Help with Virgin and Xbox 360 needed, please!

FatVonD

Forgive my ignorance but I know very little about computers and gaming but my son has an Xbox 360 and wants to go online with it but our cable provider is Virgin and the computer is downstairs, Xbox upstairs.

Is there such a thing as wireless connection with Virgin and (real idiot moment coming up) would he need to have a PC in his room linked up to the Xbox for it to work or could the Xbox connect via wireless to the computer downstairs?

Thankyou in advance for any advice!

Grebe

This from my DS tells me if you have a wireless router then all you need to do is buy a Xbox wireless adapter, which will cost about £50

FatVonD

Thank you, Grebe.

I guess what I need to know now is whether wireless is available with Virgin. My husband says 'no' but he may be trying to blind me with science!

custardy

FatVonD wrote: »

Thank you, Grebe.

I guess what I need to know now is whether wireless is available with Virgin. My husband says 'no' but he may be trying to blind me with science!

right to put it simply

virgin gets the internet to your house
once its at your house you can distribute it in various ways
so find out what you have already
eg do you have a router?
if so,is it wireless
if its not wireless you may want to consider going for homeplugs
this allows you to connect ot the internet via electrical sockets(yes really)

so let us know what you have

aliEnRIK

Virgin definitely works wirelessly (As does any broadband)
All you require is a wireless router (DSL type for cable, assuming yours is cable)

For the xbox you do indeed need to wireless plug in gizmo ~
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-360-Wireless-Network-Adaptor/dp/B000AYTQ7O

CGKR2009

From experience the XBox wirelesss adapter can be a little flakey - how far is the XBox from your router? You may want to consider homeplugs instead....

(If you don't know homeplugs allow you to distribute network connections through your home's electricity. Simply plug one in to a wall socket near your router and connect a network cable between the two. Then, plug in its twin near your XBox, and place a network cable between those two)

mrBishi

FatVonD wrote: »

Thank you, Grebe.

I guess what I need to know now is whether wireless is available with Virgin. My husband says 'no' but he may be trying to blind me with science!

Virgin broadband definitely works wirelessly you just need to have a wireless router like which virgin tend to supply. The Xbox can then connect with the wireless router using a wireless adaptor.

As another poster has said they are a bit flakey but a new version has been released which is better, however as all serious gamers know, always go for a hardwired connection as the lag time with a wireless connection might end up in some very frustrating moments when gaming online!

DCFC79

mrBishi wrote: »

Virgin broadband definitely works wirelessly you just need to have a wireless router like which virgin tend to supply. The Xbox can then connect with the wireless router using a wireless adaptor.

virgin dont tend to supply the router, they will give one if the OP asked for 1

DCFC79

clampye wrote: »

i have my PC upstairs and my 360 downstairs i have the virgin modem and netgear router connected and then i ran a long cat5 cable to the downstairs, i did this as the 360 dongle is awful for any distance thus i have it hard wired.

the OP could use an ethernet cable but as the xbox is upstairs and the pc is downstairs the ethernet could be dangerous, ui used to use it and it was a pain, the wireless adapter works fine for me but i have noticed lately that i have to unplug my computerfrom the net to get a decent signal in games

mrBishi

clampye wrote: »

how can it be dangerous?

:j

a trip hazzard maybe! Obviously a health and safety risk assessment is needed hehe.

HO87

If wireless is going to be too difficult then the obvious solution is Homeplug. These are adapters that plug into 3-pin sockets and use you electric ring main as a network so no cables trailing down the stairs and no fiddly set-up. You will need to buy two - one for son's bedroom and another to plug in adjacent to the Virgin router. The adapters come with ethernet cables one to be plugged into the adapter next to the router with the other end plugged into a spare ethernet port on the back of the router (it should auto-detect so no set up would normally be necessary).

Then go to son's bedroom and plug the adapter into 3-pin socket. Using the supplied ethernet cable plug one end into the adapter and the other into his Xbox - there will be a set-up screen for him to deal with but it should a brief job.

Don't forget to turn on the sockets you've plugged the adapters into.

Homeplug - or similar is widely available at places like Maplins on through eBay. Will cost the same as a wireless router but far easier to set up and won't need a wireless adapter for the Xbox either.