360 on a wireless LAN

[theboyfold]

So I've gone for a 360 Se my 360 or PS3 thread and I'm now thinking about hooking it up to my wirless LAN at home. I'm fairly OK with networks and fun stuff like that, but can I use a wireless access point to access the LAN or do I have to use Microsoft's own wirless adaptor.

I've had a look on the Xbox site, but keep finding nothing but links for the wireless adaptor which runs at about £60, I'd much rather buy a cheaper access point from eBay if poss.

Is there anything specific I need to look out for with the access point, or will a 'G' rated one be good enough?

Ta very muchly

[steve_evil]

You need the official Microsoft one i'm afraid.

[theboyfold]

steve_evil said:

You need the official Microsoft one i'm afraid.

Noooooooooo! What about if I were to move the Wireless ADSL Router next to the Xbox and use a Cat 5 cable to conect that way and put a wireless card in the PC?

[steve_evil]

That would probably work yeah, guess it depends on how far your phone socket is from the 360..

[jamieboy]

I still (sometimes) use my old Linksys WGA11B, works fine with my Belkin wirelss router.

You have to set up the 360 as if it was on a wired network, because it's cabled to the WGA11B, other than that no issues at all.

[theboyfold]

steve_evil said:

That would probably work yeah, guess it depends on how far your phone socket is from the 360..

I'll put the router by the phone socket and run the Cat5 to the Xbox. I'll have play with this tonight.

[Sssline]

Another option, if you need to go wireless, would be an ethernet bridge (wireless adaptor to ethernet port on 360)

[theboyfold]

Sssline said:

Another option, if you need to go wireless, would be an ethernet bridge (wireless adaptor to ethernet port on 360)

Isn't an ethernet bridge the same as an access point? Or am I getting my terms confused? I wanted to plug a cat 5 cable from the 360 in what I thought was an access point, which would then connect to the wireless router upstairs. Or am I mistaken?!

[jamieboy]

theboyfold said:

I wanted to plug a cat 5 cable from the 360 in what I thought was an access point, which would then connect to the wireless router upstairs.

That's technically a bridge. The WGA11B works perfectly as a bridge in exactly the circumstances you describe.

[theboyfold]

jamieboy said:

theboyfold said: I wanted to plug a cat 5 cable from the 360 in what I thought was an access point, which would then connect to the wireless router upstairs. That's technically a bridge. The WGA11B works perfectly as a bridge in exactly the circumstances you describe.

Why so? Is there a factor that makes it work like that?

[catretriever]

theboyfold said:

steve_evil said: That would probably work yeah, guess it depends on how far your phone socket is from the 360.. I'll put the router by the phone socket and run the Cat5 to the Xbox. I'll have play with this tonight.

That's essentially the same as my set-up. Works perfectly.

[jamieboy]

theboyfold said:

Why so? Is there a factor that makes it work like that?

Google would give you a better answer, but roughly speaking a Wireless Access Point lets wireless devices connect to your network, and a Wireless Bridge lets you connect two networks together wirelessly.

[theboyfold]

jamieboy said:

Google would give you a better answer, but roughly speaking a Wireless Access Point lets wireless devices connect to your network, and a Wireless Bridge lets you connect two networks together wirelessly.

I think I understand, the bridge does something along the lines of making sure the IP addresses don't clash, I seem to remember having to do something like this at work once upon a time with our vans. Each network has the same set of IP addresses and the bridge sits in the middle and allows them to talk without any conflicts.

[WannaNiceCar]

Sssline said:

Another option, if you need to go wireless, would be an ethernet bridge (wireless adaptor to ethernet port on 360)

"Wot e sed" - Just connected my 360 up last night using a spare ethernet to wireless converter, works like a charm!