Well, it's not THAT difficult. I can't believe anyone would go to their cable company to have cables split. It's a 2 dollar part that you can pick up at any place that sells home electronics (walmart, etc). A monkey could install it. Screw cable to wall, screw cable to "in" screw cable 2 to out 1, screw cable 2 to TV, screw cable 3 to out 2, screw cable 3 to cable modem. From there you could run cat5 to the xbox if that's all you were using the cable for.

If you needed internet access for a computer, too, you'd just run it to the uplink port on a basic router/switch/firewall and then run it from there to wherever. Not a lot of tinkering involved.

Setting up a WAP isn't any more difficult. You plug it into one of the ports on the router. you set the password on it. voila, you have an 802.11b cloud hanging over your living room.

-Posted by JC on October 23, 2002 11:09 AM

Hold up, hold up....

How many console owners do you know that can tell you what an uplink port is? Maybe several. Now, how many know the diff between a router and switch and what they have to do with firewalls? None? How many know what to buy without your advice?

As for WAP "you set a password on it" can be super easy (some WAP devices even set it for you to a known password ready made for warwalking/wardriving abuse). But, I've heard of several problems relating to wireless bridging Xboxen, so it may be a moot point.

Now, to be fair you said it's 'not that difficult' and I agree, but any level of difficulty aggresively pairs down the likelyhood of mass adoption (with a multiplier being the lack of wide spread broadband penetration in the US market), which down the line dicourages companies like EA or anyone else from spending millions of dollars on a quality Xbox Live compatable game. That's my worry.

I spent $300 on a console and want to squeeze some life out of it.

Super easy (but expensive) is this: Get cable/dsl modem that is a dhcp server and has multiple ports, then plug 'puter and xbox into that device, then pray that your ISP doesn't require you to have your PC's MAC address be the only device that can connect to the service.

-Posted by Dan on October 23, 2002 11:30 AM

I just set up my Xbox live today, just direct into wall for now. I think I'm fairly upto date with latest technologies and am known as a bit of a pc geek, although not in IT (Mech Eng). Thus, re: capabilities of average console owner, it still took me about 3 hrs, ISP tech support (no help), extensive surfing when just short of ringing MS to give them an earfull, I discovered that the Xbox system link cable is actually a "Crossover" and will not connect my modem to xbox. Very little know fact in my opinion that there are two diff type cables that look identical, and the one the xbox makes is the WRONG one, I find that very ironical.
Anyway got a "straight through" cable and got it working, and must say I'm very excited, even with the crap free demos, (bring on Unreal). So tomorrow it's time to hunt down a Best Buy Guy and figure out which router is going to work OK and if I should go wireless to the PC or to Xbox. And yes I have very little idea about the diff between bridges, switch, router, hub etc. In all my tech knowledge, home networking is a new concept which will prove to be a big hurdle for MS success with Xbox Live....but I hope I Lives long and Prospers.
Cheers Mates.

-Posted by AJ on November 19, 2002 04:24 AM

I was in the Xbox Live Beta program, and am a current Live user. Live took me about 10 min to set up the first time, including signin. Not hard at all, far easier than setting up our wireless internet.

And...it's a blast to play. See you online!

-Posted by Stacie on November 22, 2002 03:46 PM

Yes. It does require broadband acces. Yes. You do have to connect your Xbox to a router or to a cable modem directly.

But once you are connected.

It totally KICKS ASS. Period.

-Posted by Barry on December 11, 2002 08:27 PM

Yes. It does require broadband acces. Yes. You do have to connect your Xbox to a router or to a cable modem directly.

But once you are connected.

It totally KICKS ASS. Period.

-Posted by Barry on December 11, 2002 08:27 PM

For the record, I do own an Xbox, and WANT to hook it up, but there's no broadband in my area. :(

-Posted by Dan on December 12, 2002 09:24 AM

Xbox live is the greatest online gaming experience in the history of video gaming. Setup is a breeze... (unless of course you're stupid enough to have to have your cable company split your cable for you)... and once you're online the killing never stops. See you at the end of my booms stick

-Posted by Clayton on December 16, 2002 01:48 PM

I am a Tier 2 HSD rep for Mediacom.
We subscribe to AT&T Network for backbone.
You better know your MAC address when you call, unless you have a router.

I need good instructions to help other customers find Mac address on this device.

Very interesting to find that x-box comes with crossover cable. Why??

-Posted by Mark Wolfe on December 30, 2002 04:57 PM

it doesnt, you have to buy that sperately to hook up with other systems and its called a system link.... ok for Live, it took me like 30 minutes because i forgot that i have a password on my connection, my CP does it automatically and i forgot about it, otherwise it was simple and easy, and i know nxt to nothin' about computers.... trying to hard for something so simple that was the problem

-Posted by segun on January 10, 2003 12:36 PM

I WANT TO GET IT ON WITH XBOX LIVE! but i can't
My area has no broadband. I want to ask you guys, is there ANY other way of getting me on xbox live ANYTHING but without using broadband, anyone who can tell me send to hawkseye54@hotmail.com and there WILL be a heavy reward for you. cheers

Cazz

-Posted by Cazz on February 5, 2003 07:58 AM

In my experiences with xbox live it was a breeze when i went through direct connect with no router. I am now with a router and it fucked things up. I am e-mailing the company 2wire and they are helping me i was wondering if you guys could help me with what ports needed to be on when i was playing. Cause in fact when i updated my router like they told me to do it didnt see my xbox application no more cause they told me to make a new one. I think they gave me the wrong ports so i sent them another e-mail and they are helping again. PLZ HELP IN NEED OF IT.

-Posted by Dan on February 23, 2003 09:48 PM

To Mark Wolfe: xbox comes with a cross over cable because you can play "link" compatable games with it over two xboxes. I thought that seemed kind of obvious.

-Posted by Dave on March 4, 2003 06:32 PM

Do you have to subscribe to MSN broadband service, through a local provider...in addition to XBox LIVE???

-Posted by Cbo on April 13, 2003 03:50 PM

Hey, I'm new to this high-speed internet stuff. I have 2Wire SBC DSL/Broadband that goes to about 1200 kps. I have no idea on how to set this stuff up to be able to play halo online. I don't really know how to connect my Xbox to the DSL line/Network and get to a game by xbconnect, etc.

Is there anyone here that could tshow me through the process? I don't know that much about computers.

007Justin

-Posted by Justin Ar-Rasheed on July 18, 2003 02:04 AM

Oh, and also, http://www.2wire.com/home/hp_index.html, that is what I use incase you need more information.

-Posted by Justin Ar-Rasheed on July 18, 2003 02:06 AM

is there any way to connect xbox live for aol users?

-Posted by John on July 28, 2003 03:35 PM

Here's a question,

What if you already have a cable modem/router in another part of the house? For me to use my current setup, I'd have to run a 50'+ RJ45 cable to my Xbox.

Can I have two cable modems without having to spend the extra money for another IP address?

-Posted by ID on August 5, 2003 04:46 PM

My external DSL modem, an Alcatel 4060 speedstreem, only has USB coonection to the PC, is there a way to connect directly to this modem or am I forced to use a hub set up?

I am also an AOL customer so the PC IP and the AOL connection questions above apply to me also.

Thanks,

Tim
mtyducks@aol.com

-Posted by Tim on December 11, 2003 04:34 PM

i called the fols at xbox live they told me it was useless and that aol was xbox live where not compatable the dirty bastards!

-Posted by kyle on December 25, 2003 12:20 PM

K just to let you know now im STUPID! I Need help with how to setup xbox live i have no clue how to and what to buy and i dont wanna buy stuff i dont need. I do no that my comps not fast enough so i need a direct connection. But wha to buy im clueless. So please SOMEONE (ANYONE) im me on aim at tvgurlsrule61088 or email me cassidybb@yahoo.com and help me out

-Posted by CASSIDY on February 7, 2004 03:24 PM

I got xbox live and a game for a total of 80 dollars after going between 2 stores at least twice in one day i find that it doesn't accept aol. However i was changing to road runner will it be compatable

-Posted by Gabe on July 22, 2004 01:08 AM