Xbox Networking Over A Wireless Lan, Any help is appreciated with this one. Options

[Tek]

Ok I hope I can explain this properly as it is getting late at night and I am getting a bit tired.

My friend and I both have modded xboxes connected to our Internet routers for Evox file transfers, Xbox Media Player use, etc. but neither of us uses Xbox Live. My router is a wireless router (Netgear MR814) and his is a wired router (Linksys BEFSR41 if I am not mistaken.) He also has a Linksys Wireless Ethernet bridge (WET11) connected to his router to get his network access to my network, so essentially we are both on the same network. We both live in the same apartment complex and I have an FTP server running in which he can access no problem at full 11mbps and he gets 70%+ signal consistently. My wireless router is running 128-bit WEP encryption as well as his bridge for security. We both have multiple PCs connected to our respective routers and we can ping each other's computers and share files without problems.

My LAN configuration is as follows:

Router:
LAN IP: 192.168.2.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
DHCP Server: Enabled
Latest firmware installed.

My Xbox:
LAN IP: 192.168.2.14
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.2.1
Network connection type: DHCP Enabled

His LAN configuration is as follows:

Router:
LAN IP: 192.168.2.199
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
DHCP Server: Disabled
Latest firmware installed.

Bridge:
LAN IP: 192.168.2.100
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.2.1
Network connection type: Infrastructure
Latest firmware installed.

His Xbox:
LAN IP: 192.168.2.8
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.2.1
Network connection type: Static IP

Having said all this, we are trying to get a system link game going between our xboxes. This should essentially be the same as connecting both xboxes to a hub/switch, should it not? What happens is when I start a LAN game (such as Halo, Crimson Skies, etc. we have tried a few) the connection will be made momentarily, then just drop after less than one second.

I know this is quite a specific configuration but I wondered if anyone had any ideas as to why this is happening?

If there is something pertinent to finding out what's happening, feel free to ask. I believe I have explained everything there is to know. We both are network proficient and deal with networking on a daily basis but this is making us scratch our heads.

Thanks for any assistance in advance.

[frenzal_dude]

sorry i cant really help u.. but maybe u can help me. my pc is connected to my brothers laptop using a linksys wirless G router. My brother uses a wireless network card that plugs into his laptop. I was wondering how I could connect my xbox into this wireless network so i can have it wireles like my bros laptop, also are there any tutorials on how to do this?

[KiLaHuRtZ]

sounds like the signal may be too weak for the link. xbox link games send and recieve a LOT of information very fast. Also i've read somewhere about concerns with the WET11 and xboxes, you may want to swap the WET11 for a linksys wireless access point (WAP), same cost give or take $10, which is what i use at home and have had no trouble with. I also use my xbox wirelessly to play online with XBC and tunnel software like that. My setup goes from one end of the house to the other and up one floor as well. I also use WEP encryption but haven't had problems with it, however WEP takes some time to encrypt and decrypt which could also lead to a connect drop. try to drop it down to 64-bit and/or remove just to see if that is the problem. I believe linksys or belkin to make the best network products. i have had many problems with netgear (just a little FYI) hope this will guide you in some way to figure this out.

This post has been edited by KiLaHuRtZ: Nov 11 2003, 08:57 AM

[mrRobinson]

frenzal_dude: buy a WET11 and hook it up to your xbox.

Tek: That's weird. Try some troubleshooting on it. First thing I'd try is to disable the 128-bit WEP and maybe just use mac filtering and see if that doesn't help by reducing some overhead on the wireless.

[Tek]

KiLaHuRtZ & mrRobinson, thanks for the info on the access point and on the WET11. The latest firmware for that is supposed to fix any problems with the xbox so I don't know if it is part of the problem or not. We can try and disable WEP to see what happens.

frenzal_dude, mrRobinson seems to be right on the money with the WET11. That should do it. I have also seen some other simple wired to wireless products that can do this. Check out the WGA11B from Linksys on this. http://www.linksys.com/splash/gameadapters_splash.asp

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[harry66]

I am using a WEC from a relatively unknown company but on the config screen for the WEC (ie the wireless ethernet client attached to the XBOX) I had to tick two checkboxes to do with Auto Connect and Always connect before I could get it to connect with the XBOX etc. These checkboxes dont normally need to be checked according to the Tech Support people except when being used with an XBOX. Hope this helps you somehow!! I had to connect the WEC to my PC using a patch lead and run the util on my PC in order to config it.

I assume you can PING the IP address of both XBOXs from any of the PCs on the lan?