Hooking 360 up w/o router: do I have options here?

longbongsilver · 03-17-2009, 02:47 AM

Switched the location of my 360 from the TV to my computer monitor recently, so as to take advantage of the HDMI port. My brother has a 360 also & has been bugging me about getting on Live. Since I have the 360 so close to the computer now, good thing is I don't have to buy that wireless adapter (100 bucks? I'll pass...).

My internet setup is through Mediacom w/ a cable modem, which then goes into a Vonage router. Unfortunately, the Vonage box only has one ethernet port, which the computer (running Vista64 home premium) uses. Having to go under the desk & constantly swap cables when I want to play the 360 online & when I want to use the computer online is a PITA I'd much rather not go through. Is there ANY way I can have the 360 & the computer both hooked up without blowing money on another router?

Obviously I wouldn't be online simultaneously with the computer & the 360, since it'd be using the monitor, but the internet connection needs to still go through the Vonage for my phone, so I can't swap the cord from that end either. Was looking at ethernet splitters or an ethernet-to-usb adapter (I have a usb hub, so if I can take the ethernet cord & stick it in that, good deal), any word on reliability with those?

Did a search on this, closest answer I saw required the computer have two onboard ethernet slots, which mine doesn't.

***Alpha*** · 03-25-2009, 05:44 PM

How about a switch? There are many inexpensive ones and that would solve your issue, and allow for future expansion.

Plug in the switch to the Vonage router's ethernet port and that's it... you have 4 more ports (if you have a 5-port switch) with access to the internet. I can't believe Vonage only had 1 port...

D-Link DES-1105 5-Port 10/100 Desktop Switch - $18.99 @ Amazon

D-Link DGS-2205 5-port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch - $34.99 @ Amazon (only if you need a 10/100/1000 connection)

Sanctus · 04-06-2009, 03:14 PM

The only other practical way to connect would be to share your internet connection on your main PC that is connected to your ISP. This essedntially uses you PC as a router. The only catch is that you need two NICs (Network Interface Cards) Many PCs have two NICs (you will see them as ethernet ports on the back of your PC) so sharing the NW connection is a quick and easy fix. really, though, Alpha is giving you the better solution, especially considering that the D-Link switch he mentioned is an excellent device that is on sale now on Amazon for about 10 dollars after the rebate. even at 20 dollars, this is an excellent device and a good investment. I have set up several of these nifty little routers and they all work flawlessly. Good luck!

Daniel

DAWGOLDSCHOOL1 · 04-09-2009, 10:34 AM

I would suggest buying a hub for this problem as they are fairly cheap and have alot of options for the number of ports you might need. My friends do this all the time when multiplaying with the halo series.