Xbox Live and ISDN
 

I doubt this is an issue for anyone but me, but I've been wondering if Xbox Live would work with my 128k ISDN connection. Initially, Microsoft said 64k up and down would be fine. I never really believed that and lately I've been hearing that some people are being told by Xbox support that it's now 256 down and 128 up.

I decided to email Xbox support and ask. The reply doesn't make me think I'm going to be able to use Xbox Live, but it also doesn't make me think the guy who replied truly knows:

That seems like a standard answer that doesn't really address ISDN. What do they call 'broadband'? I'm sure they get lots of "I connect at 115,000 with my 56k modem, it'll work right?" emails.

I get pings of around 100 ms, so I was hopeful. Maybe not though.

No, it will not work with ISDN.

Doesn't ISDN use a telephone jack connection?

How would you change it over to a Cat 5 cable? (The connection for the XBox.)

So does the email mean that if you have a wireless router set up, you can't use Xbox live?

DSL works through phone lines as well, but obviously that'll work with XBox Live. The technology is very different, but from a network point of view, there really shouldn't be anything preventing someone from using ISDN.

For the most part, online games actually don't need that much bandwidth. There are lots of PC gamers enjoying all kinds of online games at 36K up, 56K down. The real limiting factor's will be bandwidth for the voice functionality and overall latency. If they're targeting "cell phone" quality voice communications, I'd guess the bitrate for that wouldn't be more than 32 Kbps so that shouldn't be a killer.

Theoretically, I don't see any reason why ISDN wouldn't work unless your connection to Microsoft's servers has too high of a latency. But, you probably aren't much more likely to encounter that problem than people with DSL/Cable/T1 lines.

I bet that sucks for a lot of people.

Yes, it does, but it makes the online gaming experience better for those with cable/dsl. Microsoft wont lose as much money by not letting satellite users play online than they are losing by not letting 56k user play online, but that makes cable/dsl user happier.

Are there enough people with cable and DSL for this to work though? First off, DSL is going down the crapper. I had a DSL connection 2 years ago and 3 of my providers went out of business in one year. Cable companies have a lot of problems now too so I'm not so sure the spread of cable internet will continue at a reasonable pace. I think satellite internet is the best choice for a lot of people but that won't work with XBL. I don't know. I never thought XBL would be a success but now I'm beginning to think it will be an even bigger failure.

:confused: Where in Jersey are you? Verizon is doing alot of business here. They have my DSL line and its never been down.

Wait a minute, you think something Microsoft is doing is bad?!? Whoa, I didn't see that coming. Listen, contrary to what a lot of people think, Microsoft is not going to discontinue the Xbox because XBL isn't doing well. Didn't they say they didn't expect that many people to be using XBL during teh first year? What do you mean cable companies are having a lot of problems? I have cable and it works perfectly(*knocks on wood*).

Seriously, are you in the pine barrens or something?

No, he just hates Microsoft. ;)

I know but satellite is niche and dial up is dead. Dial up is for your grammas AOL account.

"Satellite internet is the best choice"???? What the...

Now, I'm one of the biggest Microsoft-lovers on this board, but even I know that dial-up is definitely not dead. Microsoft is losing out of the majority of the online market by not supporting 56k, but what they are trying to do is convince people to get broadband. I know that if 56k users were playing against me, I probably would not get XBL because of the lag. I do agree with you, though, that satellite internet is definitely not the "best choice" for XBL.

This was when I was at Lehigh in PA.

I never said Microsoft would discontinue the Xbox if XBL did bad. I was just saying I think XBL would do bad.

Adelphia's gone. Cablevision is tanking and so is AOL-Time Warner. The government is forcing an upgrade to digital cable and that is costing cable companies billions and billions of dollars. Things are not good in cable land. I don't really know which side of this fence I sit on. I hate Cablevision for not carrying the Yankees but I love them for their mad crazy fast Optimum Online.

Nope. A lot of Americans live outside of cities though. Cable or DSL is not an option for a lot of people. That's just the way it is.

No argument there. Online gaming practically requires broadband and I think it was kinda smart of Microsoft to go broadband only. I just think they are like a decade ahead of themselves though. Broadband just isn't mainstream yet. Not even close.

Broadband is not an option for the vast majority of Americans. That's basically my whole point.

Satellite internet :lol:

Don't cry over the cable companies. They screwed themselves over, constantly stalling on any upgrades, and they allowed satellite to take over a decent sized marketshare. Plus they get revenue back by upgrading their systems, so don't think everything they do is out of pocket. If they didn't spend their time ripping off customers they wouldn't be in this mess. Nevertheless I love my cable modem and do have cable tv through Comcast so what do I know?

I do not cry for the cable companies. Things do look bleak for them though. And since a cable internet connection is practically required for XBL, things look bleak for it as well.

So you are saying, 1.9 million people = a bleak outlook for XL.

Learn something new every day.

Kellehair, what are you proposing.. that the cable companies are going to go out of business leaving us with no cable nor broadband?

Only an idiot would think that.. So I know you dont.. Wink wink.

A company can have bad profits, or problems, and they still continue... Thats how business works, ups and downs.. theoretically.. and this economy runs on technology hitting the masses.. So cable internet will not go down, but only gain more people.

I care if it doesnt include satellite or 56k users.. oh wait.. no i dont..

And of course it wouldnt use satellite, this is nothing new.. the upstream on satellite is horrible.

If you look at what I said, "a lot of people" does not necessarily include you.

Agreed.

And, Microsoft knows they aren't going to get all 1.9 million people...I remember reading they expected about 150,000 people in the first year, can anyone confirm or deny that?

Yep. Aint no way that new fangled broadbanner thingy gonna work. Ima stick to my dixie cups and string.

:lol: