can daisy-chain them, though. If you have four offices, maybe each of the end-units can power its neighbor, with the remotely-powered units /not/ forwarding power.

Good luck and a croissant, because this was really hard to find.
-- land, Oct 26 2005


//Simply for security reasons I would not use wireless//

Why not? There are several secure encryption protocols available depending on the Access point you select. I use WEP at home, which is a basic one, but then I don't have the NSA mainframe on my network.
-- Adze, Oct 27 2005


I understand about as much of this page as I do JesusHChrist's musical singularity posting.
-- RayfordSteele, Oct 27 2005


<shrugs> Personal choice I guess; but I'm using one right now at University, and it's not even encrypted (though firewalled). And they've got a lot more to lose than me.
-- Adze, Oct 27 2005


This may take a bit of work to do but you can get rectangular conduit that has an adhesive backing that permits you to stick it to the wall. Getting a section that is about an inch wide and a half-inch tall should hold at least 4 to 5 cables and it will look nice and neat as it runs down the baseboard.
-- Jscotty, Oct 28 2005



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