Home Networking/Xbox Live question...

[Koosh]

So I'm wondering how I can get Xbox Live to work my the network in my apartment without having to unhook it from the Cable modem everytime I want to play...

The terribly drawn MS Paint Floorplan is attached. Sorry for the quality, hopefully it'll get the point across.

From the cable jack it goes to a 5 way splitter... to the TV's we have in each of our rooms, the cable modem, and then the TV in the main living area.

Anyway, right now there we have one 50 foot Cat 5 cable from the modem to the router in my roomates closet, then from there we have a 30 foot cable from the router to the computer in my room, while he only needs a 4-5 foot cable since his computer is right next to the router...

SO MY QUESTION IS...

Can I move the Router right next to the cable modem, and then have a Switch where the router is now and not suffer any consequences? that means my computer and my roomates will be on the same port of the router with the switch, and we can hook up my Xbox and/or his PS2 to the router directly instead of having to move it to one of our rooms and stealing the cable that we would normall hook into our PC, or unplugging the router from the cable modem and hooking it that directly.

Sorry if my point isn't very clear... I'm not that smart...

[Will Wood]

Yes it should work.. but I'm confused as to why it wouldn't work now.

Ok you got the the TV cables going in their respectful places.. that doesn't matter.
Then one of the splits off it is going to your Cable Box. Then you have it going to a router/hub (whatever they are called) and it going to your roommates computer, and yours. Then just add another network cable in to your consoles.

[Koosh]

The cable modem only has one ethernet output... That goes to the router in my roomates room. If it had two outputs, there wouldn't be a problem right now

[Will Wood]

Ah ok. So just buy one with like 5 ports.
Then you're all set.

[Remington]

I'm going to suggest buying a LinkSys System's router. Do not buy a NetGear router - they're just really poor in quality and not worth the money. Good luck with your network!

[Koosh]

I'm going to suggest buying a LinkSys System's router. Do not buy a NetGear router - they're just really poor in quality and not worth the money. Good luck with your network!

Yeah, thanks for the information now

I bought a Netgear about 3 months ago... It's work alright... Connects fine, but for whatever reason it drops the connection at random times if I'm downloading something big... Its been hell trying to preload Half Life 2, it gets about 2-3% done then quits and I have to restart the router... But most big files on Ares go through fine... And Gaming works alright too, although I don't do it much.

Thanks for the help so far

[Koosh]

Ah ok. So just buy one with like 5 ports.
Then you're all set.

Cable Modems are like $70-$80... a 5 port Switch is like $30... Hey, I'm a starving college student every buck counts!

Although that would probably be the easiest way... The modem we have now is some RCA one the cable company gave us... My roomate takes care of the bills, I'll ask him if there is an "Equipment rental" fee on there somewhere...