XBoxLive, Broadband,Router or this

[Sandman]

Hi guys
Previously posted that the kids had got broadband at their Mum's and wanted to get connected to XBoxLive, and I had questions about routers.

They've got BT Broadband, using a USB Modem into their PC. Instead of getting a Router to split the USB signal to the PC, and an ethernet signal to the Box (if you get my meaning), would this work:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000062R4P/ref=sr_aps_electronics_1_1/202-2748238-2591858

Presuming that the usb modem for broadband would plug into the back of the PC, then this gizmo would plug into the other usb port and send a signal to the Box so that they could run XBoxLive.

Please remember that I'm crap at these sort of things so be gentle with me...

[Valken]

Yeah, there's no reason why that wouldn't work... There's prob better ways to do it but they involve opening the PC so I say buy it.

Could you tell me a little about how you connect to BT Broadband. How do you establish a connection to the internet with the PC? (This is important for setting up internet connection sharing)

[Kirby]

I'm not sure if that adaptor will work for directly connecting the USB ADSL modem -> Ethernet. BT were supposed to be bringing there own one out but it seems to have dissapeared. I remember that people were using USB -> Ethernet adaptors for getting the PS2 online ages ago, and the adaptor being used DID NOT work properly with the USB modems BT were giving out. As for your plans, it might work, it depends what the OS see's the adaptor as. If it 'sees' it as a network adaptor then there's no reason why you couldn't run ICS to the Xbox through it.

My advice is to ask on the forums at www.adslguide.org.uk as they will know more!

Valken: What exactly do you want to know? To connect to ADSL with a USB modem you use a standard windows DUN connection, like with a normal modem (just with a made up number as of course the DSL modem doesn't 'dial').

[Valken]

Kirby,

That's exactly what I wanted to know... Windows shares internet connections beter via DUN accounts than it does a specific ethernet adapter.

Before I got my router I used RASPPPOE to set up a fake PPPoE dial up connection for DSL.

If he has WindowsXP it has PPPoE built in so the set up might be slightly different.

Now I have a router it's just "on" when I log into my PC.

[Kirby]

Windows XP ICS is extremely simple. On the host machine just go the Advanced properties for the DUN connection and click "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection".

It then sets whatever LAN adaptor you have in your PC to 192.168.0.1.

Then on the host PC just set the IP Address to 192.168.0.whatever, subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and default gateway to 192.168.0.1. Or just click use auto settings. Then you just run the network wizard and select this computer is permanently connected to the internet.

It's what i'm using now until i can afford a swanky wireless router and it works fine, both for the PC and Xbox.

The only crap thing about ICS is no real port forwarding or port control, so stuff like DC, BitTorrent, certain FTP sites and other P2P apps can be a bit of a pain in the arse.

[Sandman]

Blimey guys, a lot of that Tech-talk went way over my head!

As I don't live with my lads, my eldest son connected everything up, and he won't be with me 'till tomorrow (gone camping with his mates). I do know that they haven't got Windows XP, they're just running good 'ole Windows 98, with BT Modem plugged into a USB Port (and also getting its power from that USB port).

[Valken]

Windows XP ICS is extremely simple. On the host machine just go the Advanced properties for the DUN connection and click "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection".

It then sets whatever LAN adaptor you have in your PC to 192.168.0.1.

Then on the host PC just set the IP Address to 192.168.0.whatever, subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and default gateway to 192.168.0.1. Or just click use auto settings. Then you just run the network wizard and select this computer is permanently connected to the internet.

It's what i'm using now until i can afford a swanky wireless router and it works fine, both for the PC and Xbox.

The only crap thing about ICS is no real port forwarding or port control, so stuff like DC, BitTorrent, certain FTP sites and other P2P apps can be a bit of a pain in the arse.

Um... I'm not too sure who you were telling about this but cool!

Also, ICS does do port forwarding of sorts on a per-application basis but I never tried it out.

[Sandman]

Just an update for anyone that took an interest in this thread.

The item linked actually works, so is considerably cheaper than using a router. If you do use this to set up your X-Box Live, you'll need to use a cross-over cable instead of a straight-thru cable.

kids are happy bunnies now - I'm depressed 'cos I can't get Broadband where I live ft: