360: Wireless Adapter Woes

Hillean

I'm wanting to get my 360 online, but my only current option is running it through my wireless network.

Is there any alternative to paying $100 for the Microsoft 360 Wireless Adapter?

I've seen a few places that have the original Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter, and supposedly it works, but I've had a hard time finding them outside eBay, and even then the prices + shipping usually equal out to a used 360 adapter.

Are there any cheaper alternatives, other than running a huge-ass cable through my entire house, to spending more than $50 on a wireless adapter?

animale

Get an old Linksys WRT54G and flash it with DD WRT.

BubbaT

If you have a Fry's nearby, they put the Airlink AR430w on sale all the time (2-3 times a month) for ~$20.

Or try Buffalo WHR-G125.

Both can be DD-WRT'd.

Berrex

I'm in the same position and would like a solution as well. The above two posts - aren't those just wireless routers? I'm not sure what DD WRT is supposed to do. I already have a wireless router. I just need a way to connect my 360 to my wireless network since ethernet cables won't be an option.

Goose

With DD-WRT, you can turn a router into a wireless->ethernet bridge (which is exactly what the MS Wireless Adapter does), for a significant amount less than shelling out for the "official" product.

Berrex

Oh, very cool. Thanks. If I flash my Netgear router with it though, is there any way I'll be able to restore its functionality later on as a standard router?

Edit: nevermind, it looks like a router flashed with DD-WRT is still a standard router.

http://www.mot.is-a-geek.com/web/walkthrough/wireless.htm

Looks pretty neat actually.

maximumzero

This seems like alot of effort, but my current method of running a long ethernet cord to my iMac for internet sharing is a pain, and messy. (Not to mention the clips on the end of the cable are essentially worn out.)

I'll have to look into this--but still, having to pay $50 for a router is more than I'd like to pay. Guess I'll have to suck it up.

Hillean

Awesome, I'll check into some of the suggestions here... thanks for the fast input!

smokmnky

maximumzero wrote: »

This seems like alot of effort, but my current method of running a long ethernet cord to my iMac for internet sharing is a pain, and messy. (Not to mention the clips on the end of the cable are essentially worn out.)

I'll have to look into this--but still, having to pay $50 for a router is more than I'd like to pay. Guess I'll have to suck it up.

Not trying to be mean but show me where you can get a wireless bridge for cheaper and I'll buy like 20. I mean other than being able to use a USB dongle (doesn't work for 360) or installing a PCI card into a computer(still around $30 and again won't work for a 360) this is by far the cheapest and you can use it for multiple devices if you so desire. I agree the MS adapter is way overprices and probably the biggest thing I hate about my 360.

bloodatonement

I use the WRT54GS with DD WRT to get my 360 online. It works great, but was a bitch to set up. It took me probably 5 hours total of messing with router settings and everything before it we up and running (because of my noobishness). Totally worth the hassle, though. On top of having Live access, now I can steam music and video from my PC to my 360.

If you look on ebay you can sometimes find WRT54s withe DDWRT already installed

maximumzero

smokmnky wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

This seems like alot of effort, but my current method of running a long ethernet cord to my iMac for internet sharing is a pain, and messy. (Not to mention the clips on the end of the cable are essentially worn out.)

I'll have to look into this--but still, having to pay $50 for a router is more than I'd like to pay. Guess I'll have to suck it up.

Not trying to be mean but show me where you can get a wireless bridge for cheaper and I'll be like 20. I mean other than being able to use a USB dongle (doesn't work for 360) or installing a PCI card into a computer(still around $30 and again won't work for a 360) this is by far the cheapest and you can use it for multiple devices if you so desire. I agree the MS adapter is way overprices and probably the biggest thing I hate about my 360.

But the thing is that every other device I use already has Wireless built-in. DS, PSP, Wii, Mac, iPod.

The 360 is lone piece of electronics that was meant for internet access that doesn't have wireless built in.

If you can show me a wireless bridge for $20 I'll likely buy it on the spot.

corcorigan

maximumzero wrote: »

smokmnky wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

This seems like alot of effort, but my current method of running a long ethernet cord to my iMac for internet sharing is a pain, and messy. (Not to mention the clips on the end of the cable are essentially worn out.)

I'll have to look into this--but still, having to pay $50 for a router is more than I'd like to pay. Guess I'll have to suck it up.

Not trying to be mean but show me where you can get a wireless bridge for cheaper and I'll be like 20. I mean other than being able to use a USB dongle (doesn't work for 360) or installing a PCI card into a computer(still around $30 and again won't work for a 360) this is by far the cheapest and you can use it for multiple devices if you so desire. I agree the MS adapter is way overprices and probably the biggest thing I hate about my 360.

But the thing is that every other device I use already has Wireless built-in. DS, PSP, Wii, Mac, iPod.

The 360 is lone piece of electronics that was meant for internet access that doesn't have wireless built in.

If you can show me a wireless bridge for $20 I'll likely buy it on the spot.

It's really annoying. Especially as the Wii only has wifi because it's cheaper... o_O

smokmnky

maximumzero wrote: »

smokmnky wrote: »

maximumzero wrote: »

This seems like alot of effort, but my current method of running a long ethernet cord to my iMac for internet sharing is a pain, and messy. (Not to mention the clips on the end of the cable are essentially worn out.)

I'll have to look into this--but still, having to pay $50 for a router is more than I'd like to pay. Guess I'll have to suck it up.

Not trying to be mean but show me where you can get a wireless bridge for cheaper and I'll be like 20. I mean other than being able to use a USB dongle (doesn't work for 360) or installing a PCI card into a computer(still around $30 and again won't work for a 360) this is by far the cheapest and you can use it for multiple devices if you so desire. I agree the MS adapter is way overprices and probably the biggest thing I hate about my 360.

But the thing is that every other device I use already has Wireless built-in. DS, PSP, Wii, Mac, iPod.

The 360 is lone piece of electronics that was meant for internet access that doesn't have wireless built in.

If you can show me a wireless bridge for $20 I'll likely buy it on the spot.

What I was getting at is you aren't going to find one for $20 and if you do make sure to let me know cause I will buy quite a few.

(just reread my post and the "be" was suppose to be "buy")

AlejandroDaJ

I came by a few extra bucks and was interested in taking this route. I already have an oldskool WRT54G at home as our primary wireless router so another WRT54G for the 360 couldn't hurt.

Some questions, though.

On the advice of some forumers here, I already wasted $50 on the Logitech PlayLink wireless bridge via eBay. It was small and easy to set up, but people neglected to tell me that it was a bandwidth strangler at 1.0Mbps. 360 online multiplayer worked perfectly but downloading anything bigger than a few megabytes would take hours and streaming video from my PC usually would sit in Buffering Hell.

I'm assuming that all my problems would be solved with two 54 MBps chatting with the 360, right? Or does the ad hoc bridging cause issues? My number one goal is to increase download and streaming speeds.

Also, I used to be a hardware/software tech at a local computer repair shop. I assume I'm competent enough to DD-WRT flash, yes?

Thanks

Burtletoy

Now I feel all bad about recommending you the playlink.

zanetheinsane

smokmnky wrote: »

Not trying to be mean but show me where you can get a wireless bridge for cheaper and I'll buy like 20.

Just two weeks ago buy.com was selling the Belkin Wireless Gaming Adapter for $20 with free shipping. They had WEP/WPA/WPA2, came with cords for both USB power or AC adapter, and were 802.11g (not b!).

I bought two of them for both of the 360s in the apartment and they have worked beautifully.

Although the deal is dead, here was the SlickDeals thread, just to show you I'm not lying: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=1028953

You just have to keep your eyes peeled for these sorts of things.

McCly

EBAY

optimusprime.jpg

AlejandroDaJ

Burtletoy wrote: »

Now I feel all bad about recommending you the playlink.

Man, you shouldn't of said anything. I'm too lazy to go back through old posts and see who recommended what to me.

While looking for a router at Best Buy I was shocked, shocked to see that Pelican had actually released a standalone wireless bridge specifically for the 360. At $70 it's $30 cheaper than MS's own adapter. So I sprang for that, configured it off my PC, and then set it to work. Works like a charm.

Burtletoy

AlejandroDaJ wrote: »

Burtletoy wrote: »

Now I feel all bad about recommending you the playlink.

Man, you shouldn't of said anything. I'm too lazy to go back through old posts and see who recommended what to me.

While looking for a router at Best Buy I was shocked, shocked to see that Pelican had actually released a standalone wireless bridge specifically for the 360. At $70 it's $30 cheaper than MS's own adapter. So I sprang for that, configured it off my PC, and then set it to work. Works like a charm.

I just assumed it was me since I've recommended it like 5 times.

Guess I'll stop now since even I don't use mine anymore.

zanetheinsane

Since it seemed like an appropriate thread, I figured I'd bring this back for one last round, anyone still looking for a wireless adapter for their 360 (or anything really), buy.com just had these go back on sale:

EDIT: Well that went quick, maybe someone found an extra box they missed last time. Oh well, dead.