Late last week, we reported that Italian site MondoXbox had
spotted an ad for an Xbox 360 802.11n adapter in the
Gears of War 2 Game of the Year Edition box. Prior to that, the device was
reviewed by the FCC. Speaking to Joystiq, Microsoft has confirmed that there is indeed such an adapter in the works. Unfortunately, the confirmation was accompanied by few actual details. Other than the fact that the adapter will allow gamers to "seamlessly connect with their home network with the highest wireless 'N' technology," we don't know anything about when it will release or, more importantly, how much it will cost.
Microsoft did refer to the device as "another choice to consumers," which lends credence to the belief that it will be marketed alongside the current Wi-Fi adapter, as opposed to replacing it altogether. Microsoft stated that more details will be available "soon" and advised us all to "stay tuned."
{ Sep 21st 2009 at 5:40PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nukee @ Sep 21st 2009 5:42PM
I see they're still hiding the price. Probably a wise choice.
fwacce @ Sep 21st 2009 6:02PM
The over/under is currently $120 as set by the esteemed Las Vegas 64-bit Hotel & Casino.
Based on their record for pricing peripherals, I'm guessing it will be over... which is, of course, ridiculous.
MemphisNET @ Sep 21st 2009 6:11PM
$150.00 is my guess, because Microsoft is oh-so-competitive.
Wes @ Sep 21st 2009 6:22PM
Agreed, there will probably be a overpriced!!! fanboy backlash when the price is actually released. I'm still a bit confused as to the purpose of this device since every wireless N router in the world is backwards compatible with b/g. g = 100mpbs/sec or roughly 12MB/sec. Very very few videos are encoded, even 1080p, videos are encoded at over 5MB/sec.
So 12MB/sec is still overkill if you wanted to stream two HD videos at once to a single xbox 360, which, you can't do. Nevermind the fact that xbox 360s might not even be able to handle a bit rate of 12MB/sec. Why would you need 10x that amount or 120MB/sec? So you can simultaneously stream 20 HD movies at once to your xbox 360? Right.... faster is only better if you can use the additional speed for an applicable application. In the xbox 360s case, there is none. I think the percentage of the population with an internet connection over 12MB/sec is very low as well. Perhaps in the 0.0001 percentile?
Ah well, let the e-penis perphial waging wars rage on!
nukee @ Sep 21st 2009 6:28PM
802.11g is 54Mbps theoretical. Real world pegs it at about 22ish Mbps. Not that great for media streaming, especially if you get poor signal.
Sly (Now with less shake, more bake!) @ Sep 21st 2009 6:45PM
the real value in wireless N to me is the increased range.
Papa Midnight @ Sep 21st 2009 8:23PM
@Wes: It's not what your WAN connection is, but your LAN connection, and anyone with a Cat5 cable and another machine (plus a switch if needed) can do darn near 12MBPS. As for G being 100mbps, I think you might want to check that: G is a *theoretical* 54mbps. Realistically, it hits 22mbps... tops. More likely than not, you'll see 12. The day a G device hits 12mB/s... well, moving on.
As for 1080p video being 5mbps, I hope you're not the one doing the encoding because that's bloody murder. A retail DVD is 5-6mbps on average. An average MPEG-2 ATSC OTA stream is 18.5-solid-mbps. An average 1080p HD film is roughly 34mbps, give or take 2 for a mean average. The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray as an MPEG-2 TS was roughly about 35.5MBPS when it peaked. That's not even counting the audio stream, which, if using DTS, would've been at bare minimal 1.5MBPS; But I digress... You might be able to get away with 5mbps for a 720p video encoded with x264, but certainly not 1080p.
The point is that there are real-world applications for that kind of bandwidth. Do not forget that you can stream VC-1 videos to the 360. Some of these videos have extremely high bit-rates.
So it's not about the so called "e-penis". It's about general usability. One thing is that Microsoft apparently waited till the final specification would be clear for the N spec. That's a good thing. This will likely ensure maximum compatibility (Remember Draft-G and the dozens of different "Turbo-G" routers and adapters?) between products.
N offers greater real-world speed over G. This is a fact. N also offers greater range over G. The advantage here is for those who cannot run ethernet feasibly from one place to another, but cannot also deal with the slower real world speeds (which may be affected by a number of things including: phones, microwaves, brick walls, floors, etc.) that they would be limited to by G. That kind of interference is brutal for media streaming and online play.
Personally, I don't have a 360 but I STILLL see this as a good thing. However, Microsoft's lack of a pricing announcement leads me to believe that it will likely be priced at either the original adapters $99.99 price point or possibly $129.99.
Spartacus @ Sep 21st 2009 8:44PM
G networks are rated at 54Mb/s, but due to the nature of wireless, actually run more in the 18-22Mb/s range. Now take into consideration that other devices in your home can interfere with the 2.4GHz signal and the fact that most homes have more than one device using said wireless signal and you can imagine that even the 18-22Mb/s speed will not be consistent.
I had my 360 with the wireless adapter hooked up to a G wireless router that was in the next room and streaming Netflix was a pain in the butt. Almost every time it disconnected, slowed down and had to rebuffer etc. Part of that problem was the router (I hate Belkins) so I switched to a LinkSys with custom DD-WRT firmware. That made a big difference in stability, but in my house there are typically 3 laptops surfing the web at any given time which slowed my streaming down.
I ended up putting the router in the same room as my home theater and running cat5 to my 360, PS3 and PVR. Never had any problems since. Wired > any form or standard of wireless. Period.
Wireless systems are more expensive and perform worse, especially for video game systems. Just run a wire ;-)
Cody @ Sep 21st 2009 9:28PM
You can get wireless N adapters that work with the 360 for less than this will cost.
My linksys dual band wireless N gaming adapter works just fine with the newest firmware and gives me great range in my house.
whookid @ Sep 21st 2009 5:43PM
R.R.P, Over 9000?
HighFiveJesus @ Sep 21st 2009 5:43PM
With the N attached, i suspect you'll be buying it for a high price.
Ballistic H @ Sep 21st 2009 10:18PM
You don't pay $500! Not $400! But only 3 payments of 99.99! As seen on TV... yet!
-Vexx- @ Sep 21st 2009 5:43PM
It will still be 100 dollars.
Calling it.
umm....hello??? @ Sep 21st 2009 5:49PM
agree. and the current adapter will drop to $79.00
Obie @ Sep 21st 2009 5:50PM
Ugh, ridiculous!
ColorblindMonk @ Sep 21st 2009 5:51PM
A little more out of an adapter, for the same ridiculous price.
Jon @ Sep 21st 2009 5:51PM
$129
Marty @ Sep 21st 2009 5:58PM
You can already get the original one on Amazon for $76.99, which I did not too long ago... and now I kind of wish I had waited.
I can't remember if my wireless router is G or N though, so whatever. No use crying over spilled milk. I rarely ever feel like I'm being bogged down by the speed of the wireless router as it is now.
Saneless @ Sep 21st 2009 5:45PM
100 bucks? Fanboy! It will be 200.
DeepFriedSushi @ Sep 21st 2009 6:44PM
you're the fanboy if you think its going to be $200. right so they're going to sell it for the price of the console, you fail business school or something?
Einhanderkiller @ Sep 21st 2009 7:19PM
Yeah, no way they're going to sell it for the price of the console. It's going to retail for $14,774.95.
eNrique @ Sep 21st 2009 7:44PM
I heard amazon will have a discount of 500 bucks einhanderkiller, so it will be ONLY $14,274.95
WITH FREE SHIPPING!
revsoul @ Sep 21st 2009 5:45PM
Someone enlighten me.... If you have a "G" router and an "N" adapter for the 360, does it really matter b/c the router is only broadcasting at "G" speeds not "N" speeds, or am I missing something?
Jon @ Sep 21st 2009 5:47PM
you are correct .. you can get a cheap $25 add on to make your G router N ...
TJFadness @ Sep 21st 2009 5:48PM
You are correct.
Though if you are like me, and have an "N" router, then you can use it to it's fullest now.
I'll definitely consider buying this if the price isn't terribly high.
TJFadness @ Sep 21st 2009 6:16PM
Haha Hivemind.
Jon @ Sep 21st 2009 5:46PM
I think for whatever price it will be i should just get a NETGEAR coax MoCA set up
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Sep 21st 2009 5:54PM
What if it's $10.00 ??? Huh?
Bradwart @ Sep 21st 2009 5:51PM
It's going to be 199.
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Sep 21st 2009 5:53PM
I love my Xbox and microsoft, but damn this $100 wifi crap is ridiculous, and really shameful!
But at least it isn't something mandatory to enjoy the system to it's fullest... eh hard drive?
DeepFriedSushi @ Sep 21st 2009 6:45PM
i think its more of a deterrent why its priced so high. it forces people to resort the wired, one of the reasons why xbox live offer better connections compared to psn.
johnnynumber5 @ Sep 21st 2009 9:45PM
LOL Deepfriedsushi
It's all a big rouse, eh? They price the wireless so high because they want Live to perform better than PSN?
If you believe that you are fucking retarded.
HOPEFULLY you were joking. Knowing your comments I think you were being dead serious.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 21st 2009 5:54PM
If they end up making it more expensive than the G adapter and not dropping the G in price, there's gonna be a shitstorm.
(really, the G should be included with the elite, but I guess that's too much to ask of MS)
No Kill Tayler @ Sep 21st 2009 5:56PM
Sad face.
I wish it'd just replace it.
149.99 at the highest, i hope.
Fargus @ Sep 21st 2009 6:24PM
If you are willing to spend 150 on this, Why haven't you just bought the Linksys Wireless N gaming adapter that has been out for about 6 months now? Its around 75 on amazon and works flawlessly. Ive been running it since it came out and never had a problem.
No Kill Tayler @ Sep 21st 2009 6:57PM
Who said I was going to buy this?
I see no point.
I use my zune as a media player, and I carry that over to my xbox, problem solved.
Brother Daz @ Sep 21st 2009 5:58PM
It would be nice if microsoft had a deal where you could trade-in your old adaptor for half off the new one or something.
I know its wishful thinking
CaramelZappa @ Sep 21st 2009 6:03PM
You could always trade it in to gamestop and get almost nothing for it.
aristokrat @ Sep 21st 2009 7:10PM
There is such a program: eBay.
-Z- @ Sep 21st 2009 5:59PM
For the low price of $200 because you can't use your Linksys USB adapter in our 360!
DeepFriedSushi @ Sep 21st 2009 6:46PM
lol, k troll. they're going to sell it for the same price as the console, you must have dropped out of high school.
-Z- @ Sep 21st 2009 7:08PM
Sorry, it must be hard for you when you can't notice sarcasm. Here's a cookie for your trouble.
bearxor @ Sep 21st 2009 6:00PM
As long as this comes out at $100, it's not too bad a ripoff.
Dual band Wireless-N bridges currently go for about $100 and require external power. Dual band USB adaptors go for about $80.
So not really that bad, provided it comes in at the same price as the current a/b/g adapter.
Autopsy15 @ Sep 21st 2009 6:22PM
Wireless N adapters are NOT $80. If you're paying that much, you've been scammed my friend. You can get them, in USB size even, for around $15-40. MS is just making a killing while it can off of people who don't know what a rip-off their adapter really is.
PROOF:
USB-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833130066
-or a very nice card-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180052
Raffi @ Sep 21st 2009 6:34PM
Yeah but those adapters only work at 2.4 ghz, while the Xbox wifi adapter is dual-band and also supports 5ghz which doesnt interfere with your microwave oven and a ton of other devices.
Sean @ Sep 21st 2009 8:31PM
It's still at least twice as expensive as it ought to be.
aristokrat @ Sep 21st 2009 7:12PM
Ha, I think you meant 5 ghz doesn't receive interference from your microwave oven. Though it'd be funny if I could cook things faster because I'm using the internet.
CH3BURASHKA @ Sep 21st 2009 6:01PM
At TGS a Microsoft exec is going to come out with it, holding it over his head and say, "You're gonna want to get TWO jobs for this!"
dagamer43 @ Sep 21st 2009 6:08PM
I say $149. They want peripherals that cost almost as much as the console itself. How else would they make back the $1.5 billion they were forced to write off to pay for 3 year warranties?
Silicon Siren @ Sep 21st 2009 6:09PM
A trade-up program through Microsoft would be grand but I seriously doubt anything like that happening. Oh well I'll be buying one to match my Elite and speed up my HD content streaming.