How Can I Connect Multiple Ethernet Devices to My Google Nest Wi-Fi Router?

lizzle on 26/12/2021 - 09:43
Last edited 26/12/2021 - 10:29 by 1 other user

Hey guys, I’ve got a bit of a noob question. I bought a Google Nest mesh router to connect to my Opticomm box. I’ve connected the Eufy Homebase 2 to the one Ethernet point on the router. I would now like to buy some Philips smart lights, which seems to require the hue bridge to also connect directly to the router, but there are no more available Ethernet points on the router. What’s the best way to get around this? Can I just connect the hue bridge to another data point in the house, or does it have to connect to the router?

• 

  ImportantCustomer on 26/12/2021 - 10:14

  +4

  Yes, you should be able to plug it in anywhere.

  Alternatively you can buy a small switch, plug it into the nest and then plug everything into it:
  https://www.umart.com.au/product/netgear-5-port-gigabit-desk…

  • 

    lizzle on 26/12/2021 - 12:15

    Thanks :)

• 

  87percent on 26/12/2021 - 10:32

  +1

  Could also “Downgrade” to a version 1, and each base has a Ethernet port

• 

  Kendrite13 on 26/12/2021 - 11:15

  +1

  I'm just about to (kind of) do the same thing.

  Am planning on doing the following:
  Opticom box Google nest router
  Google nest router to 8 port switch - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184378203863
  8 port switch to all the ethernet points around my home

  Doing it this way means the Google nest router and the switch are going to have to live in the junction box thing in the garage but that works OK for me.

  Haven't tried it yet but I think it should work.

• 

  bobbified on 26/12/2021 - 12:08

  +1

  The Hue bridge only needs one ethernet port and the multiple lights connect wirelessly to that bridge (compared to something like the lifx that requires multiple wireless connections to the router). If you don't have enough ports on your router, you can get a switch.

• 

  EnergicAU on 26/12/2021 - 14:20

  I have 4 points with the older nest wifi units which have their own ethernet.
  1x is connected to smartthings
  2x to 2x hue bridges as I have you many devices
  1x bridge for when I need more ethernet ports

• 

  Hargain Bunter on 26/12/2021 - 17:56

  The Homebase 2 has a setting to enable WiFi, so you could try that. As others have said getting a small 4 or 8 port unmanaged switch would also work. As for the data ports in your house, it depends if they are actually connected back into your router or not.

  • 

    lizzle on 27/12/2021 - 05:55

    If the data ports are not connected back to the router, does that mean they are essentially useless?

    • 

      Hargain Bunter on 27/12/2021 - 12:11

      Useless for your current problem, yes. But if you buy a switch and connect them to your router they could be useful to connect devices in the future.