Will an ethernet splitter work?

[Totalpower]

Hi everybody! I was wondering if using an ethernet splitter would fix my current problem. I currently use a cable modem that eventually connects to a router. However, the modem and router are on opposite sides of my house and the wifi signal is very weak in the room where the modem is:/ I have sort of fixed the problem by connecting an airport express base station directly into the cable modem via ethernet cable. However, I need to switch the ethernet cables every time I change rooms due to the poor wifi signal (my house is old and horribly designed for radio signals). I was wondering if I attached a splitter cable directly into the modem, could I connect both the router and airport base station at the same time? I have done some research and so far it looks like that is impossible but I figured I should ask first. I have attached 3 images to help explain my home network setup. Thanks for the help!

*In the 1st and 3rd images, you can ignore the 2nd 5 port switch. The 2nd switch isn't used to connect to the router. It is used to connect to more wall jacks.

*In the 2nd image, I forgot to add the base station in between the modem and laptop.*

[stroyal]

I'm no expert, but I can wire a simple house system.

There is no such thing as a splitter cable as far as I know, That is what a switch, or hub is for.

As I said, I'm no expert, so I'm confused, why you have 2 switches, before the router?
How can the router do it's thing, if the switches are before the router.
Any computer on those switches, is not behind the router firewall, and can't be router by the router.


The cable from the Modem, should go directly to the router, before any other device,
Then you should run a cable, back to the switches, and go from there.

The router passes out the addresses, for your network, and it can't if it is beyond the devices.

I know you can run a network without a route, as I used to do it with dial up, a hub and windows Internet sharing, but it is not supposer to be done that way.

Years ago cable wouldn't even work if you did that, as the cable company went by MAC addresses, and you are showing more than 1 to the cable provider.
That's part of the reason why you used to have to clone your computers Mac address to the router, when you added a router.

Also, if your router has more than an in and an out, it is a combo switch/router.

You could trade the 1st switch and router, and at least you would be wired properly, behind the router.

There are other ways to boost your wifi signal, but with this scenario this that's what I would do.

Move the router then add WiFi to the switch that you move to the other end of the house, with a non router WiFi.(airport express base station)

At any rate the network experts will be around later, and this will give them some fodder.

[stroyal]

Quote
"I have sort of fixed the problem by connecting an airport express base station directly into the cable modem via Ethernet cable"


How many cat5 ports, are on your modem?

If it is just a modem, there is only 1, and you seem to have at least 2?

If it has more than 1, it is a switch also, and if it is a switch also, it is a router too.

If that is the case, the second router, should have DNS disabled, so it is just a switch, and WiFi.

[Totalpower]

Quote
"I have sort of fixed the problem by connecting an airport express base station directly into the cable modem via Ethernet cable"


How many cat5 ports, are on your modem?

If it is just a modem, there is only 1, and you seem to have at least 2?

If it has more than 1, it is a switch also, and if it is a switch also, it is a router too.

If that is the case, the second router, should have DNS disabled, so it is just a switch, and WiFi.

[GroundZero3]

If you remove the router from the front you are pretty much killing your internet connection.

What kind of router do you have? (model) Does it have detectable antennas you might be able to upgrade them

[Totalpower]

@ Stroyal there is such a thing as an ethernet splitter. Look it up to see what I'm talking about. I have 1 cat5 port in my modem, sorry if my pictures confused you. I know I can attach a 2nd computer to the router but the modem is in my room which is where I like to work sometimes. I also want to avoid buying a new router.

@GroundZero3 By killing do you mean slow speed? I get slightly faster speeds connecting through the modem than I do through the router. I have a Linksys WRT310N router with internal antennas unfortunately.

Sorry about my previous response. It seems I can't post anything on this forum using IE or Safari. I am forced to use Chrome which is odd.

[Totalpower]

Also Stroyal I forgot to add that my router does have a 5 port switch built into it. In total I have 3 switches. The 2 switches in my pictures are used to provide ethernet connections in the other rooms of my house. However in the setup I currently have is:

Cable Modem->1st switch->wall jack->router with built in switch.

The 2nd switch in the pictures is for the other rooms of my house.

[stroyal]

I'm well aware there are things called CAT5 splitters, but they not do what you think.
If it was that easy, why would anyone bother with routers, and switches.

AFAIK the only viable splitter splits, the 8 conductors into 4 and 4.
That kind won't do anything, with normal wiring.
The kind that just split the 4 conductors used for 100mb networking would have constant problems, if it worked at all.
It would be lacking what a router, and a switch/hub is supposed to do.

[Totalpower]

:/ thats unfortunate. Is there any other option other than buying another router?

[stroyal]

Unless I'm missing something, you shouldn't have to buy anything.

The simplest way, with what you have now, is to swap the router and the first switch.

Then plug the Airport Express into, the mover switch, on the other end of the house.

The the router would be doing what it is supposed to do then.
All it is now, is a WiFi base station, that is solely routing your laptop.

Nothing else in your system is benefiting from the routers firewall, or is getting routed, at the present time.

[stroyal]

I'll post a chart if you need it, but it is pretty easy.

[Totalpower]

I get what you mean but both the first and 2nd switch are not movable unfortunately both switches are attached to the wall.

[stroyal]

Unattach it, then.
Isn't this your house?

All the ones I have seen, all you have to do is slid it up or to the side, and it will come off the wall.

[Totalpower]

Yup this is my house but I hadn't thought of trying to move the switch. Just checked the switches and the first one IS in fact movable The 2nd one however is not. The 1st one is a Cisco SD205 and the 2nd switch is a Open House H636 ethernet switch.

The only issue I have now is I have ADT pulse home security and the iHUB-3001B-ADT is connected to the 1st switch via cat5 cable. If I replace the 1st switch with the router and the router with the 1st switch do you know if it would cause issues with the ADT alarm system?

Sorry for so many questions and this long process. I just wanna make sure I don't screw up anything important. I did some research on ADT pulse and on the FAQ it asks "Does ADT use my home wifi network?". The answer was "ADT uses a separate private network for video and color touchscreen communication. You are not able to use this network for PC applications, and ADT does not access your wireless PC network. The two networks are separate." Hope I'm not confusing you with all this information. If you need a visual guide let me know.

[stroyal]

I know nothing about ADT, but you are just setting up the network, like it is supposed to be set up.
Substituting a switch for a switch, and placing the router where it is supposed to be.
I'm sure ADT sets up systems every day, on networks that are wired correctly.

I would think, if ADT is connected to your wired network, and it works with the router in the wrong place, then it would still work with the router in the correct place.

After all I would think that 99.99999999999% of homes have the router in the correct place, and I'm sure ADT works for them.

The part of the router you are going to plug it into, is just a switch, like the switch you are removing.

It is working without the benefit of a router, the way you have it set up.

ADT using WiFi, is not the right question, anyway.
If it is plugged into the switch, it is using your wired network.



My final thought is, if the power has ever gone out, and ADT, still worked, when it came back on, then unplugging it from one switch, and plugging it into another switch shouldn't hurt or disable anything.


Would I do it ?
I'd do it so fast, your head would spin.
ADT still has a phone.

[Totalpower]

lol thanks stoyal. I'll try switching the router and switch and see if it works. Thanks again for the help.

[stroyal]

You're welcome.

Let us know.

There is still a lot I don't know about your system, so if it doesn't work, we can get to more details.

Anything I don't know, GZ will certainly know.