Here’s the deal. I need my Madden. I’m getting an Xbox 360 in a few days and I’ve got a laptop that isn’t WiFi (yet). What router/accessories/networking cards would be a good fit for gaming and running computers?
On this “network” is my laptop, a soon-to-be Xbox and two desktops (which are almost never on the internet at the same time. One is primarily a gaming device).
Advice? Suggestions? Handouts?
Wow - that’s one hell of an open-ended question. Can you please clarify:
Which of the several platforms is your Madden on now?
Is your Madden going to be on the XBox 360 when it arrives?
Which of the platforms (laptops, desktops, XB360) need to be connected to the internet?
What kind of wired LAN are the existing platforms currently connected to (list hardware if possible) and what do you like/dislike about that setup?
Is there a particular reason that you need to go wireless?
And what is your current ISP connection to the internet? Broadband? DSL? Dialup? You are going to have to interface your (proposed) Access Point to your existing network after all.
Making some assumptions here, I’d say you probably have either Broadband or DSL, and that you currently don’t have any kind of device inbetween your Cable Modem/DSL tranceiver but have it directly connected to one of your PC’s. If thats the case, you could go with something like a Linksys wireless Access Point like the BEFW11S4. Its an 802.11 a/b/g Access Point, its got a 4 port switch in back for direct connect, it will basically do plug and play NAT for you (I think it uses the RFC 1918 192.168.0.X /24 network as its default for the interior), and even has some rudimentary traffic filtering. I believe it uses an HTML web interface to configure the thing…and I’d recommend at the minimum turning off your SSID and maybe using at least basic encryption for the wireless (as well as change the admin password on the box of course).
As for your laptop without a wireless NIC, there are several solutions to this. You could get a PCMCIA wireless NIC, or an external USB 2.0 wireless bridge…or you could simply directly connect your laptop to the back of the Access Point via CAT 6 patch cord.
YOu can get all this stuff at your local Best Buy, CompUSA, Radio Shack, etc. Probably cost you around a hundred bucks for the AP and the wireless NIC.
Hope that helps.
-XT
Holy crap, I didn’t realize it was so open ended. I thought I closed it nicely, too.
Madden will be on Xbox 360.
All of the above will be connected to the internets.
Right now, I’ve got a switch that connects the laptop and desktop to the internets. Recently, I’ve been getting some ISP number problems when both computer log on. This wasn’t always the case. I suspect it’s the switch or just the setup, but that doesn’t explain why it didn’t do it before but does it now.
Why wireless? I want the freedom of being able to cruise the Dope from the toilet and I don’t want to run a wire to the 360 if I can help it. If a laptop wasn’t in the picture, I’d probably ditch the wireless, but it’s convenient.
Itchy trigger finger on the reply button.
I’m DSL.
Um. Interface Access Point? blink blink
Thanks for the brands, though. That’s where I was going to end up going. I was wondering what was good out there or what was overpriced and such.
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
All of the above will be connected to the internets.
[/QUOTE]
There can be only ONE!! i.e. its ‘Internet’
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Right now, I’ve got a switch that connects the laptop and desktop to the internets. Recently, I’ve been getting some ISP number problems when both computer log on. This wasn’t always the case. I suspect it’s the switch or just the setup, but that doesn’t explain why it didn’t do it before but does it now.
[/QUOTE]
Depends on exactly what this ‘switch’ is. If its just a layer 2 switch, then your problem probably has to do with the fact that the ISP is attempting to assign you a single public IP, and its bouncing back and forth between multiple devices. If the ‘switch’ is some kind of NAT device, then…well, not sure. Could be anything I guess.
I assume though that its just a layer 2 dumb switch of some kind. If thats the case, then the device I recommended (or a similar device from D-Link, 3Comm, Netgear, etc) should work fine for you and do everything you need to do. Configuring it should be a snap. I definitely recommend you turn on at least some rudamentary security though for the wireless network. If you have problems let me know and I could probably walk you through what to turn on and how.
If you understand this stuff pretty well on the other hand, and you know what a MAC address is and how to determine the MAC of your various devices is, I’d also recommend doing a MAC layer filter for your wireless access as another layer of security. The Linksys I know does this…prolly the others as well.
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Why wireless? I want the freedom of being able to cruise the Dope from the toilet and I don’t want to run a wire to the 360 if I can help it. If a laptop wasn’t in the picture, I’d probably ditch the wireless, but it’s convenient.
[/QUOTE]
Definitely agree with you here. I actually have 2 WAP in my house so that I have coverage in every room as well as out on the back deck/porch. Including the bathrooms
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Um. Interface Access Point? blink blink
[/QUOTE]
Not sure what you mean here. IS this a question, a comment or some obscure joke I’m missing? 
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Thanks for the brands, though. That’s where I was going to end up going. I was wondering what was good out there or what was overpriced and such.
[/QUOTE]
Well, the Linksys stuff works pretty well for home use, and is easy to use and set up. And its pretty cheap these days. I think I saw that WAP I mentioned for about $60 at Best Buy a few months ago. And the wireless NIC (I’d go with the PCMCIA version btw…less hassle in the bathroom) shouldn’t be more than $50 either.
Hope it works out for you.
-XT
Nah, I don’t know what this Internet Access Point that you speak of is.
I assume it’s the wire that comes from the internet(s) gods that brings me all the information and porn and video games and such.
Oh yeah. And it brings me snippets of history and facts that I dig up for use in Great Debates.
Heh. Sorry. Had to go there.
I don’t like Linksys gear, myself. Horrible drivers. D-Link is nice, though.
Here’s the trick: Buy it all from the same manufacturer. (Except for the wi-fi adapter for the X-Box, just get Microsoft’s.)
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Oh yeah. And it brings me snippets of history and facts that I dig up for use in Great Debates.
[/QUOTE]
Its usually best to compartmentalize around here. Obviously you and I don’t exactly hit it off well in GD. No reason to drag that attitude into other forums however. 
Who knows…maybe you will agree with my reading selections or games I like in CS, or maybe I’ll offer some advice to your networking problems in GQ or one of the other forums. You never know…
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath]
I don’t like Linksys gear, myself. Horrible drivers. D-Link is nice, though.
[/QUOTE]
Well, I use CISCO stuff at my house actually, but I haven’t heard many folks have problems with Linksys. Certainly not their AP’s or wireless bridges. To my mind D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, etc…they are all pretty much on par with each other. For home use this stuff is pretty much plug and play. I though I heard that Linksys had been bought by CISCO though…so maybe they are having teething pains (or maybe they are better now than they were).
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath]
Here’s the trick: Buy it all from the same manufacturer. (Except for the wi-fi adapter for the X-Box, just get Microsoft’s.)
[/QUOTE]
I definitely agree with this. In fact, this is pretty much what I tell my clients. I don’t care myself if they go with HP, CISCO or whatever other vendor they want for their infrastructure equipment…but I always recommend that they pick a vendor and pretty much stay with them for the entire infrastructure (though firewalls are usually something else again).
I’d directly connect the X-Box myself…though I have a friend who uses a USB wireless bridge on his. Not sure what vendor he’s using for that though. He’s also hacked the hell out of his X-Box however, so gods knows what all he’s got going there.
-XT
xtisme, I know. Some of your disagreement was with my dad. I made him go back to his old screenname.
Additionally, I Ebayed all this stuff. I think I did inadvertently cross up manufacturers. Is that the kiss of death?
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
xtisme, I know. Some of your disagreement was with my dad. I made him go back to his old screenname.
[/QUOTE]
No worries…I try not to hold grudges myself, especially when I go to other forums. For example, rjung is quite clever in CS and I actually generally agree with him there…and also look for his opinion on books and such in there. In GD however…
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Additionally, I Ebayed all this stuff. I think I did inadvertently cross up manufacturers. Is that the kiss of death?
[/QUOTE]
Naw…you should be alright. All that stuff follows the industry standards for stuff like 802.11 a/b/g, so it will all interoperate. The main problem is they all have different interfaces, so it helps to really know what you are doing (or RTFM :)). In addition, if there ARE problems, you can get into the situation where one vendor points the finger at the other…and vice versa. For a little home network though you should have no worries.
As I said, if you have some config problems re-open this thread and I’ll see what I can do. Or email me if you like.
-XT
Word. Gracias.
Mmmm. Short posts. Me likey.
De nada. 
-XT
Okay, we’ve got our internet card (Netgear WG511T) and our wireless router (a D-Link DI-624). I did a dumb thing and mixed manufacturers. I got the laptop to talk and say it is connected, and I’m connected now (via desktop to ogiginal setup through a hub). The problem seems to be with the wireless router or at least its setup.
If I understand the problem, its that the wireless access point isn’t talking to your DSL modem? Correct?
If so, what you can do is go into your wireless access point and see if its getting a DHCP address from your ISP…it will be on the WAN port. If its not default set up to receive a DHCP address then you need to make sure its set up to receive one…or your system won’t work. If it DOES have a DHCP address (including default gateway and perhaps first hop DNS), then it should be working properly. You might want to check your laptop or other devices connected to the access point and see what addressing THEY are getting. The default should be that your WAP is giving out an RFC1918 private IP address on the inside of your network (it will probably be something like 192.168.0.XXX/24) with a default gateway set to whatever your WAP’s LAN port is set too (its probably something like 192.168.0.1). If all this is right then I’m not sure what your problem may be…I’d call your ISP and talk to them about it at that point.
Oh…one other thing. If you have any devices outside your WAP then that could be your problem. You said you have a hub. If you have things set up like this DSL Modem---->Hub---->WAP---->your home computers, then make sure you don’t have any DHCP aquiring devices connected to the hub. If you DO (like a PC or your X-Box or something like that) then your problem might be that your ISP is only giving you a single public IP address…and you have multiple devices attempting to aquire it. This isn’t going to fly. If you have everything behind your WAP then you shouldn’t have a problem though, as the device will act as a NAT device and translate all your internal addresses using the public address as a proxy (with a designated port to identify the internal address for its own use).
Anyway, let me know if this explaination helps or if its totally confusing…I’m running between meetings so gods know if its even understandable…
-XT
Most likely you just need to reset everything. Pretty much all cable ISPs (and others too, I imagine) will allow only 1 or 2 devices access at a time. After they’re used up, nothing else can connect. You want to have your setup look like
Modem --> Wireless Router --> Other stuff.
First turn everything off / unplug it. Then plug the modem back in and wait for the lights to indicate connection. Then turn the router back on and wait for the lights to settle down. Then turn the PCs back on and see if things work then.
If they don’t, yeah, I’d call your ISP.
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever]
Okay, we’ve got our internet card (Netgear WG511T) and our wireless router (a D-Link DI-624). I did a dumb thing and mixed manufacturers. I got the laptop to talk and say it is connected, and I’m connected now (via desktop to ogiginal setup through a hub). The problem seems to be with the wireless router or at least its setup.
[/QUOTE]
[bolding mine] A hub? That innocent-looking thing might be your problem.
Your D-Link DI-624 sounds to be the same sort of critter as my Linksys WRT54G - it shares a broadband connection to four wired devices, plus Wi-Fi. Ideally, all of the wired devices will be plugged into it directly with no hubs, routers or switches in between.
So… Plug the D-Link box into your DSL “modem” and plug everything into the D-Link. For testing this out, I mean everything. Desktop, laptop and Xbox. With luck, everything will be happy and will have an IP address in the 192.168.1.xxx range. (Probably 192.168.1.101, 192.168.1.102 and so on.) Only after you get everything happy and working right, do you think about setting up the wireless.
oh, sudden thought! Do you have a straight DSL modem that has one phone jack and one Ethernet jack, or is it one of the newer ones that includes a basic router and has multiple Ethernet jacks? If it’s the type with a router built in, you don’t need another router.
Just realized that this might be confusing (looking at the other two answers):
This was how I ASSUMED you actually had it set up…not how I would recommend setting it up. Sorry if that was confusing.
[QUOTE=Nanoda]
Pretty much all cable ISPs (and others too, I imagine) will allow only 1 or 2 devices access at a time.
[/QUOTE]
I have a T-1 at home these days, but my old QWest DSL connection only allowed for one IP device. Anything more cost extra. Maybe its different in your neck of the woods.
[QUOTE=gotpasswords]
oh, sudden thought! Do you have a straight DSL modem that has one phone jack and one Ethernet jack, or is it one of the newer ones that includes a basic router and has multiple Ethernet jacks? If it’s the type with a router built in, you don’t need another router.
[/QUOTE]
Good point, though it should still work (unless they are both trying to use the same RFC 1918 address scheme of course :smack: …I guess he should check that if its the case). Most of the new DSL modems are routers with 4 internal connections and optional wireless (for a price of course). Since wireless was what the OP was looking for he’d probably have to pay extra to get that turned on the box (at least, thats how I recall QWest working when I had DSL).
-XT
The DSL line from the wall connects to a black SpeedStream modem, given by the internet provider. The line from that (would) connect to the D-Link router. With the introduction of this new wireless modem, the hub is obsolete. Nanoda’s versionn of the current setup is correct.
The SpeedStream modem has only two holes, one for the DSL line coming from the wall, the other is an ethernet line coming out.