GoKawiilEthernet splitters vs switches explained: when each device actually works
Ethernet cables with four twisted pairs can be divided by passive splitters into two two-pair connections, but this only works for older 10/100Mbps standards that don't use all four pairs for data. A functioning setup requires two splitters, one at each end, since a router's single RJ45 port cannot talk to two separate devices at once. Switches, unlike splitters, actively manage multiple full-speed connections through dedicated hardware.