How to use your laptop as a free Xbox / Xbox 360 wireless adapter

Microsoft apparently still hasn't gotten the memo that charging $100 for its proprietary USB wireless adapter -- not to mention leaving WiFi out of the 360 in the first place -- is basically a criminal act upon the gaming populace. Walamoonbeam's Instructable on how to share internet with your Xbox from your WiFi-connected laptop over Ethernet won't blow any minds, but if you're having trouble figuring out how to get all those intertubes from the office to your gaming den, this guide should get you on the right path.

[computer.dude.28 @ Feb 4th 2008 9:52AM]

I did that once!

[computer.dude.28 @ Feb 4th 2008 10:05AM]

Halo on Dial-Up w/ICS

[xgambetx @ Jan 6th 2008 10:34AM]

haha i did this when the xbox came out. for about a month

[Greg @ Jan 6th 2008 11:15AM]

Same here except i had an incredibly hot laptop + the xbox = 150o room

[Flashpoint @ Jan 6th 2008 11:19AM]

With the $250 wii coming stanadard with Wifi, it is inexcusable for the 360 to not have one built in. While I might be able to forgive that lack at its launch THE ELITE, the ARCADE and the NEW PREMIUM should have had it.

Microsoft forced you to pay $100 for a wifi clipon?
Even when the typical USB adapter was $50 on the market.

I think they did this to be able to sell you accessories - same goes for the 20 GB HDD. The 20GB HDD was part of the reason XBOX 1 was a LOSS LEADER for the majority of its fiscal quarters so MS decided to cut its losses.

I also believe the HDD add-on not being complete is the main reason for the Red Rings of Death.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 6th 2008 11:35AM]

I'm one of the people who bought the 360's Wifi adapter.

Originaly, I wanted a way around it, like buying a gaming bridge but, I still don't know the question:

WILL 360 WORK WITH A REGULAR USB WIFI ADAPTER?

They have the Linksys', Netgear and a number of other USB adapters for less than $40 but I was afraid to buy one because I feared incompatibility.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 6th 2008 3:52PM]

D-link has the same concept with the DGL-3420, it's basicaly a wireless bridge but built with gaming centric QOS packet scheduling.


http://games.dlink.com/products/?pid=383

[kev @ Jan 6th 2008 10:35AM]

been doin this for a while now pssssssshhhhhh keep the ces coverage going

[mattclarkie @ Jan 6th 2008 10:35AM]

I did it years ago, and it took hours.

The reason, my 360 kept downloading updates, and for some reason it meant that the whole network needed rebooting, I have no idea why. I ditched it for a wireless adaptor. And now I have ethernet.

The lag that this type of ICS introduces is quite amazing, and it shouldn't be advised. You are ruining my Haloz.

[computer.dude.28 @ Feb 4th 2008 9:51AM]

I use this and get no lag. Your network sucks! :D

[Carl Vitullo @ Jan 6th 2008 10:41AM]

yeah, microsoft needs some new people leading them. way too many bad choices lately.

[zargon @ Jan 6th 2008 10:45AM]

I much prefer a wireless bridge, works fine for gaming. I just need N routers to drop in price and support DD-WRT so I can do this with my home theater PC.

[Ondra Soukup @ Jan 6th 2008 10:47AM]

wait, how is this new or otherwise worth reporting ?!

[jamma @ Jan 6th 2008 11:53AM]

It's worth reporting because many people have 360s, and don't want to use a LAN cable running through their house, or to pay $100 extra. And although you may know about it, it doesn't mean everyone else in the world does.

This is a blog for EVERYONE, not just you. If you don't like it, make your own

[Avi @ Jan 6th 2008 10:57AM]

Wouldn't this eventually cost more in electricity than just buying the adapter?

[Evan @ Jan 6th 2008 11:04AM]

Ha, that is an interesting way to look at it.

I got my adapter for 50 bucks because it was an open package and I got an employee discount. Though overpriced, it works very well.

For the next box they need to reduce the cost or support a small range of partner adapters... that is if it isn't built in for the next go around.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jan 6th 2008 11:44AM]

Just run your laptop off the battery! =]

[michael @ Jan 6th 2008 11:19AM]

Reminds me of when I played halo 2 on dial up over ICS.

[Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 11:22AM]

I've been doing this for over a year. It works just fine, no lag whatsoever.

[John @ Jan 6th 2008 11:44AM]

Not a lot of Mac users here, but for what it's worth, you can do the same thing on your Mac:

- Plug in a network cable (no crossover needed, just a standard patch cable)
- Go to System Preferences then Sharing
- Check off Internet Sharing

You might need to jump through some hoops on the 360 and give it a static IP address: set it to 192.168.2.2, netmask 255.255.255.0, gateway is 192.168.2.1

[Gary J @ Jan 6th 2008 11:31AM]

You make this up in energy costs saved. Plus it turns off when the console is off.

[Rob @ Jan 6th 2008 11:38AM]

I have two Buffalo routers than can also be bridged. So, one is connected to my modem in the basement, and the second one is on the second floor connected to my original Xbox. I'm basically killing two birds with one stone. I'm giving my Xbox access to my entire network, and internet. And, boosting my wireless signal. And the price??? $30 for the second one with a mail-in rebate.

Using a laptop as your wireless adapter is not the most efficient way because they use more power than a router, as mentioned above.

[scrap104 @ Jan 6th 2008 12:10PM]

Currently using D-Link Pocket Router (DWL-G730AP) set to client mode. It's powered through the USB port. I can use this on anything that needs wifi connectivity but only has an Ethernet port.

I don't see why Microsoft doesn't have wifi built-in already as the PS3, Wii, PSP, DS.

[Brian Sexton @ Jan 6th 2008 12:30PM]

Yes, how horrible of Microsoft to not bundle hardware that only a small percentage of users would actually use when they could have included it and increased both the production costs and the consumer prices of 100% of the consoles produced. How dare they keep costs down for most of us while still making additional functionality available as an add-on to those users who actually want it?!

[thethirdmoose @ Jan 6th 2008 12:41PM]

A small percentage!?!?

[thethirdmoose @ Jan 6th 2008 12:41PM]

A small percentage!?!?

[Ziffius @ Jan 6th 2008 12:53PM]

The only reason Microsoft left it out, was so they could charge massive amounts for a wireless adaptor.

[Tony @ Jan 7th 2008 9:12AM]

Uh... right click your two network adapaters and choose "Bridge". Not really a ground-breaking article here.

[CG001 @ Jan 6th 2008 10:44PM]

It's not "free" (well, neither is a laptop), but I've been fairly happy with connecting my XBox's network port to this device, so it gets on the Internet wirelessly:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=333

or, if you have WPA or WPA2 wifi security, you can use this:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1134692497433&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=9743339789B07
(note that you will have to download the latest Linksys firmware to get WPA2 functionality)

...I've used both, and have been fairly happy. When I upgraded my router, which later contained WPA2 functionality, I swapped the adapter as well to gain WPA2 functionality there as well.

My gathering is that many readers probably know about this already, but in case if anyone doesn't, I hope this info helps!

NJP

[Elias Tsang @ Jan 6th 2008 1:23PM]

I have been using this since I've owned a 360 because my house is not wired. Surprisingly, there is almost no noticeable lag with other players in a game even when not host. In Gears of War, if you are not the host, you can shoot at a wall or NP object and if you see the bullet hole decal, you know that the server has acknowledged the hit. The setup is really easy and it doesn't affect the computer's connection much at all. I am going to try connecting my WiFi laptop to a wired router to provide service to my PS3 as well. This is a great guide for setting this up easily.

[Dartanian34 @ Jan 6th 2008 1:28PM]

Ha! A small percentage indeed. Anyone remember the DVD Playback kit for Xbox 1? Microsoft likes its money...

As for the ICS, I have been using my laptop as the wireless for my Xbox and Xbox 360 for a long time now. As for power, few of you are going to shut down your laptop when it isn't in use. So technically, it won't cost even a bit more power to use it.

Not new news at all, but I know it took me awhile to find a guide when I first set up ICS on the laptop, and that guide didn't even go step by step enough to keep me from having to troubleshoot for 20 min or so.

[Jon Shannon @ Jan 6th 2008 5:01PM]

I picked up the wireless adapter for $59 used @ GameCrazy - it was certainly worth the $60 to me. I actually use the Wireless A it includes and it streams HDTV from my Media Center perfectly! I'd always prefer to just use a cat5e cable for gaming- but since my TV is a different floor from my internet connection it just wasn't worth it to run a cable.

Don't mess with a Connection sharing with a laptop - too much trouble, and too much lag- Just pick up the adapter. It works flawlessly, w/o any extra power adapter needed - just attach it and forget about it.

I like the idea of only paying for things I need rather than having everything built in - I'm certainly glad I didn't have to pay for a built in HD-DVD player!

[Yor1001 @ Jan 6th 2008 3:50PM]

I've been doing this for 4 years now, first with my original xbox then with my 360.

[Velorium @ Jan 6th 2008 4:54PM]

I've been doing this for two years with no problem what-so-ever, then again I keep my PC on all the time and it's right next to my xbox anyways in my room, but whatever.

[Brad @ Jan 6th 2008 6:55PM]

I tried using a linksys bridge but it was either too far or just too old. So i sold a bunch of older games and got the Microsoft adapter. It works really well. Its not worth the $100 but if you can get one at a discount I'd recommend it. I haven't been happier. Ive streamed movies and played online with no jumps in speed.

It really is a well designed accessory, but I do agree that it should've been built in. If wireless is your only option, it really doesn't seem practical to hook your laptop up everytime you want to play, but thats just me.

[Tyler @ Jan 7th 2008 9:43AM]

Why not just buy the original Xbox Wireless Adapter? It works fine with the 360. My bro picked one up for, gosh, 40 bucks?