Question 1

Can it work wit any internet provider like verizon?

Accepted Answer

The simple answer is "yes."

Normally, a switch is connected to a router.  When I had Verizon FiOS, they supplied a modem/router/WiFi-AP combo device.  If you are using a router of any kind, the Netgear unmanaged switch will work seamlessly; allocating local IP addresses from the router to devices connected to the switch, according to the router's settings.

If you are connecting the Netgear unmanaged switch directly to a modem (i.e. cable modem), however, then you may or may not experience issues.  I tested the Netgear unmanaged switch by connecting it directly to my cable modem before composing this answer.  My router was powered off AND disconnected from the switch AND the cable modem.  Both of the computers connected to the switch were assigned a unique IP address by my ISP.  The IP addresses appeared on the same subnet, so communication between the two should be possible, but I did not test that.  I streamed video from YouTube on one while streaming video from Netflix on the other.  I also ran simultaneous speedtests.  While I did this, I composed this answer on one of those computers.

FYI- An unmanaged switch is analogous to an old-fashioned "switchboard and operator", where a router (or ISP) acts as the "phone company" (assigning numbers to each device).  The unmanaged switch splits a single line into multiple conversations by switching which device has access to the line and which device(s) are "on hold".  Each device must have a unique "phone number" (IP address) assigned by the "phone company" (router).  Otherwise, the switch will act similar to multiple (landline) phones in a single-line household.  Only one phone could engage the line, while the rest are able only join the 1st phone's conversation.

The IT networking equivalent, however, would (likely) result in NO device able to engage the line properly.  The connection to the modem would be switched between devices, without protocol, or assigned to a single device.

Question 2

Would there ever be a reason this device would not let me connect to the internet? I have the modem connected to the switch, the switch to my Desktop and a Blu Ray player. The Blu Ray player won't get past a gateway ping. Could the switch be a possible problem?

Accepted Answer

Of course it could be the problem.  Have you tested whether it works with other sets of devices?  For instance, have you tried to connect your desktop computer and another computer (or gaming console)?  Have you tried connecting ONLY your Blu-Ray player?  It could be that the switch works with your Blu-Ray player, but not with your ISP; i.e. your ISP will only assign one IP address for your devices and your desktop computer already has the lease on the IP address.  The ISP I use, however, assigns as many IP addresses as needed by the devices connected to the switch.

I must also reiterate... I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING A SWITCH IN THIS WAY.  You can drive a car without seat-belts or air-bags, but it's not recommended.  That's the closest analogy I have for using a network switch as a router.

Question 3

Wait so you’re telling me if I hook this up to my pc then I’ll have ethernet without needing a router or modem? And that it will actually be fast Ethernet?

Accepted Answer

Without a modem, you don't get internet.  A network switch only shares data between MAC addresses (a hardware ID).  A network switch completely ignores IP addresses.  IP addresses are assigned by devices like ROUTERS... including the one's used by an ISP or the one's consumers put in their home.  If you want to learn more, search for articles or videos on "the difference between network packets and network frames".  A network switch only handles network frames.  It only knows a device's MAC address, never its IP address.

If your ISP supports multiple IP address assignments through your modem, you can GET AWAY WITH using ONLY a network switch.  Each of the MAC addresses connected to the network switch will be assigned an IP address by your ISP.

If your ISP supports only ONE IP address assignment, then the network switch will not work the way you want.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING A NETWORK SWITCH LIKE A ROUTER.  You expose each device and its MAC address to the PUBLIC IP ADDRESS your ISP assigns.  With a router, each device is assigned a PRIVATE IP ADDRESS.  The normal path from the internet is:
 ISP -> Modem -> Router -> Device
"Device" includes network switches, which allow further splitting of physical connections on a LAN (LOCAL Area Network); greater than the number of physical connections the router has available on it... physically, not logically.

If you use a network switch to connect to your modem, all the devices connected to that network switch will be on a WAN (WIDE Area Network) with PUBLIC IP ADDRESSES.

Question 4

Can it be powered by a USB cable?

Accepted Answer

No. It has a DC adapter that powers it.

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