Thinking about getting a XBox 360

[Blayze]

I have a fiber internet install, and they installed a Linksys WRT54G (version 8) router when they did the install. Its currently flashed to the latest Linksys firmware.

I have my wireless security set to WPA2 (Personal) - AES. Everything works fine (computers, Wii), but I want to add a 360. Of course getting on XBox Live will be a requirement, and wireless would be the easiest way to connect since the TV is nowhere near the computer area. However looking at the 360 Wireless adapter it only supports WPA.

My Linksys router has an option to do WPA2 (Personal) TKIP+AES. According to the guide this is supposed to allow WPA and WPA2 to connect at the same time.

I also have a Buffalo WHR-G54S router. I used it for awhile at my old home until I moved and got the fiber installation. The techs installed the Linksys as part of their install, and I have the Buffalo in storage right now. I know it only supported WPA in the settings. I've heard about flashing a router with a 3rd party firmware and using it to connect a 360 to a wireless network. Would the Buffalo router I have now work for the 360, and allow me to connect to the Linksys using WPA2? Or should I buy the wireless adapter for the 360 and change my router to WPA2 TKIP+AES? Also will the setting make my current network any less secure?

 

[ric1287]

ethernet bridge supporting wpa2 i'd guess

 

[MrBond]

There's three popular third-party firmware options, if you can flash your Buffalo router with one of them you should be able to set it up as a wireless bridge and get your xbox online (that's how I connect with mine).

OpenWRT Compatible device list: http://wiki.openwrt.org/TableOfHardware
DD-WRT compatible device list: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices
Tomato compatible device list: http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

I run a mini version of the DD-WRT firmware on my Linksys WRT54G that I'm using as a bridge (can't use the full version because there's not enough RAM in my WRT54G). It looks like that Buffalo router is at least supported under Tomato, so I bet the other firmware options work as well.

 

[RagingBITCH]

I recommend DD-WRT as MrBond has mentioned. I haven't tried Tomato with it yet. My router is actually sitting in a closet...since my 360 is now right next to my FIOS router, so no need for wireless. But in the old place it worked very well.

 

[blackdogdeek]

at about $100 for the wireless adapter, i'd look into flashing the buffalo with tomato since it would require $0 but only some amount of time invested.

 

[Blayze]

Thanks

It looks like I'll look into DD-WRT or Tomato for the router instead of the XBox adapter. Which is better?

Also which router should I use as my main router (one connected to the internet, etc...) and which should I use to connect to the XBox? or does it really matter?

 

[spidey07]

You don't need 3rd party firmware, the buffalo should support workgroup bridge mode as is.

 

[tfinch2]

http://www.google.com/products...P&btnG=Search+Products

 

[Blayze]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You don't need 3rd party firmware, the buffalo should support workgroup bridge mode as is.

How would you set that up? Would the 360 plug into the WAN or one of the LAN ports? I assume since the Buffalo doesn't have WPA2 with the Buffalo firmware I would need to change the settings on my Linksys.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Blayze

Originally posted by: spidey07
You don't need 3rd party firmware, the buffalo should support workgroup bridge mode as is.

How would you set that up? Would the 360 plug into the WAN or one of the LAN ports? I assume since the Buffalo doesn't have WPA2 with the Buffalo firmware I would need to change the settings on my Linksys.

Lan port and turn off DHCP. You'd have to match security and encryption but WPA is plenty secure. I'm not familiar with home networking gear but I'm sure it would be in the manual.

 

[Blayze]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Blayze

Originally posted by: spidey07
You don't need 3rd party firmware, the buffalo should support workgroup bridge mode as is.

How would you set that up? Would the 360 plug into the WAN or one of the LAN ports? I assume since the Buffalo doesn't have WPA2 with the Buffalo firmware I would need to change the settings on my Linksys.

Lan port and turn off DHCP. You'd have to match security and encryption but WPA is plenty secure. I'm not familiar with home networking gear but I'm sure it would be in the manual.

Thanks, I'll have to find the manual. I'll try this out, and if it doesn't work I'll try one of the other firmwares.

 

[Burrens78]

I've used all three of the firmwares listed above, and as far as performance, reliability, and interface, I would choose the tomato firmware over all of them.

 

[Blayze]

I tried for several hours tonight to get this to work with Tomato on the Buffalo. It would show up and get an IP from the Linksys, but you couldn't ping the Buffalo from the Linksys. Also the clients connected to the Buffalo couldn't do anything, but connect to the Buffalo router to change settings.

I set it up using Wireless Client like the example showed on the Tomato site. Any ideals?

I followed a guide on DD-WRT to revert the Buffalo back to its original firmware. It worked ok, I may try DD-WRT later and see if it works. I could have it setup wrong though.

 

[Aikouka]

I just bought a US Robotics WAN bridge for $50 from a local computer hobbyist store. My mom's using it on her 360 right now and it's working just fine.

 

[Blayze]

Would it be better to setup the Buffalo as a wireless bridge or a wireless client? I can get it to work if I set it to wireless bridge, however wireless client will not work for me.