6.
Dec 31, 2008 1:45 PM

in response to:
PCWorld
Re: Do-It-Yourself Free Xbox 360 Wireless
I have been running my XBOX (and now 360) as well as a PC in my bedroom this way for years. You actually don't need (or probably want) to use a spare router (at least in router mode), but rather you need a spare access point (AP). New ones can be had for pretty cheap. I recommend at lease an 802.11g model if you are going to stream video from a home server, but otherwise even an older 802.11b model will work fine (they are faster than most home DSL/cable connections anyway).
You of course need to have wireless already setup in your home, and if you have security on it (WEP, WPA, etc) you will need to configure the AP with this info as well. But is is pretty easy to set up. Configure your spare AP for "AP client" or "bridge" mode. You can either plug the ethernet cable into a switch or use a crossover cable and plug directly into your XBOX. You should get a link light on if the cabling is correct.
Some tips ---
I configured all my wireless AP's (whether in AP mode or AP client mode) with a static IP. This makes it easy to gain access to them in case I need to make an adjustment. All other devices use DHCP in the same range. The router (or cable/DSL modem in some cases) serves out the DHCP IP's. They all have to be in the same range however. For instance, my DHCP range is 192.168.200.50 thru 192.168.200.200. This gives you 151 DHCP addresses to use (more than enough for a home setting). My static IP's start at 192.269.200.X where X is 1,2,3, etc. This also leaves some IP's up above the 200 mark as well if needed.
In my living room I have the AP plugged into a small switch and then the connection can be shared amongst several devices. In may case that would be the 360, an Apple TV, and the all important Tivo. Works great...
Message was edited by: prdamrican (fixed a couple of typo's)