Wii Question

[Mathius]

I am finally thinking about getting a Wii because the Virtual Console is getting too good to pass up. Problem is I have troubles getting a wireless router to work right in my home, so my question is does the Wii have an ethernet cable port? Thanks!

[jb143]

No built in port but they have an external wired ethernet device that plugs into the USB port(I believe).

[Mathius]

No built in port but they have an external wired ethernet device that plugs into the USB port(I believe).

I hope your right. Time to do some research on that, or maybe somebody on here will clue us in.

[jb143]

It's called a Wii Lan Adaptor (http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=62707&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference).

It might be better to diagnose the problems your having with wireless though.

[Mathius]

It's called a Wii Lan Adaptor (http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=62707&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference).

It might be better to diagnose the problems your having with wireless though.

I did, and the diagnosis was that I need a static IP address as opposed to dynamic. Which makes no sense at all. Thanks for the Wii LAN adapter info though.:)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The Wii has a pretty flaky Wi-Fi card in it, so you're better off with a hard-wired ethernet setup anyway.

[Leo_A]

I've had no issues with the Wii LAN adapter. In fact, I tend to believe what Frankie_Says_Relax says about the Wii's WiFi capabilities.

When friends and forum users at places like AVS report problems with things like Mario Kart Wii or download times and browser performance over wireless, mine hasn't seem to had any difficulties. I remember a bunch of AVS users being shocked when I told them sites loaded in 1-2 seconds on the Wii browser, they were shocked. And when Mario Kart Wii was new, I was hearing a lot of WiFi users complaining of things like getting dropped by the server and other performance issues when I was on at the same times without any problems.

I'd go that route even if your wireless router worked well.

[Mathius]

I've had no issues with the Wii LAN adapter. In fact, I tend to believe what Frankie_Says_Relax says about the Wii's WiFi capabilities.

When friends and forum users at places like AVS report problems with things like Mario Kart Wii or download times and browser performance over wireless, mine hasn't seem to had any difficulties. I remember a bunch of AVS users being shocked when I told them sites loaded in 1-2 seconds on the Wii browser, they were shocked. And when Mario Kart Wii was new, I was hearing a lot of WiFi users complaining of things like getting dropped by the server and other performance issues when I was on at the same times without any problems.

I'd go that route even if your wireless router worked well.

Sweet! Kind of a blessing in disguise. Thanks all!

[jb143]

The Wii has a pretty flaky Wi-Fi card in it, so you're better off with a hard-wired ethernet setup anyway.

I've never had any problems. but I don't do a lot of online gaming with mine. I'm just curious why they don't sell the adapter in stores. I was looking for one before getting a wireless router and it looks like their only available online.

[Leo_A]

They sell them in stores, I bought mine in a GameStop when the Wii was a year old when I bought one.

Using the store availability search shows nothing has changed and they're still widely available at GameStop retail locations (Though out of stock for online ordering).

[TurboGenesis]

This is the USB devise being spoken of.

http://www.myds.com.au/img/accessory/Wi-Fi-USB-Connector-2.jpg

For reference, I have my Wii on my wireless network and have never had issue with it. Same goes with my 360. My PS3 however always drops connection and if I have my 360 and Wii on, the PS3 will knock both of them out when I turn it on. My PS3 is a launch 60gb model if that means anything.

I use my Wii to enjoy youtube on my television and it works good for it.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

This is the USB devise being spoken of.

http://www.myds.com.au/img/accessory/Wi-Fi-USB-Connector-2.jpg

For reference, I have my Wii on my wireless network and have never had issue with it. Same goes with my 360. My PS3 however always drops connection and if I have my 360 and Wii on, the PS3 will knock both of them out when I turn it on. My PS3 is a launch 60gb model if that means anything.

I use my Wii to enjoy youtube on my television and it works good for it.

No no no no no no no.

http://img.game.co.uk/ml/3/3/7/1/337172ps_500h.jpg

Hard wired, as in, plug an actual ethernet cord into your Wii to allow for a more stable and faster (where applicable) connection to the internets.

This is the device we're talking about.

The Wii totally supports it under the setup menu once it's plugged in and it works like a charm.

Not sure why Nintendo doesn't make a 1st party version considering the hardware/software supports it.

[TurboGenesis]

No no no no no no no.

http://img.game.co.uk/ml/3/3/7/1/337172ps_500h.jpg

Hard wired, as in, plug an actual ethernet cord into your Wii to allow for a more stable and faster (where applicable) connection to the internets.

This is the device we're talking about.

The Wii totally supports it under the setup menu once it's plugged in and it works like a charm.

Not sure why Nintendo doesn't make a 1st party version considering the hardware/software supports it.

I am sorry, my mistake… :embarrassed:

I was not aware of that device. It is odd that Nintendo would not offer a first party device…

[BetaWolf47]

Umm, Nintendo DOES make a first-party device. (http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=62707&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference)

[Enigmus]

Umm, Nintendo DOES make a first-party device. (http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=62707&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference)

I went there, and I'm suprised to see they still make NES manuals to sell. Might need to buy one for my copy of Mario 3. :|

[SAV2880]

Nyko also makes a LAN Adapter for the Wii, got mine cheap awhile back from Amazon. It does do what it says, and if you're worried about the wired side for whatever reason, it's not a bad route to go.

Update: Just saw more 3rd Party ones on eBay ... must use a fairly standard chipset.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Umm, Nintendo DOES make a first-party device. (http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=117712&currency=USD&catalogId=10001&tranId=0&lastAction=setCurr&storeId=10001&languageId=-1&categoryId=62707&ddkey=http:SetCurrencyPreference)

Wow!!

... this must be a relatively new item from Nintendo.

looks identical to the Datel version.

Also looks like it's an online-only item (much like the Gamecube Component Cables back in the day) as I've only ever seen the 3rd party units in stores.

[Mathius]

$25? Not too shabby. Now all I got to do is get a Wii. Probably the only game I'll get is Super Mario Galaxy. The rest will all be VC.

[Baloo]

What's the difference between the LAN Adapter and the Wi-Fi USB Adapter? I use the Wi-Fi USB Adapter myself.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

What's the difference between the LAN Adapter and the Wi-Fi USB Adapter? I use the Wi-Fi USB Adapter myself.

The USB LAN adapter plugs into one of the 2 USB ports on the back of the Wii and allows you to plug an ethernet cord directly into the unit and connect to the internet the same way you would on an XBOX360 or Playstation 3 (both come with an ethernet port standard).

The Nintendo Wi-Fi adapter plugs into your computer and broadcasts an internet signal (similar to a Wi-Fi router) to your compatible Nintendo devices with a relatively easy (or so they say) setup.

[Neil Koch]

Wow!!

... this must be a relatively new item from Nintendo.



It's been out for quite a while - I want to actually say since launch but don't quote me on that. But it's never been sold in stores, just via Nintendo's site.

I've never had a problem with my Wii hooking via wireless, though I barely play online with it, and I'm sure the VC downloads aren't exactly taxing my connection.

Like TurboGenesis, I use mine to watch YouTube videos and it works really well. Though I think they need to update the browser, since a lot of other flash video sites don't work.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Yeah, I hear varying reports on the Wii's Wi-Fi card.

A lot of people have no problems with it, but I also hear just about as many who claim that it's not great at holding onto the signal 24-7 for Wii Connect 24 and that it needs to be "reset" more often than not.

Maybe it's just not as good at picking up Wi-Fi through walls/floors etc., mine is un-hindered and about 8 feet away from my router and i find that I have much better connection speeds in games like Mario Kart and Smash Bros with the hard wired signal and faster DL times for larger Wii Ware and VC titles.

So, take my indication that Wii has a flaky connection with a grain of salt.

IMO a hard-wired connection is always a better option if it can be had for any system.


It's been out for quite a while - I want to actually say since launch but don't quote me on that. But it's never been sold in stores, just via Nintendo's site.

I've never had a problem with my Wii hooking via wireless, though I barely play online with it, and I'm sure the VC downloads aren't exactly taxing my connection.

Like TurboGenesis, I use mine to watch YouTube videos and it works really well. Though I think they need to update the browser, since a lot of other flash video sites don't work.

[Neil Koch]

I also hear just about as many who claim that it's not great at holding onto the signal 24-7 for Wii Connect 24 and that it needs to be "reset" more often than not.

I've turned the WiiConnect off ever since I noticed how warm it was making the system, even when it was off. It's not like I need the news/weather channels constantly updated anyway.

[j_factor]

http://www.myds.com.au/img/accessory/Wi-Fi-USB-Connector-2.jpg

I had one of these, and I couldn't get it to work at all. It's really frustrating because the software that comes with it has basically nothing in the way of settings/parameters to adjust. Either it just works, or it just doesn't.

For what it's worth, I bought the LAN adapter, but I no longer use it. The wireless connection has never given me any problems (although I don't really use it all that much). I don't have a real wireless router though; I just have a gateway modem. Maybe those work better or something. It might help that the Wii is literally two feet away from the modem.

[BetaWolf47]

Wow!!

... this must be a relatively new item from Nintendo.

looks identical to the Datel version.

Also looks like it's an online-only item (much like the Gamecube Component Cables back in the day) as I've only ever seen the 3rd party units in stores.

It's been out since mid-2007. I got mine when they first came out. And they don't look anything like the Datel one O_O

http://store.nintendo.com/wcsstore/NOASTORE/noaimages/NC62612.gif
http://img.game.co.uk/ml/3/3/7/1/337172ps_500h.jpg

[jb143]

But it's never been sold in stores, just via Nintendo's site.

This is what I was refering to when I said it was only available online. GameStop didn't have anything when I was looking a few months ago and I wasn't aware of non-first party versions, though I wouldn't be surprized if any USB ethernet adaptor would work.

[BetaWolf47]

This is what I was refering to when I said it was only available online. GameStop didn't have anything when I was looking a few months ago and I wasn't aware of non-first party versions, though I wouldn't be surprized if any USB ethernet adaptor would work.

They don't, it's been tested. Some do. It requires a specific chipset. I remember people saying that one of the dirt cheap models from Newegg works.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

They don't, it's been tested. Some do. It requires a specific chipset. I remember people saying that one of the dirt cheap models from Newegg works.

That one's VERY hard to find.

I got a non Nyko/Datel compatible USB unit on eBay the first month that the Wii was out, along with a set of 3rd party component cables (also not available in stores at the time).

[BetaWolf47]

Before I knew about compatibility, I ordered the Nintendo one. I must've been one of the early adopters of the thing. Wonder if it'll be worth anything, since it was online-only?