How do I get my 360 online?

[chicnstu]

I don't know much about this so try to stay with me...

I'm using a DSL connection and I keep the 360 upstairs, I want to be able to play the 360 online upstairs without having a cord traveling up the steps or any type of modifications to the house (not even another modem and connection installed upstairs).

I looked at the official 360 wireless network adapter but it seems like its meant for people that are able to somehow get a wireless connection to their computer....again, I don't know about this stuff so hopefully that makes sense.

What I would like to have is something, maybe two parts, that I can plug into the DSL modem (that will send the connection wirelessly to my 360) and the other part I can plug into my 360 (to receive the connection. And I want to be able to have someone on the internet on the computer while I'm playing online at the same time.

Or maybe there is another solution that would work for my situation. The modem is a Speedstream 4200 and has the option in the back to have a USB cord coming from it to the computer, or a DSL cable. When I kept the 360 downstairs we could use the DSL cable for the 360 and have the USB cable in the computer to have internet and online playing at the same time. But after a few days the computer's internet connection would act weird, we would have to call to get the settings fixed.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

something along this line might work for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BL-PA100A-HD-PLC-Ethernet-Adaptor/dp/B000FZVTSW

it uses your home's electrical system to carry your data. just plug one in by your modem, and another upstairs by your 360.

you could hook up a wireless router downstairs and hope the signal would make it through the walls, but i wouldn't recommend it.

[chicnstu]

something along this line might work for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BL-PA100A-HD-PLC-Ethernet-Adaptor/dp/B000FZVTSW

it uses your home's electrical system to carry your data. just plug one in by your modem, and another upstairs by your 360.

That's neat. Would it allow the person on the computer to still use the internet while I'm playing online? Would it (somehow) mess with other things in the house that are plugged into the wall?


you could hook up a wireless router downstairs and hope the signal would make it through the walls, but i wouldn't recommend it.

The 360 is in a room right above the room with the computer, actually I bet if I was to cut a hole in the ceiling above the computer the 360 would fall on my head. Would a ceiling be a problem for a wireless router?

I'm looking for the best option (games won't slowdown, adapter won't mess with other things in the house, internet+online playing at the same time, etc) and I like the electrical adapter idea, but if a wireless router sending through a ceiling is better I would go with that.

[Nick]

something along this line might work for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BL-PA100A-HD-PLC-Ethernet-Adaptor/dp/B000FZVTSW

it uses your home's electrical system to carry your data. just plug one in by your modem, and another upstairs by your 360.

you could hook up a wireless router downstairs and hope the signal would make it through the walls, but i wouldn't recommend it.

That's cool as hell. I have a degree in networking etc and was not aware of these. They could be a real option for a lot of people.

[Nick]

The biggest factor on a possible wireless router setup would in your case be the material the signal has to travel through, ex. metal, concrete, etc. Also factoring in would be the type and quality of antennas you were to use. But, the alternative suggested looks as though it would be very easy to setup and you could in fact use the internet on the computer and use the 360 at the same time if you added a cheap wired router to the mix.

Modem to Router - Router to Computer and Panasonic wall adapter

The Panasonic wall adapter would be a slightly more costly setup but depending on the size of your house and construction I would bet that you will get better performance with the suggested setup. Any time you have the ability to go wired you should. A wired connection is going to yield a more constant bandwidth.

[chicnstu]

With the Panasonic thing I'm worried about some of the peoples reviews saying that they couldn't get them to send signals to each other and that the connection was slow. They mentioned trying different outlets. This house has one outlet in each room, except for the kitchen and living room.


The biggest factor on a possible wireless router setup would in your case be the material the signal has to travel through, ex. metal, concrete, etc. Also factoring in would be the type and quality of antennas you were to use. But, the alternative suggested looks as though it would be very easy to setup and you could in fact use the internet on the computer and use the 360 at the same time if you added a cheap wired router to the mix.

Do you mean one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/EtherFast-Cable-Router-8-Port-Switch/dp/B000MVM17W/ref=sr_1_50?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224187937&sr=1-50

The house has wooden floors, and then the ceiling is sheetrock I think. If it matters, I think the wiring in this house is very old, I'm not sure, the house is one of those "farmhouses" that was built in 1935.

EDIT: I looked around and this seems nice (if the Panasonic thing won't work perfectly for me) but is expensive:

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/dp/B000LIFB7S/ref=pd_sim_e_2

But since I haven't read about many of these or understand what they are saying, maybe it's not what I'm looking for.

It says "Use the DIR-655 in your office to share Internet connection and printer with multiple computers, saving additional office space."

Some people said they couldn't get it to work.

[Nick]

This is what I would use:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-EtherFast-Router-4-Port-BEFSR41/dp/B00004SB92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224188524&sr=8-1

Or something cheaper - trendnet:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156001


Edit: If you did want to go the wireless router setup there is nothing wrong with the one you have chosen. It's supposed to be a pretty good wireless N. Wireless N is the latest wireless standard that provides higher speeds while the MIMO feature should help you get the most out of the wireless signal (distance wise) Thats a fair price too. Especially the free shipping and no tax amazon offers. :D

Installing this really isn't that extreme either. It will come with a quick setup guide that is very straight forward. The only shred of complexity comes from trying to setup wireless security. HOWEVER, remember with this setup you are going to need the xbox 360 wireless adapter. (Another $80-100)

[chicnstu]

This is what I would use:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-EtherFast-Router-4-Port-BEFSR41/dp/B00004SB92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224188524&sr=8-1

Or something cheaper - trendnet:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156001


Edit: If you did want to go the wireless router setup there is nothing wrong with the one you have chosen. It's supposed to be a pretty good wireless N. Wireless N is the latest wireless standard that provides higher speeds while the MIMO feature should help you get the most out of the wireless signal (distance wise) Thats a fair price too. Especially the free shipping and no tax amazon offers. :D

I like the cheapest one because it received a good amount of great reviews but I also like the one I found because it seems really nice. What to do...



Installing this really isn't that extreme either. It will come with a quick setup guide that is very straight forward. The only shred of complexity comes from trying to setup wireless security. HOWEVER, remember with this setup you are going to need the xbox 360 wireless adapter. (Another $80-100)

Thanks. I was wondering if the Router came with another piece I plug into the 360 or if I needed to buy something else.

This is very expensive...so do you know anything about that Panasonic thing? I want to know the speed, how likely it is to not work (since I only have one outlet [one thing on the wall with two slots to plug stuff in] in the room upstairs), etc.

Sorry if I'm asking too much.

[Nick]

The Panasonic plug in ethernet adapter looks to follow a standard HomePlug 1.0 which is rated at 85 MB/s. This is only slightly slower then a standard ethernet cable (CAT5) which is mostly 100 MB/s. I would not worry much about receiving the maximum DSL connection rate using this setup. It would be plenty. They make an even faster newer HomePlug standard of 200 MB/s but I personally wouldn't pay the extra money as it will literally not gain you anything in this case.

I found these...I think they may be a little better then the Panasonic's:

http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MegaPlug-Ethernet-Adapter-Twin-Pack/dp/B000QGBC8C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224189976&sr=1-3

They use the same technology but have more ratings etc. From what I can see and understand they seem like the idea behind them is pretty simple and should be quite easy to setup.

Also, it seems like you might have got a little confused. The routers I linked to are "wired" not "wireless" you would use them if you wanted to go the HomePlug route in order to use your computer and the 360 at the same time.

The way I see it you would need - 2 HomePlug Adapters, 1 Wired Router, and possibly a couple of very short ethernet cables (if they do not already come with the adapters - ethernet cables are roughly 40 cents a foot) That would be estimate $75 + $25 + $4 = $104 for that setup.

Or there is the setup you picked - The wireless D-Link N Router + Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter. That would be estimate $95 + $90 = $185. A benefit to this setup is if you happen to obtain a new laptop, PSP, DS, etc you will have a Wi-Fi setup in your house that you can use for additional components in the future.

Unfortunately I can't say for sure either is a guarantee that it's going to work. Wireless D-Link may have trouble getting to the 360 upstairs (in this case you would need repeaters more access points etc ...hassle + more money) and with the HomePlug's, i've never used them and it may be based on your home's actual outlet wiring. I would pick one and give it a shot...possibly make sure you can return whatever you buy if it doesn't work out and try the other.

[chicnstu]

I found these...I think they may be a little better then the Panasonic's:

http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MegaPlug-Ethernet-Adapter-Twin-Pack/dp/B000QGBC8C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1224189976&sr=1-3

They use the same technology but have more ratings etc. From what I can see and understand they seem like the idea behind them is pretty simple and should be quite easy to setup.


The way I see it you would need - 2 HomePlug Adapters, 1 Wired Router, and possibly a couple of very short ethernet cables (if they do not already come with the adapters - ethernet cables are roughly 40 cents a foot) That would be estimate $75 + $25 + $4 = $104 for that setup.

The DSL modem I'm using has the option to use an ethernet cable coming from the back of it to the computer and/or a USB cable. When I kept the 360 downstairs I could plug an ethernet cable into the back of the DSL modem and then into the back of the 360 to play online. I could also at the same time have a USB cable coming from the back of the same modem and into the PC. That allowed me have internet on the computer and online play at the same time. So couldn't I skip buying the wired router and for my PC internet just use the USB cable, then have the ethernet cable going to the HomePlug adapter.

Also, about buying the extra Ethernet cables, I already have two. One for the PC connection (actually I'm using both the ethernet cable and the USB cable, just haven't bothered unplugging one of them) and a spare that came with the 360. I don't need another one do I?


Or there is the setup you picked - The wireless D-Link N Router + Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter. That would be estimate $95 + $90 = $185. A benefit to this setup is if you happen to obtain a new laptop, PSP, DS, etc you will have a Wi-Fi setup in your house that you can use for additional components in the future.

I have a PSP, DS, and a Wii so it would be nice to be able to use the online features of those also.


Unfortunately I can't say for sure either is a guarantee that it's going to work. Wireless D-Link may have trouble getting to the 360 upstairs (in this case you would need repeaters more access points etc ...hassle + more money) and with the HomePlug's, i've never used them and it may be based on your home's actual outlet wiring. I would pick one and give it a shot...possibly make sure you can return whatever you buy if it doesn't work out and try the other.

If I got the two HomePlugs couldn't I later get a wireless router (plus another ethernet cable) for upstairs? I would have an ethernet cable coming from the HomePlug upstairs, it would be plugged into the wireless router, then I would have another ethernet cable coming from the wireless router (if it has two slots) and into the back of the 360. That way I could use the 360 online wired, and use the Wii and whatever else wirelessly.

Would that work? If it makes sense...

One last thing, I mentioned in an earlier post that when I had the 360 downstairs and used the internet at the same time, after a few days the computer would stop being able to connect, we would have to call and they would give us the instructions to fix it. Do you think this would happen using the HomePlugs?

[Nick]

With regards to your current DSL modem, I can tell you that they are usually hooked up via USB or Ehternet, not both. This is probably why you are having the connection issue after a short period of time. I can't say absolutely because modems etc change, but working at Cox...the modems we provided customers were meant for one OR the other always. Because if it is just a modem it has the ability to provide one IP address to a single device. It has no DHCP function etc.

The HomePlugs should not respond this way if you had a wired or even a wireless router hooked up to the modem. You would run:

modem to router -> router to PC and to HomePlug -> and upstairs HomePlug to 360

(Typically home routers be wired or wireless technology have a 4 Port Switch built in...so you have 4 ethernet ports on the back for wired connections)

You could try the modem USB cable to PC and Ethernet to HomePlug but I would bet your gonna run in to the same trouble.

I'm leaning towards...try the DLINK Wireless N w/ MIMO. Sounds like you would get some use out of having a wireless connection in your house.

[chicnstu]

I'm leaning towards...try the DLINK Wireless N w/ MIMO. Sounds like you would get some use out of having a wireless connection in your house.

So, this (http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DIR-655-Extreme-Wireless-Router/dp/B000LIFB7S/ref=pd_sim_e_2) thing I found has MIMO? I searched the page and didn't see it mentioned.

So I would get:

1. The thing in that link
2. 360 wireless adapter
3. Another ethernet cable?

Ethernet cable from back of modem to the back of the D-Link thing. Then ethernet cable from the back of the D-Link to the computer. Then plug 360 wireless adapter into the 360.

So it seems like I have enough ethernet cables (2). But you may see something I don't. Here is a picture of the front and back:

http://files.computertotaal.nl/2007/11/DLinkDIR_655_1024.png

[Kid Ice]

So I would get:

1. The thing in that link
2. 360 wireless adapter
3. Another ethernet cable?


You might want to pass on the official ($100) 360 wireless adapter and try to find the original Xbox wireless antenna. I used one of those for about a year and it worked fine (too bad I can't say the same for the 360 itself...)

[Nick]

Sounds like you have enough ethernet cables. The router will come with one too. But yeah, thats about it. (and yes the DIR-655 is a MIMO wireless router so that should be best for you) :)

[chicnstu]

You might want to pass on the official ($100) 360 wireless adapter and try to find the original Xbox wireless antenna. I used one of those for about a year and it worked fine (too bad I can't say the same for the 360 itself...)

That's what I plan to do, thanks :)


Sounds like you have enough ethernet cables. The router will come with one too. But yeah, thats about it. (and yes the DIR-655 is a MIMO wireless router so that should be best for you)

Thanks for all of the help. Now hopefully it won't be too long before I can pay for all of this...and hopefully it works :roll:

[Nick]

No problem. If you have problems etc. say somethin :)

[chicnstu]

I finally got everything and.....IT WORKS! Perfectly, no lag. I got the DIR-655, and a Pelican 360 adapter because I couldn't find a XBox or D-Link version for cheap. Thanks so much for the help and suggestions.

But there is a problem that's not related to this topic. My little brother bought the LE Gears of War 2. He wants to redeem the 3 codes that came with it (48 hour trial, 5 free maps, Gold gun). The 48 hour trial and maps worked but when he puts in the gun code it says "Invalid Code". He had tried to put it in yesterday while downloading the maps and a message came up saying he couldn't use the code. Any help? Figures the biggest reason he bought the LE wouldn't work.

[Nick]

Great :D I'm glad it all worked out for you.