Home Network - What do I need to make this work

[tonyandpals]

I have 2 tivos hardwired back to a closet.  But, the way I ran the wires was a bit odd. Anyway, here is my network diagram...
 
Basement Service Closet
Internet Service comes into the cable modem
 
it is hardwired to:
 
Router w/ a WAP built in, provides DHCP for the network
 
which is hardwired to:
 
Another router in the 1st floor entertainment closet.
 
1st Floor Entertainment closet
Has two hardwires for the Tivos on the 1st and 2nd floor.  Neither of them are getting IPS.  My guess is since the go through router #2, they are not getting a DHCP address from router one in the basement?
 
 
 
What do I need to make this work, other than 2 wireless nics for the tivos?
 
Also, I can't put the router in the Entertainment closet, and I have 2 hardwired drops in the basement service closet that feed other rooms. If I move that router, I'll have the same issue I am having w/ the tivos.  Here is a quick drawing of everything:
 

 

[SumnerH]

"This" should be an unmanaged switch, probably.  That's easiest, anyway.
 
Either that or you need a more complex setup with bridging between two managed networks.  More complicated, but would let you locate the WAP more centrally in the house (or have multiple WAPs).

 

[Blacken]

You can probably just drop the router you already have in there into bridge mode and treat it as a switch.

 

[AlNipper49]

I'd also test to make sure to eliminate cabling issues first. Plug the entertainment TiVo into the cat6 coming from the cable modem room and see if it DHCPs itself.

OSI Model, baby!

 

[tonyandpals]

I'd also test to make sure to eliminate cabling issues first. Plug the entertainment TiVo into the cat6 coming from the cable modem room and see if it DHCPs itself.

OSI Model, baby!

This has been done and they do dhcp, so cables are good.

 

[AlNipper49]

Cool, do you know what Blacken was saying about swapping router to bridged mode?  We bot hseem online at the same time if you want I can jump on with you and show you where it is, or if it exists.

 

[tonyandpals]

Cool, do you know what Blacken was saying about swapping router to bridged mode?  We bot hseem online at the same time if you want I can jump on with you and show you where it is, or if it exists.

 
Sort of, all the docs I read tell me how to configure it wireless, but I think I want/need to hardwire it.  It's a standard linksys router.  I aslo hae a 5 port netgear switch if that is of any value here.

 

[AlNipper49]

So replace the router with the 5 port netgear.  or (the blacken way) do this http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/GetArticle.aspx?docid=28cee6a2fb0d4176a2210942d1d5836c_Setting_up_the_Linksys_E4200_in_bridge_mode.xml

 

[tonyandpals]

So replace the router with the 5 port netgear.  or (the blacken way) do this http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/GetArticle.aspx?docid=28cee6a2fb0d4176a2210942d1d5836c_Setting_up_the_Linksys_E4200_in_bridge_mode.xml

 
Awesome, I can handle that. I was running into issue w/ the config when trying to do it wirelessly...dumb move on my part. I'll follow that guide and configure it while hardwired and I should be good to go. Thanks guys

 

[Max Power]

If it's a 4 port router in the closet, you can just wire everything (including the basement feed) into the LAN ports. Don't use the WAN port at all. As long as DHCP isn't running on the device, it will work.

 

[derekson]

If it's a 4 port router in the closet, you can just wire everything (including the basement feed) into the LAN ports. Don't use the WAN port at all. As long as DHCP isn't running on the device, it will work.

 
Yeah you could do this. Bridge mode basically just turns the WAN port into another LAN port.
 
I had an old G wifi DLink Router i used this way for a while. It was too shitty to load Tomato or DD-WRT and didn't have a bridge mode in the default firmware.

 

[AlNipper49]

That's a very good freaking point.  Hitting myself now for not thinking of it

 

[tonyandpals]

If it's a 4 port router in the closet, you can just wire everything (including the basement feed) into the LAN ports. Don't use the WAN port at all. As long as DHCP isn't running on the device, it will work.

 
This is what I ended up doing. Then one of the TiVos worked and one did not. Checked the end of one of the cables and I mixed up the Blue/Blue White pair.  It threw me off because the jack still lit green. Just couldn't negotiate an IP.
 
As usual, thanks folks.