GoKawiil
Tech News
When a router runs out of Ethernet ports for devices like smart TVs, consoles, NAS drives and desktop PCs, the fix is an inexpensive plug-and-play Ethernet switch rather than a router upgrade. The switch connects to one of the router's LAN ports and instantly adds four, seven, 15 or more wired connections to the network.
A tech explainer clarifies the difference between a router's WAN port, which connects to a modem or ONT for internet access, and its LAN ports, which link wired devices like PCs, consoles, TVs and NAS units inside the home. It notes that combo router/modem units skip the WAN port entirely, while some routers use flexible WAN/LAN or auto-sensing ports instead of clearly labeled ones.
Software engineer Kenton Varda and entrepreneur Jade Wang designed and built a house in Austin, Texas from an empty lot, purchased in 2019 with construction beginning in 2021 and finishing in late 2023. The project was led architecturally by Kenton's father Richard Varda alongside RSP Architects, with Kenton personally designing gaming and technical features like the game station cabinetry and conduit routing, while Blue Horse Building & Design served as general contractor.
Most routers include a single WAN port alongside multiple LAN ports, and although the connectors look identical, they perform very different jobs. The WAN port links your router to the internet, while LAN ports connect local devices like PCs, TVs and consoles so they can talk to each other and share that connection.