Will this work?

[pjpjpjpj]

I am about to add a second HD Extender at a "remote" location in my house (translation, I don't want to run another 100' cable from the switch if I don't have to).

There is one HD Extender nearby. I can not imagine a situation where both the existing extender, and the new one, would EVER be on at the same time.

So here's my idea (see attached sketch "diagram.jpg"): add an inline coupler to the cable running from the switch, plug in the splitter (see attached "splitter.jpg"), and then run cables to each of the extenders (existing and new). Note that the splitter I found actually splits all 8 wires equally to two jacks, not 4 and 4 (2 and 2).

Since both extenders won't ever be running at the same time, this should work, shouldn't it?

[david1234]

It might work, but I don't imagine it would cost a whole lot more to just put a small 5port switch into that same spot. You won't run any more cable, and your hd extenders can work independantly.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by david1234

It might work, but I don't imagine it would cost a whole lot more to just put a small 5port switch into that same spot. You won't run any more cable, and your hd extenders can work independantly.

I'm with you, just get a cheap 4-5 port switch.

[SWKerr]

That seems kind of complicated and risky considering you can get a 10\100 switch for about $15 or a 10/100/1000 for $30.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127083

[pjpjpjpj]

I'm curious (not doubting the expertise here), but what could be "risky"? It's just wires to wires, right? And if only one of the two extenders was on at once, there shouldn't be any signal strength loss, right? The splitter and the coupler together would cost me about $7, wouldn't have any flashing lights lighting up my bedroom at night, and most importantly, wouldn't require any more electricity (another wall wart on the power strip behind the TV cabinet).

[bph]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I'm curious (not doubting the expertise here), but what could be "risky"? It's just wires to wires, right? And if only one of the two extenders was on at once, there shouldn't be any signal strength loss, right? The splitter and the coupler together would cost me about $7, wouldn't have any flashing lights lighting up my bedroom at night, and most importantly, wouldn't require any more electricity (another wall wart on the power strip behind the TV cabinet).

It's not risky as in "dangerous", it's risky as in "high risk of not working". Ethernet is an active protocol based on point-to-point connections (at least ethernet over Cat-5, leave aside the old coax style). If the units are physically powered off (with no wake-on-lan or anything) then it would probably work. If the network interface on both are powered up, then it almost definitely will not work.

What you can do is split the existing 8-wire (4-pair) cable run to carry to ethernet connections, since 100 MB only uses 2 pairs each. Most network installers would either run a second Cat-5 or toss in a cheap switch/hub. But, like you said, it would only cost you $7 to try.

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by bph

Ethernet is an active protocol based on point-to-point connections (at least ethernet over Cat-5, leave aside the old coax style). If the units are physically powered off (with no wake-on-lan or anything) then it would probably work. If the network interface on both are powered up, then it almost definitely will not work.

We are in the habit of turning off the extender with the remote (sleep) when we turn off the TV. We never leave it on, or put it in "standby" (screen saver) mode. This would be the case - either one extender or the other would be on, never both.

When you turn off the extender with the remote, it's not still talking to the server, correct? So the single cable (from the existing switch to this new splitter) would be "inactive" (no signals passing through it), until one of the extenders was turned on, at which point the connection would be made?

I guess my thought is that, if splitting the cable like this was an idea completely fraught with conflicts due to the nature of LANs, why would they even invent such a device?

[mikejaner]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

When you turn off the extender with the remote, it's not still talking to the server, correct?

I'm pretty sure the remote only puts the extender into a Standby mode and it still talks to the network.

[SprDtyF350]

Why limit yourself? Someday you may want to use both at the same time. Your whiz bang splitter that costs as much as a switch isn't going to allow that. If you don't like the lights on the switch.. Put a piece of tape over them...

[doc]

Instead of using the product you've shown, why not use 2 'cat5 economisers', or whatever name they go by. They look similar to the one you have a pic of but are wired differently internally.

They allow you to send 2 ethernet signals down one wire - you just need 2 spare ports on the switch you already have.

You connect one of these economisers to 2 ports on the switch with small patch leads at one end, and at the other end of your cat5 run you have the other economiser. You then have a small patch lead going to your first extender, and run a lead from the other other port on the economiser to your second extender.

As long as you dont go over 100m with the total length you should be ok.

I use 2 of these at home, saves running an extra cable.

Its good for 10/100MB but not gigabit as that uses all 8 wires.

[brewston]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

I'm pretty sure the remote only puts the extender into a Standby mode and it still talks to the network.

Yes, I've discovered that if you press the 'power' on the remote, you can still telnet into the HD200, its very much still running

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by SprDtyF350

Your whiz bang splitter that costs as much as a switch...

All points above are well-taken... but with regards to this quoted one and another above, please direct me to a switch for $6. The cheapest I have ever seen was the 5-port "gently used" one I bought off eBay a while back for about $12 after S/H. I have never seen one "NIB" for less than $19.99.

Not saying $19.99 is a ton of money... just that it seems like a lot of people here consider $20 the same as $6. Anyone wanna lend me $30 ($100)?

And after all these posts last night I actually found another splitter that does the same thing (on monoprice) for like $1. I think $1 is worth trying, even if it fails....

[S_M_E]

Trying to take shortcuts to save a few bucks might work or it might bite you and end up costing you more than if you had just done it right the first time. You asked for advice, people gave opinions, only you can decide what you end up doing...

[planetc]

You don't want to buy a switch and don't want to run a cable but are happy to spend a few cents on some 'splitter' device. Given this I'm sure most would agree that the type to go for would be the one doc suggested. It fits what you require without any potential for misery. I would prefer a to see a second switch or cable in there, but in the interests of keeping costs down this would be the next best thing. A splitter that allows two units to use the same physical wires is highly likely to have issues. The 'Y' shape it creates is likely to induce reflections and errors. Why take a chance on one when you can do it right first time with a similar doubler that uses the wires you already have in place that are currently unused?

Originally Posted by doc

Instead of using the product you've shown, why not use 2 'cat5 economisers', or whatever name they go by. .

[pjpjpjpj]

Originally Posted by planetc

...A splitter that allows two units to use the same physical wires is highly likely to have issues. The 'Y' shape it creates is likely to induce reflections and errors...

I will likely get the type described above that doc recommended - but, I'm curious.... what kind of issues might/would I see, anyway? Errors in the streaming video? Complete "lock up the extender" type errors? I can't imagine it could harm/break the extender...
Again, just curious.

[Para]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

...I have never seen one "NIB" for less than $19.99.
....

Save yourself some trouble and just go with a switch. Here is one with free shipping for just $10.99 (after rebate of $15). Yes, you have to wait for the rebate.

It is a NETGEAR FS105 ProSafe 5-Port 10/100 Desktop Switch
from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSaf...5953845&sr=1-1

[planetc]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

I will likely get the type described above that doc recommended - but, I'm curious.... what kind of issues might/would I see, anyway? Errors in the streaming video? Complete "lock up the extender" type errors? I can't imagine it could harm/break the extender...
Again, just curious.

I would think throughput would suffer at best, possibly intermittently. I would consider it similar to adding a bad cable in that it would be unlikely to damage anything, just unreliable.

[pjpjpjpj]

Just a follow-up - the "equal" splitter does not work at all. So, yes, I burned up that $1.

I put the splitter in the line and plugged in one extender (HD100). It worked fine (at that point simply as an inline "coupler"). When I plugged in the second extender (HD200), neither unit would find the server, even with the other off. In fact, once I disconnected the HD200, I had to hard-reboot (switch on back) the HD100 to get it to find the server again.

What the heck, it was worth $1 for the experiment. Now we know for certain that it does not work.

P.S. I decided to go with a small switch in the upstairs room after all, for several reasons... so I guess you all "win". Let the "I told you so's" begin.

[SprDtyF350]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

P.S. I decided to go with a small switch in the upstairs room after all, for several reasons... so I guess you all "win". Let the "I told you so's" begin.

No I told you so from me. Glad you got it to work, and if you had fun experimenting then that's better than pulling your hair out...