Need help with my router/switch setup

Greetings, fellow forum members. I find myself facing a bit of a logistical puzzle regarding my home network setup. Currently, I have just a single Ethernet jack available in my room, yet I have two separate devices that I need to connect via a direct wired connection. Does anyone happen to know the technical distinction between what I actually need? Should I be looking into purchasing an Ethernet switch or an Ethernet splitter...

Just grab two simple Ethernet splitters if you don't mind capping your speed at 100Mbps.
Basically, you plug two short patch cables from your router into one splitter, then connect the other splitter to your existing wall jack in the room, and boom—you’ve got two ports for your devices.

wearymason4 said:You could just use two simple Ethernet splitters to turn that single cable into two connections, provided you don't mind capping your maximum speed at 100Mbps.
Essentially, you'd plug two short patch cables from your router into the first splitter, then connect the existing line running to your room into the second splitter, which will then provide two separate ports for your devices.

That won't be an issue at all. I really appreciate the quick response. 🙂

That’s just a "band-aid" fix, and honestly, I wouldn't recommend it.
Just grab a switch and set it up properly from the jump. What happens if you suddenly need to plug in another device tomorrow? You'll be stuck. You can never really predict what you're going to need down the road. These days, everything demands a connection—your printer, your PlayStation, the smart TV, an external hard drive... it never ends.

Do yourself a favor and pick up even a basic 100 Mbps switch. Set it up right the first time so you actually have some ports left over "just in case."

...a switch definitely comes with its own set of pros and cons... it’s pricier, too. Plus, if you’re relying on it and your Max TV and internet both go down, you're stuck—but if you have a splitter, you’ve still got a backup plan.