Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter Alternatives

If you are looking to connect your Xbox 360 to a wireless network you do have options and you’re not stuck having to purchase an official Xbox 360 Wireless Network adapter. While I always recommend connecting any gaming console up to a wired network because it is faster, more secure, and more reliable I do realize there are situations where using a wireless network makes sense.

Some instances come to my mind such as a console being too far away from the switch (Ethernet cabling should not exceed 328 feet/100 meters), area is to costly or too hard to get to with cable, or the house owners will not let you drill holes into the walls and ceilings. Any way you look at it Wireless does have its place and you are here to learn something so I will move on.

Foremost I want to say that if you own one of the Xbox 360 Slims, they come with a built in wireless card so you do not need do to anything else unless the card is damaged or not working in some way. There are several ways you can connect to a wireless network so you basically just need to find a method that works for you and go with it, each having benefits and drawbacks.

Windows Bridge

A Windows Bridge offers a solution that uses more common hardware so this may be a very cheap or even free solution for you. The major drawback is that it requires the most setup and largest amount of hardware.

The popular way to use a Windows Bridge is to use a laptop. You need to have a computer (laptop or desktop) that has both a wired and wireless connection. Laptops are the popular choice in doing this because of their size, it does not take much processing power to do this, and the simple fact that most laptops have a built in wired and wireless card.

You will need to set up a networking bridge between your wireless card and wired card. I have created a very good Interactive Bridging Guide on how to set up networking bridges that is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Once you have set up the networking bridge you can then use your computer as a wireless adapter for your Xbox 360. Just make sure the Xbox 360 has an Automatic IP (DHCP/dynamic IP address) and you can start gaming online over your wireless. The great news is this will not mess with your computer's internet connection, so you can get internet like normal on your computer, even if not using the Xbox 360 and does not require re-configuration when you plug your Xbox 360 back up to it.

Wireless Bridge

A Wireless Bridge, also called Gaming bridges or networking bridges work the same way as the above method but they do not require a computer. A Wireless Bridge is a device that has a wired port and a wireless antenna. All you do is connect your Xbox 360 to this bridge with an Ethernet cable and you are set (if your wireless network is secure you will need to set that up).

Gaming Bridges can be found in many places including Amazon. They can be quite expensive however keep in mind after you purchase a Gaming Bridge you can use it on any system (Blu-ray players, TVs, etc.). Networking or Wireless bridges are generally a little cheaper and I was able to pick one up for less than 20 bucks on sale at NewEgg for my Blu-Ray player and Xbox 360 setup upstairs.

You also can use an old wireless router you have laying around (read: free solution) but you will have to use a firmware package that updates your router to gain the ability to enable itself as a client bridge.

USB

This is the easiest and quickest solution. However it requires purchasing first or third-party Wireless Network adapter for the Xbox 360. Prices are dropping on both the first-party and third-party devices but they still are proprietary, meaning they can only be used on the Xbox 360. You can find them all over and I have seen new adapters on sale for as low as 29.99.

You cannot use just any USB wireless adapter you want, only those labeled for use with the Xbox 360, because all wireless adapters require drivers. The Xbox 360 does not allow you to install drivers so you can't use typical USB wireless adapters you use on the computer. There are a few wireless adapters labeled as "driver free" or "driverless" but it is a fact, it still needs to install a driver for it to work. Those particular devices have the drivers stored inside the device and when you insert the device it will extract the driver and install it (something you still can't do on the Xbox 360).

In Closing

I have listed three options with different potential benefits which depend on what you want from the setup. I implemented a wireless network bridge because I wanted something that would allow my upstairs Blu-ray player and Xbox 360 to work on the same hardware solution without using one of my laptops every time I wanted to watch NetFlix or play the Xbox.

If you have any question, drop me a line and I will help you out.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

The Future of the Kinect

I am going to do something a bit different. Melissa is 360 Tune Up's first guest writer. Nothing ground breaking here but all are valid points. So enjoy the read and let me know what you think!

The Xbox 360 gained a motion sensor controller back in 2010 and gamers the world over rejoiced. The reviews were generally positive and with the apparent trend toward motion control, it appears that some sort of motion control technology will be factored in the much anticipated Xbox 720. Will it be a standalone unit like it is with the 360 or will it be incorporated into the console’s design? It seems likely that the latter will be the case but Microsoft shouldn’t rest on their laurels and put the same old Kinect in the 720. Here are a few things I would like to see improved on the next Kinect incarnation.

Give Me Breathing Room

The 6-8 foot distance requirement is a bit of a hassle. For those of us who don’t have massive living rooms with 6 to 8 feet of unobstructed space (I could swing the 6 feet, but I would have to move my coffee table if I wanted the sensor to work fully), a smaller range would be great.

More Accurate Sensor

This is a pretty basic desire. I’m generally impressed by how well this technology picks up movements but the process of calibrating the thing hovers somewhere between daunting and downright infuriating. Since this technology is so new to gaming, I would liken it to the very first mp3 player. People thought it was incredible that something the size of a brick could hold 1000 songs. Ten years later and we can fit 10 times that many songs onto something half as big. I expect the next Kinect incarnation to be much more crisp and user friendly.

More Titles

The Kinect is not without flaws, but it is still a very exciting technology. When it works, it adds an incredible level to gaming. The only problem is that there just aren’t that many titles that fully realize this new technology. Very few new games take advantage of the Kinect so I would love to see more Kinect-compatible and even Kinect-dependent games out there. The few controls that are compatible with Halo just feel sort of gimmicky and put on as an afterthought. I’d love to see developers put some real thought into how to integrate this technology into their titles.

Melissa is a guest writer who enjoys writing about social media and gaming.

HP Coupon for Computers

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Achievement Fest 2012

I want to take a moment and talk about an event called Achievement Fest 2012. I am going to let you know what it is about, where and when it takes place, and how you can get in the action of this awesome idea. I also can proudly say that 360 Tune Up was the first sponsor to this event (not including the host, eBash of course)!

What is this all about? Achievement Fest 2012 is an event tailored to gamers who love the Xbox 360 and who are achievement-hungry. This event is designed so gamers can take a weekend to gather in one place to socialize, share achievement horror stories, host boosting sessions, set Guinness World Records and finally meet some of the faces behind the gamertags.

Who is hosting this event? eBash is hosting this event. eBash is a video game center that has all the equipment a successful video gaming event would need: over 100 stations, huge amount of bandwidth for the Xbox 360 consoles, laptops, and smart phones, 24/7 video recording (a requirement for Guinness World Records), and the facility to hold hundreds of people.

Wait... Did you say Guinness World Records? Yes, I did. This group is going to attempt several Guinness World Records in gaming and best of all, you can sign up to try to beat the World Record as well.

So, how much does this thing cost? The creators are trying their best to cut costs and make this event affordable for anyone to come. To rent a station for the weekend costs are as little as 25 dollars and that includes access to hundreds of games, the facility, power outlets, high speed Internet (Ethernet and WiFi), desk/monitor/TV space, chair, and a ton of free swag. You can get stations that are 35 dollars which include a 36" HD TV/monitor and for 45 dollars you will get a fully loaded station with Xbox 360, controller, TV/monitor and everything else you need.

Access to hundreds of games? Yes, included in your registration fee (of 25, 35, or 45 dollars) you get access to a massive Xbox 360 video game library that you can rent from during the event. As of this writing this library consists of 1,345 games.

Free swag you say? Yes, the team at Achievement Fest 2012 is working hard to line up sponsorship for free swag such as games, MS points, custom AF 2012 tee-shirts, and other great products. Several sponsors have signed up to send items and many more sponsors are in the works. I heard a rumor that Red Bull is going to send out a Wiiings Team! There is also a welcome team setting up welcome packets, custom AF 2012 name badges, and other exciting items for just signing up.

Where and when? Achievement Fest 2012 will take place July 13-15, 2012 at the eBash Video Game Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. The complete address, phone number, and map can be found here.

Check it out and I hope to see you there!

• Achievement Fest 2012 Official Website
• AF 2012 Official Forums
• AF 2012 Location, Number, and Map
• Seating Charts and Registration
• eBash Video Game Center Website
• eBash's Current Xbox 360 Video Game Library

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

eBash Controller Update

I have been receiving some questions about eBash so I wanted to give you all a quick update on what is going on. I am still very actively repairing controllers for eBash, I just sent a box of eight controllers his way last week and he also returned the favor and sent me 14 in return.

I can't keep up with him however with my last toy I greatly sped up the desoldering process but I still am looking out for better methods. The longest lead time is now cleaning the controllers. So, I ordered something last night which shipped today, that should in theory speed up that process. I will let you know what happens, I should get it next Wednesday (interesting how 2-3 day shipping turns out to be 8 day shipping).

My next shipment to him will consist of mostly repaired controllers but I am going to rapid fire one more controller for him and also try something I have never tried before (kind of). I don't want to give out too much details but it involves LED lights. When I finish with it I will make sure I take plenty of pictures. So stay tuned for a (I hope) great way to clean an Xbox 360 Controller and what concoction of controllers and lights I come up with.

If anyone has a great way to clean a controller please drop me a line :)

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

New Toys

What a fun couple of weeks! As I increase the amount of Xbox 360 work I do I am also extending the amount of toys I own. I just wanted to show off some of the fun and awesome toys I received over the last few weeks.

My first toy was a well needed piece of equipment. As I do more and more controller work that requires the removal of the controller sensors I have a great need for a good desoldering tool. At this point I have been using desoldering braids and a desoldering pump. Looking out for a faster and easier solution I turned to a desoldering iron.

This 45-watt desoldering iron has a built in pump that allows quick and easy destruction of that old solder. In fact it is so efficient I can remove the sensors in about one fourth the time. It also is pre-set to the perfect temperature so that damage is not done to the vias so that is one less thing I have to worry about.

My next toy is a real true toy. I use it to update the site, sync files, and record my work.

That is right! I got myself a Windows Phone 7 HTC Titan. In my humble opinion, it is the best current WP7 phone. Enough with this… Moving on…

I got tired of using my cheap soldering iron so I turned to a repairing station.

The most beautiful piece of equipment you ever laid eyes on? At least I think so. It is the Aoyue 968A Plus Deluxe Repairing System. It has a soldering iron (70-watt that goes up to 900 degrees) with a nice soldering iron stand and an attached smoke absorber (yeah I don’t like inhaling lead vapors) and a built in heat gun (up to 900 degrees). The greatest part is everything can be adjusted to the levels that I want to ensure the proper temperature and air flow. I still get a thrill when I use it!

Lastly I picked up another Xbox 360 Bluetooth Headset.

Well that is about it, as I do more work I am picking up more little parts that I need and want, so my part collection is growing all the time. Got some sweet analog sticks in the mail a few days ago and got some nice LED lights in the mail yesterday.

If you’re into soldering or repair work please leave a comment of the tools you have or that you want to buy, it may give me some ideas for my next purchase.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Project Find More Room

Nothing exciting here but I have officially run out of room on my desk due to all the Xbox 360's running. I am currently boosting some games with the need of multiple Xbox 360's/accounts and because of this I need another solution besides setting them on my desk. So I just got done cutting and installing some shelves.

They are not the greatest shelves in the world and defiantly not the prettiest but they function well. Just got some cheap particle board and some L brackets. Once everything is done with them I will have the room and ability to run up to six Xbox 360 consoles that will connect to three different TVs. Very awesome if you ask me!

Here are some pictures. It is still a work in progress. I don't have all my cables and I need a new switch in that room for internet. I only have a 5-port switch and with six consoles, a PC, and a laptop in that room a 5-port switch will not work!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

First Shipment To eBash

Well, after tackling Thanksgiving and a few weeks with the family I decided to try my very best to get some controllers up and working for Zack from eBash. With Christmas around the corner I also wanted to get in his hands a few modded rapid fire controllers to sell at his store. So after long hours, confusing issues, and only one solder burn later the first shipment was sent this week. Below is the image of the rapid fire controllers for this shipment.

We decided to add some customization by adding some color, new buttons, new 360 analog sticks, and a nice 5-mode rapid fire mod. As you can see the colors are blue, red, green, and Halo Olive. Undetectable over Xbox LIVE and works on nearly any first/third person shooter. I even wanted to see if it worked on older games so I used it on Quake 4 (did you know that game has a flashlight?) and they worked like a charm!

I also included a few repaired controllers. This batch was not to hard to repair, I focused on repairing the controllers with minor problems to try and get a few out to the gamers. I repaired eight controllers, one had a wiring issue (guide coming soon) and the others had issues like bad LB/RB buttons and trigger issues. Mostly they just needed a good cleaning. Here is a before and after shot:

The major issues with these controllers are they are very dirty. The picture above does not do justice to just how dirty these controllers are. It just proves, from a technical/maintenance perspective video gaming, sugar, and grease do not mix (from a personal perspective they are the perfect match). Never seen so much hair and dirt (and even seen crumbs of food) inside a controller. Since the original 360 analog sticks have worn completely out on all the controller we decided to purchase new sticks and a D-Pad. Instead of purchasing original sticks we wanted to give the controllers some flair, so I purchased some "crystal green" sticks and D-Pads. At first I was not too impressed with them but after working with them and using them I am really like them now. If they hold up to the abuse I will recommend them but only time will tell.

I have already started to repair more of the damaged controllers (bad wires, bad 360 analog sensors, bad triggers, etc). You can expect more guides in the near future. If you want a modded controller or want to check out the newly repaired controllers stop by eBash and check them out!

Stay tuned for some guides and other updates.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!