Stupid Xbox Live question/ Home Networking

[Xevious]

I have a dumb question.

I am seriously thinking of making the jump from 56K modem to DSL for my computer.

I also am thinking of getting Xbox live too. Do I need to buy a router? If so, what brand of router do you recommend? How much do they cost?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Right now, the only 2 companies I know that are in my area is Earthlink (which I have my dial-up account) and Yahoo SBC. If you guys know of any other company to recommend in the Bay Area, I would appreciate it.

[gaelan]

I have a dumb question.

I am seriously thinking of making the jump from 56K modem to DSL for my computer.

I also am thinking of getting Xbox live too. Do I need to buy a router? If so, what brand of router do you recommend? How much do they cost?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Right now, the only 2 companies I know that are in my area is Earthlink (which I have my dial-up account) and Yahoo SBC. If you guys know of any other company to recommend in the Bay Area, I would appreciate it.

Go to www.xbox.com and look for the xbox live tag. there you should be able to verify compatibility between the above ISPs...

As far as router info and such, you can either run from the modem to the computer, then when you want to sign onto XBL you will disconnect from the computer and connect the cat5 cable to ethernet port on xbox. This is the cheapest route. Another option is to get a router...mine ran me $40 ($10 after the mail in rebate). I am able to sign in on XBL and dl porn...i mean productively utilize the information super highway on my pc. The third and most expensive option is to go wireless. Wireless router and wireless gaming adapter...your dl/ul speeds will be lower but you have no wires. some people swear by them...some people hate them...some people (me) can't afford them.

[shrike4242]

I have a dumb question.

I am seriously thinking of making the jump from 56K modem to DSL for my computer.

I also am thinking of getting Xbox live too. Do I need to buy a router? If so, what brand of router do you recommend? How much do they cost?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Right now, the only 2 companies I know that are in my area is Earthlink (which I have my dial-up account) and Yahoo SBC. If you guys know of any other company to recommend in the Bay Area, I would appreciate it.

I'm using SBC Yahoo DSL and it works without an issue, with a pre-XBL compatible router.

If you're using any type of broadband, a router is a must in my book. Makes it much easier to deal with multiple PC's/XBox's to get to the Internet. If you get a wireless router, you can put your PC and Xbox wherever you want in your house/apartment. Also makes it easier if someone comes over to your place and brings their XBox with them.

Figure out how you want do hook your PC and your XBox up, wireless or wired, figure out the pieces you need for it, and read some reviews about the product you decide on. Equipment from Netgear or Linksys should work for you.

[repetske]

Yes, a router would keep you from having to swap the ethernet cable between your PC and Xbox. Microsoft has a list of approved Routers on the Xbox live website, but I would recommend either a Linksys or a Microsoft router. They are very easy to set up and a basic one is pretty cheap.

[gaelan]

Figure out how you want do hook your PC and your XBox up, wireless or wired, figure out the pieces you need for it, and read some reviews about the product.

FYI...I have a:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=62 from CompUSA for $9.99 after MIR

works fine. I just pull out the 25' ethernet cable run it through my house to the bigscreen and plug up. Pretty soon I'm gonna fish the wire through the wall and under the house into the den. The plan is to add the xbox and Tivo onto my home network. I have two rugrats, so I have to pick up my gaming gear each night or suffer the consequences the next morning.

[gaelan]

here is another link

http://www.dlink.com/products/xbox_live_compatible.asp#compatiblechart

[gaelan]

i was checking the site above out. why would i need to dl any firmware for my router. it works fine.

[ZeroSupporT]

I would suggest a router by microsoft, thats the one i have, and when I hooked it up to the xbox it immediately rerouted it to the internet without making me change any settings.

[Xevious]

Thanks for all the info. I went to xbox.com and printed out all the information on XBL. Now I got to figure out which DSL company to go for.

[shrike4242]

I would suggest a router by microsoft, thats the one i have, and when I hooked it up to the xbox it immediately rerouted it to the internet without making me change any settings.

Microsoft products aren't being made anymore, and they're End-Of-Life.

They were only so-so at best.

[shrike4242]

i was checking the site above out. why would i need to dl any firmware for my router. it works fine.

Let's see. How about:

1) Fixes problem you might not have now, though could have later.
2) Adds new features.
3) Increases performance.
4) Makes it more stable.

Just to name a few reasons.

[shrike4242]

Figure out how you want do hook your PC and your XBox up, wireless or wired, figure out the pieces you need for it, and read some reviews about the product.

FYI...I have a:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=62 from CompUSA for $9.99 after MIR

works fine. I just pull out the 25' ethernet cable run it through my house to the bigscreen and plug up. Pretty soon I'm gonna fish the wire through the wall and under the house into the den. The plan is to add the xbox and Tivo onto my home network. I have two rugrats, so I have to pick up my gaming gear each night or suffer the consequences the next morning.

I would never buy D-Link ever again. Their tech support is a joke, they lie about what their products do, and I was teaching their tech support about their own products.

Linksys or Netgear for me.

[dafoomie]

A router is an absolute must, not only for multiple computers/devices on the internet, but for your own security. A hardware firewall like a router offers a great deal of protection.

The Dlink DI-604 mentioned above is a great router, $10-$20 is what it usually goes for. I don't know about their support, but its a very good product. Its the best cheapass router on the market. And its quite small, and not ugly.

[JSweeney]

As far as router info and such, you can either run from the modem to the computer, then when you want to sign onto XBL you will disconnect from the computer and connect the cat5 cable to ethernet port on xbox. This is the cheapest route. Another option is to get a router...mine ran me $40 ($10 after the mail in rebate). I am able to sign in on XBL and dl porn...i mean productively utilize the information super highway on my pc. The third and most expensive option is to go wireless. Wireless router and wireless gaming adapter...your dl/ul speeds will be lower but you have no wires. some people swear by them...some people hate them...some people (me) can't afford them.

Watch for sales. Got my Wireless router (with an extra notebook card) for 50, another wireless card for 20, and 30 for the Xbox Adapter.

All of it 802.11G.

[Murcielago77]

Im in the bay area and Comcast is a great choice. Also i suggest a linksys router. Also this is the best deal i have ever seen for comcast cable internet

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/internet?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

20 bucks for the first 6 months, and you get a 100 mail in rebate

[h2dk]

Im in the bay area and Comcast is a great choice. Also i suggest a linksys router. Also this is the best deal i have ever seen for comcast cable internet

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/internet?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

20 bucks for the first 6 months, and you get a 100 mail in rebate

Check out this thread at fatwallet (http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=18&threadid=212660&highlight _key=y&keyword1=comcast)
Just read the first few posts, here is the jest of it:

(best if you already have comcast cable tv service)
Sign up it best buy instore, buy modem get free after rebate, plus $60 back after rebate for signing up
sign up online at dell as above $100 MIR
sign up at staples.com $130 MIR
etc, etc

After you have signed up with all of them, call comcast and have them activce your high speed internet. Send in best buy modem rebate, wait until after you get your first cable bill that shows high speed internet, send in the rest of the rebates. You WILL get them all :D and the $20/ mo for 6 mos.

After 6 mos, cancel, get dsl in the interum, wait 60 days, cancel DSL and repeat above cycle....

[Mistik]

I was also thinking of hooking up Live. But since my Xbox is only a few feet away from my modem, I don't really need to go wireless...yet. So I was thikning, can I just buy an Ethernet switch? What exactly is the difference between a switch and a router anyway? If I hook up my computer and Xbox through a switch, they'll still work, right? Thanks for any advice you can give. (I was also thinking of picking up a wireless router and using the switch that's on there. Any different?)

[gaelan]

Im in the bay area and Comcast is a great choice. Also i suggest a linksys router. Also this is the best deal i have ever seen for comcast cable internet

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/internet?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

20 bucks for the first 6 months, and you get a 100 mail in rebate

i got the 1st 6 months for $20 and a $60 rebate, plus a $80 rebate on a linksys cable modem which made it free for signing up through BB. Basically it gives me a free modem and 6 months free broadband service.

[gaelan]

I was also thinking of hooking up Live. But since my Xbox is only a few feet away from my modem, I don't really need to go wireless...yet. So I was thikning, can I just buy an Ethernet switch? What exactly is the difference between a switch and a router anyway? If I hook up my computer and Xbox through a switch, they'll still work, right? Thanks for any advice you can give. (I was also thinking of picking up a wireless router and using the switch that's on there. Any different?)

http://www.makeitsimple.com/sections.php?op=printpage&artid=12

[Mistik]

I was also thinking of hooking up Live. But since my Xbox is only a few feet away from my modem, I don't really need to go wireless...yet. So I was thikning, can I just buy an Ethernet switch? What exactly is the difference between a switch and a router anyway? If I hook up my computer and Xbox through a switch, they'll still work, right? Thanks for any advice you can give. (I was also thinking of picking up a wireless router and using the switch that's on there. Any different?)

http://www.makeitsimple.com/sections.php?op=printpage&artid=12

Umm, thanks. I'm probably just retarded but that article was somewhat confusing. So I do need a router then?

[gaelan]

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworkhardware/f/routervsswitch.htm

You need a router.

[Mistik]

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworkhardware/f/routervsswitch.htm

You need a router.

Thanks. I actually understood that one. My self-esteem is through the roof. :P I'll probably pick up a Linksys Wireless Router, heard good things.