How much would it cost for an ethernet port in my room??...

[dave4shmups]

Whenever I get a 360, I would rather "hard wire" it, but I don't know how much getting an ethernet port installed in my room would cost. I do have a least one phone jack, I don't know if they (Comcast) would do it through that.

We have a 360 demo unit at work, and they always show people just plugging it into a wall jack-of course that's just an exaggeration; I doubt people have ethernet ports all over their house.

[8 1/2]

I use a powerline adapter to get an ethernet port from the bedroom (where the only outlet and computer are found) out to the frontroom by my game consoles. It comes with two units. You plug one into a wall socket and plug an ethernet cable into it. Then you just plug the other one into any other wall socket in the house, and run an ethernet cable out from it. It offers seemingly perfect high speed without having to punch a hole in the wall or run 100ft of cable through the house.

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powerli ... DX101.aspx

[dave4shmups]

Thanks for the info! EDIT, so it comes with two units, that's good news. Still not much cheaper then MS's 100$ adapter, though.

[Jockel]

But seriously DONT DO THAT if you can't be sure that your power is in a closed circuitry.
This applies e.g. if you live in an apartment.
So i'd just recommend this if you either live in your own / your families house or you are 100% certain that your apartment has a closed power-circuit.

[dave4shmups]

But seriously DONT DO THAT if you can't be sure that your power is in a closed circuitry.
This applies e.g. if you live in an apartment.
So i'd just recommend this if you either live in your own / your families house or you are 100% certain that your apartment has a closed power-circuit.

Thanks, I live in my parents house. That's why I don't want to run like 100 feet of cord down out of my room and down the stairs to where our PC is.

Well, if the powerline adapter is $79.99, do you guys think that MS is justified in charging $100 for their adapter that picks up wireless internet? Because we do have a wireless router.

[8 1/2]

I live in an apartment and I have no idea if I have closed circuit or not. Are you worried someone could buy one of these units and steal my connection or something?

For what it's worth, the connection speed is blazing fast and much better than the $100 MS Wireless adapter. I couldn't seem to get a signal worth shit out of the MS adapter.

One other option is an ethernet bridge, which also works quite well and avoids the power outlet situation. I've used the Logitech Play Link version and it works like a charm with great connection speed and a much better range than most wireless routers.

http://surpluscomputers.stores.yahoo.ne ... inebr.html

[brokenhalo]

i'm an electrician and i can tell you it all depends on how your house is built and where your router is in location to your room. if it's an easy run to fish, it could be done for as low as $120. if it's gotta come all the way across the house and up two floors and you live in an old house and i have to be real careful about not punching holes etc it could go up to about $200 easily. the parts are fairly inexpensive, $40 tops for cat 5e cable, a wall plate, mounting ring, and a cat 5e jack.

and those two part ethernet adapters that plug into an outlet can be good or bad depending on the quality of your electric. if your house has dirty power, it's going to be detrimental (and dirty power is caused by your utility company. not much you can do about it short of a voltage cleaner.)

and to be perfectly honest, the wi-fi adapter that m$ sells is pricy, but it works beautifully.

edit: noting 8 1/2's experience with the wi-fi your results may vary. i'm on my lappy right next to where my 360 is and i'm getting 2-3/5 bars. the 360 is a solid 5/5.

[Jockel]

I live in an apartment and I have no idea if I have closed circuit or not. Are you worried someone could buy one of these units and steal my connection or something?

No, if it works it's all OK.
But i think i've read that it would not work at all if your circuit is not closed.
Because the signal could not reach the other unit, if it's in a completely different circuit (which seems logical)

[dave4shmups]

I live in an apartment and I have no idea if I have closed circuit or not. Are you worried someone could buy one of these units and steal my connection or something?

For what it's worth, the connection speed is blazing fast and much better than the $100 MS Wireless adapter. I couldn't seem to get a signal worth shit out of the MS adapter.

One other option is an ethernet bridge, which also works quite well and avoids the power outlet situation. I've used the Logitech Play Link version and it works like a charm with great connection speed and a much better range than most wireless routers.

http://surpluscomputers.stores.yahoo.ne ... inebr.html

That only mentions XBOX and Cube, are you sure it would work with a 360?

Ok, with the powerline deal, do you have to connect both units together with an ethernet cable before you connect it to your gaming device?

How far is your wireless router from your 360? And, has anyone tried the Pelican Wireless adapter for the 360? That's only $69.99.

[8 1/2]

It only mentions xbox and gamecube because it came out during that time, and the 360 and PS3 didn't exist. It's just an ethernet port. You could use it on a PC, a game console, anything at all. I've used one with a 360 so no worries. They're cheap too. I was able to get the Play Link on ebay for about $25 and it works beautifully.

Those MS adapters can be sort of fitful for some reason. When I tried to use one, some days I'd get 5 bars, and others I couldn't even get online. It seemed to be effected by any type of interference, so who knows what the neighbors were running that would kill it.

If you can find one for cheap, the ethernet bridge is a much better solution. Just watch out which brand you get because some of them come with only ONE box and you have to buy two. The Play Link comes with Two.

[8 1/2]

And on the powerline adapter, it literally uses the powerline as though it were an ethernet cable. You plug one in by your modem/router and plug an ethernet cable into it. Then you take the other box whereever you like in the house and plug it in. Then you simply plug your console's ethernet cable into that second box, and you're good to go.

The ethernet bridge uses the same system of two boxes, except that it sends out a wireless signal like a router between the boxes.

[dave4shmups]

Coolness, thanks for all the info! -Dave

[trivial]

I feel lucky to live in a single-story house. The fishing is easy.

Note that it's sometimes difficult to get communication going over different electrical circuits. X-10 modules act this way, anyway. I won't claim to have a working theory about why this is.