I'm interested in adding an ethernet switch to my AirPort Extreme (5th generation) to have some additional wired ports available in the downstairs of our house. Currently the Extreme is in an upstairs room functioning as a typical wireless router. There are currently two wired connections: one to the desktop where the router is, the other cable is snaked through the floor to the downstairs where it connects to a Bose SoundTouch speaker so it gets a solid connection for streaming.
Here's what I'd like to do: purchase an unmanaged switch and connect it to the ethernet cable in the downstairs that is currently connected to the Bose speaker. Then be able to connect the speaker and any other devices to the switch.
My questions are: Will the Bose speaker continue to function as it currently does, or will putting a switch between it and the AirPort cause problems? Are unmanaged switches plug-and-play, or will there be some configuring to do? And finally, what are the advatanges/disadvantages to switches with more ports? Will an 8-port switch perform any differently than a 16-port switch? I don't know that I'd ever need 16 ports, but if there is no performance difference, I may go that route and not wish that I had later.
Here's what I'd like to do: purchase an unmanaged switch and connect it to the ethernet cable in the downstairs that is currently connected to the Bose speaker. Then be able to connect the speaker and any other devices to the switch.
My questions are: Will the Bose speaker continue to function as it currently does, or will putting a switch between it and the AirPort cause problems? Are unmanaged switches plug-and-play, or will there be some configuring to do? And finally, what are the advatanges/disadvantages to switches with more ports? Will an 8-port switch perform any differently than a 16-port switch? I don't know that I'd ever need 16 ports, but if there is no performance difference, I may go that route and not wish that I had later.