Getting Screwed (Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter)

Member Name: Donf18

Product:	Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter
Date:	22/02/08 (2279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does a great Job

Disadvantages: Cost

The gaming world is booming and everyone want's a part of the action which connection to the internet can provide. There are of course several ways for one to connect to the internet, PC, Mobile phone, Pocket PDA or a games console such as the Xbox 360.

With a PC the situation is quite simple get an ISP ( Internet Service Provider ) and pay a monthly premium for the use of there server connection to the net. You PC will need a modem and a line to the Server. This is done via your telephone line or a special connector supplied by your ISP. Once you have established a net connection a wireless connection to other devices is a piece of cake. Using a wireless router to can set up many devices to use the internet connection provided via your PC.

All devices that is except your precious Xbox well that's not strictly true you can connect your Xbox very easily but you are going to have to pay an additional premium. Most peripheral devices connect to the router using a fairly cheap ( £20 ) and easily affordable WiFi dongle, but thanks to Microsoft and Mr Gates unless you are extremely knowledgeable about WiFi and the Xbox you will require a Microsoft specific WiFi dongle such as is described in this products listing. This dongle is going to cost you in the region of £55 so Bill has just screwed you out of £35 smackeroonies.

That aside this Microsoft official product is simplicity in motion when it does come to connecting your Xbox to the net. The small white oblong unit has a short USB lead connected to one end of it, and an antenna at the other. Raise the antenna and plug in the USB connecter to the rear left of your Xbox. The unit is going to allow you to do things like play streaming video from websites. More importantly for gamers you will now be able to join the many gaming communities and participate in live tournaments, thus testing you skill against real opponents rather than AI ones.

A simple set up process to get the device talking to the router is now required. This can be easily done by accessing Wireless Networking through the control panel of your PC, this will find the dongle and initiate a connection. This is a one of process. Once this has been accomplished you can use the PC's internet connection to connect the Xbox to the Xbox live site and play whatever you desire.

The speed of the transfer is pretty good and you should not find that there is to much lag between doing something and it being completed. The maximum distance of the wireless connection is hard to put a figure on since surrounding criteria can cause significant reduction is performance, 3o meters is probably about tops though in normal surroundings.

The unit is dual band and there really shouldn't be many problems with any other wireless devices. If you have a laptop however then you can make the Xbox internet live without the purchase of this device. You can use a cheaper dongle to connect your Laptop to the net as previously described. Place your laptop near your Xbox and use a normal hard wired internet cable to link the Laptop to the rear Ethernet connection on the Xbox, thus this time you are screwing Bill Gates instead of him perpetually shafting you.

To be fair this is a great device which does a superb job, but the job can be done cheaper if just a little more hassle. I'd still have to recommend this product for the simple fact without the hassle there is no real alternative.

Summary: A great device pity there is no alternative though at this price.

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