Switch as "Y"?

My Linksys BEFSX41 has all the ethernet output ports in use. I want to
hook up a Slingbox(which requires an ethernet connection) in the living
room, with my Tivo unit. The Tivo has an ethernet connection from the
router. Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
connector, more or less. Or do I have to install the switch back at the
router and run another ethernet cable. Or do I have to get another
router with more outputs...and still run another cable?
Hope this is clear.
Thanks in advance for any help.


chiefj39@earthlink.net

On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:34 -0700, chiefj39 wrote:

> Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
> ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
> connector, more or less.

If I understand you, it should work. I often use a switch to turn one
ethernet port into many: router splits out via in-wall wiring to several
rooms. Room with multiple systems has a switch plugged into the wall
port and the several systems pluged into the switch.

In test labs with many systems having various configurations I have done
"cascading" like that to more than one level.

rcp

rcp wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:39:34 -0700, chiefj39 wrote:
>
>
>>Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
>>ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
>>connector, more or less.
>
>
> If I understand you, it should work. I often use a switch to turn one
> ethernet port into many: router splits out via in-wall wiring to several
> rooms. Room with multiple systems has a switch plugged into the wall
> port and the several systems pluged into the switch.
>
> In test labs with many systems having various configurations I have done
> "cascading" like that to more than one level.
>
> rcp
If your tivo requires an IP address and you have an local network
established (i.e. a home router) after the modem, then you can use a hub
to split one RJ45 feed into more than one feed, each device connecting
to an available port on the hub. But if you have no router, you cannot
simply split the rj45 into two rj45s. This is becasue the router gives
each device on hour home network its on IP address using NAT. Its like
each device address is known only to your particular router, and the
router will connect any of it's devices to the internet through the WAN
port. Good luck. (PS your Y configuration may work if only one of the
two devices (PC or TIVO) is powered up, but if both are powered up then
neither will make a connection.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> My Linksys BEFSX41 has all the ethernet output ports in use. I want to
> hook up a Slingbox(which requires an ethernet connection) in the living
> room, with my Tivo unit. The Tivo has an ethernet connection from the
> router. Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
> ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
> connector, more or less. Or do I have to install the switch back at the
> router and run another ethernet cable. Or do I have to get another
> router with more outputs...and still run another cable?
> Hope this is clear.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
You can have only one router. However, your one router can have many
hubs. For example, if you have one wire running from your router to the
living room, then plug a hub (or "switch" as its now called, but there
is very little difference - I think that hub is now used to refer to USB
type hubs, where switch is used for eithernet cat-5 wire with RJ45 plugs
- the eight wire plug that looks like a large telephone jack). So yes,
run a cat-5 wire with RJ-45 plugs on each end beginning at a port on
your linksys router ending in the living room. Then put a switch or hub
(NOT ANOTHER ROUTER) on the livining room end of the wire. That will do
it. Here's an optional idea. Since your router ports are full and you
already have a wire running into the livingroom, you may want to buy a
switch... so, lets say your router has 5 ports and all are used. Then
buy yourself an 8 or 16 port switch. Plug the switch into one of the
router ports and then take all of the other wires and plug them into one
of the 15 remaining switch ports. Now, if one of those wires goes to
the livingroom, it will still connect to the internet. However, if you
need two separate leads into the livingroom, then you will want to go
with a small switch placed on the livingroom side.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> My Linksys BEFSX41 has all the ethernet output ports in use. I want to
> hook up a Slingbox(which requires an ethernet connection) in the living
> room, with my Tivo unit. The Tivo has an ethernet connection from the
> router. Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
> ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
> connector, more or less.

Yes.

> Or do I have to install the switch back at the
> router and run another ethernet cable. Or do I have to get another
> router with more outputs...and still run another cable?

Don't add a router.

> Hope this is clear.

Enough.

> Thanks in advance for any help.

I did this with one-port (prior set-up) and four port (current set-up)
routers. I currently have three switches between the router and some
end points. Four if you count either of the two wireless access points.
Works fine.

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:19:02 -0400, DarthOdor wrote:

> If your tivo requires an IP address and you have an local network
> established (i.e. a home router) after the modem, then you can use a hub
> to split one RJ45 feed into more than one feed, each device connecting
> to an available port on the hub. But if you have no router ...


True but I'm pretty sure the OP asked about possibly needing "another"
router so I assume he already has one.

rcp wrote:
> On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:19:02 -0400, DarthOdor wrote:
>
>
>>If your tivo requires an IP address and you have an local network
>>established (i.e. a home router) after the modem, then you can use a hub
>>to split one RJ45 feed into more than one feed, each device connecting
>>to an available port on the hub. But if you have no router ...
>
>
>
> True but I'm pretty sure the OP asked about possibly needing "another"
> router so I assume he already has one.
>
You're soooo right.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> My Linksys BEFSX41 has all the ethernet output ports in use. I want to
> hook up a Slingbox(which requires an ethernet connection) in the living
> room, with my Tivo unit. The Tivo has an ethernet connection from the
> router. Can I install an ethernet switch at the Tivo to get another
> ethernet connection for the Slingbox? It would be acting as a "Y"
> connector, more or less. Or do I have to install the switch back at the
> router and run another ethernet cable. Or do I have to get another
> router with more outputs...and still run another cable?
> Hope this is clear.
> Thanks in advance for any help.

You can put a switch on the cable to the Tivio and then cables from the
switch to the Tivo and the Slingbox.
The only thing to watch is that to connect from the router to the switch
you will need a crossover. Some switches do this automaticaly and some
have a switch on one of the ports. Some don't do either so check this
when you buy the switch. You may have to put a crossover cable between
the router ( the output of which is a switch) and the switch.

P.S

Aren't newsgroups wonderful. You can get so many answers from people who
don't really know the subject :-)

Salopian.
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Thanks to all who responded.