Ethernet cable splitter

An inexpensive 5 port switch will do the job.

If you want to future-proof get a gigabit switch.

Mr Zoid

Just add a 4-port switch at the end of the cable run then two short cables to the Blu-Ray and receiver. That will also give you one extra expansion port.

Ethernet does not work thru the "regular" split. As other folks advised, get yourself a switch, it is inevitable.

100Base-TX Ethernet (100Mbps) only uses 2 out of the 4 pairs so if you use the right kind of splitter (you'd need more than one) you would probably get away with it. 1000Base-T (1Gbps) uses all 4 pairs so can't be split. Either way it's not a standards compliant way of doing things.

The best solution as mentioned above is to use a network switch. It'll provide you with extra ports for the future. I'm a fan of Netgear stuff though TP-Link seems to have a good rep among other geek friends. Wouldn't touch D-Link with someone else's d*ck.

Most places that sell them will sell competent switches.

Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy for B&M.

Amazon, Newegg, Tiger Direct for etailers.

If your city has a local mom and pop conputer shop I would encourage you to shop there first.

Mr Zoid

If you don't have a router, the switch will not work to get to the internet. You will need to set up a PC as a gateway. Using a router is better so if you don't have one you'll need a router, typically at your modem location. I just thought I'd add this in because nobody was discussing it. You will still need the switch at your entertainment center area to "split" the signal to various devices.

My local mom and pop shop is either monoprice or newegg, both located less than 20 miles from me.
Both have will call although I use shipping anyhow.

Take a look at this one from Netgear

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122363

or this if you want to go an even smaller size

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122128

I have the GS605AV, it has mounting holes on the back to mount to your entertainment center/setup, and it's Gigabit.
Both are inexpensive and small.

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unmanaged-GREENnet-Auto-Negotiation-Auto-MDIX/dp/B001QUA6R0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358260765&sr=8-2&keywords=trendnet

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unmanaged-GREENnet-Standard-1000Mbps/dp/B001QUA6RA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358260765&sr=8-1&keywords=trendnet

I tend to find that you go through ethernet ports much quicker than you think you will. Might as well go for the 8-port for $5 more.

Wish I could FIND a mom and pop shop. I'm in New York City and basically my options seem to be one place on 5th Ave which is a pretty large store, but their prices are extremely high (like double), drive out to MicroCenter (which takes about an hour each way) or order online. Blew a fan in my main rig last year and ended up having to wait a few days because there were no local options.

I have 3 of those Trednet 8 port switches in my network and they just work. Right now they are on sale at Tiger Direct for $25 but YMMV based on shipping costs and/or sales taxes.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4431511&sku=T156-2446

A switch will work perfectly without any need to select input. A splitter will make gigabit impossible and has a potential to cause issues. There is no need to buy a router or setup a pc as a gateway, these are problems of the past as most isp's provide you with a router. I have picked up 100mb switches for as cheap as $5. If you see a hub run away they are crap.

Nothing was mentioned about if there was a router in this situation so I thought that needed to be clarified so as to not mis-lead the OP that only a switch would solve the problem if the OP did not already have a router or gateway. Assuming that the OP has a router and suggesting that all the OP needs is a switch is not fully correct.

BTW, I don't use the ISP router. I use my own router and my own modem as well so no they aren't problems of the past for everybody.

Not trying to start a fight and on that note I will not respond further on this subject. If they have a cable for a blu-ray player then they have a router already. If the OP didn't post that bit of information then I would agree completely with you. Just don't want them to buy something that isn't needed.

I agree with not having them buy something that they don't need so you are probably safe in assuming that they have a router already.

In New York City you might try B&H Photo. It's not exactly a "small" store, but it is run buy a family that has been in the city for a long time. They have much more than photo equipment and usually have pretty good prices. They also have an online store, so you can at least see what kind of stuff they carry. It's worth noting that the family (and much of the staff) are Hasidic Jews, so the store is not open on Saturdays or Jewish holidays.

You might be surprised how many people do not own routers, and connect only one device at a time to the leased ISP modem's ethernet port

Nearly my entire family do this until receiving a hand me down router

If the modem has an ethernet port then it is a router.

If you plug a typical consumer grade switch (unmanaged) into that port without an additional router in between then your ports won't be able to access the internet simultaneously

News to me. I would guess they are just using a very limited dhcp scope. Anyways I doubt the op is using there only internet port for the blu-ray player.

Roger that; good prices.
I recently ordered an Asus vh238h monitor from them online.
Received package in predicted time and price was good $165.
No additional charges, shipped to CA.

In the sense that it routes traffic from one network to another, you're correct.

But in this case, we're talking about home routers, which usually is a router with a built-in switch for using NAT to assign IPs to an internal LAN while only using a single WAN IP.

There are ISPs that hand out "gateway modems" that incorporate a modem, switch and wireless access point all in one. I hate them due to their lack of configuration options.

To answer the OP's question, a simple GigE switch is all that's needed. I like TrendNet's Green series, as they are small (easily hidden) and draw very little power.

If you don't already have a wireless router (access point), you could get a wireless router and set it to bridge mode to run off whatever is serving up the rest of your network.

Not true. Some ADSL modems are just that - modems. They will bridge the Internet traffic on to the Ethernet port but they will not route and will not support more than one directly connected PC unless they are connected to a router. That's a bit beside the point for this discussion however.

There is no effective maximum number of ports the switch can have and no practical maximum number of switches you can use, in a home network at least. Yes there are technical limitations but you'll never hit them.

If you want it to 'just work' then nothing really, other than going for a good brand. Choose how many ports you want (4/5/8/16/24/48) and decide whether you want gigabit or fast ethernet ports. Some also support Power over Ethernet (beware: there are multiple standards for this) so they can power access points, IP phones, cameras or some other devices directly over the network cable.

The bigger switches (16 ports+) may have fans which make noise, the smaller ones generally won't.

If you want the ability to monitor and manage traffic through the switch you will need a managed switch which will cost more but I doubt you want/need this.

Bear in mind that an Ethernet switch in this sense is more than just a simple 'switch box'. It's called a switch because it switches network packets/frames between ports at a rate of millions of packets per second.

Well to add to the confusion here's this (quoted from my SurfBoard config page):

Which model number Surfboard modem is that?

Model Name: SB6120
Vendor Name: Motorola

I haven't tried it without a router because i have a couple of wireless things and therefore a wireless router. If I wasn't recording NCIS atm I'd go ahead and try it. Maybe later...