# AT&T Doesn't Support Online Gaming? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 1, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026 "2011-01-01T05:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/1 "2011-01-01T05:33:27Z")
Been trying to get XBox360 Live hooked up, but just cannot manage it, although I have the correct equipment: ALL the correct stuff. So I did a search and found that apparently this phone company doesn’t support it? So how come I can play Warcraft? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/2 "2011-01-01T12:30:43Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> the Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/3 "2011-01-01T12:51:28Z")
I’d say because they refuse to deal with people complaining about too high a ping time. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/4 "2011-01-01T14:34:55Z")
I have AT&T, and we can play the Wii online. We just got a PS3, and can access PS network online, but haven’t tried playing it online yet. **Harmonious Discord** , do you actually know something, or is that just a smart-ass remark? **Quasimodem** , can you post links to what you found? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/5 "2011-01-01T14:47:56Z")
Gamer forums used to be full of people complaining about how they bought high speed service and their internet provider told them tough about the ping and latency times. I don’t hang out around those any longer. Providers not supporting something doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. It means the provider won’t help with that use and when it doesn’t meet your expectations it’s your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/6 "2011-01-01T14:50:05Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Been trying to get XBox360 Live hooked up, but just cannot manage it, although I have the correct equipment: ALL the correct stuff. > > So I did a search and found that apparently this phone company doesn’t support it? > > So how come I can play Warcraft? > > Thanks > > Q That makes no sense. Let’s start with the basics. What kind of connection do you have, what kind of hardware do you have, and how is it set up currently? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/7 "2011-01-01T17:53:12Z")
I have AT&T DSL service, never had a problem with online gaming. The only time I’ve had ping issues on AT&T DSL, it turned out to be a wireless router issue. Once I switched back to a wired connection the problem went away. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/8 "2011-01-02T10:14:50Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Gamer forums used to be full of people complaining about how they bought high speed service and their internet provider told them tough about the ping and latency times. I don’t hang out around those any longer. Providers not supporting something doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. It means the provider won’t help with that use and when it doesn’t meet your expectations it’s your problem. But this is not the problem the OP is having, he can’t get it working at all. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/9 "2011-01-02T16:18:31Z")
So when you get your xbox all hooked up, where does the “test connection” wizard say that everything pukes? That’s probably your single most useful utility in determining your connection issues. It’ll tell you whether your xbox has trouble connecting to your lan, or if your router has trouble routing internet traffic to AT&T, or whether you can connect to Xbox live. Generally speaking, if you can use WWW stuff via your PC, you’ll be able to play games. I’ve had AT&T DSL here in Dallas for 3 years now, and played an obnoxious amount of both PC and Xbox games over it, along with a much lesser amount of Wii games. Skype works pretty well also. I’d be willing to bet that it’s not AT&T, but something funky between your Xbox and them. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/10 "2011-01-02T18:46:49Z")
> [@bump](#): > > So when you get your xbox all hooked up, where does the “test connection” wizard say that everything pukes? That’s probably your single most useful utility in determining your connection issues. > > It’ll tell you whether your xbox has trouble connecting to your lan, or if your router has trouble routing internet traffic to AT&T, or whether you can connect to Xbox live. > > Generally speaking, if you can use WWW stuff via your PC, you’ll be able to play games. > > I’ve had AT&T DSL here in Dallas for 3 years now, and played an obnoxious amount of both PC and Xbox games over it, along with a much lesser amount of Wii games. Skype works pretty well also. > > I’d be willing to bet that it’s not AT&T, but something funky between your Xbox and them. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/11 "2011-01-02T22:40:40Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > I have AT&T DSL service, never had a problem with online gaming. > > The only time I’ve had ping issues on AT&T DSL, it turned out to be a wireless router issue. Once I switched back to a wired connection the problem went away. This. If you are connected wirelessly, plug directly into the modem and bypass the router. Does it work now? Most likely you are having problems with [port forwarding](http://portforward.com/), and can follow the instructions there to allow access to specific applications/systems. You will probably also want to assign an IP to your computer and Xbox so that they connect in a consistent manner. Set that up right and your router should work fine. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/12 "2011-01-04T07:26:49Z")
My wife’s and my computer are networked with wireless connections. Hers is in one room, mine in another (about 40 feet between them). We also use a network adapter for the XBox, but so far I haven’t been able to connect to Live. Both antennae are up (one on the Netopia modem and the other on the back of the X). The modem sits on top of the router and both have solid green lights. If I bypass the router, she can’t go online, correct? Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/13 "2011-01-04T07:37:52Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I have AT&T, and we can play the Wii online. We just got a PS3, and can access PS network online, but haven’t tried playing it online yet. > > **Harmonious Discord** , do you actually know something, or is that just a smart-ass remark? > > **Quasimodem** , can you post links to what you found? Okay, here’s what appears on the X screen: Can’t connect to your wireless network Wireless net is secured w/ a WREP key or WPA passphrase. Console may be using wrong one. On PC go to router config webpage and write down WEP key or WPA passphrase. Also my name shows up followed by 425G : Bill425G. Wireless is Netgear. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/14 "2011-01-04T07:38:54Z")
Correction: Antenna is on router not modem, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/15 "2011-01-04T07:43:03Z")
Basic settings page on X says: Wireless Mode - not connected Network name - Craig home Network type - Infrastructure Wireless security - WPA All the other values show IP Settings - Automatic IP addr. 0.0.0.0 Subnet mask same as above Gateway same as above DNS settings Automatic Promary DNS server 0.0.0.0Secondary DNS server - same as above ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-doesnt-support-online-gaming/566026/16 "2011-01-04T07:49:17Z")
Under Additional Settings, everything says “not set”. I already did the restore to factory defaults (from the XBox help page). Didn’t work. Thanks Q