Sonore MicroRendu set up.

Bob the Builder posted:

my internet hub is away in the next room and will require 6 or 7m of ethernet cable so my question is will a switch be needed

No, 7m is nothing for Ethernet.

You may feel it beneficial to connect a switch if you are relying on your ISP supplied router, but, no, it’s not needed.

You can just run the Ethernet cable direct fro mRu to hub. Or if you already have an Ethernet cable (say to the MacBook) running from the hub to near your system, you could buy a cheap Ethernet switch.  Connect the switch to the hub, then MacBook and microRendu to switch.  This has the added advantage (so I’ve read) of keeping the MacBook / microrendu on their own circuit, possibly reducing ‘noise’ from the hub.

But don’t use a cheap switch to connect to your audio equipment.. try and use a quality one if you are not going to use your ISP router switchports.. you could well be adding EM noise... see thread on SMPS tests. Yes Ethernet segments are fine up to 100 metres.. with Cat5e upto 1Gbps.

BTW for many network devices having longer Ethernet cables can be slightly beneficial in reducing Ethernet interference side effects by a small margin 

Thanks Eloise, MIchael  and SImon would it be beneficial to run say  6m of cat5 or 6 into a switch and than 1m of a better quality cable into the mRendu. I had decided upon an SOtM 200 streamer but have had a kind offer to try before I buy the mR so will try that first.

At 6m or 1m the difference if any will be minimal... but give it a try. I suggest trying to keep the network equipment away from your audio equipment and leads if you can..

Thanks again Simon one advantage of the microRendu is it’s size easy to hide away and keep separate.