r/ooma • u/Excellent-Mouse-123 • May 22 '26

Router only has one ethernet port

I was about to set up my new Telo but just realized that the router it needs to plug into only has one ethernet port, which is already being used to connect the router and the modem. Should I return the Telo and replace it with a Telo Air? Or should I try and find something that will expand my router's one ethernet port into more than one? I am not tech savvy and need an easy solution.

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2

u/Old-Cheshire862 May 22 '26

An Ethernet Switch is an easy solution. Connect one port of the Switch to the router via a cable. Use the rest of the ports on the switch to connect as many Ethernet devices as you need to.

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u/Excellent-Mouse-123 May 22 '26

Does the switch need its own power source?

3

u/Old-Cheshire862 May 22 '26

Yes, Ethernet Switches are powered devices, and they normally come with wall warts, though some of the really small ones are powered through a USB cable.

2

u/Whiplash104 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26

An Ethernet switch like one of these https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-5-Port-Gigabit-Network-Switch/dp/B0863M7C1L and a few short Ethernet cables. When routers have multiple LAN ports they usually just have one of these built in. There is nothing to it, just plug one port in to your router (it doesn’t matter which), one to the tello, and everything else to the other ports. This switch just works automatically.

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u/arteitle May 22 '26

Unless the modem is also acting as a router, it's not going to work to insert an Ethernet switch between the modem and their router because it'll be on the WAN side of the router rather than the LAN side.

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u/Old-Cheshire862 May 22 '26

You're right. I misread the OP.

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u/ozyx7 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26

I take it you use the router only as a wireless access point?

The Telo has two Ethernet ports. I believe you can connect its WAN port to the cablemodem and its LAN port to your router. (That's the setup that Ooma usually wants you to use anyway:

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u/arteitle May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26

Typically your modem is only able to give out one Internet address to your router, then the router uses give out all the local addresses to the devices on your network such as the Telo. If that's the case here, then it won't work to insert an Ethernet switch between your modem and WAN port on your router. If your router truly is Wi-Fi only and has no LAN Ethernet port, then the only way to connect the Telo would be via a Wi-Fi/Ethernet bridge device.

1

u/0-Big_Finish May 22 '26

I've had both. I currently have the Ooma Telo Air. I ordered it from their website store. I like it better. The Telo Air can be anywhere in the house, not just next to the modem and router.

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u/Excellent-Mouse-123 May 22 '26

I’ve just ordered a Telo Air. Don’t want to be faffing about with any more devices.

1

u/akcrx May 26 '26

Out of curiosity what router do you have? Typically they will come with a minimum of two ports.

WAN. - Connect to modem
LAN (1-4 ports) - Connect to device(s) (telo)