Question 1

can you plug this directly into your modem and then connect (wired) to router and pc etc?

Accepted Answer

Odd that both answers managed to give a completely wrong answer (or, rather, an answer that ignores the reality of the situation).

Yes, you can do that, in the sense that the switch doesn't have a dedicated input, so you can connect an Ethernet cable from your modem's output to a port on the switch, then another cable from another port on the switch to the input on the router, then a third cable from the router's output to a third port on the switch, and it should function the same as if you connected the router's input directly to the modem's output, assuming you don't actually plug anything else into it.

However, and this is where the other 2 somehow managed to get the answer completely wrong, neither the switch, nor a modem that isn't also a router, is going to function as a DHCP server. As far as consumer devices go, that will require a router. So the above, which is a total waste of 2 of the 5 ports (as well as requiring an otherwise unnecessary cable), is the only sense in which the answer to your question is "yes".

In every other sense, including, presumably, the way you actually meant it, the answer is "no", because something needs to act as a DHCP server for all of the devices connected to the switch. And, in your case, that thing is going to be a router.

Put another way, your modem, if not acting as a router, is capable of assigning 1, and only 1, IP address. That's why a modem that's not acting as a router has 1, and only 1, active Ethernet port. A router functions as a DHCP server, which means that it's capable of assigning IP addresses to other devices that connect to it.

Put even more simply, only 1 device can get to the Internet via a modem that isn't functioning as a router. Multiple devices can get to the Internet via a router. Therefore, logic dictates that you make the router the 1 device that can access the Internet via the modem and then connect everything else to the Internet through that. A switch like this isn't going to remove that limitation.  So the router needs to be the only thing connected to the modem's output, so it unquestionably receives the single opportunity to access the Internet. Then a switch like this can be used to connect other devices to the router's output, since, unlike the modem, it's capable of granting multiple devices connected to it access to the Internet.

Question 2

can this be used to boost an ethernet sinal over 300ft of cable

Accepted Answer

All switches act as repeaters or "boosters" to utilize your term.
Cat-5 is limited to 100 meters which is about 330' .
In the past I have placed switches at about 200' distance in large factory warehouses to run long distances.  They recompile the wave length as attenuation starts around the 300' mark.

Question 3

This would be what I need for Google wifi mesh, since it only has one ethernet port?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use this to connect multiple drives through that one Ethernet point. They will then share that one port and its bandwidth.

Question 4

Hi, i'm dumb dumb.  so out of the 5 ports, one port gets connected to the primary router? i don't see the desginated port for the host router. thank y

Accepted Answer

It doesn’t make a difference. I plugged mine into the #1 port to my router but this will sort out where the signal is coming from and repeat it to the other ports for you

ASIN	B07QLV899F
Best Sellers Rank	#348 in Computer Networking Switches
Brand	Aumox
Built-In Media	Blu-ray
Case Material Type	Metal
Color	5 Port
Compatible Devices	Desktop
Customer Reviews	4.7 out of 5 stars 4,274 Reviews
Data Transfer Rate	1000 megabits_per_second
Included Components	Blu-ray
Interface	RJ45
Item Dimensions L x W x H	10.62"L x 7.08"W x 1.77"H
Item Weight	5.6 ounces
Manufacturer	Aumox
Mfr Part Number	SG205
Model Number	SG205
Number of Items	1
Number of Ports	5
Platform	Not Machine Specific
Product Dimensions	10.62"L x 7.08"W x 1.77"H
Switch Type	Metal
Unit Count	5.6 Ounce
Voltage	240 volts, 5 volts
Warranty Description	1 Year

5-Port Gigabit Network Switch, Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, Office Ethernet Splitter, Plug-and-Play, Fanless Metal Housing Silent Operation, Desktop or Wall Mount

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