The good news is that it’s actually very easy to add more wired network ports to your router. All you need is an Ethernet hub. They’re also called Ethernet switches, which is a bit confusing. Really, they are just like those extension cables that you’ve probably got plugged into various mains sockets around your home, providing extra sockets from a single one in the wall.
There’s more good news: Ethernet hubs are cheap, even if you want Gigabit speeds. And it’s well worth buying a Gigabit hub over a 10/100 model because Gigabit means 1000Mbps, which is ten times faster than 100Mbps. Even if your broadband connection is slower than 100Mbps, there’s still a benefit to buying a Gigabit Ethernet switch because it will mean you can do things such as stream 4K video from a NAS to your TV and, for the small extra outlay, it’s good future-proofing.
How to connect an Ethernet hub to your router
Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the first port on your new Ethernet hub. It actually doesn’t matter which port you use, so if it’s more convenient to use another one, then do that instead. Connect the other end to a spare Ethernet port on your router. These are usually yellow and numbered 1-4. The only port which you shouldn’t connect it to is one marked Internet or WLAN, which is reserved for connection to a broadband modem. That port is typically red, as shown on our Netgear router here. If there isn’t a free network port on your router, you’ll have to unplug something, which will need to be plugged into a port on the new Ethernet hub instead. You can now connect any other devices to the free ports on the Ethernet hub, after which you can plug the hub into the mains and switch on the power. Fortunately, you won’t have to do anything else: there’s no configuration needed on your router or on the Ethernet hub. The devices attached to the hub will behave exactly as they would if they were plugged in directly to the router.
Can I put an Ethernet hub in a different room to my router?
There are a couple of ways to do this. Either you can use a long Ethernet cable or you can use a neater method of a pair of powerline network adapters which use your home’s mains wiring to send data like a network cable.
You just plug one in near your router, and connect the two with a network cable. Then, plug the other adapter into a mains socket in the room where you need the Ethernet hub, and connect the hub to the adapter with another Ethernet cable.
Powerline adapters are relatively affordable, but they won’t run at 1000Mb/s. So, to find a pair which will run as fast as possible, read our guide to the best powerline adapters.
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
