Possible way to split an ethernet connection?

[Vyper08]

I am a student at university, and I have to connect my laptop through an ethernet cable to connect to the net.
I only have one socket in my wall, and I was wondering if it's possible to buy a device that let's me connect both my PS3 and laptop at the same time, and not just a switch but something that allows me to be connected to both simultaneously?
Cheers

[Aaron]

You should be allowed multiple IPs at uni. I'd be amazed if they didnt let you! In which case, you do need a switch, but not in the on/off sense like a lightswitch :lol:

Get a small network switch like a netgear FS105, and just plug an play :)

[Vyper08]

with that it's 25 quid and has 5 ports, is there not a cheaper one with two? also i assumed the term switch meant you had to flick a switch to say which device should receive the connection, so would that device actually let both devices receive a connection at the same time ?
on another note, i would like a keyboard for my playstation 3 since I can't really afford to get a bluetooth headset since good ones are like twenty quid, so is there an adaptor which can turn my computer keyboard into a usb port to type with?
cheers again

[Aaron]

A network switch will work fine - all it means is that it effectively switches very very fast between all the connections that are plugged into it, but its so fast, it will seem like a continuous connection for everything plugged in :)

[Aaron]

Something like this would probably do the job:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Network+Products/Wired/Hubs+%2F+Switches+%2F+Routers/EDIMAX+5+PORT+10+100MBPS+SWITCH+ES-3205P+?productId=37831

Can't vouch for the build quality, but at £8.17, you cant really go wrong if it works! :lol: :lol:

I just tend to use the FS range as I've found them to be completely bulletproof. If that one isnt to your liking, or you can spend a bit more, then have a look here:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Peripherals/Network+Products/Wired/Hubs+%2F+Switches+%2F+Routers/?x=12&p_order=price_asc&p=cF9zdHlsZT1saXN0JnBfcHJvZHVjdHNQZXJQYWdlPSY=

Just make sure its an ethernet hub, as there are some parallel and USB ones listed in there too! :lol:

[DoubleTop]

first question, in network connections (control panel), is your machine set to get IP address automatically or did the uni give you some numbers to plug in?

This will determine if a DHCP server is running on the network. I know from my time in halls that the subnet can very easily get used up. Find yourself a good sysadmin to ask before you get a switch, there is a possibility that it will not work and you will need to get a router.

DT.