How to Make Your Own XBox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter
Making your own wireless networking adapter for your Xbox 360 gaming console is an affordable alternative to purchasing Microsoft's version of the product. Additionally, use of your self-made model will not be limited to your Xbox 360. This guide is intended for those who possess at least a basic understanding of networking concepts and hardware. You may be more comfortable purchasing an Xbox 360 networking adapter from Microsoft if you do not have this knowledge.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with a 10/100 Mbps or greater Ethernet network card installed
- High-speed Internet connection (cable/DSL)
- DD-WRT firmware
- 3 to 5 feet of Cat5 or Cat5e Ethernet cable
- DD-WRT compatible wireless router with 4MB of available flash memory (secondary router)
- Wireless access point (host router)
- Microsoft Xbox 360 console (any version)
Instructions
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Download the newest stable version of DD-WRT firmware appropriate for your DD-WRT compatible wireless router.
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Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on your computer's network card. Plug the opposing cable end into the WAN port of your secondary router. Perform a hard reset of the router.
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Open your computer's web browser and type 192.168.1.1 into the URL field. Select the "Administration" then "Firmware Upgrade" tab, and click "Browse" to choose the .bin file from the DD-WRT firmware you downloaded. Click the "Upgrade" button to upload the file to your router (this process is commonly referred to as Flashing). The router's power light will stop flashing and a confirmation window will open when the upload has completed. Wait five minutes before clicking "Continue."
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Perform another hard reset of your secondary router. Connect to the router's new administration application (DD-WRT firmware) by again browsing to 192.168.1.1, and entering username root and password admin if prompted. Select the "Wireless" then "Basic Settings" tab, and configure the router's wireless mode to "Client."
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Select the "Wireless" then "Security" tab, and configure your secondary router's security settings based on the encryption method of your host router. You may skip this step if your host router is not encrypted.
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Disconnect your secondary router from your computer, then move it close to your Xbox 360 gaming console and connect it in the same manner using your Ethernet cable. Ensure your host router is broadcasting a wireless signal for your Internet connection.
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Turn on your Xbox 360. The system should automatically detect the signal from your host wireless router and assign itself a Static IP address. You may manually enter this information by going to the "System Settings" menu on the Xbox 360 Dashboard and selecting the "Network Settings" then "Configure Network" tab.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase a secondary router of the same brand as your host router. Having both routers be of the same brand is not necessary for this configuration to work, but by doing so you may decrease your chances of encountering a communication problem between the two units in the future. Your wireless adapter created from this guide will not be limited to use with your Xbox 360 console.
Never turn off power to your computer or router, or close your web browser while your router is being flashed and rebooted. Interrupting this procedure can harm the functionality of your router. Never use a router with less than 4 MB of flash memory for this process. Full versions of DD-WRT firmware require 4 MB of flash memory to be available.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/hermida/
