Support NeoGAF

[Coop]

First off, I dont know anything about routers so bare with my questions...

I've been looking for a wireless router for my 360, Wii and pc.
My family's pc is about 30-40 feet away from my 360 and Wii. After going through a number of reviews and website, I'm close to picking this router.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BTL0OA/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Apparently some of the other Linksys models cant use 3rd party firmwares and this model can. PLus every site I go to raves about it.


So my questions are, is this a good router? Also, I need to hook this up to my main PC but it doesn't have a ethernet port. Can I buy a USB wireless adapter or PCI card to connect my PC to the router wireless?

Thanks in advance..

 

[bill0527]

If your computer doesn't have any ethernet port, how do you currently plug in your high-speed connection? Do you have DSL or Cable?

 

[Coop]

Cable, I use a USB wire to connect it to my PC. my pc is ancient.

 

[bill0527]

Cable, I use a USB wire to connect it to my PC. my pc is ancient.

Well then, I'm not sure about newer routers, but I've got a Linksys WRT54G version 1.1 router that's about 4 years old and I couldn't use it with a USB modem. Your modem has to be plugged into the router through an ethernet port and then the router plugs into your computer through an ethernet port. Does your modem have both an ethernet port and a USB port on it ?

 

[Lhadatt]

That router is good, I have one. Some of the other Linksys boxes can also use 3rd-party firmware. Google DD-WRT and check out the documentation on their wiki on compatible Linksys boxes. They also recommend other routers that work well with their firmware, so check those out as well.

As for your PC, buy a PCI ethernet card. They're cheap, and they work better than USB devices.

 

[Lhadatt]

Well then, I'm not sure about newer routers, but I've got a Linksys WRT54G version 1.1 router that's about 4 years old and I couldn't use it with a USB modem. Your modem has to be plugged into the router through an ethernet port and then the router plugs into your computer through an ethernet port. Does your modem have both an ethernet port and a USB port on it ?

Most have both USB and ethernet now.

 

[Gadfly]

If network connectivity for your 360 is limited to accessing Live, then this would do.
If on the other hand (in the future) you may set up your PC as a media center and want to stream media to your 360, I suggest you get a 802.11a capable router because your 360 wireless adapter is already 802.11a capable and it does make a difference..

 

[Coop]

I only plan on using the 360 to go on live, I'm not really interested in the media aspect. Also, I noticed the router is not on this list

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/connecttolive/xbox360/homenetworking/equipment.htm#Routers

Does not that mean it wont work at all? Or is it just something else

 

[thesoapster]

I only plan on using the 360 to go on live, I'm not really interested in the media aspect. Also, I noticed the router is not on this list

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/connecttolive/xbox360/homenetworking/equipment.htm#Routers

Does not that mean it wont work at all? Or is it just something else

Pretty much any router should work. They say they support the WRT54G...you're looking at the GL. If there's really that much of a difference...eh. I'd look at a regular G if you're not using Linux...that "Linux compatible" thing probably adds a bit more onto the price tag. I have a WRT54G...it works just fine for me. It's like the Honda Civic of routers.

 

[Coop]

Pretty much any router should work. They say they support the WRT54G...you're looking at the GL. If there's really that much of a difference...eh. I'd look at a regular G if you're not using Linux...that "Linux compatible" thing probably adds a bit more onto the price tag. I have a WRT54G...it works just fine for me. It's like the Honda Civic of routers.

I was originally going to get the WRT54G, but I read that the latest models dont support 3rd party firmware. Apparently you can buy the earlier version online but I dont know where.

 

[Sean]

WRT54GL should support third party firmware....AFAIK Linksys took that out and when they saw there was a big market for that they put out the GL which allows third party firmware but they charged more for it..


you can find more info on the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G#WRT54GL

 

[onegoodlogan]

On a related note, has anyone used this Netgear router for streaming media to the 360?

I've read some reviews that say it's really good for media center PCs, but I haven't heard anything 360 specific.