Wireless Consoles -- you have GOT to be KIDDING me!

[SoulBlazer]

So last week when I moved into my new place I asked if it was possible to go online with the XBox and a wireless router.

While at Best Buy today looking at TV's I also checked out if they had a device that would allow that.

I found two.

Microsoft makes a adaptor themselves for the XBox. It uses the new faster G 2.4 Ghz format and just simply plugs into one of the controler ports of the XBox. Picks up the signal from a wireless router and allows you to play online with no cords.

Then I also found that Linksys -- who made both my modem and new wireless router -- make a device themselves. It works for both the PS2 and XBox, and also allows both systems to play online through a wireless router. It uses the older B format but should still be perfectly good.

The thing that gave me a heart attack was the PRICES on these suckers!

$70 for the Linksys wireless adapater!

$100 for the Microsoft one!

You have GOT to be freakin JOKING! :angry:

I could see paying $40, maybe even $50 for this, but what the hell did these put in these things -- GOLD?

I got my Linksys wireless-G router for only $50, for the love of God!

I think I'll just run the 100 feet of cable needed from my router to my XBox next time I want t go online with it. x_x

[mikeetler]

That's why I ran Cat-5e cable through my basement. $70 for a bridge adaptor for online PS2 Amplitude didn't seem worth it.

-Mike

[buttasuperb]

I paid $100 for the xbox adapter. It was worth it.

[petewhitley]

Microsoft makes a adaptor themselves for the XBox. It uses the new faster G 2.4 Ghz format and just simply plugs into one of the controler ports of the XBox. Picks up the signal from a wireless router and allows you to play online with no cords

That thing sounds pretty damn cool, even for $100 ...

[DasCrewShtool]

cat 5 all the way.

[whoisKeel]

does that mean you DON'T have to buy the wireless 'card' for the ps2/xbox?

wireless cards for pc's (and laptops) can be pretty expensive (like $50) unless you can catch a rebate deal.

if it's all inclusive, then that's about the same price for a laptop card + wireless router from linksys.

[Iron Draggon]

smaller installed user base on the consoles = higher cost for the consumers

But with the Linksys, I believe you're still buying the same router either way. The only difference is the software, as far as I know. So if you own both, I'd try it both ways and see. Run your console with the PC router and run your PC with the console router. If that works, you should be able to connect everything to just one router and use the other router for something else.

[Cantaloup]

While it may be expensive compared to the router costs, the Linksys wireless bridge used to be about $130 a year ago. I think the $70 Linksys sounds like the better option since it is both cheaper and should work with anything with an Ethernet port. So it could work with PCs, PVRs, other consoles, etc.; it's like having an extra Internet connection wherever you need it in the house. The Xbox solution sounds like it will only work with the Xbox from what you have said.

Routers are probably cheaper because they sell more units and there is more competition for that type of product. It seems likely prices will continue to come down. Maybe this holiday season you can find a good deal.

[fahrvergnugen]

The router & the bridge are the same product internally, just re-branded. There's a LOT of information about wireless bridging and wireless hacking out there, and it really does just work. I think I've mentioned before that you can just get a cheap wap11 off of eBay and use that for your bridge.

ProTip: No game console is going to need more than 11Mbit of bandwidth.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm...single-antenna versions of the D-Link 620dwl (I believe? been a little while since I checked the version) has support for XBLive, but I don't think that takes care of the need for a wireless card to hook up with the XBox ;)

[buttasuperb]

Microsoft makes a adaptor themselves for the XBox. It uses the new faster G 2.4 Ghz format and just simply plugs into one of the controler ports of the XBox. Picks up the signal from a wireless router and allows you to play online with no cords.

I have heard nothing about this.

Mine connects by ethernet, and is 54mbps, which as already mentioned, is overkill.

[SoulBlazer]

Amazon sells some of the used Microsoft ones for $65. If it drops low enough, I'll pick one up. Otherwise I still think it's highway robbery. :hmm:

No plans to go online with the PS2 and don't need a router for anything else.

[Cantaloup]

Amazon sells some of the used Microsoft ones for $65. If it drops low enough, I'll pick one up. Otherwise I still think it's highway robbery.

This thread may be of interest to you:

http://cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30005

[SoulBlazer]

Um, I had to make a account there first and then when that was done there's no thread. Says it does'nt exist. :hmm:

Can you just tell me what it says? Is someone having a sale or selling the Microsoft adapter cheap?

[buttasuperb]

Says $39.99 for the Microsoft adapter at Target.

And where did you see that the adapter plugs in to the controller port?

[SoulBlazer]

The person at Best Buy told me when I asked about it. :)

Where does it actually hook up to?

[ddockery]

I'm going to take wild guess that it plugs into the ethernet port.

[chadtower]

Cat5, 5e... pfft, I wired my house with cat6.

LOL

[CitizenWhite]

Go with the linksys. Fastest that an 802.11b signal can transfer data is 11 Mbs. Fastest that an 802.11g signal can transmit is 54. Only thing is, unless you have some kind of monster direct connection to the net, you aren't even going to get nearly enough speed to warrant the G connection. I have Charter cable internet, with the fastest speed of 3 Mbs. I play on XBL all the time and never have a problem.

Linksys router, linksys reciever.

[suppafly]

cat 5 here....i dont give more money to MS

[Jasoco]

For one thing, I don't play enough online games to need to spend $100. At least until Halo 2 and DOOM 3 come out. And second.. my Xbox is right next to my router, so..