Do I need a router if I dont use my computer and xbox360 at same time?

[rackoon]

I am getting an Xbox360 next payday and want to get on-line right away and here is my situation.

I have comcast cable running on my Mac right now but wont use this computer while playing on-line games. I don't need anything wireless because I could easily run a cable from office to livingroom.

I don't know a lot about computers but cant I just put a splitter or Y or switch somewhere?

[xmenxmen]

Beside allowing multiple connect to share one internet connect, the router also make it quite easy to switch from one devide to another.  It does all the fancy connection needed between U and the cable. 

If you don't care at all for any of that, it will work as it will just assign a dhcp address to either the mac or xbox. 

Router are so cheap nowadays, I would highly recommend one just to make thing easy.  Wireless can always be disabled if not needed.

[Smoker]

A cheap wired router should run you about $20. About the same cost as a switch unless you catch one free after rebate. Your much better off going for the router as long as it has a switch built in ( it will usually have at least 5 network ports) because there really arnt any network splitters to allow you to use the same connection. And that means your forced to constantly unplug the cable from one device for the other.

If your really on the cheap, ask around and see if any friends were early adopters for wireless. have them give you their old 802.11B wireless router, and then if you dont use the wireless you can usually just turn it off or detach the antenna, and your set.

Otherwise newegg.com usualy has at least one wired router for $20 shipped and a wireless for $30 shipped.

[Buddabing]

I am getting an Xbox360 next payday and want to get on-line right away and here is my situation.

I have comcast cable running on my Mac right now but wont use this computer while playing on-line games. I don't need anything wireless because I could easily run a cable from office to livingroom.

I don't know a lot about computers but cant I just put a splitter or Y or switch somewhere?

You can't just run a switch because the cable company would then see you as having two different IP addresses. My cable company charges extra for this.

I recommend getting a router with 4 ports and wireless capability. Then you have the wireless if you want to use it in the future.

If you're buying a 360 and games, surely you can afford to get ethernet set up properly.

Edit: Having a router is much better for security.

[rackoon]

Do I have to worry about some kind of speed for a wired one. If so what is the rating and how are they rated?

[geomartin]

I believe that if you go Wireless Router, you will need to purchase the $99 XBox 360 Wireless add-on.  Wired may be the simplest and cheapest solution for you.

[spiffyshoes]

I believe that if you go Wireless Router, you will need to purchase the $99 XBox 360 Wireless add-on.  Wired may be the simplest and cheapest solution for you.

You don't have to get the Microsoft Network Adapter.

I bought a Refurbished Netgear WGR614 Wireless-G 54Mps Router for $19.99 and a Refurbished Netgear WGPS606 Wireless-G 54Mbs Print Server/ Bridge for $39.99 at Fry's Electronics and it works just fine.  I'm able to plug all of my consoles PS2, Xbox, and XB360 into the Print Server and have them connect to the internet just fine.

[rackoon]

Do you get any lag with that set up when there is lots of action on the screen?

I see lots of routers on eBay real cheap but I'm worried that they not be the right speed so how do I tell how much data can travel through a router or I'm I way off base here. I know very little about this kind of stuff.

I wouldn't even have asked but when I Google 360 and router I get all these hits about gaming router that will stop all this horrible lag that they swear is plaguing on-line gaming. Are they just trying to sucker people into buying a $150.00 router?

[geomartin]

spiffyshoes solution sounds like semi wireless to me.  If I'm not mistaken he is wiring the 360 to the print/server bridge.  This is not a completely wireless solution.  Will a standard USB wireless network adapter allow you to connect to a wireless router?

[Smoker]

The Bridge is in essence a wireless access point in reverse. it attaches to the wireless signal and transfers the network stream to the wired ethernet jacks. The benefit is you have have "wireless" to things that wont accept a wireless module. The wireless network adapter for the original xbox was a wireless bridge, and will work exactly the same. they just charge more for it being official.

A standard usb wireless should sync with any standard wireless router or access point. The problem in using them for consoles is the console will usually not recognize the usb device as it has no drivers, and no way to install any. the usb wireless modules that they sell for a certain console are designed with the console in mind so that it knows to recognize and use it.

the "gaming routers" work just the same as regular routers, but they usually have an increase in processor speed or memory inside the device, giving it more power to process data faster. does this make for less lag in games? yes. Is it worth the extra $$$ ? Depends on if a regular router gives you a bad experience in games. But in my opinion your going to have more lag from your internet connection then what your router is going to add.

[HaRuMaN]

Dump your mac, get a pc with 2 ethernet cards, setup internet connection sharing, problem solved.   

[Smoker]

Dump your mac, get a pc with 2 ethernet cards, setup internet connection sharing, problem solved.   

Or buy a really cheap router for about the same cost as the second network card and not have to worry about windows completly screwing up the connection. ICS does add lag, and a whole mess of other problems.

[rackoon]

I picked up a D-link DI 604 on ebay for $11.00 shipped and it was on the xbox 360 list of approved routers. Its wired and I'm OK with that for now. I just hope I can hook it up and make it work when it gets here.

I'm looking forward to playing Gears of War on line with my eight foot wide projector screen. The truth is that I have never played any game on line before.

I'm really looking forward to it.

[HaRuMaN]

I picked up a D-link DI 604 on ebay for $11.00 shipped and it was on the xbox 360 list of approved routers. Its wired and I'm OK with that for now. I just hope I can hook it up and make it work when it gets here.

I'm looking forward to playing Gears of War on line with my eight foot wide projector screen. The truth is that I have never played any game on line before.

I'm really looking forward to it.

beware the chainsaw!

[Smoker]

The D-link 604 is a fine home router. it shouldn't give you any problems.

Plug a patch cable from the cable modem into the WAN port on the router, plug xbox and mac into any of the other slots. Done.

Because its used you may have to perform a hard reset on the router, depending on how it was setup by the previous owner. Just hold in the little recessed button on the back for about 10 seconds.

Depending on what you do online with the mac you may need to do some port forwarding. If the mac is going to be the only computer plugged into the router, you can just set the ip address of the mac as DMZ. That will have the benefit of the mac having complete and total access to the internet connection, and the xbox will play just fine.