Need a "booster" for X box?

flo5

Hi

Got some great help from previous posts and wonder if anyone could help me again.

We have a Compaq AMD Athlon II x4 620 Processor 2.60GHz with a 64 bit OS as our main computer. Various laptops depending on which child is in the house at any given time but could be to 3.

Broadband is provided by SKY

My son has had to change room (dtr moving back home) and is X box 360 signal has all but gone along with his tv signal. Our TV package is SKY with multiroom x 1 and HD in 1 room. My son has freeview.

SKY have changed our "channel" but his X Box is still not up to what it used to be. From what l have managed to ascertain we cannot change the router but need some sort of booster/extender - this is were l am now totally confused. My knowledge of technology is very limited and l need it dumbed down!

Is there anything we can do - he has been good enough to give up his room but now has limited tv and cannot play on his X box so any help/advice would be most appreciated.

Many thanks

Wally75

Hi Flo

I too am not so hot when it comes to computers. However, do you mean that the wireless broadband signal is too weak for the XBox in the new room?

My PS3 used to use our wireless broadband, but it wasn't very fast. I bought 'ethernet over electricity' plugs and cables from Maplin. Basically, you plug one plug in next to the broadband box and a cable goes from plug to broadband hub. Then you plug the other plug into a socket near the XBox and feed the cable into the back of the XBox. The broadband signal is then sent through the house electricity cables. I think it cost about £100. Doing this greatly increased the speed of my connection.

Hope this helps

Wally

gonzo127

well there are 3 main ways to improve the xbox connection.

the best for connection, although usualy requires some work is to get a ethernet cable installed, they are not very expensive but of course you have to plan it out so its not trailing accross rooms etc however due to it being a hardwire connection it will give the bets connection with minimum lag etc

the next would be the home plugs, these are designed to turn your internal electricity wireing into a network which just requires short ethernet cables to go between the plugs and the router/xbox, something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Max-Value-Mbps-Home-Double/dp/B000TV7FJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282910170&sr=8-1

the next is a wireless network extender which can be a bit tricky to install (although not always) and basically just boost the range of your wireless, something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edimax-EW-7416APN-Wireless-802-11n-Access/dp/B001HW0JVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282910220&sr=1-1

Fifer

There is a fourth way which I use, which is to use a powerline wireless extender. (You need a powerline plug for the router end too). However, it won't help the TV signal.

gonzo127

oh thanks Fifer i hadnt seen them before (although i tend to use ethernet cable where i can for minimum lag, maximum security and maximum speed )

flo5

Thank you Wally75 yes l think l mean wireless broadband!

Thank you gonzo127 and Fifer, a friend mentioned these but only had vaque memory of what they were.:beer:

Thank you so much l will investigate these options.

Many thanks

Regards

Percy1983

You say TV signal is suffering too. I had a similar issue and went for the 2 birds with one stone approach.

I wired an network cable and aerial through at the same time and installed them properly witht the boxs and fronts etc.

Was a bit of messing but cost less than £15 and was actually the best option as far as connections went and looks. That room now has a proper aerial and network connection forever more.

flo5

Thanks Percy1983
I had not considered that but it might be an option.

Regards

Fifer

gonzo127 wrote: »

oh thanks Fifer i hadnt seen them before (although i tend to use ethernet cable where i can for minimum lag, maximum security and maximum speed )

That wasn't really an option for me as I wanted to use several wireless devices in the area with poor coverage, some of them wireless only.