Connect your XBOX console to the network wirelessly by using the XBOX Wireless adapter. How to choose the best one that fits to your network
Online gaming with your XBOX console requires Internet connection. Typically home wireless networks are built to let you share the broadband internet connection with many computers within the household. Not just computers that require connection to the internet, mostly home theater devices today are designed to be able to connect to the internet such as Blu-Ray player, XBOX console, HDTV and DVR player. Typically XBOX console requires XBOX wireless adapter to connect wirelessly to the network. This is advantageous in eliminating the clutter of the wires in the living room.
The function of XBOX wireless adapter is like a wireless bridge. Wireless bridge with one Ethernet port is connected to any types of Ethernet-ready device including the XBOX console, Blu-Ray player or HDTV and then it connects to the wireless network. The figure 1 shows a common wireless network diagram that includes an XBOX wireless adapter to let the XBOX console connects wirelessly to the network.
How to choose the best XBOX wireless adapter that will fit to your wireless environment for the best performance.
Figure 1 Wireless network with XBOX
Identify Your Existing Network Environment
The latest wireless standard today is 802.11n technology. Mostly the wireless routers today are shipped by adopting the 802.11n technology. Fast responsive gaming requires the fastest wireless technology, dual band support, QoS and secure (DMZ or port forwarding features). To perform in its best, the clients and the wireless network should be in the same technology, the wireless standards and the operating band. 5GHz band is typically used for clean network in delivering high speed and responsive gaming.
If your wireless environment is powered by the wireless router that supports only 2.4GHz band the wireless 802.11n standards, you should choose your wireless XBOX adapter to be compliant with the 802.11n standards. If your environment supports the 5GHz band (aka dual band), you should choose your XBOX adapter that supports 5GHz band.
Planning for Upgrade
If you are upgrading your existing wireless G network with a faster network, the network that supports the latest wireless technology: the wireless 802.11n with simultaneous dual band technology (both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands work concurrently), you should think the same way by choosing the XBOX wireless adapter that supports dual band technology.
The high performance routers today are designed for streaming high definition video up to 1080p and fast responsive gaming. The routers are powered by the 802.11n with simultaneous or selectable dual band technology. Some of them use the N600 wireless technology, meaning each band delivering high speeds of up to 300Mbps such as Linksys E3200 or WNDR3400 simultaneous dual band routers. And the fastest router today uses the N750 wireless technology, meaning the router deliver the high speeds up to 450Mbps in5GHz band and up to 300Mbps in 2.4GHz band.
If you have a plan to upgrade your wireless environment with the fastest technology, make sure you choose your XBOX wireless adapter that supports 802.11n with dual band supports.
The following lists some of the wireless G and wireless N XBOX wireless adapters you can consider for your XBOX console.
Wireless –G Adapter
If your existing wireless network uses the router with wireless –b/g standard, and you will never plan for future upgrade to wireless –n dual-band, then you should choose the XBOX wireless adapter with wireless –g standard. The adapter with wireless –G standard is cheaper than wireless –N. The following list some adapters that based on wireless –G standards.
Microsoft XBOX adapter
Microsoft XBOX wireless adapter is a dual-band, powered by wireless –G/A standards that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency band.
- Powered by Dual band technology, compatible with wireless A/B/G wireless network
- High performance features with compact design
- Powered by Xbox 360 to eliminate adapter clutter.
- Compatible with Windows Vista Media Center
- Stream HD media from Microsoft Windows XP and recorded TV, movies, and videos from your Microsoft Windows XP Media Center – based PC.
Pros:
- Powered by XBOX machine, easy to install and setup
Cons:
- Powered by legacy wireless G, cannot optimally connect to the new generation of wireless N600 or N750 routers
The adapter is ideal connect to any wireless G routers such as DGL-4030 gamer lounge router, even though you can connect to any new generation of wireless routers but will not get the maximum data throughput from the fast routers.
Click here for Microsoft XBOX wireless A/B/G spec details
MN740 XBOX Wireless Adapter
MN740 XBOX Wireless Adapter is powered by a state-of-the-art 802.11g wireless, with the following features:
- Intuitive XBOX dashboard interface
- Fully compatible with all 802.11 wireless standards
- Maximum speed up to 54 Mbps (ideal condition) and is compatible to the newest wireless –N technology.
- For maximum range and throughput, it is equipped by Internal and external antennae
- Connect your XBOX console to the exiting wireless n/g/n network.
Pros:
- Averagely 4.3 out of five stars customer ratings in Amazon
Cons:
- Still powered by legacy standards wireless G
I recommend you to upgrade the adapter to next generation of XBOX adapters that support wireless N standards. Click here for MN740 XBOX wireless adapter spec details.
Wireless –N adapter
Wireless –N XBOX adapters can connect to any wireless –G and –N network, any new generation of wireless routers today ranging from the wireless N150 to the new generation of N750 routers. Many of them are powered by dual-band wireless –n network.
Microsoft XBOX Wireless –N adapter
Microsoft XBOX wireless –A/B/G/N adapter is the latest wireless network available in the market. The adapter allows you stream HD media from XBOX Live in full 1080p and 5.1 surround sounds.
- Powered by Dual band 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz wireless –N standard and is compatible with Wireless A/B/G home network
- Compact, high-performance design and is powered by Xbox 360 to eliminate adapter clutter
- Windows Vista Media Center compatible
Pros:
- 4.3 out five stars customer ratings in Amazon
- Dual band adapter and is powered by the XBOX
Cons:
- 7% customer provides 1 out of five stars customer ratings for some reasons including technical support, over heating device and so on
Click here for manufacturer’s description and specs Micosoft XBOX wireless A/B/G/N adapter.
TEW-687GA 450Mbps Wireless N Gaming Adapter
If your wireless router supports the N450 technology which delivers the speed up to 450Mbps you can consider this TEW-687GA N450 wireless adapter. You can connect the adapter to the fast TEW-691GR N450 router or the upcoming TEW-692GR N450Mbps dual band concurrently router.
This adapter allows you connect any types of Ethernet-based devices to the wireless network such as XBOX consoles, Blu-Ray player, PS3 and any types of internet HDTV. It includes gigabit Ethernet port for fast wired connection to the network.
Pros:
- Fast wireless connection to any N450 or N750 routers
- Gigabit Ethernet port
Cons:
- Unlike Microsoft Wireless A/B/G/N adapter, the adapter is powered by separate power adapter
Click here for TEW-687GA manufacturer’s description and specs.
WGA610n Linksys Gaming Adapter
WGA610n is powered by wireless –N standard with dual-band to allow you connect any Ethernet enabled-devices including your XBOX console to connect to the wireless network.
- Wireless –n with dual-band, backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g standards
- Wi-Fi Certified for interoperability with any industrial wireless devices
- No drivers on Windows, Macintosh, Linux and any of Game consoles with Ethernet port enabled.
This WGA610N is ideal connecting to any types of new generation of Linksys E series such as the Linksys E3200 N600 router or the fastest Linksys E4200 N750 router.
Pros:
- Change the band and channel automatically to find the best performance
- 4.3 out of five customer ratings in Amazon
Cons:
- 3.5 out of five for technical support
Click here for manufacturer’s spec details of WGA600N Linksys gaming adapter.
If you have multiple home theater devices (XBOX, Blu-Ray player or HDTV), you may consider wireless bridge with multiple Ethernet ports such as the new D-Link DAP-1513 media bridge which includes four Ethernet ports with dual band support.
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