Xbox 360 - Help needed

Ghirl

I'm not very technical at all so I need some general help regarding the Xbox 360. My kids will be getting one for Christmas and they want to use the Live thingy but I don't want to have to stop using the internet on the PC every time they want to play the xbox so someone suggested that I should get a wireless router, which I did (I got one free from Tiscali after signing up to another 12 month contract). I've not set it up or anything as there's no point just now. What else will I need to buy as I've also heard that I need to get some specific Microsoft thingy for about £60? Seems quite a tragic figure, is there any way of using the Live thingy without buying one? The xbox will be in a different room than the PC.

Any help, from someone very patient who can explain it in simple terms, will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance :beer:

Cat695

well as you have a wirelss router now you will have two options

either spend 60 quid for the wireless adapter so the xbox can connect that way to the internet (your pc will NOT need to be left on) also depends on how far the xbox is away from the router (further away = weaker signal = slow/no game play = unhappy kids...not good)

or the cheaper option is to buy a ethernet cable (less than a tenner depending where you buy) come in all sorts of lengths. connect straight in xbox from the router and thats it....fast game play = happy kids...however the problem is the cable being seen etc (again PC can be left off)

that are your two EASY options

Hope this helps

Ghirl

Thanks. I don't mind about cable being seen (it's not like it's something personal or private, it's only cable). Anyway, can always tuck it under carpet so nobody trips over it.

a4turbos

The other option which may or may not be suitable is to have the wireless router near to the xbox and use a very short patch cable. You would then have to buy a wireless card for the PC which only costs about £10.

May only work depending where your router connects to your phone line but saves having a big cable under the carpet.

Ghirl

a4turbos wrote: »

The other option which may or may not be suitable is to have the wireless router near to the xbox and use a very short patch cable. You would then have to buy a wireless card for the PC which only costs about £10.

May only work depending where your router connects to your phone line but saves having a big cable under the carpet.

Thanks, although this sounds a little more complicated for someone who hasn't a clue about these things

donnajunkie

xbox live has two types of membership silver and gold. you need gold to play online. when you go through the process of registering on the console make sure you ask for silver and after that it will tell you that you qualify for one free month of gold membership. make sure you have a hotmail address before you start because one is required.
heres a tip, when the month runs out just start up another gamertag with totally new details including another hotmail address. you will then get another free month. keep doing that every month until they catch up and stop it. i managed to get 3 free months of gold membership before they caught up. after that you will need to pay. it is currently £39.99 for one year.

II_D2_II

i can get you a year for £35

Cat695

Oh yeah you should buy them a PS3 it works wirelessly straight out the box and WITHOUT having to pay to get on the internet every year!!!


so I wonder which one is cheaper in the long run????????

Coveredinbees!!!!

you can get a 12 month gold for about £27-00 on fleabay.

Ghirl

Thanks everyone, all help greatly appreciated

donnajunkie

Cat695 wrote: »

Oh yeah you should buy them a PS3 it works wirelessly straight out the box and WITHOUT having to pay to get on the internet every year!!!


so I wonder which one is cheaper in the long run????????

its not just a question of which is cheaper. most people will say that xbox live is better than the ps3 network.