Xbox Live Wireless Network ?
 

I am getting ready to set-up my Xbox Live and would like to do a wireless network. I was just wondering what router seems to work best with Live. The 2 I am considering are:

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
D-Link DI-624

Any others suggestion that may be better than the 2 I am looking at?

I know I will have to have one of these also, Microsoft Wireless-G Xbox Adapter

Thanks.

Well, MS has discontinued their line of 802.11g hardware, so I bought a MN-700 router and their 802.11g PCI card for around $50 online (for both). It comes with a bit of software called the MS Broadband Network Utility that looks like this:

http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...ms_bbn5_05.jpg

Your Xbox will show up in the "Network Devices" list on the right.

Can't say that it's "better" than any of the others, but it *was* quite easy to setup and has better logging than the old Linksys 802.11b router I replaced. Plus, you know MS stuff is gonna work together.

Also, if you consider going this route, MS will be supporting the products until May of 2006.

Let me ask this, I have a Linksys router currently and am thinking of replacing it for a wireless one, but I need to do the following:

Remotely hook up a PS2 and a XBox. At the computer side I need to hook up 2 PCs and the cable modem.
I do not want to sink a ton of money into this right now, as this is a "want to" project not a "need to" project.

That's pretty much my setup: DSL modem out goes to Linksys wireless router with 2 computers hardwired to it. In the other room, I have the Linksys WET-11 wireless ethernet bridge (I think they have a new model that replaces the WET-11, gaming bridge or something). I then have a simple hub connected to the WET-11. My PS2 and Xbox are connected to the hub.

Are you using b or g? Have you experienced any problems?

i am going to get a linksys WRT54gs. my netgear 614 has been pooping out recently - getting very hot.

definitely get wireless G. they're cheap - like $50 (although the linksys is $76).

Rather than start another thread, I thought I'd ask this here.

Are there any other options besides the microsoft wireless for hooking up a wireless card directly to the xbox? Thanks.

B. No problems at all. 802.11b is still faster than a broadband connection's maximum throughput. FWIW, my DSL is 1.5 down and 256 up. No lag at all.

thanks for the help I went Link Sys WRT54G. I can't wait to play on Live. NCAA 05 can not be released soon enough.

I found the X box wireless adapter for 59.94 on amazon with free shipping. The Link Sys was 66.49 with a $10 rebate.

Anyone have a problem with either B or G with a 2.4ghz cordless phone?

I've had zero phone related issues with my B network.

No problems here either. I was a bit worried and almost bought a 5.8ghz phone. The only thing I've noticed is when I'm on the phone and sitting near my wireless router (within 4 feet or so), I hear a 'pop' every now and then.

No gaming problems at all.

I've been using Windows since the 3.0 days. I seriously wish this was 100% true.

I have Linksys 802.11b wireless router and occasionally, I'll experience problems. My 2.4GHz phones wont let me set a channel so they search for the best one. Occasionally, I'll lose signal b/c the stupid phone selects the same channel my network is on but when I hang up the network comes back immediately. So, I just stopped answering the phone. HA!

I dont have my Xbox hooked up but I'm interested, How hard is it to connect the Xbox through a WEP protected network?

I have the WRT54G also - and from what I can tell it's a nice router as I have my 2 PC's hardwired to it with no performance issues. What other gear would I need (prefer to stay with Linksys products) to get my PS2, Xbox and GC connected wirelessly? I saw they had those game adapters, but $120 a pop seems WAY too steep... anything cheaper out there?

No kidding. I have a Microsoft mn-700 wireless router, and it's screwing up my chat function on XBL....I'm going to try my mn-500(b rated) this weekend.

Well not all is rosy.

I purchased a wireless game adapter (Linksys) and cannot get it to connect to my Linksys 54g router from 1 floor and 30 feet away.

Just about ready to pack it up.

Be sure you update the firmware on all the wireless gear. That's the #1 reason for compatibility problems. Another might be if the adapter is 802.11b and the linksys is a 802.11g. I know they all say that b and g are compatible, but I've had plenty of hassle getting them to work right together. For example, I have a dlink wireless g router, and the only wireless dlink bridge that would work with my Xbox (and the router) was the g series one. If I used either of the b-series dlink ethernet bridges, they wouldn't talk to the g router, no matter what firmware I was on.

No not the problem.

The Linksys game adapter WGA11B

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...id=38&prid=550

has an awful range. I changed to the Microsoft adapter and now I can play from a floor away as I had intended.

I wonder if you can use the Airport wireless express as a wireless network bridge? I'm not sure from the documentation. I'm interested in this since I have an ipod and it would be sweet to transmit tunes to my living room stereo and play PS2 network games as well. Kinda expensive at $129 but it would be a nice soultion to 2 problems.

I've never trusted those gaming adapters for some reason. I use the Linksys WET11 bridge with no hassles. Sure it is a bit more expensive but at least it works.

Yes I am aware of that product but doesn't that need to be connected via cat 5 to the router? I was under the impression (imagine a consumer that wants to spend money for products that work) that my wireless network would at least be good for one floor of a single family home.

Linksys has come out with range extenders but I have not been able to get one as yet.

No it is a bridge...CAT5 from the unit to Xbox or PS2 (which ever one I'm using), wireless connection to the router.

The B signal boosters were discontinued a few months back. I had already grabbed one before they were phased out.

Ok I see.

Unless that box has a range and signal strength that is significantly better than the -g adapter I have then I am in the same boat.

Essentially I am trying to create a wireless "bubble" throughout all three floors of my house. I hope that new repeater will do the trick.

Okay I hope to get this together this weekend with the 15% off coupon, and hopefully some reward zone bucks.
Right now I am looking at getting the Linksys WRT54G router and the WRTA54G game adapter. I will hook up the router to my cable modem and PCs. I will use my DLink DI-604 router on the Xbox and PS2 then to the game adapter. Anyone see any problems with this? Worse case I will just swap out the PS2/XBox when I plan on playing one or the other.
I can get the 2 units for Router $69.99 + $10 MIR, and game adapter $89.99 +$10 MIR, plus adding 2 computer accessories (any suggestions?)will take 15% off. Plus I should get $115 reward zone bucks this week, so this should be fairly cheap.

To avoid swapping the Xbox and PS2 on the game adapter, just buy a cheap $10 hub. Plug the hub into the game adapter and then the Xbox and PS2 to the hub. No need for anything more expensive than a cheap hub.

But I currently have a DLink 601 that will try to use for the PS2/XBox. I have heard conflicting stories of this working and not working.


How hard is the setup? Any harder with a second router(601) on the console side?

Is there a conflict with the 2 routers (one Linksys the other DLink)?

If so, I would keep it simple and replace the DLink router on the console side with a cheap hub. I think the DLink router on the console side should work, but it's really not necessary as a hub will do the trick.

I do not know if there is a conflict, as I am buying all the stuff this weekend. I am trying to save money and not buy anything more that I might not need, but if I have a conflict is good to know a cheap hub will work.

I think another router at the console end is just overkill. Assuming that you won't be online with the Xbox and PS2 at the same time, the hub would work just fine. In fact, you probably could play both at the same time and not see any lag.

Plus, there's nothing to configure with the hub so everything should be nice and simple. Get your router talking to your game adapter and you're set.

I would leave the hub out of the equation for the initial setup. Get your router connected to your modem and make sure you can get online with a PC that's hard wired to the router. Then add the game adapter. Get it configured and make sure the router and game adapter are talking to each other (if you can configure the game adapter from a PC that's hard wired to your router, you're in good shape). Then add just the PS2 or the Xbox directly to the game adapter. Once that's working, connect the hub to the game adapter and the consoles to the hub. The idea is to configure and test one thing at a time and build on your successes.

You'll need 3 fairly short ethernet cables: 1 from the game adapter to the hub and 1 each from the hub to each console. Don't forget to pick those up too.

does anyone know a wireless G bridge available to work on the xbox that will get me the 108mbps instaed of the 54mbps?

The router should work fine, if all you do is use its integrated switch and none of the routing features. Don't hook anything to the WAN port, disable the DHCP server, and you should be fine. It isn't overkill at all if you do that. When so configured, it's just a switch, which is better than a hub.

How do you go about setting this up? I have a router downstairs a pc with a wireless card upstairs. The Xbox would be in the same room as the router. So how do you get a wireless connection to it? Does it need a wireless card or something?

I am so confused :lol:

I agree that a router is better than a hub, but what would a router offer at that point on his network? Do you need a switch for an Xbox and a PS2?

I'm not trying to argue, I'm just wondering if there's something I'm missing out on. :)

I use the D-Link DWL-G810 with my Xbox/PS2 operating in Super-G (108mbps) mode and it works really well (although due to walls and placement conditions, my actual throughput is < 108). I actually have 2 Xbox units hooked up, each with thier own G810 and they have worked great for both WLAN as well as Live game play at the same time. I have a DI-624 providing access for all the clients in my house (wired and wireless) .

Is the Linksys with Speedbooster worth the additional $20? Right now I will be just using the wireless for my consoles. The not so near future (12 months+) may hold a laptop of HTPC, but nothing soon. I do not want to have to upgrade in a year, nor do I want to waste money. Currently we use a Uniden 2.4ghz cordless phone, the one that you can add multiple handsets to, and this is the only thing that might add any interference to the network.

So I'm getting ready to make the move to wireless (no more cable running across the floor!) and have a few questions for the experienced.

Once I have a wireless router (probably a Linksys WRT54G), it seems like my best choices are to either get the adapter that Microsoft sells or buy a bridge (like the Linksys WET-11), both of which run around $70. Is this correct? Are there any other more cost-effective solutions?

Has anybody had success with having the router on a different floor from the Xbox?

Are the firewall/security functions (to keep others from stealing bandwidth) built into the wireless router? If so, does it result in any type of slowdown?

Thanks for the help...

My wireless router is in the basement, my WET-11 is on the first floor of my house. No problems. My TabletPC gets a 'good' signal (that's what Windows says) when it's on the 2nd floor of my house, so 2 floors and it's still pretty good. YMMV.

I have 128 bit WEP enabled and online gaming works great. No lag.

Okay I put mine together this weekend. I went with the Linksys WRT54G router and the WGA-11B game adapter. I wanted the G router, but could not pull the trigger on the G game adapter since it was $30 more and I would probably not see a difference.
I had to swap out the first game adapter as it was not working, but the second one is up and running like a champ. I also got a Netgear 4 port hub and everything seems to work great.

I did have a couple of disconnects on both the PS2 (Champs of Norranth) and the XBox (Ghost Recon) so hopefully this will not be the norm just a rare glich.

I've got a scenario that I could use some advice with. I'm moving into a new place and going wireless. The cable modem and router/switch combo will be in the bedroom. In my office will be 2 PCs. Then downstairs I'll have my Xbox, PS2, and ReplayTV. All three of those devices need a network connection. Is there a way to plug the Xbox, PS2, and Replay TV into a bridge/switch combo such as this one:

http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...id=35&prid=615

Then have that "talk" to the router/switch?

Any insight into the matter would be appreciated.

Thanks