Router & modem

hogshead

OK this is getting deep.
Just wanted to know what to do to get xbox live set up in uni halls.
There is always broadband at home so line fees aren't an issue.

bookduck

Just go there first guy.

In a few days of being there you will meet people who are xbox friendly, a year or two ahead, have similar interests to yourself, know exactly the best equipment to buy and how it all fits together etc because they have done it. It is much better asking them than asking a group of people on-line who can only guess, and you also have more chance of getting beers out of them than out of us!!!

spud17

In MY day, beer'n wimmin were the ONLY past times. :beer:

Little_John

Unfortunatly a guy in a shop is not always the best person to ask, their only purpos is to make a sale. The number of people I go to who have odered a wireless router from their ISP (they ask for wireless broadband) then go to PC world and buy their new laptop telling the sales person they are using it for wireless broadband and they go buy a wireless router as the sales person says they need it.

As I said before, before buying anything find out what is available in your halls for all you know the place may be cabled for wired connections in each room or they may have a wireless connection for shared use. If thats the case you will proberbly have to pay but it shouldnt be much.

Inactive

spud17 wrote: »

In MY day, beer'n wimmin were the ONLY past times. :beer:

:rotfl: :rotfl: Same here, and I didn't have much time for beer.;)

soullink

Right - just read all the posts and it all looks a bit confusing.

First - find out what your internet connection is in Halls - if it's broadband or similar, the connector in your room will be something similar to a phone line socket, just slightly bigger (an Ethernet connection).

If that's the case then you just need to find out what your access details are (username and password) ... BUT ... I would find out from whoever manages the Halls what the connection speed will be (and is it individual or shared - it will probably be shared) and if there is a firewall setup.

I can't remember what ports you need (your Xbox 360 will tell you), but if their firewall is not open to these ports then you will not be able to get online ... you will need at least a 1MB Broadband connection to get a reasonable gamplay experience online ... but if the connection is shared and a load of other students are downloading off torrents (don't blush I know you lot do :P ) then your connection will drop drastically (especially as they could be downloading all night)

If it does look like an ethernet connection then all you need is a cable ... I think it would be an Ethernet "Patch" cable as if I remember correctly, a "crossover" cable is used to connect two computers to each other directly (you wont need that).

As suggested above, use a cable connection rather than a wireless one ... I think Microsoft are taking the mick when they expect you to pay around £60 for a tarted up wireless adaptor which probably cost them £5 to make (or about £10 to buy for a desktop PC).

Router-wise, only buy a wireless router modem if you really need to. The cheap ones may work, but from experience they don't last long (they start throwing up faults, disconnect you, or just fail to connect). If you are only going to be using it at home - do your parents have broadband setup already? - if not then it's pointless initially as you'll have to set it up, pay for a contract, etc.

At the end of the day, I'm doubtfull you'll be able to get a good enough connection in the Halls at Uni to be able to play online ... so my advice is, study hard, work hard, but play harder (go out and have a good time once the work's done) - you're a student, not a game obsessed hermit

hogshead

Thanks for all the sound advice people.

As I said initially the guy in the shop said a router/modem would sort it out, clearly wanting a sale but as your advice has shown it isn't necessarily the case.

What I should have mentioned but didn't, HUGE apologies if it confused anyone, is that I am the parent of said student. Having him stay in on xbox live is the lesser of 2 evils ...xbox live V's liquid lager diet....... I think he'd sooner do both but lager is winning due to not being connected. He's a student, what else is to be expected...wine, women & song & don't think he's done much singing.

I have taken all the advice on board & have already suggested he ask around halls as to who has one set up & running ( if any at all )

Thanks to you all.

spud17

Inactive wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: Same here, and I didn't have much time for beer.;)

The college I was at had a ratio of 5 males to 1 female so you had to find

something to do while you waited your turn!!

ormus

my (hetro) mate went to a drama school. all the rest of the guys were gay, so he had a field day with the ladies!

spud17

Reminds me of when my sister and some friends thought they would go to car maintenance classes, hoping to meet new blokes.

Found it was full of women doing the same thing.

P.s. just remembered about a mate back in the 80's who joined an aerobics class, he was the only guy and had a great time.(If you know what I mean)