What is the best router?

[ISiddiqui]

Or... what is your favorite router (I realize it is hard to pick 'best' conclusively)? I know that sometime this fall I'll pick up an X360 and I'll like to connect to my cable modem to get Live Silver (at least), so I'd like the best possible one.

Right now I'm thinking I'm going to simply run an ethernet cord along the wall (about 15-20' should do it), but I wouldn't mind getting one with wireless for future expansion (if it isn't too expensive - I do live in an apartment, I'm not going to be very far from the router). Speaking of price, I'd rather not spend more than $70 for one.

So which company's product do you like? Or if you have a specific recommendation go ahead.

My parents have a Linksys that works fairly well for connecting 2 computers to a cable modem, and I've heard nice things about Netgear.

[Deattribution]

I've used linksys for years, with up to 4 systems hooked up to it and never had any issues. Very nice lay-out for easy port forwarding ect also.

[jbmagic]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=47534&highlight=router

[ISiddiqui]

Thanks for the link, jb.

[Grammaticus]

I use a Linksys and hook up an xbox 360 using the xbox brand wireless adapter. All in all it has worked fine. I have a buddy that has the same setup and his works as well. I hear that D-Link has a router that is better configured for wireless gaming. Not sure what that means or how it is hooked up to be better for gaming. I have had minor issues with dropping sessions, but nothing that has been a continual problem. If I did it all over again, I would go ahead and get the D-Link. You can get the Linksys for around $50 and the D-Link will probably cost around $100.

The xbox wireless adapter is $100, and you can probably get a linksys or D-link brand adapter that (needs to hook up via USB) works too. I have talked to other gamers that have used a non xbox brand USB wireless adapter and they say it works.

[Logan]

I'm using a Linksys right now, and it hasn't been an issue at all. Keep your eyes open in the Sunday papers...you'll usually find a quality, 802.11 g wireless router for around $30 or less (with or without rebates). I think I got mine on Amazon marketplace for about $35.

[ISiddiqui]

I have talked to other gamers that have used a non xbox brand USB wireless adapter and they say it works.

That may be a way to go as well... if it is a decent amount cheaper :D.

Though can you not hook up an ethernet bridge through the ethernet port?

[MacroGuru]

In my Mobile Office (pics here (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=49317))......we run 8 xbox 360's off of our LinkSys router, and honestly, we do not have much trouble at all....every once and a while we might lose one connection right before we run one of our tourney's....but it takes a reboot of the 360 to get it back up and running and we are good to go.

Also, the 360 works quite well with the media center pc running through a wireless network too....

[Grammaticus]

That may be a way to go as well... if it is a decent amount cheaper :D.

Though can you not hook up an ethernet bridge through the ethernet port?
The xbox 360 does not have an ethernet port. It is USB. All it means is your wireless adapter needs to be a USB plug in and not an ethernet card. Look at your 360, it should have a few USB inputs, but no ethernet card like the regular xbox had.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't have a 360 yet, so I didn't know it didn't have an ethernet port.

[gstelmack]

The xbox 360 does not have an ethernet port.

:confused: Mine sure does. I've got an ethernet cable plugged into it right now...

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, I think Gramamaticus got it wrong (I've been searching for a photo of the back of the console):

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/features/hdw/Xbox360/03.jpg

It's right there under the USB port.

[Bee]

for the $70 price limit, I'd suggest looking at this one. I've heard good things about it and was thinking of replacing my old router with it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162134

[Grammaticus]

Yeah, I think Gramamaticus got it wrong (I've been searching for a photo of the back of the console):

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/features/hdw/Xbox360/03.jpg

It's right there under the USB port.
Sorry, I didn't explain it right. The ethernet port is not a wireless card, so if you are trying to hook up the 360 via a wireless adapter, you have to use a USB adapter. You cannot open the xbox to replace the ethernet card with a wireless adapter without voiding your warranty (if a wireless card would even fit the motherboard). So, you have to use a USB wireless adapter.

I think that explains it correctly. If you want to just go with a wired connection, by all means you can just plug right into the ethernet connection. Sorry about that screw up.

Edit - Actually, I guess if you find a wireless adapter that plugs into the ethernet port, you could use that. For some reason I restricted my search to USB plug in and went with the Microsoft adapter. Not sure why, maybe I did not see any ethernet plug in adapters. It seems like they were all cards. Oh well, don't listen to me, I don't know what I'm talking about here:)

[Eaglesfan27]

I have one of the Linksys models, and I've been thrilled with it. I'm even happier to see that it provides coverage in all of the rooms in a fairly large house which I was suprised as our smaller apartment had some signal strength issues in some rooms.

[ISiddiqui]

Ah, no prob Grammaticus. I do realize that the MS wireless adapter is USB based, which does bring up the question of why they did it that way? I mean you are using it to connect to the internet, and that's the only thing an ethernet port is used for. It makes little sense to take one of the 3 USB ports on the console when you have the ethernet right there which won't be used otherwise.

[PackerFanatic]

Gotta go with the majority and say Linksys rocks :)