So my 4 port x wifi router is maxed out on wired connections so I need to add a switch. Is it needed to use a switch from the same manufacturer as the router? I'm thinking no but would like any other advice. This is for 100/10 as my router isn't Gigabit. Though I'm also thinking about upgrading my router (currently on a somewhat old Linksys WRT 54G). I'm thinking about an 8 port switch, but from what I've seen typical an 8 port only give 7 "real" added ports (and then you lose one on the router so you only are adding 6 ports effectively). Downstream thinking, the way I have my house wired I might need to add a second switch to support my home theater setup. So might need a switch in my office and another in the family room. Any problems with a typical netgear or cisco/linksys router handling that? scott s..

It is my opinion that you can mix manufacturers without problems. Your Linksys router is one of the most popular ever made, and should serve you well. Sounds like you are not interested in going wireless. Wireless can be very secure and convenient if set up properly. Bob

Hi Scott, No problem mixing manufacturers in my experience, nor using more than one switch. I currently have a Linksys E3200 router connected to a D-Link 8-port Gigabit switch (10/100/1000), which in turn is connected to a downstream Linksys 4-port 10/100 switch located near my Home Theatre devices. Since all my media player devices Ethernet connection are 100-Mbit and I already had the Linksys 10/100-Mbit switch, I decided to use it since it is good enough at that end. I use a 30 ft Cat 6 cable between the 2 switches instead of a Cat 5e for its better shielding. I would recommand getting a Gigabit switch (10/100/1000) even though your setup is curently 10/100 only. It will work at 100-Mbit for now, but If in the future you decide to upgrade your router to a Gigabit one, you'll be ready to take advantage of it across your network. It will make moving files around (if using some NAS for example) a lot faster and with less impact on video streaming if done simultaneously while movng files around. To sum up, in my office, I have a E3200 Router (G-bit/WLAN) feeding 2 computers + network printer, and:- D-Link 8-port Gigabit switch (feeds up to 6 devices, plus one upstream cable to the router, plus one downstream cable to the 10/100 switch). In my Home Theatre room, I have:- Linksys 4-port 10/100 switch capable of feeding 3 devices. For now, it feeds my WD TVLive HD Plus media player and my Sony Blu-Ray player, which leaves me 1 free port for future use. Best regards, Normand

It is my opinion that you can mix manufacturers without problems.

Precisely; they are all created around Ethernet standards.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=533works like a charm in my house. All you do is plug your router into that, then that into the socket. Run a single ethernet cable from the router to that, then plug the other one in any other socket on the same mains loop in your house, connect the device to it via Ethernet cable and you're done. Your mains electrical line is the switch. You can buy unlimited of these things. Put one in every room even. Just so long as your router is connected to one and they're all on the same mains loop as the router wall socket.

Dlink , Netgear , linksys all good.

Thanks for the advice,I do have my wireless on in the router, but prefer not to make that my main connection. Plus, I have an hp officejet that seems to lockup when on wireless. I have some old laptops, so have my wifi using only WEP security. The powerline-based network seems interesting. Most of my need right now is right in my office next to the router. I did an addition on my house, and at that time pulled Cat 5e 4 ports in my office, 2 in one bedroom and 8 in the addition. I put in a distribution panel and originally I was going to put the router there and still might. My landline also goes in there so some of the cat 5e I run phone over. I had a Toshiba cable modem that seemed to fail and the CableCo swapped it out for a Cisco modem. Ever since about once every 2-3 days the WRT-54G locks up and I have to cycle the power on it. scott s..