You probably also thought, "Hey, I'll never need more than a couple will I?" - So did I , until I needed a 3rd to the same place for another device.
So, there is an easy answer here, put in a Switch, or a Hub. However, this is another Switch in your network, and it uses a few watts of power also.
How about a nifty way of running two CAT5 100mbit connections across ONE CAT-5 cable?
What's the catch? - Well you can't use this hack if you're running Gigabit networking, as it's only good for 10mbit, or 100mbit.
How does it work? - No secrets here, 10mbit, or 100mbit ethernet only uses TWO pairs out of the four on the cable. Therefore if you create a couple of adapters you can feed two connections on one cable.
This technique is mentioned here in Wikipedia
Wiring
I wired up the RJ45 plug as a standard T568A cable - see here for the colours, and then used 2 keystone RJ45 sockets, wired like this (The pic is from above, with the socket 'holes' at the bottom.
If you have a RJ45 cable tester, use that to make sure you have 2 good pairs on each end (you'll need to plug the two 'plugs' together using an 'end-to-end' adapter, of if you're like me, you just went for it and connected it up. The resulting diagram explains what is going on here:
You can also (in theory), according to the Wikipedia article, use this for running 1 x 100mbit Lan, and up to two Phone Lines provided your phone lines only require 2 wires, or 4 if you run just one - Running Phone lines over this type of setup may be forbidden by your telephone company, so beware before starting on this for that reason - you will also be likely to get interference from the LAN signals on your phone calls due to the unshielded nature of the cabling.
DISCLAIMER: Please dont attempt this if you're not confident in making up CAT5 cables, I assume no responsibility or liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred as a result of any use or reliance on this information. 8-)
