Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector: Thoughts?

[Nintendork]

I hate it.

I wish I had done my research before buying it with a gift card, but I didn't realize it had been discontinued until after experiencing all of the problems I have encountered. Once I finally get my Wii online, within 48 hours I am disconnected, even though both the Wii and the USB connector recognize a connection and can detect each other.

I have messed with firewall settings, uninstalled and reinstalled, and re configured my Wii enough times to realize that I need a new solution, a real router. My Wii and the computer are in the same room but due to the set up are not able to connect directly, although they are only about 15 feet away. Can I get buy with a cheap Belkin or Linksys router? Or has anyone tried hacking the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB to get it to work more effectively?

Any feedback would greatly be appreciated. Thank you!

[Poofta!]

shouldve searched the forums. theres an entire thread about it and its lack of any competant use whatsoever.

[Slate]

I bought one and never had any problems with it. It always worked, With the exception of when my internet was out.

[Poofta!]

a quick 5 second search for "nintendo wifi adapter" yielded this as the 6th match (simply cause of the misspelling of the title). you couldve done this and saved yourself some cash, and aggravation.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74175

anyway, sorry about your purchase. i highly recommend getting a linksys wifi router. the absolute best networking brand around.

[Neil Koch]

I use a D-Link router I got from Target for like $30. I've seen some bad reviews of the brand online, but I haven't had any problems with it.

[sisko]

anyway, sorry about your purchase. i highly recommend getting a linksys wifi router. the absolute best networking brand around.

I'd be more apt to believe this if my Linksys router wasn't absolute crap.

That being said, the USB connector is even worse,

[Rob2600]

To repeat what I wrote in two other Wii WiFi USB connector threads:

My brother had problems with it. I hooked up a $40 wireless router instead, which worked fine.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I use a Linksys wireless router for my WiFi networking, which I also believe to be the best brand for router/networking accessories - and I still had issues with my Wii frequently disconnecting.

After discovering that the Wii can connect via a compatible USB ethernet port, I opted for that, and I rarely have issues with it connecting.

I use this brand / model

http://ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=1771

but, I've also heard that people have no issues with the Datel brand, or the other unbranded HK looking LAN port.

[Poofta!]

I use a Linksys wireless router for my WiFi networking, which I also believe to be the best brand for router/networking accessories - and I still had issues with my Wii frequently disconnecting.

After discovering that the Wii can connect via a compatible USB ethernet port, I opted for that, and I rarely have issues with it connecting.

I use this brand / model

http://ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=1771

but, I've also heard that people have no issues with the Datel brand, or the other unbranded HK looking LAN port.


hey frankie, do you know (or does anyone) if that device or ones like it work w/ the 360? my friend has his 360 connected to a 25 foot Ethernet cable and has to keep it at a weird place, with something like this he can move it a few more feet into a more desirable location (using a different wire isnt an option).

[mills]

I never had a problem with my wifi adapter. There were issues with wii connect 24, not actually staying connected, and having to reconfigure it all the time to work. But that issue was because of the Wii, and since past wii updates have fixed that, I have absolutely no problems with it at all.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

hey frankie, do you know (or does anyone) if that device or ones like it work w/ the 360? my friend has his 360 connected to a 25 foot Ethernet cable and has to keep it at a weird place, with something like this he can move it a few more feet into a more desirable location (using a different wire isnt an option).

Let me try it ...

... nope.

I don't think the 360's USB ports are set up to recognize ethernet adapters.

[Poofta!]

Let me try it ...

... nope.

I don't think the 360's USB ports are set up to recognize ethernet adapters.

that sucks... i know the 360 usb works with any wifi usb adapter, silly that it wont work with wired ones... but then again its M$... the same guys that hardcoded their official HDMI cable to work only with the 360...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

that sucks... i know the 360 usb works with any wifi usb adapter, silly that it wont work with wired ones... but then again its M$... the same guys that hardcoded their official HDMI cable to work only with the 360...

Works with any WiFi USB adapter?

I was under the impression that the only wireless one that worked was the $100 Microsoft Official WiFi adapter.

I've seen people re-flash the firmware on Wireless routers to act as a Wi-Fi receiver for the 360 (as those cost about $50 less than the Microsoft ones), but that connects via the ethernet port, not the USB.

If you have any info to the contrary, please share in detail.

[Leo_A]

You were under the wrong impression, any wireless adapter works for the 360 like he said.

As for the Nintendo wifi usb connector, I've had no issues with my DS. Its only plugged in due to the heat the USB adapter creates when I actually want to play Mario Kart DS online, I get the impression it was never intended for 24/7 use.

Just get the Wii LAN adapter for the Wii, it works great, keeps the Wii from getting extremely hot with WiiConnect 24 on, and it works much faster than connecting wirelessly through my router or the wifi usb connector. Web pages load as fast as my PC and YouTube works great, and I've never been disconnected except a couple of times when the power went out or my ISP had troubles.

[Graham Mitchell]

So wait, am I to understand they discontinued this attachment? Mine is fairly reliable, but the problem is that I've lived in 4 places, all at opposite ends of the country since purchasing that kit. Every time I move, it needs to be reconfigured/reinstalled. If figured that all the jumping around to different IP addresses had somethig to do with it.

Now I've been settled for about 6 months, and wii firmware updates have all but abolished that problem. However, crap PC died on me. It's got enough functionality to run the USB connector still, but I primarily use my new imac. Does anybody know if the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector will work in a mac running the latest versions of Vista?

(I know Captain wrong plays Bioshock on his computer that way.)

[alxbly]

shouldve searched the forums. theres an entire thread about it and its lack of any competant use whatsoever.

Good advice. However, not everyone checks forums on items before they buy them. I bought a Nintendo Wi-fi US. The Wii manual and the Nintendo website both said that it works with the Wii and the DS. And it was cheaper than a router.

But it didn't work. If I wanted to connect my Wii or DS I'd need to switch off my PC's firewall and that's not something I'm prepared to do. But my point is this; you really shouldn't need to check forums to find out if something that is an officially branded product will work.

In any case, when I got a 360 I bought a wireless router and haven't had any problems since. The Nintendo USB adapter got traded in a few weeks ago for Mass Effect. Best swap I've ever done. :D

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Personally, I'm still floored, like, literally SHOCKED (and highly skeptical) that you can use ANY USB WiFi receiver with the XBOX360.

All the research I've done online points generally to "No, you can't use ANY USB WiFi adapter on a 360." ... but, much like this thread there are some places that say "Yes you can.", yet don't go into any detail beyond that. I'm still thinking that you can't use any due to the fact that the 360 has it's own type of wireless protocall, which uses 802.11A versus B and/or G.

Microsoft is selling their unit for $100, and you can literally get an un-branded Hong Kong manufactured one on eBay for less than $10?

I use dongles like these on my old laptop which doesn't have built in WiFi (which is the core of my MAME cabinet) and they are fast and excellent quality ...

... can somebody take a quick look and verify that they're also compatible / configurable to work with the 360, or if I'd need to get something different / more akin to the antenna'ed Microsoft brand adapter.

Dongle A. (http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-wireless-networking-Lan-802-11-Wi-Fi-dongle-Adapter_W0QQitemZ350014385699QQihZ022QQcategoryZ45 002QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Dongle B. (http://cgi.ebay.com/54M-802-11g-WiFi-Wi-Fi-wireless-LAN-USB-dongle-adapter_W0QQitemZ250205581956QQihZ015QQcategoryZ45 002QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Dongle 3. (http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Key-Wi-Fi-Adaptor-Wireless-Dongle-54Mbps_W0QQitemZ230214503700QQihZ013QQcategoryZ450 02QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

And if they are, what kind of work is involved in getting them to "run" on the system ... I assume that the MS brand is pretty much plug and play, while these require some advanced settings manipulation?

If so, that opens up a few options for me with my 360 that wouldn't have otherwise have been possible.

[Rob2600]

my point is this; you really shouldn't need to check forums to find out if something that is an officially branded product will work.

What about the Xbox 360? People are still asking whether or not it's safe to buy one.

[alxbly]

What about the Xbox 360? People are still asking whether or not it's safe to buy one.

I'm not saying Nintendo are the only culprits. But I do feel that the Wifi adapters compatibility and the 360's reliability are two different issues which are best addressed in the seperate topics we already have here.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I'm not saying Nintendo are the only culprits. But I do feel that the Wifi adapters compatibility and the 360's reliability are two different issues which are best addressed in the seperate topics we already have here.

Understandable desire, however since a few divergent questions were posed and answered here, and the thread seems to still be healthy on a daily basis, I'm attempting to get them answered in the same thread.

[alxbly]

Understandable desire, however since a few divergent questions were posed and answered here, and the thread seems to still be healthy on a daily basis, I'm attempting to get them answered in the same thread.

My post isn't intended to be any kind of comment on yours, Frankie. Compatabily of wifi adapters with the 360 was something I had been investigating only a few months ago before I finally gave up and plumped for the easy (but expensive) option of Microsoft's own wireless adapter. I'd be very interested to know if there's any other adapters that work.

What I was trying to address was Rob's comment on the 360 console's reliabilty. We already know it's an issue and there's a seperate thread; that was the reasoning behind my own comment.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

My post isn't intended to be any kind of comment on yours, Frankie. Compatabily of wifi adapters with the 360 was something I had been investigating only a few months ago before I finally gave up and plumped for the easy (but expensive) option of Microsoft's own wireless adapter. I'd be very interested to know if there's any other adapters that work.

What I was trying to address was Rob's comment on the 360 console's reliabilty. We already know it's an issue and there's a seperate thread; that was the reasoning behind my own comment.

Gotcha. And I in turn wasn't trying to get in your face about it or anything...if anything, if you were addressing me, I felt it was pretty much justified.

I just figured since the topic was in fact about the Wii WiFi adapter, that 360 WiFi discussions were kind obtuse-ly off-topic.

[Rob2600]

I'm not saying Nintendo are the only culprits. But I do feel that the Wifi adapters compatibility and the 360's reliability are two different issues which are best addressed in the seperate topics we already have here.

I know, I was just pointing out that a lot of products seem to be unreliable lately.

[klausien]

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