5/6 port router

[redwing3139]

Hello I was wondering if there are 5 or greater ports for a wired/wireless router and if so where could I get one. All the ones I have seen are only 4 ports.

Thank You

[hedge]

usually to get that many ports you add a switch, they come in 4, 8, 16, 24 etc. I know linksys used to make a wired 8 port rounter, but since switches have got so cheap I don't think they do any more.

Another benefit of the switch is that it is smart enough to know where the traffic is going so for internal lan traffic the traffic only goes to the switch and then out to the other pc, never through the router, in theory taking load off the router.

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I use a switch as well. 5 port (4 usable) 1Gb switches are reasonable (and recommended over 100Mb switches.) They can be cascaded to provide more than 4 ports. 8 port 1Gb switches are also available but are not as economical.

[technut]

If you add a switch to your router, keep in mind that you lose 2 ports (1 on the router and 1 on the switch) to connect them.

So for example a 4 port router + a 4 port switch leaves you with 6 usable ports.

If you have a spare old router laying around, you can use the LAN ports as a hub/switch without connecting the WAN port.

[Canterbury Tail]

There are plenty of 5 port switches around. I happen to have two of them, a Linksys and a D-Link one. None more expensive than $18.

[classicsat]

I doubt there is more than a 4 port home consumer grade router.

I have a 4 port router+5 port switch, with 7 total ethernet ports, essentially two-semi-spare (set up so each spare is on each devices; they are in separate parts of the house). Plus I have wireless I could add more devices to.

[mark]

I use a Linksys 16-Port switch. They even made the unit stack with their other consumer-grade networking products (I have it connected to an old Linksys 4-port wired router). As mentioned above there's also a 5-Port version and an 8-port version.

[dosborne]

Originally Posted by classicsat

I doubt there is more than a 4 port home consumer grade router.

Linksys BEFSR81 - 8-port router is about $100 - definitely consumer grade.

I had one for years until it burned out on me a few months ago and I replaced it with a switch.

Simply picking up a second 4-port router ($30?) is also an option to get a few more ports although a switch is likely cheaper or at least faster for inter-local-pc traffic if you go gigabit.

Personally, at home I run 3 wireless 4-port routers and a 16-port switch to tie them all together but that's likely overkill for the average user

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

I have a 5 port switch at one location to handles a couple of PCs plus the internet connection and another at a separate location to handle a couple of more PCs there. The other option was running more cable. If all the cables run back to a central panel, an 8-12 port switch would be more efficient.