Wireless router for XBOX 360 questions

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:28 pm

In need of some help fellas.

I'm going to be picking up a wireless router to hook my 360 up wirelessly.

Here's the question...

Since the only thing wireless in my network will be my 360, what specifics do I need in my wireless router.

I saw one a Target today for 29.99 that advertised as being XBOX Live compatible right on the front. It's a D-Link AirPlus G (G 54 whatever that means).

They had one for 69.99 that was G 108 that I THINK was only compatible with other G108 devices.

Help me out fellas and edumicate me on this stuff.

thanks

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:36 pm

Just get a wireless router. It really doesn't matter what kind. I prefer DLink actually...I've had a few linksys routers go bad on me for whatever reason. Plus, DLinks are a little cheaper too. Just get that one you saw advertised and you'll be fine.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:44 pm

Cool deal. The the 54 Mbps or 108 Mpbs has absolutely no performance differences?

Also, I was reading something about to stream media etc I would need a 802.11a compatible router?

No clue what this means. I mainly need this thing for gaming anyway, without having to run cat5 through my house.

XBOX used to be upstairs, but with kid on the way and wanting to keep the 360 hooked up on my HDTV, I'm just going to go wireless.

29.99 Target special it is I guess.

Thanks~!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:49 pm

There will be no decernible (sp?) difference between 54 and 108 when it comes to online performance. The only place you'll notice that is if you're transferring stuff internally on your network. Otherwise, 802.11a/b/g routers are perfectly fine.

And the thing you read about streaming media was probably that you need a 802.11 b or g...not an 'a' as far as I can tell.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:52 pm

Right on. this will be cheaper than I thought. Nice, considering the damn 360 wirelss adapter is a 100

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:02 pm

Boom wrote:Right on. this will be cheaper than I thought. Nice, considering the damn 360 wirelss adapter is a 100

Well there are much better options for that too...just pick up a Wireless Bridge for around 40-50 bucks and it solves all of your problems.

Remember this thread?

http://www.digitalsportspage.com/module ... t=motorola

AcemanPR · Post by **AcemanPR** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:05 pm

I have the D-Link router you mentioned Boom, and haven't had any problems with it. In fact, three other co-workers have that router and love it as well.

ImDaIcon · Post by **ImDaIcon** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:11 pm

I'd check out the Linksys wireless gaming adapter. I grabbed one up for about $25 when buy.com was having a sale on them. I am not a network guy at all and this thing was just plug and play. It will work with a B or G wireless router. I got a Linksys Wireless G Router from buy.com as well. And had the whole thing hooked up in 15 minutes. Spent $65 on both and dont have to run the 50 foot cat5 ever again

The one drawback is that the Wireless Game Adapter needs a power source where I believe the XBox official adapter draws power from the XBox/360 itself.

rayray00 · Post by **rayray00** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:13 pm

FYI - If you plan on streaming HD content or DVD/Movies to your 360, then you will need an 'A' capable router to go along with the A/B/G wireless adapter for the 360.

Also, some of the lower end routers may not deal with your home environment very well. I had a Linksys router that worked great up until my neighbors got a wireless router and I started getting interference from them and various other gadgets & phones in the house. My XBox wouldn't connect or would be very sporadic in connecting to the wireless network. I wound up picking up a MIMO router (the one with all the blue lights) and now I have no issues with interference or anything else thoroughout my house (upstairs, downstairs, and in the yard)...

-Ray!!!

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:48 pm

OK, one more stupid question before I go through with this.

The placement of my 360 will be underneath my 46 inch WS HDTV in the stand. It's not wide open and I'm conernced that this may cause interference with it connecting to the router in the other room.

Will having my 360 underneath my tv which is actually tucked in a wall unit style entertainment center pose a problem?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:52 pm

If you use the official Xbox 360 adapter, the answer is probably yes because it'll be next to the system itself. If you get a separate wireless bridge, you can stick it on top of the built-in and just run the cat5 down to the 360. Then you'll have an unobstructed view.

Of course you can always just get a USB extension and you can do the same with the adapter, but who knows how good that'll be...especially at 2x the cost of a regular wireless bridge.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:53 pm

what's the difference from running Cat 5 to the bridge and running cat 5 to my 360?

Not trying to be stupid here, really just have no clue.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:01 pm

Boom wrote:what's the difference from running Cat 5 to the bridge and running cat 5 to my 360?

Not trying to be stupid here, really just have no clue.

I never said there was a diference.

The wireless bridge is wireless (meaning it can be anywhere in the house where there is a power outlet)...then you run an ethernet cable to the xbox. With the official microsoft adapter, it's usb.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:43 pm

If you got an ethernet cable run to your console and it's not in the way too much, there's no advantage in going wireless.

Wired will still give you the best possible performance and no chance of interference.

Wireless makes sense if it's inconvenient to run the cable from say your den where you cable or DSL modem is to your family or living room far away.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:51 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Boom wrote:what's the difference from running Cat 5 to the bridge and running cat 5 to my 360?

Not trying to be stupid here, really just have no clue.
I never said there was a diference.

The wireless bridge is wireless (meaning it can be anywhere in the house where there is a power outlet)...then you run an ethernet cable to the xbox. With the official microsoft adapter, it's usb.

I got ya. So, I could say put the bridge up on my entertainment center where it's more likely to communicate with the router in another room without interference, and then run the cat five down behind and to the 360.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:55 am

Correct.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 1:00 am

Thanks. I know these are some pretty basic questions, but I've only briefly thought about going wireless once before. Never looked into it too hard, so don't know anything about wireless routers, bridges, etc.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:31 am

ImDaIcon wrote:I'd check out the Linksys wireless gaming adapter. I grabbed one up for about $25 when buy.com was having a sale on them. I am not a network guy at all and this thing was just plug and play. It will work with a B or G wireless router. I got a Linksys Wireless G Router from buy.com as well. And had the whole thing hooked up in 15 minutes. Spent $65 on both and dont have to run the 50 foot cat5 ever again

The one drawback is that the Wireless Game Adapter needs a power source where I believe the XBox official adapter draws power from the XBox/360 itself.

Actually, the Xbox Wireless Adapter needs a power source as well. I bought one a month or so ago.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:27 am

Badgun wrote:
ImDaIcon wrote:I'd check out the Linksys wireless gaming adapter. I grabbed one up for about $25 when buy.com was having a sale on them. I am not a network guy at all and this thing was just plug and play. It will work with a B or G wireless router. I got a Linksys Wireless G Router from buy.com as well. And had the whole thing hooked up in 15 minutes. Spent $65 on both and dont have to run the 50 foot cat5 ever again

The one drawback is that the Wireless Game Adapter needs a power source where I believe the XBox official adapter draws power from the XBox/360 itself.
Actually, the Xbox Wireless Adapter needs a power source as well. I bought one a month or so ago.

I think he is referring to the new USB one that is for the 360. the cable is very short on that but it is actually supposed to attatch to the back of the 360. There is a little hook for it.

I have the Linksys wireless gaming adaptor and it works great, but I don't like that it needs an additional power source so I am giving it to my fiances son and going with the 360 one for $99.

The Linksys will be good for those that ned to have the adaptor a bit away from their setup since it uses a CAT5 cable from the X-Box to the adaptor.